The story ended and the hollow fell into silence for almost a full minute before anyone spoke.
“That’s almost like a creation legend,” Katie said. “Is it apocryphal?”
“Apocryphal?” Penny slid from the fog of a good story and back into the present.
“Made up,” Zoe elaborated.
“Has to be,” Ellen said. “Good story, though.”
“Why does it have to be apocryphal?” Erasmus was quickly distinguishing himself as the resident grump, jabbing his cane in Ellen’s direction as he snapped at her.
Ellen slid sideways off her perch near the fire pit and stepped away from his pointing cane, knowing all too well what the cane actually was and not wanting him to shoot her on accident.
“My great grandfather fought the Blood Prince when he tried to invade the South Islands.” He dropped his cane’s tip back
