While they were walking down the passageway towards the wagon room, Sari edged over next to her mother and whispered excitedly, “Theresa asked me to help her collect herbs for the beds.”
“That is nice, Sari, but remember, she will have other things to do too, so be careful not to overstay your welcome,” Ashni whispered back.
“I will be careful.” Then Sari walked a little faster to catch up with Theresa again.
The men were just coming in from turning the horses loose in the pasture when the women got to the wagon room. Karl looked at the two wagons and said, “Let’s tackle Theresa’s first.”
Darrell climbed up in the back of Theresa’s wagon and started handing things down to the others.
“Darrell, just pile the blankets and tarps on the seat for now,” Joan said. “I want to air them out before we store them.”
After everything except the herbs had been unloaded, Theresa climbed up in the wagon and started handing jars of powdered herbs out to Sari to load on the cart. Everyone else grabbed an armful of kitchen supplies and headed for the kitchen.
Joan and Ashni stayed in the kitchen to sort the food and cooking utensils while the others went back to help Theresa and Sari. When only the potted herbs were left, Theresa said, “I need to find a place to set up an herb garden. I don’t want to move all of these twice. Why don’t all of you take a break for a few minutes while Sari and I go outside and look for a good spot?”
“Let’s all go outside for a bit,” Darrell suggested. “I could use some fresh air.”
The men stretched out on the ground right outside the cave entrance while Theresa and Sari wandered around looking for the perfect spot for the herbs. About half an hour later, they found a small clearing that would work just fine.
While they were looking it over and planning how they would organize the plants, Sari said, “Would it help if we had some tables to set the pots on?”
“That would be nice, but we didn’t bring anything like that with us,” Theresa said.
“Would you like for me to ask Father to make us some tables?” Sari asked.
Theresa considered it for a moment. “I hate to ask, but it really would help.”
Sari grinned and headed back to the cave entrance. By the time Theresa caught up with her, she had already asked Blalick to build a couple of tables for the potted herbs.
“How long would you like for the tables to be?” Blalick asked Theresa.
“Six or seven feet would be great,” Theresa answered.
Blalick nodded and said, “Would you like them waist high? Your waist, that is? About three feet?”
“If it’s not too much trouble,” Theresa said. “I really hate to ask you to do this, Blalick. You’ve already done so much.”
“It is no problem. Come along, Macin. Let us go get some wood and a few tools,” Blalick said as he stood up.
“Do you need some help?” Karl asked as he stood up and stretched.
“No, we will be fine. You still have some unpacking to do,” Blalick said. “We will be back in a little while.”
By the time all of Theresa’s potted herbs had been carried out to the clearing, it was time to break for lunch. While they were eating, Blalick and Macin returned.
“We left the wood and tools outside in front of the cave,” Blalick said. “When you are done, you can show me exactly where you want the tables and we will get them put up for you.”
As soon as Theresa finished her lunch, she, Sari, Blalick, and Macin left to go set up the tables in the herb garden.
“I’ll take care of clearing up from lunch. Why don’t you go ahead and unload Kevin’s wagon?” Joan said to the guys when they had all finished eating.
“Let’s just leave the instruments in the wagon for now,” Karl said. “Next week I’ll borrow some wood and tools from Blalick and make a case for the harp and a cabinet for everything else.”
Joan nodded.
“What about the weapons? Where are we going to put those?” Darrell asked.
“We’ll only have to store the extras,” Steve said. “I’m sure we’ll all want to keep our own weapons in our rooms.”
“We could use that alcove that Blalick showed us, but we need to get some cabinets built down there first,” Karl said. “Maybe we should just leave them in the wagon, too.”
“I want one of the long bows in our room where I can get to it,” Joan said. “I plan to practice with it quite a bit while we’re here.”
“And I want to keep the stars in my room,” Darrell said.
“Karl, would you get Theresa’s bag and put it in her room for her?” Joan asked.
“Sure, and I suppose you’ll want me to get yours, too,” Karl said with a grin.
“Unless you’d rather wash dishes,” Joan said, ginning back.
After they finished with the dishes, Ashni said, “Let us go through the pantry so that you can get a good idea of what you have and what you are going to need. Macin will leave for his monthly trip to Abernon on Sunday, so you will need to give me your shopping list by tomorrow night. Include everything that you think you will need for the next month, not just food. If Theresa needs anything from the Chapel of Light in Abernon, tell her to add that to the list. Macin can stop by and pick it up for her.”
“How long does it take him to get there?” Joan asked.
“It takes him three days to get there, one day to pick up the supplies and to deliver the goods that we send in, and three days to get back.”
“Three days? You’re kidding! We traveled for ten days to get here from Abernon.”
“They must have sent you the long way around.”
“Must have,” Joan said, shaking her head. “You mentioned sending things to Abernon. What do you send?”
“Different things. I make wine from berries and grapes, so sometimes I send a few casks of wine. Sometimes I send some cloth, and occasionally a few quilts or rugs. In the fall, I send preserves and jams if I have any extra. Now, shall we get started on the pantry?”
As they were going into the pantry, Chris and Kevin walked through the sitting room on the way to their rooms, each holding one bag and carrying a cloak.
Ashni frowned. “They do have more clothes than what is in those bags, do they not?”
“No, that’s it. We each have four outfits, including the one we’re wearing,” Joan said. “I know we’re going to need warm clothing for the winter, but there was no way we could bring it with us. There wasn’t a lot of spare room in those wagons. I figured that we’d be close enough to a town that I could get some bolts of cloth and some thread. We’ve still got most of the coins that Kalen gave us, so we have the money, and once I get some material, it won’t take me long to make tunics and leggings.”
“Let us go through my attic first. I have a lot of winter clothes that Sari and Macin have outgrown. Maybe we can alter some of them. And we will need to have a new pair of boots made for everyone, a little larger than the ones you are wearing now, so that we can line them with fur. Did you say that you are leaving here in eight months? That is the end of January, the worst possible time of the year to cross the prairie.” Ashni shook her head. “We will make thick, bulky sweaters. We will use a double strand of wool, and…”
Joan interrupted her. “Ashni, we can’t take very much with us. Remember, we only have two wagons, and those wagons have to hold all of our instruments, weapons, food, camping supplies, and Theresa’s herbs. There isn’t going to be a lot of room for clothes.”
“Do not worry about that. I will have Blalick make another wagon. You will need it,” Ashni said firmly. Then she stepped into the pantry. “But, for right now, we need to see what you need for the next month. I hope you do not mind, but I started ordering extra supplies a couple of months ago to get you started. Shall we see what we have here?”
~ ~ ~ ~
A couple of hours later, Joan and Ashni had finished making the grocery order, Blalick and Macin had finished making Theresa’s tables,
and the wagons were as unloaded as they were going to be for a while. As the work was finished, people began congregating in the sitting room.
At one point, Macin walked over to Kevin and quietly asked if he could speak with him for a moment. They walked into the kitchen for a little privacy.
“Glendymere is expecting you tomorrow morning, and my father has requested that I escort you to his cave,” Macin said. “Would it be all right if I met you at your room about 7:30?”
“That will be fine, Macin, but would you rather I meet you somewhere else?”
Macin looked a little confused. “No, your room will be fine, sir.”
“By any chance are we going to Glendymere’s by way of the tunnel that leads from my room?”
“Yes, sir. I am sorry. I thought you knew. Willow Canyon is on the other side of Wildcat Mountain. It is quicker to go through the mountain than to go over it.”
“7:30 tomorrow morning will be fine. Will Chris go with us, or does Glendymere want me to come by myself tomorrow?”
“Father told me to escort you and your assistant. Is Chris your assistant?”
Kevin nodded.
“Then Chris is supposed to go, too. “
“Thank you, Macin.”
Macin nodded, bowed his head towards Kevin, and walked back to the sitting room to join his parents.
Chris glanced over towards Kevin when he saw Macin leave the kitchen and raised his eyebrows. Kevin nodded, so Chris quietly slipped out of the sitting room and walked over to the kitchen.
“What’s up?” Chris asked.
“Tomorrow morning the show gets under way.”
“Already?” Chris moaned. “I was hoping we’d have a couple of days before we had to meet him.”
“I know. But look at it this way, by this time tomorrow, we will have already spent a whole day with him,” Kevin said with a grin that was not at all convincing.
“What time are we leaving? And is anyone else going, or is it just the two of us?”
“Macin’s going to escort us, but it’s just the two of us out of our group. He’s meeting us at 7:30. And guess where he’s meeting us?”
“Here? Outside? I don’t know.”
“My room,” Kevin said quietly.
“Your room? You mean … the tunnel? So that really is where it goes?” Chris asked, almost in a whisper.
Kevin nodded. “Our own private passageway to Glendymere’s cave.”
“Are you going to tell the others where we’re going to be tomorrow?”
“Yes, sometime after dinner. Any second thoughts?”
“Tons! But don’t worry. I’m not going to back out on you,” Chris said as he grabbed a cookie that had been left over from the night before. “We’d better get back in there before everyone wonders what’s going on.” Then Chris headed back to the sitting room with his cookie.
Kevin poured himself a cup of coffee and stood in the kitchen slowly drinking it. While he was standing there, he overheard Blalick tell Sari and Macin that it was time to head back home, so he walked back towards the entrance hall to say thank you and good-bye.
A few moments later, Blalick herded his family towards the door to a chorus of ‘thank-you’s from the Tellurians. Macin was ready to go and quickly vanished down the passageway, but Sari hung back, not wanting to leave Theresa.
“Sari, would you be free to help me for a little while tomorrow morning?” Theresa asked. “I’d like to start cataloging the herbs that we have in the storeroom and getting them organized on the shelves and I really would appreciate the help if you have the time.”
Sari’s face lit up and her smile seemed to spread from one ear to the other. “Yes, miss. I will be happy to help. What time would you like for me to be here? I could be here as early as 6:00 if you wish.”
Theresa laughed and said, “I’m not that energetic. Why don’t we wait until around nine to begin?”
“9:00 it is. Thank you, Sister.”
Ashni put her arm around her daughter’s shoulder and. mouthed “thank you” to Theresa over Sari’s head as she steered her daughter out of the room. Blalick wished them all a good evening and disappeared through the door behind his wife.
~ ~ ~ ~
During dinner, Joan told the others that Macin would be leaving for Abernon on Sunday, so they needed to make a list of any and all supplies that they wanted him to pick up. “Ashni and I have pretty much finished the grocery list, but if there is anything special that any of you want, now’s the time to speak up. It’ll be a month before he goes again. I have to give him the list tomorrow night.”
Theresa smiled a wistful little smile and said, “I don’t suppose you included anything like chocolate on your list did you?”
Joan laughed. “Actually I did put baking chocolate on the list. I don’t know if they have it, but we’ll give it a shot. Anything else?”
Steve said, “It isn’t in the grocery category, but I would like some writing paper, quite a bit of it actually, and maybe a couple more bottles of ink. I’d like to start a journal.”
“I’d like some more paper and ink too,” Theresa said. “I want to make some notes about the different herbs and their preparations.”
“Okay. I’ll add paper and ink to the list. Anything else?” Joan asked.
No one could think of anything, so Joan reminded them again that once she gave the list to Macin, that was it for a month. She said she’d hold onto the list until dinner the next night, but after that it would be too late.
Then Kevin said, “Macin’s going to take Chris and me to Glendymere’s cave tomorrow morning. We’re leaving at 7:30.”
“So soon?” Joan asked.
Kevin shrugged. “From what Kalen said, we have a lot of work to do and not much time, so I guess the sooner the better.”
“How about you, Chris? Are you up for meeting a dragon tomorrow?” Theresa asked with a mischievous grin.
“No, but then I don’t think I’d ever be up for it, so I might as well go ahead and get it over with. I’m sure the idea is worse than the reality,” Chris said with a sick-looking smile.
“I don’t know about that,” Darrell said shaking his head. “All I can say is that I’m glad it’s you and not me. I’d probably faint dead away at the sight of him.”
“I hope not. You’ll have to meet him eventually,” Kevin said.
“But not tomorrow,” Darrell said. Then after a moment, he added, “Kevin, do us all a favor. If you know that I’m going to have to meet Glendymere, don’t give me too much warning. I don’t think it would help, and it would give me that much more time to panic. Okay?”
“Okay,” Kevin said as they all laughed.
~ ~ ~ ~
Although Kevin had gone to bed early, he was still awake around midnight. He decided to go get a glass of cold milk, hoping that it would help him drop off to sleep.
When he got to the kitchen, he found that Chris was already there, heating some water on the stove. “Thought I’d fix a cup of tea. Want one?” Chris asked.
“No, what I really want is a big bowl of ice cream, but I’ll settle for some milk.”
“Did you have trouble falling asleep, too?”
“Yeah. I keep looking at that door and wondering what’s waiting for us at the other end of that tunnel,” Kevin said as he poured a mug of milk.
Chris sighed and said, “I have no idea what we’re walking into or what we’re going to have to do, and I find that idea scarier than the idea of meeting a dragon.”
Kevin nodded and drank his milk. “I don’t know how long we may be gone tomorrow. Maybe we should take some food with us, at least for lunch.”
Chris held up a small sack. “I just finished cutting some cheese and bread for us to take. I also threw in a couple of mugs. I was trying to figure out what we could use to carry some water with us when you came in. Do you have any ideas?”
“Not off hand. I’ll look around while you drink your tea,” Kevin said as he started for the pantry. A few m
inutes later he found a jug that had a wooden stopper in the top. The jug looked like it would hold about a half gallon, so they set it beside their sack, ready for the morning.
After Chris finished his tea and Kevin drank another mug of milk, Chris asked, “Feeling any better?’
Kevin grinned and shook his head. “Not really. How about you?”
“No, can’t say that I do,” Chris answered as he rinsed out the mugs. “Oh well, guess we should at least lie down for a while. Who knows? Maybe we’ll get lucky and fall asleep. Let’s go.”
Chapter 30
Glendymere
Kevin got up around 6:00 Saturday morning and headed towards the kitchen. The aroma of fresh coffee greeted him before he reached the sitting area. Chris was up, dressed, and pacing back and forth across the kitchen with a steaming cup of coffee in his hand.
As Kevin poured himself a cup, he asked, “Did you get any sleep at all last night?”
Chris shook his head. “I tossed and turned for about four hours, and then I gave up. How about you?”
“I dozed a little, but that was about it.”
The two of them drank a whole pot of coffee during the next hour and had just put on a fresh pot when Joan walked in. She offered to fix them some breakfast, but Chris said that he was much too nervous to eat, and Kevin said that he had already eaten some cheese and a piece of bread.
A little after seven, Macin walked into the kitchen, spoke to Joan, and asked Kevin if he and Chris were ready to go. When Kevin nodded, Macin led them down the hall to Kevin’s room, opened the door to the tunnel, and led them through a corridor wide enough for all three of them to walk abreast.
About a quarter of a mile later, they entered a large round chamber. Four tunnels led out of the chamber at right angles.
Macin stopped at the door and said, “You need to think of this room as a big compass. The hall we entered from is west.” Then Macin pointed to the hall to the left. “That hall is north. It winds around through the mountain for several miles before coming to a dead end. The east tunnel leads up to our house and then on to the peak of Wildcat Mountain, and the south tunnel leads to an underground lake.”
The Master's Chair (The Chronicles of Terah) Page 36