Then I heard, “Mistress?” I opened my eyes.
We had both landed back on terra firma, which also meant Colin was still alive.
I looked behind me, but I didn’t see him among the fast scattering crowd of acolytes. I looked in front of me, and the shadow queen stood glaring down at me. At least she still had the rope around her waist. I stood shakily on my feet, and then I stepped out of the lasso that still encircled Calidum and me together.
Then I stepped out of my circle, taking up the slack in the rope. I kept the rope firmly attached in my grasp. Then I used all my weight to pull the shadow creature across it to me in a game of tug-of-war.
I remembered pulling hard the rope, and then it gave. I think it helped she was mostly insubstantial.
I did not have the privilege to see if I succeeded however, because that was when I blacked out. I could only hope that I had done enough… enough to save the world.
Chapter 22
Bonds
Rule number seventeen: Flight is always an option, or never an option, dependent upon the situation.
When I came to, my mother was hovering above me, so I couldn’t really see where I was, but if I was judging by the ether odor, the birds chirping, and the shuffling of long skirts, I was in a triage center outside of Convent. I looked down and saw a bandage covering my chest.
“Well, it looks like she’s finally awake,” she said as she sat back down on a stool that had been obviously brought from our family home. “They thought you might have died back in the lake house, but I told them that Beckenbauer blood ran in your veins and we were made of sterner stuff than that. It is ruined, you know, the house. It is impossible to repair now, even if it was worth it.”
“Where is Colin?”
“You mean Mr. Townshend? You can thank the stars above that he had the mind to use that brass sphere he had. Anyway, he’s been shipped off to a hospital in D.C. The people here told me that they were unequipped to handle his unique physiology, whatever that means. I can only assume that I must have misheard the nice Captain.” She then pulled out an embroidery hoop and began sewing upon it.
“Where is my pet?” I didn’t think that she could recall Calidum’s name.
“Somewhere nearby I’m sure. I have to scare him off whenever I come for a visit.”
“Where is everyone else?” I wanted to ask specifically about Uncle Charles, but that might be a bit too forward for a public discussion. He was a criminal now, a traitor to his nation. He was in an even lower social rung than I was now.
“Now don’t you worry about anyone else, your father is dealing with the press. God bless his soul.” That pretty much answered my question.
“As much as I hate to say it, if it weren’t for you, our family’s name would be in tatters right now,” she said and then tied off an end. She promptly added more embroidery thread to her needle.
“What are they going to do with him?” I asked, not able to wait any longer for her to tell me.
“It’s already been done.”
“What has?”
“He’s been lynched, along with the rest of them. Residents did it before the government could get involved. They were mercy killings, if you asked me. President Newton has Summoners from all around the world coming to take care of any of the unsavory things still lurking inside the town.
“But the most exciting thing is that she is thinking about renaming the parish to Beckenbauer Parish in your honor, despite how Mortimer’s brother acted. How delightful is that?” she asked rhetorically.
I huffed out a breath and fiddled with the bandage on my chest. Mother slapped my hand, faster than a Gaboon viper could strike a rogue Whisperer on the Dark Continent. “Now, you never mind that. The doctor’s said it will scar, but you are lucky to be alive.”
I settled back down and asked, “Can I have some laudanum?”
She put down her hoop and said, “Of course. I think that it would suit us both well. She snapped her fingers loudly, and one of the medics came right over.
···•Ͽ Ѡ Ͼ•···
Before the town was finally cleared and the bodies burned and buried, I was brought back home to finish my recovery, but really, I thought it was to make it appear as if my family was doting on me, the hero. Father told me that my name had been splashed across the headlines, just under President Newton’s own. When I read the articles, which either had rudimentary details incorrect, or had completely fabricated sensationalized ones, I realized the news actually reported very little of the truth. I thought it was for the best. The general populace didn’t need to know how close it really came to a world dominated by demons.
President Newton publicly commended my actions, but never sent me a wire or a call to state that personally to me. But what really disturbed me was there was no mention of Colin anywhere in the papers or tickers. I had no idea what had happened to him, and it was becoming more apparent that no one was going to tell me either.
About a week after recuperating at home, I visited Calidum out in the barn, and he was ecstatic in his own way to see me. He came right up to me and smiled. It was a little disturbing because he had obviously been eating pigeons, judging by the grey feathers that were sticking out between his teeth.
“I’m happy to see you in one piece,” I told him.
“So am I.”
“So did the shadow queen die?”
“Yes, and next time you are on my plane, it would help if you told everyone that I helped you kill her,” he replied.
“I think I can manage that. Did he tell you what dimension they came from?”
“The fourth,” he confirmed for me, which explained some of the same conventions we shared with them like furniture and pillars.
“Where is Colin?”
“I don’t know. Some of the soldiers first took him to get medicine from the ugly tents outside the gates of the town, while you were sent to the fancy tent.” He must have meant the military triage.
“Do you think he is still there?” I asked.
“Not if what your father says is true. They quickly packed him up that first day and shipped him somewhere.”
“Thank you. Would you like to come stay in my room in the house now?”
He burped up some feathers and replied, “No. I think it is time for you to send me back.”
My bottom lip involuntarily quivered when I asked, “It is?”
“Yes. I miss my family.”
“You have a family?”
“Yes, and they are better than yours.” No big surprise there.
“Will I ever see you again?” I asked the little demon.
“You know my calling name, but please only call me if you really need me. I do have other obligations.”
I felt big hot tears streak down my face in the cool, crisp morning.
“Don’t cry. You now have someone who can protect you better than I can.”
Do I? I gulped and then told him, “He’s gone. He doesn’t want to be a part of my crazy life.”
“Nonsense. You have a big heart, but a little brain. All you have to do is open your eyes and see. He would follow you to the ends of twenty-two worlds.”
I listened to his words, but I refused to believe them. He was a demon, and what did demons know of human hearts?
“I’m ready now.”
“As you wish.”
···•Ͽ Ѡ Ͼ•···
Later, I decided that I would write a letter demanding the whereabouts of Colin. I sat down at my writing desk, took out a pen and some ink and then stared at the blank parchment. Where to begin? Why hadn’t he written me? Was he dead and no one wanted to tell me? Whenever I brought his name up, why would everyone suddenly grow quiet before changing the subject? Why were they acting as if he was never here?
I wound up staring outside the window, overlooking the rolling hills filled with trees and swamps.
Mother came in and I didn’t even notice her. She dropped an envelope down in front of me and sat down on a
nearby small settee.
I looked down at the nondescript envelope and asked, “What is this?”
“It has come full circle daughter. It is a passport and airfare for Britannia. I can admit that staying here is not helping you. Go back to your friends in Britannia.”
“Does Wendy know about this?”
“She’s called several times, but you’ve been asleep each time. She says that she wanted to come herself, but other affairs demanded her attention and have prevented her from visiting.
“Go child, I can’t bear it any longer. Having you mope around the house is doing terrible things to my complexion.” She touched her hands to her face to emphasize her point, although her skin appeared as flawless as always to me.
“What does Father say?”
“He wants to see you happy. Now go and pack your things. We’re heading for the station in an hour.”
I thought about the things I had to pack and concluded that it would take only about a minute. I nodded my head and she left without any further fuss. I knew at least in London, I could be a help to Wendy. I wondered what she would think about my wound in the shape of a sigil.
Instead of immediately packing my meager belongings, I wrote that letter to Colin.
Dearest Colin,
I hope this letter finds you well. I have heard little in the way of your recovery, but as no one has informed me of your death, I can only hope that you are on the mend, and I wish you well.
Calidum is gone. It was his time to leave, but I wanted you to know that he is safe, thanks to you. Thank you.
I want you to also know that above all, I want you to be happy. I want you to stay in D.C. and carry on with your important work. The world needs people like you. I know that our worlds crossed briefly for a time, and while I will always treasure the time we spent together, I know it must come to an end.
I am going to accept the position and my destiny with the Royal Agora in London. I know I have much to learn and will try my best to fulfill my potential. I hope that we will meet again one day, and share good memories of our time together.
Sincerely,
Miss Basil Beckenbauer
After addressing it, I brought it to Mrs. Haverty to post. I then packed what I had and waited on the front porch for mother to summon round the carriage. A driver came round and handed me a note:
Basil,
Sorry I can’t be bothered to accompany you to the stationhouse. The remaining parish elders are coming to an impromptu dinner tonight at our house to discuss who the new mayor will be. Of course, I will be nominating your father. He just doesn’t know it yet. So much to do, with so little time to do it. Safe travels.
-Juniper
I crumpled the note and threw it to the ground. Maybe a chickadee could use it for some nesting material. I loaded my carpet bag into the carriage and prepared for the long journey back to my new home, London.
Chapter 23
Homecomings
Rule number one. Know yourself.
“Oh Wendy!” I cried out as we spotted each other at the same time. She ran towards me, but as I was still stuck in customs, there wasn’t much I could do to bridge the gap between us. Finally, they let her through and we hugged.
She leaned back and touched my hair, as she said, “It is you, my sweetest Basil.”
“It is and I wasn’t sure you would be back yet from Mermaid Isle,” I replied.
“Yes, we cut it short, because things were going better than anticipated. We’ll be hosting King Lasair and his entourage just before we set out for our real honeymoon, but that won’t be for another six months. Do you plan on still being here to help me with the banquet arrangements?”
“Of course I will,” I told her as I squeezed her hands. I looked at her with my most serious expression, and then when I had her full attention, I said, “And I want to formally accept the position on the Agora.”
“That is splendid news. Dorian will be most pleased, but where is Mr. Townsend?” she asked as she looked over my shoulder at the other people who were waiting to get through customs.
“I’m not exactly sure, but I believe he is in D.C. Why?”
She looked me dead in the eye and said, “That’s odd.”
“Why?”
“I just thought he would be with you.”
“He needs to get back to his career as a star librarian, and I need to get on with my life at the Royal Agora. I have many new responsibilities to learn, and I want to go to night school to further my education.”
“Oh, that is great news. But regarding Mr. Townsend, wouldn’t Alice allow him to join you?” she asked in a very low tone, so she wouldn’t be overheard.
“Are you on a first name basis with President Newton now?”
Wendy blushed and said, “We’ve developed a friendship based on a lively correspondence. We have very similar stations in life, and we find it comforting to have a confidant in each other.”
I released her hands and said, “I see.”
Wendy smiled and then she hugged me again. She whispered in my ear, “But no one can replace my dearest friend.” Then she pulled back and said, “I’m simply finding that as my heart grows, there is more room for people to hold in it.”
I nodded and wiped away the wasted tear that ran down my cheek. I was the one who had left her for the states in the first place.
She took my hand, and then we bypassed the customs officers who didn’t know what to make of the situation as we walked out of the station house.
“Now tell me all about your adventures with Mr. Townsend.”
That was exactly what I did all the way back to her London townhouse.
···•Ͽ Ѡ Ͼ•···
Wendy sat across from me sipping Tienchi Flower tea and eating fruit tortes while I finished telling her the tale.
Once I was done talking, she surprised me when she asked, “So you don’t love him?”
I was taken aback at the directness of her question. I knew that I must have blushed, but replied, “It matters not my feelings for him. He has a job to do, and so do I, and they are in different countries.”
“Hmm, mmm,” she said. She took another long sip of her tea and said, “I’ll be right back.” She got up and left the room. I thought it odd to say the least, but something must have just occurred to her. She was the Premier’s wife and a member of the Agora Royal Council, certainly there must have been many things that might draw her attention away from me for a moment. Soon, I too would have the same sort of responsibilities she did.
I looked at the handsomely bound edition of Mansfield Park that was sitting on the table, with a bookmark in it. It must have been the latest book Dorian wanted her to read. He had a penchant for gifting books to her.
I next looked over the carousel of tortes and selected a raspberry and an apple cinnamon one to eat while I waited for her return. After about thirty minutes and eight tortes later, I considered getting up and finding the lavatory, because my belly had started to protest. That was when Wendy returned in a rush.
Her demeanor was all business and responsibility now. She placed a telegraph down in front of me and stood waiting for me to read it. If I could have seen her feet under her gray silk morning dress, I would have certainly seen her foot tapping under it.
I looked down at the note and read it silently.
Dearest Mrs. Grey,
I had hoped to communicate less somber news, but it is just as you feared. Stop. The worst has happened. Stop. The librarian in question has been stricken ill with the separation ailment that we had hoped he might have impunity from, which evidently he does not. Stop. He is not afflicted with the madness; we can only assume that his bond is breaking to Miss Beckenbauer. Stop. We hope for a speedy end to his grief. Stop. Miss Beckenbauer is always welcome back to her native soil. Stop. Please assure her that any blame in his imminent demise should be shouldered entirely on Lord Grey’s and my own. Stop. We knew this might happen, but still felt that in the interest of nat
ional security, it was one that had to be taken. Stop. Shall I inform you of the arrangements? Stop.
Regards,
President Alice Newton
“What does all this mean?” I asked.
“You’re not well acquainted with wolf psychology and physiology are you?” Wendy asked me.
“No. They are so rare and usually they only guard government officials. So how would I know anything about them?”
“They are bodyguards for life for a reason Basil.”
“And?”
“Once they form a bond to the person or people they are to protect, that is it for them.”
I stared at her, not really getting her point.
“Remember when we were back at the loft with Abigail?”
“Yes.”
“And we would see deranged wolves attacking people.”
“Yes, but what exactly does this have to do with Colin?”
She smiled a patient smile and said, “Wolves, once they have accepted a human and chosen to guard them, they form an ethereal bond with them. It is rather like an imprinting. Once that person dies, they usually follow, unless they go insane, like the wild packs we saw. It really means everything to them to guard the person they are bonded to.”
“Even if he had bonded with me, he’s not a full blooded Werewolf and I’m not dead.”
“No, he’s not, but apparently he has inherited this trait. Also, both death and separation can lead to his demise it appears.”
“So Colin is dying?” I asked, as she placed a hand on my shoulder.
“It’s why they kept him in the library so long. They didn’t want to test this particular trait of his genealogy.”
“But I never asked him to bond to me?” I sputtered out, fighting back the tears that rose to my eyes. Wendy went to her knees and looked up at me. “I can’t have him as just my bodyguard!” I told her.
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