Ghost Songs
an excerpt

Xander wandered down the stone stairway, deeper under the castle. Gods, he hadn’t been in the wine cellars in literally years.

There were no cobwebs and it was only as he got to the lowest level that any damp seeped in. The air was scented with the soft woodsy aromas of wine and oak, bringing back memories of playing hide and seek with Dyllon and then Suli.

Someday, in only a few years, he’d play those games with his own children. He smiled at the thought.

“Jennic? Are you down here?” Unless he’d changed things around, Xander was fairly sure he was near the Vintner’s office.

“Right here, your highness.” He appeared from around a large oak cask, a thin man with a long nose. Xander idly wondered if he were still flirting with the head kitchen maid or if they’d actually done anything about it.

“Jennic, have you seen my new wife?” He grinned when he asked. “She was going to explore the castle but I haven’t come across her yet.”

The smile transformed his dour face. “Ah, Princess Tamlyn. She’s right here, your highness. I have never seen such a lovely thing. In fact, if she weren’t already married to you, I might give you a run for your money.”

Xander wasn’t sure that he liked Jennic’s enthusiasm. “Where is she?”

“Over here. She wanted to sample your father’s wines, so I set up a little tasting.” Xander followed him around the cask.

Tammy sat at the tasting table, making notes on a sheet of paper. She tilted her head and put down the pen, then took another sip from the goblet on the far side of six glasses set before her. She made another note, put down the pen and looked up, smiling when she saw Xander standing there.

“Hello.” She smiled up at him, her heart in her eyes. He couldn’t help it, he grinned back at her.

“Well, then. What did you think of the wines?” Jennic rushed around to peer over her shoulder.

Tammy crossed her arms and tapped her chin with her finger. She pointed at one of the goblets. “This one is too young. It hasn’t been in the cask long enough to develop the right kind of oakiness. I’m guessing that it hasn’t even been bottled, yet.”

Jennic beamed. “Just so, your highness.”

“And this one,” she tapped the next. “It tastes like a frost wine. We were experimenting with those in Nassar the last few years. It’s sweet and crisp. Should I guess that it’s from the upper vineyard?”

“Exactly so.” Jennic winked at Xander, surprising him.

She worked her way down the line. “This one has more body. I’d heard that Prince Kel was experimenting with white wines from red grapes, so I’m guessing that this one is part of that group. This one is old enough, but the flavors are weak. I’d suggest making it a sparkling wine. The lack of complexity won’t make as much a difference when it sparkles.”

Tammy smiled up at Xander again. “This one is a good white table wine. Complex enough flavors, but nothing special. And this one,” she glanced to Jennic. “This one is the prize. It’s the best white wine I’ve ever tasted. The flavors are complex, good oak and a nice finish. It was served at our wedding.”

“Absolutely correct, your highness,” Jennic gushed. “Lord Xander, thank you for having the good sense to marry a woman who understands wine better than you do. I have hope for the future of the Alton vineyards.”

Xander frowned at the man. First, he flirts with his wife, then he insults his knowledge of wine. Glancing at Tammy, he could see how pleased she was, though. She even winked at him.

Well, he probably wouldn’t do quite as well as she just did. Jennic had certainly never glowed like that about his tastings.

“Are you done here, for now, then?” he asked, lifting her hand and kissing it.

She looked at Jennic, who nodded sentimentally. “Yes, for now.”

“Master Jennic, could we possibly have the bottle with the rest of that last wine? I’d like to share it with my wife. Perhaps she could tutor my palette?”