The Gathering (50 page)

Coeli looked at the ground and then over at Sara, whose eyes were wide and frightened.
 
Coeli smiled at her and she could see that Sara was comforted by it.
 
Then she looked at Sam and felt his hand in hers.

Elena nodded and asked the others about any of their dreams.
 
They all recounted the same visions, although Coeli didn't tell Elena everything.
 
When they had finished, Elena turned to walk back into the hall.

"Oh, Mrs. Petrulengo?"

Elian had walked up to her as she turned.

"I want to apologize to you on behalf of my father.
 
He hasn't been himself lately, as you know."

Elena smiled gently at Elian who felt her warmth and smiled back.

"Thank you, Boy.
 
You have greatness in you."

Then she leaned over and looked at Albion.

"As does your brother.
 
When you need it, it will be there."

She patted their hands and then blew a kiss to Sam as they started to back up and walk towards the door.

"You alright, Red?"

Sam nodded and smiled.

"Yeah.
 
You?"

Scott smiled and nodded.

"Yeah."

"Hungry?"

Scott smiled.

"Always."

Scott looked at the Merganser brothers.

"How about you two?
 
Want some lunch?"

They smiled slightly.

"It's alright, you don't have to invite us."

Sara took Elian's arm and sighed.

"We know…c'mon."

Sara dragged Elian as Scott walked behind them and Coeli motioned for Albion to walk with them.
 
As they walked towards the Dining Hall, two falcons watched and when the children had entered the building they flew up and eastward, to the mountains.

63

The Shape was quietly pacing in his chamber.
 
The knock on the door shook him from his thoughts.

"Enter."

Thomas Blaylock entered the room and bowed.

"My Lord, we have done as you asked.
 
The priest is downstairs and ready to do your bidding."

The Shape stared out the open window to the west.
 

"I received a message from Rona this morning.
 
She has a new plan to get Alia Stark here by the full moon."

Blaylock smiled.

"Ok, what do you need from me?"

An evil grin came from the shadow under the hood as the Shape turned and moved towards the door into the hallway, motioning for Blaylock to follow.
 
They walked over to the balcony and looked down at the Hall below.
 
Father Leon was sitting at a long table, surrounded by beautiful women.
 
His face was wet and pale and he quickly tapped the wood, while glancing all around him.
 
The Shape breathed deeply.

"Soon I will send you to Rona.
 
She will have precious cargo for you.
 
You must bring it to me untouched.
 
All of it, do I make myself clear?"

Blaylock raised his eyebrow and nodded.

"Yeah, I get it.
 
Whatever 'ladies' I bring back here, they need to be 'pure.'"

"Yes…you'll take the priest, Gary and several of your men.
 
You choose, whichever are most reliable… and expendable."

Blaylock scowled as he looked at the priest.

"Why are we taking him?"

The Shape looked at Blaylock.

"Because they know him, it will buy you time.
 
When you arrive at the Fail, send him to the gates and let them take him in."

Blaylock raised his head and stared into the black nothing of his Master's face.

"But what if he messes up and tells them that we're there?"

"He will try."

Blaylock shook his head and folded his arms in front of him.
 

"I don't get it."

The Shape turned and walked down the hall as Blaylock followed.

"It's not for you to get, Thomas.
 
I shall send you to the pagan village where you will find Rona and bring both she and the treasure back to me."

Blaylock shrugged.

"Sure, whatever you want."

From the other end of the hallway, the beautiful blue-eyed woman walked towards them.
 
The Shape held out his hand, covered in a black glove.

"Hello, My Dear.
 
I have news for you."

She smiled as she took the Shape's hand.

"Is it what I asked for, My Lord?"

The Shape kissed her hand and led her back towards the room.
 
As she entered, the Shape turned to Thomas.

"Ready yourself, Thomas.
 
I will be teleporting you.
 
Timing will be of the utmost importance.
 
Bring horses for your return."

"So we’re riding back?"

"Yes."

Before Blaylock could ask him anything else, the Shape walked into the room and closed the door.
 
Thomas bit down on his lips and looked at the floor with his hands on his hips.

"Dammit!!
 
I hate wormholes!"

He shook his head and walked back to the stairs, trying to imagine what this package looked like, smiling as he did.

64

Alisha walked quietly though the village streets, thinking about her dreams.
 
She saw Sara and Coeli in the distance with Scott and Sam.
 
She watched them as they talked and laughed.
 
In the other direction she saw Kaley and Ian, and not far off, Brian and his friends running through the village.
 
A small tear fell down her cheek and a raven landed on her shoulder.

She reached up and touched its feathers and it rubbed its beak against her hand.
 
She turned her head, looked into its eyes and smiled.

"You'll be there with me, won't you?"

The raven cawed and looked at Alisha, then flew away.
 
She watched it until she felt Vance's hands on her shoulders.

"The way you have with those birds…it's amazing, ya know?"

She fell back against him and pulled his arms tightly around her.

"Yeah, I know."

Vance smiled and kissed her cheek.

"What's wrong?"

Alisha shrugged and sighed.

"Kaley and Ian are engaged."

Vance spun her around and lifted her chin, smiling.

"That's great!
 
When did you find out?"

"A little while ago."

He let go of her chin and raised his eyebrows.

"So how come you're not happy?"

She smiled slightly, avoiding direct eye contact as she walked towards a jewelry booth.
 

"I am happy.
 
Why do you think I'm not happy?"

Vance shook his head and walked with her.

"Yeah, I know you, Lish, and you're not thrilled.
 
Why?"

Alisha looked at some pendants as Vance stared at her, waiting patiently for an answer.

"They're getting married in the next few days, a quiet Catholic ceremony so it won't interfere with our hand-fasting, and then they're leaving at the end of the Gathering.
 
They're going to live at St. Paul's.
 
So I'm happy, just not thrilled."

Vance smiled and looked at what she was looking at.

"Makes sense."

Alisha looked up at him with sad eyes.

"We can't change what's going to happen, can we?"

Vance smiled, brushed his fingers lightly against her cheek and shrugged.

"I don't think so.
 
People try all the time to stop the inevitable, but whatever is going to happen will happen.
 
Did I ever tell you about when my parents got married?"

Alisha shook her head.
 
Vance nodded and they started to walk through the village.

"This is how my mom tells the story, so bear with me.
 
It was many years ago in the state of Texas among the people of the Alabama-Coushatta that a young girl named Maggie, who was the daughter of Raymond Tall Bear, a great man who tried to move his people forward in the world, grew to womanhood."

Alisha laughed as Vance continued.

"Raymond had hoped his daughter would marry a young warrior from their tribe, but she had other ideas.
 
She went to college and there she met a young rancher, Duncan Worley.
 
He was handsome and kind but he was white.
 
The young ranch hand fell in love with the maiden and they decided they wanted to marry but her father did not approve and would not bless the union.
 
He told his daughter that if she chose to marry the white man, she would have to leave and never return.
 
For many days Maggie agonized over what would be done.
 
She asked the Creator for guidance, but heard nothing.
 
On the third day she sat by her window staring at the sky when a great black bird came to her. She asked the bird if it could answer her question.
 
The bird looked at her and replied, ‘No one can answer this question but you, Maggie.
 
For if you leave your people, your heart will be broken and if you leave the man you love, then your heart will be broken.
 
No matter which you choose, you will have pain.’
 
Then the bird flew off into the sky.
 
It was then that Maggie made her decision.
 
She went to her father and told him that she was leaving.
 
She no longer belonged with her people.
 
She wanted to see other places and things and she wanted to do that with this man.
 
She packed her things and left and she never regretted it, not once."