Keeper: chapter 47

Chapter 47.

Del settled himself in one of the chairs by the fire and closed his eyes.  To Jamie’s eyes he looked less like he was planning to sleep and more like he was hyper-focusing and found his eyes a distraction.  Every line in his body was tense and he seemed to be almost carved from stone.  After a few minutes of study, Jamie reminded himself that staring wasn’t exactly helping matters and began to scan the library shelves for books that looked like they might contain information on human magic.

‘I wonder if there will be silver stars and pointy hats in the margins,’ he thought with a smile as he searched. Somehow he couldn’t see Albe wearing a pointy hat and velvet robe while waving a magic wand. He finished searching the shelves in the study.  While many interesting books begged to be taken down and studied, none of them appeared to be magic.

Del hadn’t so much as twitched when Jamie’s search was complete.  Realizing that the library was just as secure as the study, and with the connecting pocket doors wide open it wasn’t very far from Del, Jamie continued his search.  He scanned the lowest shelves of the library first, realizing he would need to climb up and down on the small step ladder to reach the higher shelves.

As there were more books here, his search took much longer, but yielded the same results.  By the time he had finished, Jamie noticed the light in the hallway had changed.  He climbed down from the step ladder and walked over to the doorway, risking a cautious peek. Sunlight was beginning to warm the edges of the window at the end of the corridor.  Jamie returned to the study. 

‘I wonder if the Keeper of any crossroads actually gets to sleep through the night on a regular basis?’ he thought as he moved.  Jamie settled himself behind the desk and once again picked up the book that spoke of the development and maintenance of the crossroads.

‘Apparently communication between Keepers is allowed but it is rare for Keepers to stray too far from their homes,’ Jamie thought sometime later, rubbing his tired eyes and leaning back in his chair.  ‘I wonder if Albe had a way to do that.’ Jamie was startled from his thoughts by a knocking on the front door. Del leapt to his feet, cleaver clutched in his hand.

“Did they break through?  Hose didn’t say anything,” Jamie said.

“I didn’t think so,” Del said.  “At least I didn’t feel the perimeter break.”

“House,” Jamie said quickly.  “Who is at the front door?”

“It is the High Talbot, Keeper.”

“The High Talbot,” Jamie said.  He looked at the small clock placed discretely in the corner. “And apparently right on time too.” Del muttered and raced out of the door, no doubt to escort the High Talbot into the parlor. Even thought Jamie had never heard the language Del had used, he had the feeling they were obscenities. Jamie ran a hand through his hair, trying to settle it.  He retrieved his shoes from under the desk and quickly laced them on.  Jamie headed downstairs and passed Del in the corridor. He was still muttering to himself.

“Good morning High Talbot,” Jamie said, entering the receiving parlor. “My apologies for the delay, we have had a rather interesting night and are running a little behind schedule.  I hope you won’t be offended.”  Unlike Terrell, Jamie had no wish to offer a slight to the High Talbot.

“I see,” the High Talbot returned with a raised eyebrow.  “This would not be the same sort of interesting night you had before the architect was called?”

“Not exactly,” Jamie said settling himself in the available seat. “The House’s defenses remained in tact but were tested throughout the night.”

“And when did these attacks cease?”

“Good question,” Jamie said.  “House, when did the last intruder try to break in.” Jamie ignored the odd look that the High Talbot gave him as he spoke to House.

“Shortly before your housekeeper opened the door to the High Talbot, Keeper. And I sense no more massing of others outside my perimeter.”

“I suppose that means House doesn’t keep track of time the same way we do,” Jamie muttered mostly to himself.  “Apparently the attacks stopped with your arrival and those that were left, have gone.”

“Left?”

“Yes apparently the House tends to permanently eliminate unwanted intruders.”Jamie said.  He kept his voice neutral, but the concept made him very uncomfortable. He realized that those intruders had intended to permanently eliminate him, but he still felt bad about it and intended to see if House could make some adjustments in protocol.

“How interesting,” The High Talbot said studying Jamie with an intense gaze.

“I have the suspicion that they wanted to prevent you from giving me my verdict regarding the use of the Lustan during the Lune Merdos.”

“It was your use of deadly force I found interesting,” The High Talbot corrected.  “I find most modern humans to be a bit...  squeamish regarding final solutions.  At least off of the battlefield. I do agree with the reasons behind the attempted attack though. Sadly predictable actually.”

Jamie could detect no trace of anger or disgust in his visitor’s speech, nothing to denote either approval or condemnation, only the slight lilt of surprise.  Luckily Del saved him from surprise by wheeling in the tea cart.  Jamie offered to pour and soon the two of them were sitting back in their chairs with their respective cups. Jamie made a mental note that the High Talbot spurned cream but added one sugar cube and one slice of lemon to his tea.

“So you have reached a decision regarding the use of the Lustan during the Lune Merdos?” The High Talbot finally asked.

“I have,” Jamie replied.  The High Talbot sipped his tea as Jamie organized his thoughts, seemingly content to wait for an eternity. “It is my belief that the last time the Lune Merdos rite was performed by the Gedran, it raised enough power to destroy the house of the Keeper of that time. It is also my belief that the combined power that could be raised if both the Gedran and the Federan are allowed to use the Lustan for the Lune Merdos could destroy both the house of the Keeper and damage, if not destroy the crossroads themselves. Clearly I cannot allow this.  Therefore my decision is to deny the use of the Lustan during the Lune Merdos by either faction.” For a moment it felt as though the world sighed around him.  He wondered if it was in relief or disappointment.

“This is your final judgment?” The High Talbot asked.

“It is,” Jamie said with a nod.

The High Talbot closed his eyes for a moment and then flashed, as though his entire body gave of one pulse of blue-white light.  The light was gone so fast Jamie almost doubted that he had seen it. The high Talbot opened his eyes and smiled.

“The decision is now officially recorded,” he told Jamie. “And a very complex on for a very new Keeper.” Jamie sipped his tea and remained quiet. When he saw a response was not forthcoming, the High Talbot smiled and continued. “And now that the matter is settled, there are other issues that demand your attention.”

“Of course,” Jamie replied.

“The first would be that small laboratory you found on the property of the Keeper.  I have searched among the goblin tribes and found no such markings. As this poses more of a threat to the human population I leave the matter in your court.”

Jamie caught a note of worry hidden in the smooth lines and realized that the High Talbot had no idea what to do about the problem. He stared at the High Talbot, studying him the way he had studied Jamie.  The High Talbot averted his gaze.

“Is there a way to get copies of the permits for anyone who was doing either similar work or work that required the same ... ingredients?” Jamie asked.  He wasn’t quite sure what went into making a human suit for a faux goblin but he had the suspicion it was more than the components of a basic chemistry set.

“Of course,” The High Talbot said.  Although his voice remained neutral, there was a subtle relaxing of his body that signaled relief.

“Then please send them.  It will be the second matter that I attend to now that the Lune Merdos is settled.”

“Second?” The High Talbot asked.

“Keeper Albrect needs to be buried.  His funeral will be held in the small cemetery to the east on the day after the Lune Merdos.” Jamie felt that while the danger may lessen after his decision had been finalized, it might take a little while for the word to be passed among the many conspirators. Waiting until after the Lune Merdos would help ensure that he did not actually join Albe in the cemetery.

“Funeral.” The High Talbot repeated. “Charming custom of course.”

“I realize this is more of a human rite, but should you know of anyone you feel might wish to attend, please let them know that they are welcome.”

“I will do so, Keeper James.”  The High Talbot stood with Jamie following suit. They walked towards the front door. “I will have the papers with the permits you requested sent over so that they will be waiting for you after your time of ... burial... is complete.”  Somehow Del managed to reach the door before either of them and whisked it open in time for the High Talbot’s exit.  The High Talbot took his coat and hat from the brownie and stepped onto the porch as he settled his overcoat around his shoulders.

“I must say I am pleased by your speedy and tidy resolution to this Lune Merdos business,” The High Talbot said in a voice designed to carry.  “I look forward to working with you for many a year to come.”  With that he turned and walked away. Del shut the door. He seemed relieved.

“Well, there’s that done.” Del said.  “Those that was lurking have now heard directly in case they weren’t attached to the High Court. And with the High Talbot fairly giving you his blessing, well that should cut down on a lot of the potential assassination attempts.”

“Always good to hear,” Jamie said with a smile.  He looked towards the closed front door. As though guessing what Jamie was thinking, Del shook his head.

“Best have a good breakfast first.  Then you can go look at what remains after the House’s perimeter has done it’s job.” Realizing he might not be hungry after the inspection, Jamie followed Del back to the kitchen.

‘At least if I have to see a bunch of dead bodies, I’ll have something in my stomach that I can throw up,’ he thought.

Free short stories available

Happy Late christmas.  Took a bit more of a break than I anticipated.  Another chapter of Keeper will be up by late thursday-early friday and for those of you wondering, Keeper will still be posted here.  The links to the 4 free short stories are below.  Or you can go to www.smashwords .com. They are available in all e-formats.  I'm trying to get them to work on Amazon but they seem to have a problem with listing them for free.  I'm sure the kinks will be worked out soon.  Happy Holidays! v.

Mirror, Mirror is a story about a girl who takes home a magic mirror and gets more than she bargained for. http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/118011

 The Caller is a tale of a sedate academic who, after a mysterios caller wakes him from a deep sleep, finds himself the star player in a spy game. http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/118016

Blues Bar Valentine is the story of a woman who finds herself far from the one she loves http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/118013
Morning Ritual is the story of a man with an interisting morning routine. http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/118015

New website

My new website is up and running, check it out http://valeriegaumont.yolasite.com

Keeper: Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Jamie settled in to read.  His self imposed assignment wasn’t exactly much of a hardship though.  He had always enjoyed reading and the events and details he was reading now were more fantastical than any history book he had ever encountered, becoming more interesting with each page he turned. Apparently he wasn’t the only Keeper. And Jamie found himself wondering if there was ever a meeting between Keepers.

“Now that would be an interesting conference,” Jamie said to himself with a laugh.  He continued on and realized that such a meeting wouldn’t be as amusing as he thought.  Apparently the other Keepers only met when all of the available Keepers for one particular crossroads had been decimated. For this reason it was recommended that any Keeper search for a designated heir as soon as possible. Finding a suitable apprentice apparently took a great deal of time. The Keeper was cautioned to not look for an apprentice until he was at least two years into his tenure so that he could be fully vested in his duties before training another. Until that time, a younger family member could be designated.  The book specified a good mind, a caring nature and a stout heart as the requirements.

“Still interesting, but more war council than cocktail hour,” Jamie amended his earlier statement.  According to the book he was reading, all Keepers had some touch of human magic about them.  Jamie frowned at that.  He certainly didn’t have any magic.  “Perhaps Albe left off looking for too long and had to go with me as the best of the lot,” Jamie said. As he flipped the pages, he wondered if Albe had been disappointed at not finding a magician as his successor.

“Because there certainly was something magical about Albe,” Jamie muttered.  He paused wondering if Albe had been capable of true magic, like the kind in fairytales.  While he couldn’t exactly see his great uncle rushing off into the woods to save a fair maiden from a dragon, he could easily see the old man enchanting a sword that could kill a dragon and making sure the eager young hero took it with him.

“Of course that would only be after he had a talk with the dragon and realized that the dragon was just going to be stubbornly unreasonable about the young woman in the first place,” Jamie said, smiling.  “And assuming the woman didn’t need to be locked up for some reason.” Jamie shook the thought away.  Turning the pages he found the instructions for testing a potential apprentice.  Jamie scanned them with a bit of a frown and he wondered if he would be able to conduct the test if he had no magic of his own. 

“Perhaps Del could sit in on the testing,” he mused, then snorted in derision of his own thoughts.  “There is the strong possibility of me being killed in the next few days, worrying about training an apprentice is something I can do later.” Although given the danger of his first few days as the new Keeper, he could understand the advisement to choose an heir quickly.

“I wonder if the others started their tenure with quite this much of a bang.”  Jamie’s thoughts on the subject were interrupted by the mad jangling of bells.  To Jamie’s ears it sounded like hurricane had struck a warehouse full of Christmas decorations. Jamie clapped his hands over his years.

“What the hell,” he shouted, not quite sure who he was asking.  It didn’t seem to matter as he could not hear his own voice.  He could only feel the vibrations in his throat and his jaw muscles moving.  It was deeply un nerving. He moved towards the door and ran into Del.  The small man was armed with a cleaver and an angry expression.  Jamie saw Del’s mouth move but couldn’t make out the words.  He shook his head.  Abruptly the sound stopped. Jamie cautiously removed his hands from his ears.  The silence remained.  He wondered if he had gone deaf.

“What was that?” he asked Del.  His voice sounded softer than he thought it should and wondered if it was his voice or his ears that were the trouble.

“I was hoping you’d know,” Dell said.  His expression faded a bit more towards neutral but Jamie noticed he was still holding the cleaver in a white-knuckled grip. Jamie shook his head.

“House,” he asked, realizing belatedly that House might actually know.

“Yes, Keeper.”

“Do you know what that noise was?”  Jamie asked.  Del watched him intently, waiting for Jamie to relay House’s response.

“Of course Keeper.”

“Would you mind telling me what it was?”

“It was the perimeter alarm.  I wanted to make sure that it was loud enough so that your housekeeper could hear it as well.” Jamie realized that Del might not have been treated to the mad cacophony that he had heard and made a mental note to ask later.

“Did you say perimeter alarm?” Jamie asked.  Del stiffened beside him.

“Someone is trying to break in?” Del asked.  He looked towards the nearest window. Realizing that the study, where Jamie had been had no windows, Del gestured for Jamie to return to it, leaving the less secure corridor.  Del followed him in and stood watching the door into the corridor.

“Is someone trying to break in?” Jamie asked House.

“No Keeper.”

“No?” Jamie repeated. “So this was just, what, a systems test?”

“No Keeper,” House replied.  “Someone was trying to break in.  They no longer are.”

“Did the alarm just scare them off?”

“No Keeper.”

“So what happened to them?”

“They died, Keeper.”

“I see,” Jamie said slowly.

“Well I don’t,” Del said tersely. “Are we under attack or not?” 

“Apparently someone tried to break in and House sounded the alarm and possibly killed them.” Jamie told him.

“Does the House know who?”

“House,” Jamie asked, feeling silly for repeating Del’s question. “Do you know who tried to break in?”

“Someone with ill intent,” House said, sounding somewhat proud of itself. “Otherwise the wards would have just deflected them back into the road or the woods, depending on how they approached.”

Jamie had a mental image of the house being encased in a giant bowl of jell-o and bouncing intruders back into the woods. He wondered if a boing-ing sound like a bouncing cartoon spring would accompany the gesture. Jamie let the image go and frowned in thought.

“So the fairy who came to my window the other night did not have ill intent and so no alarm sounded?” he asked.

“My perimeter was not active when the fairy arrived. The architect fixed it.”

“Burr fixed it,” Jamie said slowly, working things through in his mind. “So now when someone tried to approach the house, the alarm sounded when it touched the window?”

“No Keeper.”

“No?” Jamie asked.  “Why, no?”

“My perimeter when fully active encompasses the garden in back and front yard as well as to the tree line on either side.”

“So why didn’t the alarm sound when people came to the front door?”

“A pathway has been left open for those wishing to properly visit the Keeper.”

“Of course,” Jamie said. “Thank you. Where along the perimeter did the ... intruder appear?”

“Near the tree line, to the east.”

“Same direction as the  small laboratory,” Jamie said.  Del cocked an eyebrow and Jamie relayed House’s information to him, in a more condensed form.

“So whoever came here did not know that Burr had repaired the damage to House.” Del said with a nod, picking up on the important bits immediately.

“Apparently not. Which leaves out the High Talbot and whoever he uses to arrange such things,” Jamie mused.   Del frowned. “It just means his office is clear of blame.”  Del relaxed a little at the comment.

“I suppose,” Del admitted.  Jamie knew that Del held the High Talbot in such esteem that it would never occur to him to place him on a suspect list.  Jamie however was pleased to have some indication of innocence ion his part.  The High Talbot may not bear the symbol of the Brotherhood of Shadows on his cheek, but from what Jamie had learned he was still High Court. Jamie opened his mouth to comment but was cut off by another round of bells.

“House,” he yelled, please turn the bells off.” The bells ceased immediately.

“As both Del and I are awake at the moment, could you just tell me that there is an intruder at the perimeter and let me tell Del instead of the alarms?”

“Of course Keeper.”  House sounded vaguely affronted by his suggestion and Jamie could easily imagine a more animate being adding the words ‘I was only trying to help.’

“Just for the moment,” Jamie said in what he hoped was a consoling voice.  “We can go back to your clever bells later.” He realized that he was setting himself up for a rude wakeup call later  but as he didn’t know if House could sulk, he thought that placating seemed wise.  Del grinned at him but didn’t say anything.

“As you wish Keeper.”

“Thank you.  Did you stop another intruder?”

“Yes Keeper,” House said, pleased with his phrasing.  “They are attempting the same spot on my perimeter. I can feel others just outside the perimeter but can tell you nothing more as they are outside.”

“Of course,” Jamie said. “Thank you.” He turned to Del. “They are attacking the same spot and House thinks there are more of them in the woods.”

“I think they are testing the perimeter,” Del said, frowning. “Before the bells I thought I caught the sound of something, but lost it in the alarm. I would bet that they are attempting to see how strong the defenses are.”

“House has agreed to leave off the bells and just tell me when someone tries for the perimeter.”

“That will help with my listening. Can the House also tell you when the defenses are close to failing?”

Jamie relayed the question and received a “yes Keeper’ In response, which he passed on to Del.  The news seemed to help Del relax.

“I’ll see what I can trace then,” Del said. He looked around.  “Aside from the basement, and that hidden floor of yours, this is one of the most secure places in the house.”

“Then I suppose we had better make ourselves comfortable then,” Jamie replied.  He watched as Del tensed.

“An intruder was stopped at the perimeter,” House said.  Jamie nodded but stayed quiet until Del relaxed.

“Another intruder,” Jamie passed along.  “Thank you House.”

“They are trying different things to get past the perimeter,” Del said.  “Even though I only caught a bit of the first, this one was a little different.”  Del walked over to one of the chairs set by the fire and seated himself.  He placed the cleaver down on the floor. Jamie took it as a sign that the small man did not believe a conflict was imminent. “It odd though,” Del said as Jamie joined Del in front of the fire.

“That someone would attack?”

“No,” Del said with a smile.  “That we could almost anticipate.  At least until your decision is turned in. No the odd bit is that there is strange magic in the perimeters.”

“Strange as in something is tampering with it?”

“No,” Del said shaking his head.  “Strange as in it isn’t pure fae magic.  I believe there is some human magic mixed in.  The combination is quite powerful.”

“And since most believe that the fae alone were the architects, it might make it harder to break?” Jamie guessed.

“It would be unanticipated,” Del said. “There is no record of human magics being added to it, even on those drawings you brought up.  All of the magics were too complex for the likes of me to comprehend, but they were all of the fae.  I could see that at a glance. Burr himself might not have known they were done.”

“Wouldn’t he... you know, sense them or something when he fixed House?”

“He might not have,” Del said.  “Whatever this is, was not active when Burr came to fix it and when I was with him, he only tinkered with the fae bits.  I have the feeling one of your ancestors decided to add a little bit of the extra after he was gone.”

“Non-factory standard, “ Jamie muttered to himself.  He waved off Del’s puzzled frown.  “But wouldn’t they be separate things then?  Fixing one wouldn’t fix the other. And tampering with one wouldn’t tamper with the other either, would it?”

“It would depend on when the magic was added.  If it was added as soon as Burr left, the fae magic might have been fresh enough to partially merge with the human additions.”

“Huh,” Jamie said.  “Like still wet paint.”

“Very much so.” Del’s face went blank again as he listed to something in the distance.  House warned him of another intruder.

“I have the feeling this is going to be a long night,” Jamie said to himself.  “I wonder if we have any books on human magic around or if Alexander contracted out.”

Kindle is up and running

All three of my books are now available for Kindle. Ah the happy dance is a thing of beauty.  Well maybe not beauty. It is actually quite distrubing to watch. But it is fabulous to do.  And new chapters of Keeper will start again next week.  Thanks for the patience. And extra thanks for those who have already bought and commented on Allaince.  Thanks!  v.

Allaince is now available!

Hi everyone, The third book in the Channel Rider Series is now available as an e-book.  You can get it at www.smashwords .com. It is called Allaince.  It is available there in all e-reader formats or for download to your computer should you not have an e-reader. It should also be available from Amazon for Kindle by monday. http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/114837
  Woot. v

Quick update

Move took longer than I thought.  New posts will begin next week, probably on wednesday.  I will have an update on Allaince being out by friday. Thanks for the patience and encouragement! v

still moving...

Still in the process of moving.  But on the plus side, made it to Texas in one piece.  Found a place but still living in a hotel until the first of the month.  I'm using the time to finalize Alliance (still arguing about the cover of all things) and will get back to posting as soon as it is sorted and I get my computer back.  More soon.  v

Keeper: Chapter 45

Chapter 45.

Jamie closed the door after escorting the representative of the Gederan out. He sighed heavily and rubbed his forehead. “I take it back,” he muttered. “That was not fun at all.” If anything the representative from the Gederan had been less forthcoming than Terrell had been. “Terrell at least gave me a name to call him.” The Gederan representative merely stated he was the representative of the Gederan. Jamie shook his head and walked back to the kitchen. Del was, for once not present and Jamie could see him doing something in the garden with the few sprigs of green that had yet to die off for winter. Jamie let him be, poured himself a mug of coffee and sat down at the kitchen table to organize his thoughts.



Overall the Gederan had given him the same answers Terrell had given to him. He suggested that both the Gederan and the Federan could share the space. He had a particular memory blank when asked what the power raised during the rite would do and he denied any knowledge of the Brotherhood of Shadows involvement. Jamie had noticed, however that a similar scar marked his cheek, uniting both him and Terrell.



“He also looked extremely nervous and slightly guilty at the mention of the last Keeper’s house.” Jamie sipped his coffee. As the Gederan’s presentation of why they should use the Lustan was nearly identical to Terrell’s, Jamie had asked nearly identical questions. Neither side was happy with him at the moment. “Not that I blame them.” He was meeting with the High Talbot in the morning to give him the final verdict on the use of the Lustan during the Lune Merdos.



“I wonder if anyone will try to kill me tonight?” Jamie asked himself.



“Have you managed to provoke them already?” Del asked from the doorway. Jamie gave a little start, nearly spilling his coffee down the front of his shirt. Del calmly reached back and pulled the door leading to the kitchen garden closed against the wind. In his other hand was held a bundle of fresh herbs. While Jamie couldn’t tell one herb from another, he knew that nothing in the close to winter garden behind the house would produce anything that fresh. He decided not to mention it.



“Well I suspect they each thought me a push over before they got here and are now having to re-evaluate,” Jamie told him. “As they wanted to kill me before they met me on the off chance I wouldn’t be a pushover I suspect the thought to try again may occur to them.”



“I see,” Del’s face darkened with the words.



“I plan to stay inside for the rest of the day and my morning meeting with the High Talbot should settle the matter for good. We will need a tea cart for that meeting.” Jamie maintained a blank face but at the last second his lips twitched up at the corners. While Del’s face didn’t exactly brighten, it did loose some of it’s darker aspects.



“They told me looking after a Keeper was a bit more work than an ordinary household. Stupidly I chalked it up to dealing with highborn guests.”



“We get those too.”



“Yes, yes. We get those too.” Del noticed the time was edging past one and he darted a look to Jamie. “Do you have time for lunch then?”



“I do,” Jamie said realizing the act of feeding him would help settle Del down. Del began putting sandwiches together and Jamie turned his thoughts inwards again as he drank his coffee. He decided looking into the Brotherhood of Shadows was probably a good plan.



“They could have disbanded,” Jamie said, forgetting Del was there.



“Who disbanded?”



“The Brotherhood of Shadows.”



“That lot?” Del snorted. “Not likely. At least not until they achieve their goals.”



“Goals?”



“Well one goal really,” Del said walking a plate filled with a sandwich over and setting it on the table in front of Jamie. Jamie thanked him as he turned and went back for his own plate. Del settled himself across from Jamie. “The Brotherhood wants the fey, High Court of course, to be free to rule the earth with humans more or less as subjugated chattel.”



“Only the High Court want this?” Jamie asked.



“Of course.” Del said firmly. “It wouldn’t do much good for those of us who aren’t high court. As a rule we have a tendency to move to the human side of the crossroads in order to escape the high courts.”



“So the high court can’t really migrate past the crossroads while it is still in tact?”



“Exactly,” Del said. “The crossroads separate the Human world and the Fey world. For the High Court Lords to take over the Human world the crossroads would have to dissolve by mutual agreement.”



“Mutual agreement?”



“Yup,” Del said. He paused to take a bite of his sandwich and gave a look to Jamie that suggested he ought to do the same. Jamie picked up and began eating his sandwich. Del swallowed his bite and washed it down with a swig of tea. “If the High courts didn’t have permission from the Keeper then the power they threw at the cross roads would just bounce back at them. It would sizzle them pretty well. I’d say like sausages on a grill but considering how much power they would need to destroy the crossroads, even with permission it would be more like sizzling the sausages with the assist of an active volcano. Of course that’s assuming they could raise the power in the first place.”



“So they would need my permission,” Jamie said as something deep in his mind clicked.



“Personally I think it’s just spit in the wind,” Del told him.



“Really? Why?”



“Well the high courts have been sequestered like in the lands of the Fey for a long time, with only a few jaunts out to the Keeper’s house now and then. And to be honest, not much changes here. And even the parts that do aren’t the parts they see. They don’t see the kitchens so they don’t see the food made with gas or electric instead of fire. For the most par t they don’t see much ion the way of changes. And since they know that Burr Alverson and his lot helped create this place they would assume anything more advanced than the humans they remember would be the result of that. The high court is pretty convinced of it’s own superiority.”



“That I have noticed,” Jamie thought his mind adding the High Talbot into the mix. Even if he wasn’t of a piece with Terrell, Jamie had the impression that the High Talbot did not consider him an equal.



“The first of the cross roads was established about the time Rome started to rise. Mostly as a means of keeping the Fey from the more densely clustered areas of human settlement. Of course there is some debate about that.”



“Oh, what sort of debate?”



“Well some say that the first of the cross roads were set up in Persia or Egypt but if you want my opinion those were less like the crossroads we have now in the system and a bit more like fences. Kind of as an intended separation, but nothing a horse with a running start couldn’t clear.”



“System?” Jamie asked.



“Of course,” Del said. “As your lot spread out we had to keep building them and anchoring them sort of like a border or the Great Wall of China. The crossroads are the only entry and exit points between the human world and the Fey world. You wouldn’t think we’d depend on just one doorway did you?” Del’s eyes sparked with good natured amusement.



“I suppose I hadn’t really thought it through.” Jamie confessed. “But that does make sense. “I suppose there are other keepers then?”



“I suppose. Never really met any of them. But I suppose there must be.” They sat in silence for a minute, each eating their lunch.



“So before the system was fully up and operational, there was more mingling?”



“I wouldn’t call it mingling but there was more contact.”



“Contact?” Jamie felt slow and somewhat stupid. Hopefully the book of the crossroads would help him fill in more gaps later. Mixed in with the stupidity was a wondering of why this had not been a part of Albe’s lessons. Was the lesson waiting until more urgent lessons were learned?



“The high court liked to go on raiding parties and bring human’s back. Mostly musicians if they could manage it.”



“Why musicians?” Jamie asked, picturing a gang of armed horsemen raiding one of the larger concert venues like the Family Values tour or even some random State Fair’s bandstand and carrying off musicians. The image was both amusing and disturbing.



“Because the music is different. Fey music is lovely but somewhat... limited. Probably because we live so long. The theory is that human mortality gives human music a bit more...vitality to it. Whatever you call it our music lacks it and your music has it. So if you want human music you have to have human musicians.”



“Now they could just go raiding for I-pods. I suppose.”



“For what?” Del asked.



“I can show you later if you’d like,” Jamie told him wanting to follow the threat of thought before it snapped. “So when was the system of crossroads completed?



“Well the system was completed around the same time the Doomsday book was written. Since then it’s just sort of expanded. Like adding links to a chain to make a bracelet into an anklet and then into a necklace.”



“If I remember my highlights of history that would be 1066 right?”



“Sounds about right.”



“So the High Court has not mixed with Humanity since then?”



“Exactly,” Del said proudly, as though his slowest pupil had finally understood that two plus two equals four no matter what time of day the math is done. “And humans have changed a bit since then. You may have a lot less magic, but you have a lot more firepower. And there are a lot more of you. I can’t say for certain who would come out the victor in a fight between the human world and the courts but I know it would make a great big mess if either of you tried.”



“On that we agree,” Jamie told him finishing off his sandwich. “Hopefully it will never come down to it.” Jamie pushed away from the table, thinking that he might want to finish the book about the crossroads before delving into the Brotherhood.



“Thanks for lunch,” he told Del. “I’ll probably be in either the library or study the rest of the day. It seems I have a lot of reading to catch up on.”

Keeper: Chapter 44

Chapter 44.


“Very strange stuff,” Jamie muttered to himself as he walked through the family parlor. He stepped into the hallway and was surprised to see a stack of books waiting on the hall table beside the brass calling card holder. Frowning, he reached for them. He picked up the top one off the stack. The cover was leather but it was showing no signs of age. The leather was smooth satin beneath his fingertips and the bold black letters of the title seemed burned into the leather like a brand rather than something typeset. He recognized the title as being one of the books he ordered. Jamie looked at the next one down on the stack and realized it too was on his list.



“I suppose the books were just delivered,” Jamie said. He wondered if Del had brought them in or if someone else had placed them there. He knew that House whisked calling cards that had been slipped under the door into the brass holder but the books looked a little heavy to do any whisking. “House,” Jamie asked.



“Yes Keeper?”



“How did these books get here?”



“You ordered them.”



“Does all mail come here?” he asked with a frown.



“Yes Keeper.”



“I see. Thank you.” Jamie picked up the stack. Apparently the coat rack and calling card holder was also a large scale mail box. “I wonder if it is on the fed ex approved list or if it is viewed as a post office box,” Jamie mused as he took his stack of books up the stairs and into the study. He placed them on the edge of the desk and sat down. Jamie glanced at the wall clock as he took his notebook out of the drawer. He had about two hours before his meeting with the representative of the Federan. He assumed the representative would be Terrell. Terrell would have one hour to explain his case and then he would leave. The representative of the Gederan would then have one hour to explain his version. He looked at his closed notebook and thought about both his dreams and the vision in the basement. Jamie reached for his journal, opened it to the next blank page and described the event for the record.



“Terrell seemed to be pushing for allowing both the Gederan and the Federan to use the space and the Keeper at the time seemed inclined to think that they had agreed to work together for a common cause.” Jamie wrote. “Having met Terrell, I find myself agreeing with the statement that Terrell would not willingly share power.” Jamie tapped the pen on the page, carefully avoiding the still wet ink. He stopped and drew a line down the center of the page. One side he titled, things I know and the other he titled things I need to know before making a decision.



“I know the Lune Merdos is a rite that raises power.” He added that to the things he knew column. Across from it he began to list questions.



“How much power would be first, I suppose,” he wrote down although he was not really certain he needed to know that. “Even a small lever can move a mountain,” he said aloud, repeating Albe’s favorite phrase. “So I guess I would need to know what the power would be used for and what effect that would have. It would also be nice to know if there were different powers for the daytime version of the rite then there wore for the nighttime one.” Jamie frowned. From Albe’s lessons and what he had learned so far, the job of the Keeper seemed to involve arbitrating disputes. “If one group can conduct the rite at night and one during the day then there is no dispute as they aren’t using it at the same time. Yet they were still trying to get the Keeper to make a decision.” Jamie thought about the scene in the basement. “What agreement was the Keeper talking about?” He wrote down the question. There were other questions but Jamie pushed them away for later. He put his pen down and set the notebook to the side, leaving it open so the ink could dry rather than because he had more notes to add. He reached for the book on top of the new stack and began to search for answers to his questions.

The two hours he had allotted before Terrell’s arrival flew past. Most of the information he gleaned in that time was information he already had but it was nice to have his dreams and random visions verified by a more concrete source. Jamie glanced at the clock and stood up to stretch. The book he was currently looking through actually dealt with the cross roads itself as well as the Keeper and was quite a fascinating read.



“Apparently the crossroads was the result of the agreement between humanity and the fey. I suppose we each have reasons to fear each other.” Jamie felt a small pop in his spine as he straightened. He had ten minutes until Terrell’s arrival and wondered if he should change clothes or head downstairs. Jamie sat back down in his chair, deciding against both options. Let Del show Terrell into the receiving room and wait while Del came to inform him.



“I think Terrell is a little too accustomed to having people jump for him.” Jamie looked at his list of questions. He realized he had actually answered a couple. The agreement was the formation of the crossroads to serve as a bulwark between the realms of the humans and the Fey and the answer to how much power was raised by the rite was a boat load.



“And there are separate strengths from the day and from the night that can be combined to form one giant-mega-super-colossal power. Making the ordinarily boatload look miniscule.” There was a soft knock on the open door and Jamie looked up. Del stood in the door frame.



“Lord Terrell is here to see you.” Del told him.



“Ah,” Jamie said standing. “Right on time.”



“I put him in the front parlor. Would you like me to bring a tea tray?”



“No,” Jamie said. “I think we will skip the hospitality this time.” Del lifted an eyebrow but didn’t comment. Jamie headed down to the parlor to see what the representative of the Federan had to say. He stepped in and smiled politely at Terrell. Terrell looked surprised by Jamie’s appearance.



“Did I come at the wrong time?” Terrell asked letting his eyes take in Jamie’s worn jeans and faded t-shirt.



“No I believe you are on time. Please take a seat,” Jamie said, gesturing to one of the guest chairs. Terrell walked to one and took his seat. He opened his mouth but before he could say anything, Jamie continued.



“The High Talbot explained the situation to you I take it?” Jamie said as he settled himself in his chair. “You have one hour in which to explain your need for the use of the Lustan. The representative from the Gederan will then be allowed one hour to present thier reasoning. Your hour has begun.” As expected, Terrell was somewhat thrown by this approach, expecting an entirely different scenario.



“Should I wait until your housekeeper has served tea?” Terrell asked somewhat stiffly. Jamie noticed his eyes darting around the room somewhat nervously.



“As you neither drank nor ate the last time you visited and I am not in the mood for tea I have asked Del not to bother. You may proceed with your case.” Jamie watched as Terrell blinked hard and he could practically see the gears spinning.



“I see,” Terrell began. “The Federan require the Lustan for the Lune Merdos.” Jamie placed his hands lightly on the arm rests of his chair and leaned back. He said nothing. Terrell shifted. The silence stretched. “It is our right.” Jamie still said nothing. Terrell frowned. “Have you no comment?”



“It is your hour to present your case. It is my place to listen. I will then afford the Gederan the same courtesy. Once I have listened to you both I will then make a determination.” Jamie once again fell silent as though ready and willing to listen to whatever Terrell chose to say.



“You aren’t even taking notes.” Terrell groused.



“I can remember what you say.”



“Well then as I said it is our right to use it. We use it at night. I know the Gederan use the Lustan for a daylight observance. We would be happy to share the space with them as long as they allowed us to conduct our evening ceremony.” Jamie noticed that Terrell avoided using the word rite. Terrell lapsed into silence. Jamie allowed it to drag out and Terrell began shifting in his chair.



“Is that the bulk of your case?” Jamie asked.



“Yes.”



“May I ask a few questions then?” Terrell seemed relieved.



“Of course Keeper. I would be happy to answer any of your questions.”



“When was the last Lune Merdos?”



“The Lune Merdos comes once but every few hundred years.” Terrell seemed at ease with the question as if the conversation had finally gotten back on track.



“And who used it last?”



“Last?” Terrell asked, stumbling over the question.



“Yes during the last Lune Merdos who used the Lustan?”



“Ah it is not a trade off sort of scenario,” Terrell said. “We do not alternate.”



“I did not ask if you alternated. I asked who used it last Lune Merdos.”



“I believe the Gederan used it last Lune Merdos.”



“Too bad it isn’t an alternate sort of situation then,” Jamie said. “It would only serve to benefit you then as you did not. Unless of course you used it after them. You did not share it at all?”



“No we did not share it.”



“Have you ever shared it?”



“You credit my memory too greatly Keeper. I cannot remember every Lune Merdos and the outcome at a moment’s notice.”



“But the last Lune Merdos was about two hundred years ago and the Gederan used it then?”



“Ah, yes Keeper that would be correct.” Jamie noticed that a small line of sweat had formed along Terrell’s hairline.



“And what was the outcome of their use?”



“I do not understand.”



“It is a simple question. What was the outcome of the Gederan’s use of the Lustan during the Lune Merdos?”



“I do not know.”



“The last time the Lune Merdos occurred was the night that the previous house of the keeper was destroyed wasn’t it?” Jamie was watching Terrell closely as he voiced his question and saw the blank look of surprise flit across his features. Somehow Jamie had the feeling that the power from the Lune Merdos rite had gone into the destruction. It seemed to be a recurring thought.



“Was it?” Terrell asked. “I’m afraid I wouldn’t know. I tend not to keep track of things of that nature as I rarely have need to visit the Keeper.”



“But you had visited him shortly before, just after the big ice storm to ask about his decision regarding the Lune Merdos.” Jamie kept it as a flat statement, refusing to make it a question.



“I suppose I must have. Amazing how you forget these things.” Terrell leaned back in his chair as though remembering. “Ah yes, I believe the Keeper at that time was planning to allow us to share the space. He thought it seemed fair that way. He was very much in favor of fair. In that sense he reminds me of you.”



“I am surprised. I thought you spent a great deal of time here.”



“Did you?”



“From the way you spoke of Albe as such a good friend...” Jamie let the sentence trail off.



“Ah you misunderstood me. I would often see Keeper Alberect...Albe as he was conducting his duties.”



“Of course,” Jamie replied with a smile. “What was your planned outcome?”



“Excuse me?”



“For the Lune Merdos. Last time I mean. When the Keeper was planning to allow you and the Gederan to share?”



“I am afraid I don’t remember.”



“So your planned outcome is not the same as last time?”



“I would not be able to say.”



“So what is your planned outcome for this Lune Merdos?” Jamie could see the jaw muscles in Terrell’s face clench. Whatever the Federan had planned, he did not want shared.



“That would be a matter for the priests.”



“I see.” Jamie said. “Is there anything else you feel that I need to know?”



“No, there isn’t.” The words were quite terse.



“Will you be sending a priest to me?”



“Of course not.”



“Then will you return once you have spoken to them about their plans?”



“I do not know if I will have the time.”



“Of course,” Jamie said with a smile. “Then if you have nothing else to add, I should not keep you.”



“Yes, well then,” Terrell said rising. “I shall leave you to your day.” Jamie stood and walked Terrell to the door.



“Oh by the way,” Jamie asked as he opened the door for Terrell. “Are the Brotherhood of Shadows involved directly or just as periphery proponents?” Terrell’s eyes went wide. But he covered quickly.



“I’m certain I have no idea.” Terrell swept out before Jamie could make a further comment.



“Well that was fun,” Jamie said. “I wonder if the Gederan will react the same way?”

Keeper: Chapter 43

Chapter 43

After breakfast Jamie laid out his plan to Del, who agreed to act as Jamie’s living anchor with a bit of amusement showing on his face. Jamie shrugged it off and led Del to the closed basement door. Jamie frowned at it for a moment. It looked exactly as he had left it the night before.



“Could you try opening it again?” Jamie asked Del. Obligingly the small man stepped forward and turned the doorknob. It turned but the door would not open. Del flipped the lock and made certain it was not stuck and then tried again with the same results. He stepped away with a shrug. Jamie, a frown still creasing his forehead, reached forward and turned the door knob. The knob turned and the door swung open. Del’s eyebrows shot up and the amusement that had tinged his features before disappeared.



“I’ll go in first,” Del said, stopping Jamie with a wave of his hand when Jamie tried to start down the stairs. “I’ll be the first down the stairs so if there is a nasty surprise the basement can’t lock me out once you are inside. And on the way back up the stairs you will be the first out with me following behind so that again the door can’t close with me on one side and you on the other.” Jamie nodded admitting that the plan seemed sensible. He didn’t want to become a permanent fixture in the basement. Somehow he didn’t think the house actually planned to eat him, but he had seen enough horror movies that knowing he wouldn’t be the last to leave the basement gave him some measure of comfort.



‘Conditioned by Hollywood,’ Jamie thought as he followed Del down the stairs. ‘Or wherever the B-movie capital of the world is.’ The basement was the same as yesterday. As it contained no movable objects, Jamie couldn’t see how much would change. There was still no dust and the sense of waiting seemed the same. Jamie closed his eyes a moment. It was almost the same. It felt a little more ... excited than it had the day before. As if it had higher expectations than earlier. Jamie frowned and opened his eyes. There was still no sense of menace. Del watched him expectantly.



“It feels the same as yesterday,” Jamie said aloud. “Like it is waiting but without any malice.” The words were no sooner out of his mouth than the basement seemed to change. Jamie stepped away from the center of the room and Del followed. Jamie couldn’t put his finger on exactly what had changed at first. It felt as though someone had taken a deep breath or there was a slight pressure change but nothing dramatic. Del was frowning now and looking around him. There was a light breeze that swirled around the room.



‘Or at least it feels that way,’ Jamie thought realizing he could feel the wind but neither his or Del’s hair or clothes were moving as they would in a wind. The hair on the back of his neck stood up and Jamie rubbed at the goose bumps that had risen on his arms. The light from the flashlight seemed to dim and Jamie realized it was because a window had appeared in the wall and sunlight was streaming into the basement. Slowly Jamie’s eyes scanned the room. The edges of furniture appeared and became more solid as he watched. A shadowy form became a table. The table solidified and Jamie could see bowls such as the ones Del used in the kitchen scattered around. One had a rounded lump rising from the center and was covered with a dish cloth.



‘Bread dough?’ Jamie thought, noticing the scattered bits of flour still on the tabletop. He heard a small scraping and watched as an older man settled himself in a large chair placed before the fire. A man more or less Del’s size stepped from the shadows and seemed to be mixing things in yet another bowl. Jamie recognized him as the brownie, called Robin in his dream. Jamie looked back to the older man and realized that despite the age, he had a similarity to the younger man of his dream and as he saw the chain of the Keeper around his neck he realized it was the same man, only time had passed. A lot of time. His hair had turned snow white and receded , the remaining wisps dancing around an age spotted scalp. Age spots stood out on his hands as well and seemed the emphasize the stiffness of the joints as he moved his fingers. He was about to share this information with Del when the aged Keeper began to speak.



“It is going to be a cold one today, Robin,” The old man said. “Half the trees in the forest are still bent with the force of that ice storm last night blew in. I’ll be surprised if we don’t lose several of them. Most of them hadn’t readied themselves for their winter sleep yet.”



“Definitely a good day to be indoors,” Robin said. He handed the Keeper a large mug with steam curling on the top. Jamie inhaled, even as the old man did and was surprised to be able to smell both Lemon and honey in the air. A knock sounded on the door and Jamie jumped even as the old man and Robin turned their heads towards the sound.



“I don’t know who could be out on a day like this but we best let them in before they freeze to death,” The Keeper said. Robin wiped his hands on a towel dangling from his belt and walked towards the door. A stream of icy air blew in as Robin opened the door and Jamie shivered. A cloaked form stepped in, the hood hiding his features. Snow was melting on his shoulders, leaving dark patches of moisture to match the wet hem that had picked up moisture from the ground.



“A thank you my good man,” the newcomer said as he slipped his cloak from his shoulders and tossed it to Robin. Robin frowned but the newcomer paid no attention. Alerted by the voice, Jamie was not surprised to see Terrell once the cloak was removed. Like Robin he had not aged. The scar on his cheek had healed and it was more like the scar Jamie remembered seeing rather than the raw mark he had worn in Jamie’s dream. Jamie noted that the Keeper, while not being happy with Terrell’s presence, did not seem overly surprised.



“Ah Keeper, So glad I caught you at home.” Terrell said.



“Are you now?” The Keeper asked, with a raised eyebrow. “And why would that be? Or should I guess.” The Keeper’s tone was dry and flat. It was obvious to Jamie that he knew why Terrell had come calling.



“I was wondering if a final ruling had been made. After all the Lune Merdos is approaching and it doesn’t come that often you know.”



“I am aware of that Terrell,” the Keeper said with a sigh as Terrell seated himself in the extra chair by the fire. Robin remained close to the door as if aware this meeting would not take long. “My answer is the same as before. Until you answer my questions I can not make a ruling.”



“But the Lune Merdos only comes once every few hundred years and we need time to prepare...”



“Then it would be beneficial to you to answer the questions quickly rather than try to dissuade me from asking them.” The keeper said firmly. Jamie found himself smiling at the firmness in the old man’s voice even as Terrell’s face darkened in anger.



“It is not your place to question the inner workings of the High Court Houses.” Terrell snapped.



“The Lune Merdos is a ritual that when conducted grants an enormous amount of power to those completing the ritual. Power is not raised for the purpose of watching the pretty little lights,” the keeper said wiggling his fingers in the air as though mimicking fairy lights.. “It is raised for a purpose. Neither The Federan nor the Gederan have told me what purpose they wish to put the power to. How then can I decide who best the power serves?”



“Perhaps then as the Gederan conduct their rites during the day and the Federan by the light of the moon it would be best if we share the space and the power.” Terrell said. Jamie noticed the rather sly look that had come across his features, replacing the dark anger. Jamie noticed the old Keeper caught the change as well. The elderly man smiled; it was not a pleasant expression.



“Perhaps then neither of you should use it.” At the keeper’s words, Terrrell leapt to his feet, sending his chair crashing to the floor.



“Humans have no place meddling in things they don’t understand,” Terrell hissed through clenched teeth.



“Then perhaps you should take up the matter with the High Court Tribunal,” the keeper said, his calm words a counterpoint to Terrell’s anger. “Assuming of course that you could find an advocate to speak for you since the ban on your participation in court affairs is still in place.” Terrell stared at the Keeper, eyes bulging and breath coming hard with his anger. Jamie had the feeling that if looks could kill his predecessor would be an ash stain on the stones. Robin, would you be so good as to see Terrell out? Thank you.”



“Of course Keeper,” Robin answered. He held Terrell’s cloak out to him and ducked as the taller man swung it on to his shoulders. Without another word, Terrell staled out of the door Robin held open for him and disappeared into the cold night. Robin shut the door.



“That’s a bit of a nasty mess,” Robin said shivering a little.



“It is indeed,” the keeper said as Robin returned to his mixing bowls.



“Do you think the two of them could share for the ritual?” Robin asked. “They’ve never been keen on sharing before.”



“Terrell does not share power. Nor do any of his kin, regardless of which House they stand with. If they are willing to share the space it is because they have reached an arrangement, perhaps pooling both sides of the power of the lune merdos rite, giving them the power drawn by light and the power drawn by dark. As neither is willing to say what the power raised will be used for and both Houses fatten the ranks of the Brotherhood of Shadows I am loathe to see either of them in possession of it. I have the feeling it would not bode well for the rest of humanity and would thus violate the agreement.”



As Jamie listened the keepers words began to fade away. When he finished speaking Jamie could see Robin’s mouth moving in comment but could no longer hear the words. The items in the room also seemed less substantial and he realized that this vision, or whatever it was had reached its conclusion and was fading away. The scene began to fuzz around the edges. The light from the window faded. In a blink Jamie was staring at the empty basement illuminated only by the beam of the flashlight. The sense of waiting had vanished with the scene.



The basement was now just a basement. Jamie turned to Del. The smaller man’s eyes were wide and he was breathing fast. Jamie touched his shoulder and Del started as though he had forgotten Jamie’s presence. As Jamie had forgotten him as he watched the scene unfold he figured it was only fair. Jamie tilted his head towards the stairs, not really wanting to say anything just yet. Del nodded and gestured for Jamie to proceed him. Jamie walked up the stairs, Del following. They left the basement with no problems and Del closed the door behind him, turning the lock to secure it.



“That was certainly interesting,” Jamie said. Del looked at him and shook his head.



“Human magic is very strange stuff indeed. I think I need a bit of a sit down after that.” Del said He headed towards the kitchen as if seeking a more familiar realm.

Keeper: Chapter 42

42.


Nebulous plans began to circle in Jamie’s head as he stifled his yawns and headed towards his bed room. His head felt full to bursting and he wondered how his poor brain would manage to deal with another night of Albe’s released lessons.



“Perhaps the basement nightmares would counter that,” he muttered as he began to undress. Alexander had been vague about his nightmares. Over all he hadn’t seemed to be the type of person who put much stock in dreams. “At least at the beginning,” Jamie said with a grin. As Alexander came into his role as keeper he had begun to pay attention to his dreams as one of the tools in a Keeper’s kit. Unfortunately he had only visited the basement when he was very new to his position and the nightmares rated only a brief mention. He had actually attributed them to the new cook’s fondness for spicy curries.



“At least I can’t blame whatever I dream on the details of someone else’s dreams.” Jamie slipped between the sheets and snuggled into his pillows. The sheets were cool and raised goose bumps on his exposed flesh where it touched. Gradually his body heat warmed the sheets and he drifted off into sleep.



The fog was the first thing he noticed about his dreams. It felt thickly around him shrouding the world in a gray haze. He could tell he was outside by the scent of the forest. Jamie looked at his feet and realized he was standing on a dirt path. Looking around he could see darker shapes in the fog. From the size and regular shape he guessed them to be trees. Nothing moved in the fog. There were no sounds and Jamie found himself listening to his own breath and hearing his own heart beat.



‘I suppose I should move,’ he thought. The thought of walking blindly into the fog was daunting and Jamie felt his mouth go dry. ‘I seem to be on some sort of path, if I move slow I might be able to get somewhere.” He wasn’t sure why he felt impelled to move. Nothing was chasing him or calling to him. It felt instead as though the world were waiting. Holding its breath to see what he would do. It was almost as if by moving he would be setting something in motion.



‘Kind of like a live action choose your own adventure story,” he thought with a half smile. Dimly he wondered if he would get a different adventure if he turned around on the path and walked the opposite direction. ‘Probably,’ he decided. “But there is probably a reason I’m facing this way. Might as well see what it is.” Jamie looked at his feet and took one hesitant step forward. The mist began to thin as though some invisible giant had taken a deep breath and let it out slowly. The trees became more distinctly outlined and the fog began to shred on their branches like torn cotton batting. The bath was dark, hard-packed earth and was easy to follow. Jamie looked up from his feet to see where he was heading as he hesitantly moved forward. The fog seemed intent on blocking that from him as it remained clear only about three paces in front of him. Jamie frowned as a thought hit him. He glanced over his shoulder. Already the fog was spilling back over the path behind him.



“Apparently once you make a decision here you have to stick with it.” He thought. Jamie resumed walking. The trail meandered around curves, up slight rises and down slight descents. It was nothing terribly taxing. He had the impression of an artistically arranged walking path created so that someone could stroll and remain interested without feeling too taxed. ‘Probably quite enjoyable on a spring afternoon,’ he thought to himself. ‘Not much to see now though.”The fog had lifted enough so that he could see the trees but they remained little more than black outlines. It reminded him of walking through a coloring book that had yet to see a child’s crayon. He found himself vaguely wishing he had an electric blue crayon to smear color on this black and white space.



There was something a little eerie about a world without color. He realized his eyes were straining to find some even as he began to pick up the sound of water. The sound increased as he walked and eventually the path he was on led up to a small bridge. Seeing nowhere else to go, he stepped onto the bridge. Unlike the bath, the fog did not encase the bridge. He reached the center of the bridge and could still see the footings on either side. The fog everywhere else had thickened obscuring the lines of the trees so much that it looked like he and the bridge existed on a sheet of white paper.



He could still hear the sound of the water flowing and he walked to the edge of the bridge and looked down. The water was inky black. Although he had heard it running and sounding as if the water was rolling over stones, he could see nothing in the liquid blackness, even though he could still hear the babbling. There was no sign of rocks or stones or even a wind driven ripple to mar the water, in fact Jamie stared down into the water unable to tell what direction the water was flowing. As he watched a small white dot appeared in the center of the river. Jamie leaned forward a bit to see what had caused it. The spot in the water looked as though someone were holding a small intense flashlight just beneath the water’s surface. Slowly it began to get larger. Jamie frowned, not sure if the light was coming closer or getting bigger. When the light was about two feet in diameter it began to take on a bluish tinge. Jamie watched as it pulsed for a moment and then with a flash it was clear, as though he were looking through a window. One the other side of the window a scene played out.



Jamie watched as a group of men used axes to clear a spot in the forest. They wore loose cotton like shirts and pants that ended in a cuff just below the knee. Their shirts stuck to them in places and Jamie could see one man wipe sweat from his face with a large linen square that seemed nothing like the dainty handkerchiefs he had seen before. He watched as muscles bunched and axes swung.



“Take only the trees that have been marked,” a man called. He was close to Jamie in age and he could see the medallion of the Keeper looped around his neck. Jamie absently tugged it from his own shirt and ran his fingers over the surface as he watched. “We don’t want to anger the forest.” There was a round of ascents and the scene faded. The blue glow took over and then cleared once again as the same man who had spoken of the forest as a sentient thing looked over the raw stone foundation of a house. The stones were all the immense ones he had seen in the basement. Stone chips and tools Jamie assumed would be useful to a stone mason were being gathered up as a few men moved around the sight, cleaning up the larger debris. Jamie found himself vaguely disappointed that he had not been shown how the large stones had been brought in and placed.



As the man Jamie thought of as the keeper of the time surveyed his new foundation with a pleased expression on his face a small group left the edge of the forest and walked towards him. Hearing their approach he turned to look at them. The smile faded from his lips. He did not frown but he no longer looked pleased. Jamie studied the group with a bit of a surprise. The men in the group were wearing the same cloaks as the watchers had on the night of the fire. The leader of this group pushed his hood back and Jamie realized it was Terrell. He looked much the same as he did the day he visited Jamie with one exception. The mark on his cheek was red and raw. It had not had time to develop into a scar. Jamie shook his head. It was one thing to know that the fey did not age. It was another thing to watch them conversing with your ancestor, even if it was only a dream.



“Although dreams never seem to be just dreams here,” he thought.



“Keeper,” Terrell said in his round well modulated tones. “I see the plans for your new abode are moving forward.” He favored the keeper with a dazzling smile.



“They are,” the keeper answered in a no nonsense tone that did not invite further comment. “Is there a reason for this visit?” The words were said politely but there was little warmth to them.



“Just wanting to see the progress,” Terrell said, his smile never dimming. He turned towards the stones. “I must say this does seem a bit over done though. A bit more...permanent than your previous dwelling.” There was no response to his comment and Terrell’s smile finally slipped, letting his irritation peek out. The silence stretched and finally Terrell turned to the Keeper. The man continued to wait as the silence deepened into akwardness.



“Well I suppose I should let you get back to it then,” Terrell said finally breaking the silence. “Good day to you Keeper.”



“Good day,” came the reply. Terrell left, followed closely by his three hooded flunkies. The Keeper watched them go. When they were out of sight he turned away from the path they had taken.

“Robin,” he called. A man dressed nearly identical to Del and standing about the same height stepped into view.



“Yes Keeper?” Robin said walking up.



“We’ve just had a visit from the Brotherhood of Shadows. Could you see if the High Talbot would be willing to look over the foundations before we go over them, just to be safe.”



“Of course Keeper but surely even the brotherhood...” Robin’s words stumbled to a halt as the Keeper favored him with a sardonic look.



“The brotherhood believes that all humans are chattel and take it amiss that a human is allowed to mediate their disputes. I am not accusing them of anything but I prefer caution.”



“Of course Keeper, I’ll see if he is available.” The scene faded. Jamie leaned forward to see what the next scene would hold. To his disappointment the light contracted into a small point and disappeared beneath the water. Jamie opened his eyes and found himself laying in bed, with the edge of dawn pressing against his window and the smell of freshly baked bread rising from the kitchen.



“Not sure that counts as a nightmare,” Jamie muttered, sitting up in bed and rubbing sleep from his eyes. Somehow he didn’t feel rested. “At least I have some talking points for the Gederan and Fedran representatives as well as the High Talbot.” Wondering if the Brotherhood of Shadows had anything to do with Lune Merdos, Jamie showered, dressed and headed down to breakfast.