The forest was so thick that the branches woven above their heads turned day into night. The trees were ancient, towering things. Moss and mushrooms grew in the perpetual darkness beneath them. The only light was cast by the shimmering, gossamer form of Queen Bodicea, her nakedness somehow less scandalous here in the deep woods.
"After long deliberation," William whispered as he followed Tamara and the ghostly queen, ducking beneath a thick bough, "I have decided that I do not like wandering the forest. Not at all."
Tamara glanced back at him. Her profile was silhouetted by light from Bodicea's ephemeral illumination and he could see that his sister was irritated.
"Do be quiet, William," she whispered. "We'd do well to remain undiscovered for as long as we can."
He arched an eyebrow even as she turned away. "Oh, yes. The six foot, glowing, ghostly naked woman isn't at all conspicuous." But he spoke those words in a whisper.
