by T L Harty
Benni squashed whatever emotion started to surface. “The legend says that when the true queen of our people holds that ring, they will know the entire history of the healing druidess line. Please tell me something I don’t know or this has been a colossal waste of time.”
My eyebrows rose at her directness, but the level of importance she placed on this meeting impressed me. I made my way back to my seat.
“St. Begnet was a liar,” I blurted out.
Benni opened her mouth in disbelief.
“Many people question whether or not St. Begnet ever existed. There is a strong hypothesis that the name may be a bastardization of a similar male saint. As a matter of fact, if it wasn’t for a single item, she would have probably been victorious over the entire motto. She definitely left a mark, but she failed at remaining unseen. Do you know what item I’m talking about?”
Benni gave an affirmative head nod. “The gold bracelet she wore. An angel gave it to her after her conversion to Christianity.”
“And there’s the lie. Don’t get me wrong, Begnet felt badly about her dishonesty, but she also knew what had to be done. Servants of the cloth were not allowed to wear such garish articles. After joining the church, all worldly treasure was to be laid aside for a modest life. That bracelet could have fed a village.”
“If she wasn’t supposed to have it, why did the angel give it to her?” Benni asked, indignant.
“That’s just it. An angel didn’t give it to her. Do you think angels run around bedazzling people when they convert? And why Begnet and no one else in all of history? I mean, it’s brilliant to tell the church that an angel gave it to her, as though God chose her to have it and who dare go against God’s wishes? And the cross carved into it…nice touch!”
The wheels inside Benni’s head were spinning, her curiosity rising- I could see it in her eyes.
“Something that I’ve never understood is how she kept the bracelet for so long. We have records of multiple pirate raids during her habitation in Northumbria. Why did they never take it? And if she didn’t get it from an angel, where did it come from?!” Benni asked, looking for answers.
“When Begnet was sixteen, she knew her parents would soon arrange a wedding. Her beauty and standing as an Irish princess meant there were numerous suitors vying for her hand. Begnet felt a husband would confine her gifts and make encouraging druid traditions an impossible task. So, before any men would be considered, she left her home in the middle of the night to meet a trusted friend.”
I could see Begnet quietly walking through the small town and feel her heartbeat quicken with each anxious step…hoping the plan set in motion would work.
“She found the blacksmith apprentice at the forge and they quickly went to work. Begnet removed her treasured, golden torc from her neck. She refused to leave the symbol of her Celtic history behind. Her friend carefully melted the torc and formed a bracelet out of the gold. When the bracelet was warm, but still malleable, he flattened it around her wrist tight enough that it couldn’t be removed. No one had seen anything like it before, which made the angel story that much more believable.”
“That’s fascinating!” Tracy interrupted.
“How was she able to leave Dalkey and go to Northumbria?” Tina wondered.
“A council similar to ours made sure of her safety. Her friend escorted her to the docks, where he gave Begnet a goodbye kiss…the one romantic kiss she would ever receive. The sailors were more than happy to oblige once enchanted by a sweat spell expertly placed in their drink. The ship sailed past Dalkey Island, on the way to Northumbria when they saw the sun’s light break over the horizon. If all went well, they would arrive around noon, the next day.”
Benni walked toward me and I extended my hand to return the ring. She picked it up, placed it on my finger and kissed it.
“You are indeed my queen.”
“And you are my healer.”
“This is what happens from here,” I said, standing up to give Benni my seat. “There will be no more constant guard.”
“Hold on,” Macy protested. “You need to be protected.”
“That’s the thing…no one really knows the worth of something until you put it under glass or guard it. A queen could exist in anonymity except for her finery or carriage entourage. We could learn a lot from Benni’s ancestors. Let’s leave a mark, without being seen.”
“It’s not a bad idea,” Clio agreed.
Macy folded her arms and huffed defiantly. “Guards are still going to be on duty around you. We can’t forego all common sense!”
“Why don’t the guards nonchalantly hang around us, looking like husbands or boyfriends? That could make things seem more realistic,” Ann added.
Macy glared at Ann for even suggesting such a thing.
“We’ll figure it out,” I said. “Also, I want Tracy and Benni to be included in our council immediately, bringing the total to seven.”
“Tradition says five,” Clio shared.
“I don’t think so. The number five has no significance to our lines. Seven is a number that represents completion. Besides, I’ve already decided.”
The council members looked around, shocked by my sudden burst of leadership.
“Tomorrow, I want to go out to the island and spend the night. You can pick a guard to escort me. Hang up flyers down by all the docks saying that the island is under environmental quarantine because a dead seal was found.”
“You expect the tourists to accept that?” Tina rebutted.
“They don’t have a choice. Make sure you list a hefty fine for any boats that are seen between the mainland and the island, while I’m there. The locals still remember tales of that island being the entrance of the black plague. Get a tent with a hazardous symbol on it to really sell the idea or in case curious people use their binoculars.”
“I think we’re done here. Welcome Benni. I smell something delicious, so let’s all go grab dinner. This meeting is deemed runda.”
In unison, we stomped a foot and all repeated, runda.
Benni left the room first. When the door shut behind her, you could hear her informing the other two candidates that they could leave.
I liked her already.
Chapter 25- Homeless
The roads were dark and the weather unforgiving as I traveled on to Tahoe. My visibility became impaired by tears…tears I cried almost the whole drive. My family would never understand the damage they caused and I’d never understand that distance couldn’t quench my pain.
I rolled into Tahoe a little past 1am. The most inviting-looking hotel was Caesar’s Tahoe, so I pulled into the parking lot, left the motor running (with my doors locked), and jumped in the back seat for a little shut eye. I grabbed the emergency blankets that Grammy insisted keeping in my car. She really did know best…about some things.
I assumed that sleep wouldn’t be very comfortable but, when sunshine pierced through the windows at 7am, I woke up feeling rested. I had enough money for food, gas and maybe a trip down a ski slope, but not enough for a hotel.
Luckily for me, the casinos stayed open on Christmas day. However, I looked into the car mirror to find a young girl that had seen better days. The matted hair, puffy eyes and blanket lines that ran through my face were not attractive and might garner unwanted attention. The casino didn’t want homeless people milling around.
It surprised me that the car hardly used any gas after idling for so many hours, but I still needed to fill the tank. I went to the local 7-11 to get gas, a bagel for breakfast and purchase a map of the local area. I only had the address of the house where we were all supposed to meet tomorrow.
In the 7-11 bathroom, I wriggled into clothing that could pass for a gym outfit, put up my hair in a ponytail and drove back to Caesar’s. The maids probably came on duty around 10am to clean, and I figured I’d act like I’d been locked out of my room and left my key inside, so they’d let me in. This is something I’d seen on TV shows and hoped it would work.
>
In a small duffel bag, I carried a nice outfit and make up. The casino might be my home for the next 24 hours until the house became available for use. While waiting for the maids to come on duty, I figured why not workout, increasing my believability with the addition of authentic sweat.
The gym lay abandoned, which made sense on Christmas morning. The horrible events of the night before were exhausted on the various pieces of gym equipment. After the workout, my confidence with the maid plan had disappeared. I decided that I’d clean up the best I could in the gym bathroom instead of try to gain access to a room. A janitor bumped into me, coming out of the women’s bathroom.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I’m not done in here yet,” he said, fumbling with his keys. He walked to the end of the hall and unlocked a door marked “employees only.” “Why don’t you go ahead and use the trainer’s bathroom. I’m finished in there.” He smiled, revealing a gold tooth.
Upon entering the bathroom, I noticed it had a large shower and all the amenities I’d need to get my appearance together.
I poked my head out the bathroom door. “I’m going to be in here a while. Take a shower…put on some makeup. Can I lock the door when I leave?”
“I suppose, but don’t leave it messy, you hear? I’ve got a reputation to uphold. Merry Christmas, child.”
“Merry Christmas!”
This Christmas miracle would not be wasted. After the luxurious shower, I applied my makeup and did my hair. The process was transformative. Had I taken a shower in a guest room, my nerves would be on constant alert, but this scenario relaxed and rejuvenated.
I packed my belongings in the duffel and left the fluffy, used towels in the deserted gym, so a hotel guest would be blamed and not the janitor. I went out to the car to return the duffel and found the parking a veritable ghost town compared to when I drove up last night. I moved the car to a spot closer to the casino. The cold weather just as much a motivator as merely having a better spot.
When I walked back into the casino, a man approached me, asking for ID. Once my fake ID passed his scrutiny, he stamped my hand, with “expires 12/26.” That’s as long as I’d need it and I wouldn’t have to be asked for my ID again.
By this point, lunch time had arrived and my stomach growled more urgently than usual because of the workout. I went to a casino deli bar and ordered a sandwich. The man at the counter also gave me a mimosa on the house and wished me a Merry Christmas. The drink was accepted appreciatively, but I still ordered a soda for the caffeine boost. This would be a long day.
I ate my sandwich and people-watched my afternoon away. There didn’t seem to be any clocks on the walls, but people graciously let me know the time…not that I had anywhere to be, merely curious. The casino filled up slowly. The noise intensified, but I swore my name could be heard through the air. Could this be a vision?
He came up to me slowly, with a smile on his face and I looked on in disbelief.
“What are you doing here?!” I asked.
“I’m here for our Marine World get-together,” Delvin said, hugging me.
“But that’s not until tomorrow.”
“Yes, well, I spent the week with my girlfriend in Sacramento. That’s where she’s from. Parents are old-fashioned, so they got a hotel room for me the last few nights. We had breakfast together this morning and her family planned to visit her great-grandmother in a home this afternoon. Not my cup of tea. The room was transferable for a small fee and here I am! Thought I’d see what’s shakin’ in Tahoe.”
“This is crazy!”
Delvin looked around. “Where’s Rick?”
“He’s in Vermont with his parents.”
“Uh-oh, trouble in paradise?” He tickled my sides, making me squirm.
“Stop it. No, we’re good. Engaged. Still young and stupid.” We smiled.
“Well, I have to check in. Are you going to be here for a while?”
I nodded. Telling him that I didn’t have a room would be embarrassing. It wasn’t long before he returned, giving me the mint from his pillow.
“So you look as beautiful as I remember.”
“Thanks, you’re sweet.”
Looking at his watch, he announced, “It’s almost 5 and you know what that means…craps time. Seven will be when we dine. Nine when we dance. And I’ll have you to your doorstep by 11…a respectable time for any woman to return home. Whaddya say?”
“Let’s do it.”
Spending the evening with Delvin was incredibly exciting. Being away from home and school made me feel like a grown-up for the first time. We celebrated at the craps table. The rules of the game were lost on me, but I dutifully blew on the dice for luck. Delvin had to pull me away from the tables because everyone wanted me to blow on their dice.
We dined on an expensive steak dinner and drank whiskey sours like true adults, sharing stories about our lives. I wondered how expensive my dinner would be, but Delvin refused my money, explaining that he won over three hundred dollars at the craps table. I had no idea. We talked about what we wanted to do in Tahoe over the next couple of days and planned a couple outings.
Wall-to-wall people in the club made it difficult to dance. The floor cleared when the slow songs came on, so Delvin bowed and held out his hand. I accepted. He was quite the dancer. If Rick or Delvin’s girlfriend could have seen us, we’d have been in trouble.
“So, I should probably get you to your room soon. I would hate to deprive you of your beauty sleep. Even though you don’t need any more of that.”
My head rested on his chest, as we swayed. “So cheesy,” I commented. Because I wasn’t looking at him, my confession became easier to make. “I don’t have a room.”
He pulled away. “I have a queen bed. You can stay with me. But, no funny business, young lady. I have a girlfriend. Who, by the way, can never hear of this!” We continued to dance.
“Maybe Rick doesn’t find out, either. He likes you, but this would make his head explode.”
When the song ended, Delvin went to the bartender and exchanged a large bill for a bottle of wine. Once outside the club, we started to head to his room.
“Wait, I need to go to my car and get my bag.”
“I’m not letting you go out there by yourself. Here, let’s trade keys. You take my room key and I’ll take your car keys and go get your bag.”
I explained where the car was parked, the make and model, and which bag I needed. He returned to the room in no time and I started to rifle through my belongings, quickly realizing my pajamas were still under my pillow at Grammy’s.
“Did I get the wrong bag?”
“No. In my rush to leave, I didn’t grab my PJ’s.”
Delvin shook his head. “So, we sleep naked, then? Is that what you’re saying?”
I threw a pillow at him. He went to his bag and came around to my side of the bed with a t-shirt and a pair of sweats. He handed them to me and kissed the top of my head. When I started to thank him, we looked at each other for far too long.
He leaned down, slowly kissing my cheek and then making his way to my lips. I momentarily gave in, allowing his hands to roam my body and tongue to explore my mouth.
“Stop,” I said, at such a low volume that our heartbeats almost drowned out my protest. “This is a really bad idea.”
He put his arms up, as though being held at gunpoint by a bank robber. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I really enjoyed this evening and I’m getting carried away. Let’s pour a glass of wine and chat like school girls.”
I went to change into the loaned pajamas while he opened the bottle of wine. I’d decided to sip at it the rest of the night. Giving into that kiss like I had, proved that enough alcohol roamed my system. He handed me a glass when I returned and we both flopped on the bed.
“So, where did you get your fake ID?” I wondered.
“I don’t need a fake ID, I’m 22.”
“What? We’re the same age.”
“No we’re not. I’m 22!”
&n
bsp; “Huh. So what happened with your girlfriend once she came back from Florida? If you spent Christmas with her family, things must have gone well.”
“You would think. She broke up with me after her internship and dated around. After a few months, she begged me to take her back. She wanted to see if she could find something better.”
“Oh come on! I’m sure that wasn’t it.”
“Well, she told me as much.”
“Oh,” I said. I nervously drank the wine, if for no other reason than to keep my mouth occupied.
“You and I should run away. Right now. Leave everyone behind and start a new life somewhere, just the two of us. Whaddya say?”
I laughed, but knew in my gut that if I had agreed to go, he wouldn’t have hesitated.
“Well, you’re looking tired and I think out of respect for our significant others, it would be best for me to sleep on the floor.” He came closer, cupping my face with his hands. His lips moved closer to my ear, his cheek touching mine. “Besides,” he whispered, “I’m not certain I could control myself.” He gave my ear a little peck.
I pushed him away. “You’ll be fine. You need to think of your girlfriend…that you love,” I reminded him, feeling incredibly uncomfortable.
I got off the bed, gathering a spare blanket from the closet and the comforter from the bed. He grabbed a pillow, tossing it on the floor. When I bent over to assemble his makeshift bed, I got so woozy that Delvin had to practically catch me. This was no time for a pesky vision.
“I’m sorry, I’m exhausted. Good night.”
I got under the covers and slept like a baby for over nine hours. When I woke up the next morning, Delvin’s blankets were strewn on the floor, with no sign of him. A long note stuck to the bathroom mirror. I detached it and sat on the toilet.
Muriel,
There is something about you that I find addicting. So much so, that all I can think about is touching you, being with you or how to get you in bed. And like you said, that would be a bad idea.