The Gathering (14 page)

"I think I'm helping you secure a visitor's tent."

"Have you looked at the time?"

"What?"

Duncan lifted his watch and showed Vance that it was almost six p.m.

"Oh, Damn!"

Duncan strolled over to the pole, trying not to laugh as Vance started to get impatient.

“A little faster would be great, Dad.”

Duncan reached the pole and as his hand slid around the pole, Vance scrambled under his father’s arm and out of the tent.
 
The family that was staying in the tent poked their heads in to see Duncan laughing and securing the pole.
 
He finished and looked over at them.

"My son's late for a meeting with his future mother-in-law."

They all laughed and the lady of the tent, who was from Beth Israel, offered Duncan a black and white cookie.

"Don't mind if I do.
 
Thank you kindly, Ma'am."

Duncan bowed to the lady and her husband and walked out to the bustling streets as he contentedly munched his cookie. He loved the Gatherings because they reminded him of his childhood and going on cattle drives and barbecues, meeting with old friends.
 
He walked back towards his home to get ready for the evening festivities.
 

"
There's so much to plan for,
" he thought.
 
“
My son’s getting married.”
 

As Duncan walked on, Vance ran towards the main castle, his long black hair flying behind him.
 
He cursed himself as he ran.
 
How could he forget the time?
 
Alisha was going to kill him.
 
As he rounded a corner, not forty yards from the castle entrance, he ran right into Sean, and promptly fell backwards.

Sean barely flinched and looked down at Vance, who only sighed and started to get up, when Sean extended his hand.

"You're late aren't you?"

"I know," Vance growled.
 
“I know, I lost track of time, I was helping my dad and helping the visitors and…"

Sean raised his hand.

"Stop.
 
Come on."

Sean turned and led Vance to the entrance of the castle.
 
They walked into the main foyer and Vance looked around sheepishly.
 
From the dimly lit hallway a familiar voice echoed.

"We're in here."

Vance cringed at the queen's voice.
 
He looked worriedly at Sean and then walked into the sitting room to the left of the main foyer.
 
Sitting at the end of the room by the fireplace were Alia and Alisha.
 
Alisha gave him the look, the look he hated.

"You're late, Mr. Worley.
 
Why is this?"

Vance walked quickly towards the women and stopped a few feet from Alia, who was not looking at him, but instead appeared to be studying a large blueprint on the table in front of her.
 
He bowed and began to stutter.

"I’m so sorry.
 
I…I…well, I was…"

Alia turned her head to look at him and frowned in mock disappointment.
 
She was trying desperately not to laugh.
 
It often amazed her when people felt intimidated by her. Without hesitation, Sean moved forward.

"I beg your pardon, Your Majesty.
 
I just ran into young Mr. Worley outside and it appears his tardiness was due to an over exuberance to help our visitors secure their dwellings."

Alia leaned back.

"Why didn't you just say that, Vance?"

Vance was taken aback.

“Ma’am?”

“I don't bite, you know.”

She smiled at him and started to laugh, as did Sean.
 
Vance shook his head and started to laugh too, until he looked at Alisha, who was not laughing.
 
Vance cleared his throat and got serious.

"Sorry, Babe."

Alisha stood up and crossed her arms.
 
She looked like she wanted to throttle him, but she just sighed.

"You're so easy."

She then smiled and cocked her head, which caused another round of laughter from everyone.

"You're all a bunch of comedians."

Alisha walked over to him and kissed his cheek.

"You love me."

Vance smiled and nodded knowingly.
 
Alia got up and kissed her daughter on the cheek and then her future son-in-law.

"Ok, you two, you don't really need me here for this.
 
Everything is in the works and ready to go.
 
Review the blueprints and see where you want the altar.
 
When you know, then we'll see you for dinner.
 
I expect the two of you will be sitting together?"

They nodded. Alia walked past Sean and gave him that
nice job
look that he so enjoyed.
 
Alisha looked at her mother and motioned for Vance to stay.
 
She ran after her mother.
 
Vance shrugged and started talking to Sean.
 
Alisha ran up behind Alia.

"Mom?"

Alia stopped and turned around.

"Thanks."

"For what?"
 
Alia asked.

"Everything.
 
Just everything."

She then walked over to her mother and wrapped her arms around her waist.

"I know I don't always do what you want me to do and I haven't always made the right decisions, but thanks for supporting me on this one.
 
I really love him."

Alia wrapped her arms around her daughter.
 
She softly laid her cheek against Alisha's head.
 
Alisha pulled her head back to see her mother and Alia kissed her forehead.

"You're welcome, Lish.
 
It's a good decision.
 
He's a good man."

Alisha kissed her mother's cheek, smiled brightly at her and walked back into the living room.

Alia gently touched her cheek where Alisha had kissed her and turned towards the stairs.
 
Her baby was all grown up.
 
She was getting ready to start a new life.
 
She heard Sean come out of the living room and turned to face him.
 

"You want me to wait?" he asked.

She nodded and turned, then proceeded up the stairs, all the while thinking to herself, that she loved being a mother.

18

The Hearsts and the rest of their people had arrived late that afternoon.
 
They had unpacked, set up their booths, and were preparing for the first evening meal and the celebrations to follow.
 
All day the people of Pasadena had watched the boys, but they seemed to have no side effects from the attack.

Elena Petrulengo had searched out the learned healers of Lia Fail the moment the family had arrived at the village.
 
They conferred, but no one knew of the strange air and why it would attack.
 
Nevertheless, Elena passed along the information of how she had stopped the attack with a talisman made from onyx, malachite and turquoise while she used a protection spell.
 
A great light came from the talisman and slowly the boys could breathe again.
 
All too easy she thought, until the boys woke up and could not see, but then Sam had used all the positive things in his life to fight it off as well.
 

Several of the healers, including Rona Mason, the Head Healer, did not believe Elena's story.
 
That didn’t bode well for Elena, as Rona was the main consultant to Alia Stark.
 
Elena gently suggested that they save this matter for later when everyone was more rested, but bade them think well on it.
 
Rona smiled tightly and agreed, but only to avoid a conflict this early in the Gathering.
 
They offered Elena a welcome basket as she left.

Elena walked back to the Keystone House with her basket of potions when she heard the call.
 
She looked into the sky and saw a bird circling overhead.
 
A falcon.
 
She frowned and pulled the talisman from her pocket.
 
As she eyed the bird, she recited the ancient Romany spell her grandmother had taught her as a child to repel the evil eye.
 
When she spoke the last word, the bird screeched and flew off.

"A bad omen,"
she thought.
 

Elena knew she needed to speak with Alia Stark, but the night’s festivities would keep Alia occupied and she wouldn’t be available until tomorrow.
 
Elena knew that by going over Rona's head, she would make an enemy, but Alia Stark should know the truth and she did not trust Rona Mason.
 
The Fail's healers would continue to debate the importance and truth of what Elena had told them, but she knew that Rona was not an ally and would likely nullify any attempt to tell the Queen about the attacks.
 
Elena decided she would go to the castle and set up an appointment for the next day.

As she neared Keystone House, she saw Sam and Scott walking towards her.
 
They walked up to her and Sam leaned in and kissed her cheek.

“Hi, Gram.”

She touched his face.
 
She didn't like to choose any favorites among her loved ones, but she could do nothing to hide her joy when it came to her grandson, Sam.
 

“Hello, My Love.
 
Where are you off to, looking so handsome?”

She did a little sway when she said it that made Sam and Scott smile.

“We thought we’d check out the scenery.”

With that, Sam gave his grandmother a wink and they started off.
 
Elena gave him a little smack on the shoulder and shook her finger at him.
 
Then she thought of something.

“Sam?”

Sam ran back and leaned towards her.

“Yeah, Gram?”

Elena touched his face.

“Listen for the voice of an angel.
 
You'll find what you're looking for there.”

Sam blinked and smiled.

“Uh… Ok, thanks.”

He shook his head and ran back to Scott.
 
Elena watched him shrug as he and Scott walked off.

Elena smiled, and then remembered she had to get an appointment with Alia to tell her what had happened.
 
The bird.
 
The Boys.
 
These were signs.
 
Elena just wished she could see what was coming.