by Sharon Booth
'Maybe Blaise being brought to the twenty-first century is a fixed point in time,' Bob said. 'Like in Doctor Who. And what Aveta described, it's a paradox, if you ask me. And, according to The Doctor, such a thing could bring about the destruction of the entire universe.'
'Oh, for goodness' sake,' Amlodd groaned. 'Is it Boxing Day yet?'
'I say,' Aurora said, 'if I can just interrupt—'
'So, are you saying,' Kendrew asked, his brow deeply furrowed as he tried his best to follow the conversation, 'that to keep the St Clairs here, Blaise has to stay put in 2019? For good?'
'That's exactly what I'm saying,' Aveta said. 'There can be no other course of action.'
'I'm ever so sorry to butt in,' Aurora said, 'but—'
'Are you sure of this?' Zephyr demanded. 'We couldn't — you know — chance our arm?'
'You mean, it might be your only chance to get rid of me?' Father said grimly.
'Well, there is that,' Zephyr acknowledged.
'Charming.' Father tutted. 'And never mind what happens to the rest of my family, or to Castle Clair.'
'There's always collateral damage,' Zephyr said with a shrug.
'He's winding you up,' Amlodd said wearily. 'Take no notice.'
'Don't be so sure,' Father and Zephyr said at exactly the same time.
'I really am awfully sorry to keep going on about this,' Aurora said, 'but can I just—'
'This is not a joke, Zephyr,' Aveta said sharply. 'I think we should put this to the vote. The simple fact is if we send Blaise St Clair back to 1669, anything could happen. Who knows what the outcome would be? The world as we know it may be entirely changed. It's far too unpredictable and risky. I move we confine Blaise to this time permanently. Please raise your hand if you agree.'
Father's hand shot up, and she gave him a withering look. 'This vote is for High Council members only, Raiden. And I think—'
'What I think,' Aurora boomed, 'is that if someone doesn't help me this very minute, I will jolly well give birth in Bob's function room.' Her face turned rather purple as she screeched, 'Is that what you want? Is it?'
We all stared at her in horror and Bob cried, 'Well, it's definitely not what I want. I've just had those carpets cleaned.'
'Good heavens,' Aveta said. 'Why didn't you say something, child?'
Aurora rolled her eyes. 'I've been trying to say something for ages.'
'Are you absolutely sure about this?' I asked. 'Only, you thought you were in labour last night and look what happened.'
'What happened?' Blaise asked, his eyes wide with alarm.
'Er, you don't want to know,' I told him.
Aurora rocked backwards and forwards on her chair, and let out a long, low moan that sounded rather like a cow mooing.
'Oh, dear,' Father said. 'What do we do?'
'I need to fetch Mother,' I said. 'She's going to be Aurora's birthing partner, and none of you will be able to zap to her.' It was an inconvenient fact that we could only "zap" to people or places where there was a strong emotional attachment. Since Aurora was indisposed and Father had no magic, I could only think I was the one person who could reach home.
'You're going nowhere,' Zephyr said immediately. 'Aveta can fetch your mother, since she has an emotional connection, being good friends with her. I take it she's at Castle Lodge?'
'I should imagine so,' Father said.
'I'll be right back,' Aveta promised. 'Zephyr, look after your daughter,' she instructed, then vanished immediately.
'Oh, heck,' Zephyr said, hurrying round to Aurora's side and ineffectually patting the small of her back. 'Bob, I want you to take us to any spare room.'
'Hang on a minute,' Bob said, looking appalled, 'I can't give up another room! You haven't paid me for the two you've already used, let alone the cost of all these breakfasts, and hire of the function room.' He nodded at Aurora. 'She promised she'd have a word with you about it, come to think of it.'
Aurora's head whipped round like a snake about to strike. 'Time and place, Bob,' she snarled. 'Time and place.'
Bob stepped back and held up his hands in defence. 'Whoa! Okay, okay. Room twelve's free. It's on the ground floor so that should be your best bet.'
'Thank you very much, I'm sure,' Zephyr said. He awkwardly pulled Aurora to her feet. 'Now, dear, let's get you out of here, shall we?'
Slowly, he led Aurora out of the function room. Aurora caught Father's hand as she passed him.
'Raiden, come with me. I need you to be there.'
Father paled. 'Are you sure? Iliana will be here any second.'
'I know, but I want you to be there, too,' she pleaded.
Father looked horrified.
'Man up,' Zephyr growled. 'After everything you've done, this is the least you can do. This is all your fault.'
'Okay, okay.' Father clearly knew when he was defeated. 'If you're sure.'
Bob hurried past them and raced ahead to room twelve, and Amlodd and Kendrew slouched in their seats, looking thoroughly fed up.
'Some Christmas this is,' Kendrew said. 'I should be at home now, playing with the kids' Lego.'
'I'd have cracked open the Baileys,' Amlodd admitted. 'Nothing says Christmas like a Baileys.'
Blaise looked bewildered. 'What is Lego? What is Baileys?'
'Maybe,' I said, 'nothing says Christmas more than a new baby, and that being the case, we're in exactly the right spot.'
'You know,' Amlodd mused, 'there's nothing to stop us popping home for an hour or two.'
Kendrew raised an eyebrow, looking suddenly hopeful. 'You think?'
'Let's face it, nothing will get sorted any time soon will it? Zephyr's grandchild's on its way, and Aveta will be busy helping. We won't be deciding for the time being, will we? We may as well be at home with our families, don't you think?'
'But what about them?' Kendrew asked, nodding at Blaise and me. 'Who will guard them? They might do a runner while everyone's distracted.'
Blaise looked most put out. 'I have given my word, sir,' he reminded Kendrew, rather haughtily. 'I will stay put while they decide my fate. You need have no fear I will escape.'
'Hmm. Fair enough,' Kendrew said. 'But what about you? Do you promise, eh?'
'Me?' I said indignantly. 'Don't you think it would be pointless? Where am I going to go? Besides, Blaise is my responsibility. I won't run out on him. And don't forget, that's my half-brother or sister being born in there. I want to stick around to make sure everything goes okay. Besides, how far can I go with this thing still on?' I waggled my wrist, reminding him I was still wearing the bracelet.
'She's got a point,' Amlodd said. 'I vote we hop it now before Zephyr comes through and sticks his oar in.'
'Agreed,' Kendrew said. 'Tell him he knows where to find us if he needs us,' he called, before he and Amlodd vanished before our eyes, each heading home to their cosy, festive homes and loving families. Lucky them.
Blaise looked at me. 'This has been a most eventful day,' he said, which I thought was a massive understatement.
Aveta and Mother arrived at that moment, and Mother raced over to give me a hug. 'Are you all right, darling?' she enquired. 'No one's done anything unseemly to you?'
I almost laughed. 'Nothing,' I assured her. 'It's Aurora you need to worry about. She looks and sounds awful.'
'We'll take care of her,' she said, taking Aveta's arm, suddenly brisk and assured again. 'There's no finer midwife than this wonderful lady. You know she delivered all four of you, don't you?'
I stared at Aveta in awe. 'No, I didn't. Gosh. Er, thank you?'
Aveta shrugged. 'Think nothing of it. Right, can someone please take us to the mother-to-be?'
A loud bellow sounded throughout the hotel, followed by a shriek of, 'I hate you, Raiden! You are never touching me again, do you hear?'
'Never mind,' Aveta said, smiling. 'I think we can find her all by ourselves.'
Chapter Seven
Blaise had fallen asleep in a chair and Zephyr was pacing up and
down, periodically checking his watch and sighing, and wincing as Aurora let out another loud bellow. Bob kept popping into the function room to inform us his wife was livid about all this palaver happening on Christmas Day, of all days, and that he'd probably have to offer his guests a discount for the inconvenience and distress.
'I mean, it's not right, is it?' he said. 'They shouldn't have to listen to that when they're trying to have a nice festive break. The kitchen staff are all distracted, and we've got sixty-four Christmas lunches to get out in the next hour.' He cocked his head, giving Zephyr an appealing look. 'This will all be done and dusted soon, right? I've got a Christmas party extravaganza going on in this room from six o'clock. The DJ will want to set up in a couple of hours and we've got balloons and banners to put up.'
Zephyr gave him an unblinking stare, and Bob threw up his hands in despair. 'Oh, forget it. I might as well call the whole thing off! This is a catastrophe. I'll be bankrupt, you see if I'm not. Last time I put myself out to help the High Council.'
'Perhaps,' said Zephyr coldly, 'you'd prefer not to be involved with the Council at all? Perhaps it's time you tendered your resignation.'
Bob went pale. 'Now, just a minute. I never said that, now did I? Did I?' he said, appealing to me. 'All I'm saying is—'
We never discovered what he was about to say as, at that moment, the function room door was flung open and Father stood there, white as a sheet and shaking visibly. We all hurried towards him, except for Blaise, whose only response was to let out a muffled snore.
'Well? Is there news?' Zephyr snapped when Father didn't speak.
'It's a boy,' Father gasped. 'A healthy baby boy.'
I flung my arms around him and hugged him. 'Oh, congratulations,' I cried. 'That's fabulous news.'
'And Aurora?' Zephyr asked. 'Is she all right?'
Father nodded. 'She's fine.'
Zephyr almost fell into a chair. 'Thank heavens for that,' he murmured, and my heart went out to him. Despite his gruff exterior, he obviously still loved his daughter, however much his wife had tried to push Aurora out of the family.
'Is she pleased?' I said. 'That it's a boy, I mean?'
Father's mouth curved into a smile. 'She said she didn't care what it was. It could be a goldfish for all she minded, as long as it was all over at last.' He shook his head. 'I had no idea it would be so traumatic. What women go through ... I must buy your mother some flowers when I go for Aurora's.'
Blaise sat up. 'Has something happened?' he asked, sounding worried. 'The child—?'
'A healthy boy,' Father assured him. 'Another St Clair, and all's well.'
'And the mother?' Blaise queried.
'Perfect,' Father beamed.
Blaise hurried over and clapped him on the back. 'Wonderful news, sir,' he said, a wide smile on his face. 'And a healthy son! Every man should have a son.'
'Actually,' Father pointed out, 'I already have a son. Remember Sirius?'
'But a man can never have too many sons,' Blaise assured him. 'This is a great day indeed.'
'I'd best tell the wife,' Bob said and hurried out of the room, almost colliding with Mother, who was on her way in.
She looked perfectly calm and unruffled, as if she'd been quietly reading a book, rather than assisting with the birth of her ex-husband's son.
'Aveta was wonderful. So skilled and so calming.' She hurried over to Father and kissed him lightly on the cheek. 'Congratulations, Raiden. He's beautiful,' she said. 'Don't stay out here too long. Aurora's asking for you, and she wants to know if you can bring her a cheese sandwich.'
Father tutted. 'Can one of you ...'
'My treat,' I said, producing a white china plate bearing Aurora's favourite wholemeal bread, with real butter, Wensleydale cheese and chutney, just as she liked it. 'Give her my love.'
Father kissed me, took the plate and headed back to room twelve.
Aveta appeared a few moments later, shaking her head. 'How she can eat all that after just giving birth I do not understand,' she said.
'Thank you for delivering my grandchild,' Zephyr said. 'I knew they were both in safe hands with you, Aveta. Your midwifery skills are second to none.'
'That's most kind of you,' Aveta said. 'I've had a lot of practice. I believe your grandson may have been delivery number seven thousand two hundred and ten. Not that I'm counting. Of course,' she added, 'I am very old, and I started my career at a very young age.'
'May I see my daughter and the baby?' Zephyr enquired.
'She's just finishing her sandwich, then she's getting a nice warm shower,' Aveta said. 'Perhaps you should give her half an hour.'
'I suppose so,' Zephyr said grudgingly.
'And in the meantime,' Aveta said meaningfully, 'we can have that vote.'
'What? Now?' Zephyr rubbed his forehead. 'Is it appropriate to do that? I've just welcomed my first grandchild into the world.'
'No better time to sort out the fate of the universe then,' she said firmly. She looked around, her brow furrowing. 'Where are the others?'
'Bob's gone to tell his wife the party's on tonight, after all,' I said.
'And Amlodd and Kendrew?'
I flushed slightly. 'Well, er, they popped home to see their wives and children,' I admitted. 'But they said you could call on them as soon as you were ready.'
'I see,' Zephyr said with a sigh. 'But who can blame them? It's Christmas Day.' He yawned. 'It is still Christmas Day, isn't it? I'm so tired I can hardly think straight.'
'I'll fetch Bob,' Aveta said, 'and I'll order coffees all round, too. It's been a long day. I'll summon Kendrew and Amlodd back while I'm at it. We need to conclude this business so we can welcome our new arrival properly and get on with our own Christmas festivities.'
Fifteen minutes later, Blaise, Father, Mother and I were sitting at a table drinking coffee, while the five members of the High Council sat at another table, deep in discussion.
Father was just telling Blaise all about life in Ballydraiocht and how he'd lost his magic, when Zephyr got up and headed towards us. We all held our breath, but he barely glanced in our direction as he hurried past us and out of the room. We glanced across to the other members of the High Council, but they seemed unconcerned.
I sighed inwardly as Father continued regaling Blaise with tales from his embarrassing past. I appreciated Father's honesty, but did he have to be quite so graphic? I wasn't sure Blaise was ready to hear all about his previous penchant for young, blonde barmaids.
Mother leaned over and whispered to me, 'I had to burn Blaise's clothes, darling, I'm afraid.'
'What? Why?'
She patted my arm. 'Trust me, you really don't want to know.'
I wrinkled my nose, realising that life in the seventeenth century must have been very different.
Zephyr returned to the room and took his place at the table.
Father drained his coffee cup and sighed. 'Taking their time, aren't they?'
'What do you think will happen?' Mother said, sounding anxious.
We watched the councillors nervously. There was lots of nodding and shaking of heads and shrugging and wild gesticulating going on.
'It's anyone's guess,' I said. 'Whatever they decide, I reckon I'm in big trouble.'
'Oh, nonsense,' Mother said. 'Anyone with half a brain can see it wasn't your fault. They can hardly blame you for being exceptionally gifted.'
'I fear I'll be stranded in this time, no matter what they decide today,' Blaise said, sounding worried. 'How will I ever remember who I am, or what happened to me?'
'You're Blaise St Clair,' Mother said, squeezing his hand. 'And since you know that, the rest of it will follow in good time. Just be patient, dear. It'll all come back to you, and you have us to support you.'
'Big deal,' he said. 'I mean, it's really kind of you and everything, and I do appreciate it, but I need to get back. This isn't my kind of place, is it? And what the heck am I supposed to do with myself, stuck in 2019?'
We all stared at
him in amazement.
'What did you say?' I asked, hardly able to believe my ears.
There was a sudden flurry from across the room and my stomach churned as the High Council made its way over to our table.
Zephyr cleared his throat. 'On this day, the twenty-fifth day of December, two thousand and nineteen,' he said gravely, 'the High Council of Witches has decided that the witch known as Blaise St Clair, born in the year sixteen-forty, must remain in this time and never return to the seventeenth century.'
Blaise gasped, but Zephyr held up his hand. 'There is no room for argument or debate in this matter, Mr St Clair. The repercussions, should you return to your own time, could be immense. The outcome is far too unpredictable. The timeline has altered and shaped itself around your supposed death in 1669 and we must all live by the present reality which has ensued from that event.'
Aveta's expression was sympathetic as she laid a hand on Blaise's shoulder. 'I am sorry, Blaise, truly I am. I understand how devastating this must be to you, and how great a shock you have suffered. I hope, in time, you will come to accept your circumstances and make a happy life for yourself here. To help you, we have put a translation spell on you. Although you will speak as you have always done, to others you will sound contemporary. And when others speak, you'll understand what they're saying.'
'Kind of like what the Tardis does in Doctor Who,' Bob said excitedly. 'It was my idea,' he added proudly.
'Which explains his extraordinary statement a moment ago,' Mother said. 'Well, the spell worked, that's for sure.'
'Oh, God,' Blaise groaned, burying his head in his hands, 'what do I do now? I've got no home, no money, no family ...'
'You have family!' Mother said immediately.
'You do,' Father assured him. 'You have us. All of us. We're your family.'
'And you'll always have a home at Castle Lodge,' I added. 'After all, technically, it's your house, too.'
He raised his head and looked at me. 'What if you get fed up with me?'
It sounded so funny, hearing him say such things, I almost laughed, but the bleakness in his eyes dampened my humour. 'I'll never get fed up with you,' I said, my tummy fluttering as he stared at me. It was weird. Like one of those everything else fades away moments you see in the movies. It was just him and me, eyes fixed on each other, and I couldn't help hoping he was getting the same butterfly effects in his stomach I was getting in mine.