The Fenimeldiyaan: Vacation - Chapter 4

Gerald stayed by Elsa’s side, watching her sleep, not brave enough to wake her from her slumber. She looked undeniably peaceful, her tousled braid escaping into red curls around her pretty face. Her expression, usually creased in a frown of focus, had relaxed into a look of calm. Occasionally, he would look up at the remarkable view around them and breathe in that all this was happening. Such a view could never be found in all of Vordelle or Dundar, either.

One of the Nentofores came up and asked if Gerald and Elsa would be coming down for dinner, but he shook his head. As entertaining as another dinner with Andreas’s family sounded, he would rather wait for his wife. He’d antagonised and left her behind enough for the day. Returning to his post beside Elsa, Gerald gently reached out and brushed a curl of hair from her forehead.

The instant his hand touched her forehead, Gerald’s mind blanked out for a moment. He found himself somewhere else, viewing a scene as if from miles away. Elsa was crouched on the ground in a dark cave, shadowy tendrils wrapped around her body. Pinned to the rocks a few feet away from her by the same bindings was Gerald — but not the Gerald viewing the scene. He was younger by a few years. With a shock, Gerald knew what he was seeing — the past, when he and Elsa had first gained their empathy link. When he’d first told her …

Damian stepped from the shadows, his fist raised. When he squeezed his hand, Elsa cried out in pain as the ropes tightened against her body. “How the mighty have fallen,” he said, sneering at her.

Elsa, despite the pain, somehow managed to gather the effort to glare at him. “I haven’t fallen yet,” she said. “Not while my friends still draw breath. Killing me won’t get you anything, since you don’t have any of the Chosen Ones.”

Damian sneered at her. “But it will give me immense satisfaction, killing you and him.” He indicated the tied-up Gerald.

“Then what are ye waiting for?” Gerald yelled. Real-Gerald shook his head at his own stupidity. He really should have seen what was coming. “Do it already! Kill me!”

“But why start with you?” Damian asked smoothly, and a beam of black energy struck Elsa.

She started screaming, the sound tearing at Gerald’s heart.

Evidently, it was doing the same with past-Gerald. Through an enormous feat of strength, he broke free from his bonds and dove between Elsa and the beam of darkness. He cradled her barely-conscious body in his arms, and future-Gerald could feel the pain as if it were only yesterday. He heard his past self whisper to Elsa just before the spell took effect. “I love ye.”

Gerald pulled away from Elsa as if he’d been shocked. His wife’s silver eyes flicked open, looking first scared, then terribly confused. Her gaze lit on Gerald and she ran a hand over her hair. “Gerald … what are you doing here?” she asked.

“I wanted—wanted to talk to ye,” he admitted. “I touched yer forehead and …”

Elsa swallowed dryly. “You saw it too?”

He nodded wordlessly, too confused to speak. Elsa breathed in shakily. “Gerald, what does it mean?”

“It ain’t the first time,” Gerald blurted out. She looked at him quizzically. “For the past week, all I’ve been seeing is ye … in pain. Past and future. Whether it be mental or physical, I can’t lose the thought of something happening to ye. Sometimes I hear ye, crying, screaming … other times, ye be telling me ye don’t need me no more. Like I hurt ye.” Somehow, it hurt to tell her, but it also felt good to get it off his chest. “I can hear ye, screaming at someone, telling them not to do it … not to take it. And it scares me to death, Elsa. Just the thought of losing ye. But at the same time, I thought ye’d laugh at me, so I didn’t tell ye.”

Her hand came up and touched his cheek. The movement was so unexpected, Gerald just stared at her. “Oh, Gerald,” she said, and he was startled to see tears in her eyes. “You’re not foolish. I’ve been the stupid one. I’ve been mistreating your friend because … because I’m afraid you’ll start to care more for him than you do for me.”

Gerald blinked. “Andreas? Love, Andreas be me friend, maybe even me father that I never had if I be feeling bold … but replace ye? Nobody could ever replace ye. Ye were me first love, and ye’ll be me last. Nobody else will ever have the love I have for ye, and I’d die for ye. Ye know that.”

“But what about … if … we have a child?” Elsa asked quietly.

“That child would have me love, just as it’d have yers,” Gerald said. “But I think love for a child be different than love for a wife, if ye know what I mean. Come now, don’t ye be worrying. I’ll never leave ye, never do anything to hurt ye. Ye be the best thing to ever happen to me, and anyone who can deal with me for their whole life be someone special.”

She couldn’t fight back the smile that came to her lips, and he kissed her. “Come now, me love. Ye want something to eat?”

Elsa laid a hand on her stomach. “I think I should have something,” she admitted. “I haven’t eaten all day.”

“Do ye want to eat with the Nentofores?” he said.

She hesitated. “Yes. I’ve been very rude to all of them, and they’ve treated me with nothing but kindness. Let’s eat with them.”

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After Rita had gone off to her room, River had gone to her own and lay on her bed. She lit the tip of her finger with a small flame and read one of Ryaah’s books by it. Since Ryaah had mentioned that her own children enjoyed the comedies, River had started with one of them. She found herself giggling throughout it, although she didn’t understand all of the jokes.

No longer did she think that she’d made the wrong choice in coming to the Fenian Galaxy. She had a few teachers looking after her and a friend to take care of her. What could be better? Extinguishing the light on her finger, she closed the book and laid down. Excited or not, she needed sleep.

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Armando and Morgan were already in process of bringing in trays of food when Gerald and Elsa returned to the parlour.

“Ye be feeling better now, dear?” Galea enquired, putting her tray aside and patting the sofa beside her.

Elsa nodded and took the indicated seat next to the Matriarch.  “Yes, thanks.  And that observatory bedroom is beautiful.  It was so generous of Luigi to give it up for me”.

“Twas built by one of our ancestors and restored by our Pa”  Galea explained.  “We all take turns in sleeping there.  Tis supposed to be Lu’s turn for the next three days, then twill be Al’s turn”.

Luigi bounded over to Elsa, a huge grin on his face.  He had wiped away most of the dirt, so it was easier to see the resemblance between all the Nentofore siblings.  “Dear Elsa sleep there as long as she wants.  Plenty of other places for me and Al to sleep”.

From his position on the other sofa, Alonzo nodded his agreement, his long beard wagging up and down.

“I hope that offer extends to me” Gerald chimed in.  “We be husband and wife after all”.

His remark was met by a chorus of laughter and some playful winks.

“I wish I could stay here forever” Morgan declared, digging into his food.  “Armando is teaching me how to cook Carpathian style.  It’s a lot more interesting than Vordellan food”.

“Beef stew not good enough for you anymore?” Elsa teased.

“Er … well, I didn’t say that” Morgan stuttered.  “I meant … it’s good to have a change”.

This produced more laughter.

When everyone had finished eating and Armando began clearing away trays and dishes, Morgan reluctantly stood.  “I suppose I’d better help”.

“No, I’ll do it” Andreas volunteered.  “Ye helped with the cooking.  Since I don’t cook, tis only fair that I show me appreciation by clearing up”.

They spent the rest of the evening in pleasant conversation.  Andreas was the first to retire for the night.  “I don’t usually go to bed this early, but I’ve got an early start.  I have to go over to the Donovan Institute and see some of me students.  Ye know, explain about me being on vacation and all.  Anni will be taking over their lessons, so I have to update her on their progress”.

“Tis a pity she can’t be here with us” Galea remarked.  “We don’t get to see enough of her, but being a Matriarch meself, I understand that her duties come first.  Give her our love and tell her we miss her”.

“Aye, will do” Andreas affirmed.  “See ye all tomorrow.  I’ll try to be back for lunch”.

Luigi bounced up and down in a high state of excitement.  “Going flying around the estate afore I go to bed”.

“Reckon we’ll join ye” Galea stated.

“Flying?”  Elsa’s face screwed up in confusion.

Luigi bowed his head and made a strange movement with his shoulders.  A second later, a thin black cloak appeared to grow from the base of his neck and shoulders.  It seemed to be a part of him rather than a garment.  He sprang into the air and flew around the room, much to the astonishment of the three Vordellans.

“Dear Elsa want to fly?” he asked, landing lightly on his bare feet and gesturing towards the window.

Gerald had witnessed Andreas doing a similar thing, although he had no idea how it worked.  Some sort of sorcery, no doubt.

Luigi seemed to sense Gerald’s reluctance.  “I carry dear Elsa.  Gal, Mando or Al will carry ye.  No fall.  Never fall.  Trust us”.

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Without warning, Andreas materialised in Rita’s quarters at the Donovan Institute.  He had intended to wait until morning, but after hearing from Caratacuus and Remyn, he decided that it would be best to deal with the issue immediately.  He knew that Rita often stayed up late, watching movies on her computer console.

“Andreas!”  Rita beamed in delight and paused her movie.  “Have ye come to take me out for a flying lesson?”

“Not exactly”.  The little man’s tone was grave and he had a sombre expression on his face.  “Rita, me dear, why did ye do it?”

“Do what?”  Rita feigned innocence.

Andreas gave a heavy sigh and sat down on the bed next to her.  “I be glad that ye and River Meer have become friends.  I know that ye’ve both had a hard time being accepted by yer fellow students.  But ye put her in an awkward position.  Ye knew that ye ought to have sought permission afore going out in the city.  I be disappointed in ye, Rita”.

“No harm came of it” she asserted.  “Anyways, Uncle Cara were tagging along the whole time”.

“That ain’t the point and ye know it”.  He shook his head.  “Ye were lucky that nothing bad happened and ye were lucky that Cara sensed yer translocation”.

“Even if Uncle Cara hadn’t been there, nothing bad would have happened!” Rita insisted.  “This be Rishlaan, not Port Byzarth or some scummy Par-Varah district back home!”

“Ye be mistaken” Andreas stated.  “Some of the most evil sorcerers I’ve gone up against have been Malvanian.  Besides, slavers operate all over, and not only in the Fenian Galaxy.  Slavery be one of the oldest trades and slavers come in all shapes and sizes.  A kindly waitress in a restaurant or a shop girl could turn out to be a slaver in disguise.  If ye and River had been caught by slavers, ye could be in another universe by now and we’d have a difficult job trying to track ye down and rescue ye”.

“I never thought of that” Rita conceded.  “I be sorry, Andreas.  In future, I’ll ask permission afore taking River into the city”.

“Make sure ye do” he advised.  “There be one other matter we need to discuss.  Ye lied about yer essay being urgent.  Cara checked with Rem and found out that ye have four more days to get yer essay done.  Why did ye lie?”

Rita shifted position on the bed.  “Tis hard to explain”.

“Well, try” Andreas urged.  “Cara were very generous with ye.  He could have reported ye for flouting the rules but instead he chose to introduce ye to his family.  As ye know, Malvanians ain’t exactly the most sociable types.  Twas a great honour that he conferred on ye, yet ye spoiled it with yer lie.  Why?”

“I have rules too!” Rita growled.  “One of me rules be that students and teachers don’t mix.  Tis like we be different species.  They don’t understand us and we don’t understand them.  Of course, ye be the only exception.  Ye be more like a friend than a teacher.  Going out to dinner with Uncle Cara felt wrong to me.  I wished I’d refused and come back here, but I didn’t want to spoil things for River.  She were having such a good time.  I held out as long as I could but it got to a point where I just had to get out.  I couldn’t stand it any longer”.

Rita had never seen Andreas looking so sad.  It seemed as if he had suffered a bereavement.  “Can ye not see that Cara were trying to build bridges?  He were reaching out to ye in friendship and ye rejected that offer of friendship due to yer narrow-minded prejudices.  I can only hope and pray that one day ye come to realise that teachers can be friends”.

“So what happens now?” Rita asked.  “Will I be punished?”

“Of course not”.  Andreas managed a small smile and patted her on the arm.  “There be no greater punishment than a self-inflicted one.  Ah, I also need to tell ye that I be off on me vacation now.  Anni will be taking over yer lessons til I return.  If ye need anything, like pizza for example, she’ll get it for ye.  I’ll see ye in a few weeks.  Please think about what we’ve discussed”.

“Alright” she agreed.

He gave her a firm hug before translocating away.

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Elsa and Gerald both looked at Morgan, who sat in one of the seats, looking for the life of him like he’d wished they would ignore him. A deep crimson blush rose to his cheeks at the unspoken question. “Oh no,” he said. “No, no. I am not doing that.”

“No drop ye,” Luigi pointed out.

“Oh, it’s not the dropping I’m worried about,” Morgan answered. “It’s the … erm … dropping. And flying. And everything in between.”

“He’s scared of heights,” Elsa put in.

Morgan flushed. “It’s not my fault! And I’m not as scared as Apollo is, in my defence …”

No amount of coaxing would get Morgan to agree. He stated flatly that he was tired, and as much as he would love to fly with them — he needed to sleep. One of the Nentofores brought him to his room upstairs, leaving Gerald and Elsa with the others. Elsa sent Gerald a meaningful look, and he realised what she was asking him. “Blimey,” he said. “Ye want me to …? Elsa …”

“Something wrong?” Elsa asked with a teasing smile.

“It just be … Elsa,” Gerald said hopelessly. “I ain’t never done it before.”

“And it’s something I do every day? Come now, Gerald, it’s a vacation. Aren’t we supposed to do new and different things?” she replied. She smiled at Luigi. “I’d love to come flying with you. Gerald?”

The mercenary heaved a sigh. “Oh, alright,” he said. “Long as ye don’t drop me or don’t be getting too enthusiastic. I had enough life-threatening situations driving in a truck with Morgan.”

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Morgan sighed, laying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. They were far more comfortable than Vordellan beds, yet sleep eluded him. First, he felt bad for refusing their invitation to fly with them, but honestly, his fear of heights wasn’t just a fear. It was a stark terror that he begun for both him and Apollo when they’d been crossing a bridge over a chasm and it had been cut down by pursuers. Morgan had broken several ribs in the fall and Apollo had broken his leg and his wrist—and that had been with magic softening their fall. Apollo’s ability to heal them was a moot point. The fact remained that they had fallen and it had been terrifying.

Point being, Morgan liked his feet firmly on the ground. He was glad Gerald and Elsa would be sleeping in the tower and not him. Beautiful view or not, it was just way too high up for comfort. Sighing, he flipped through the spellbook on his stomach. He really didn’t need it anymore, but he still kept it to alleviate the need to tap into his darkness for some of the … more difficult spells.

He placed the book on his bedside table and continued to stare at the ceiling. A small part of him wished that Apollo had agreed to come. It wasn’t the same without his cousin, yet he couldn’t bring himself to communicate with him for two reasons. First, he knew transmitting wasn’t Apollo’s strong suit and exhausted the healer, and second, he didn’t know what he’d say. Sometimes, Apollo could laugh at him for the silliest things.

Morgan decided to wait on talking to Apollo. The healer was probably busy anyway. So he did what he did second-best in the world:

He went to sleep.

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Galea grinned and materialised her cloak.  “I’ve taught me children and grandchildren to fly, Gerald, so ye’ll be safe with me.  Or if ye prefer, Mando or Al could take ye”.

Thinking that a woman would be gentler, Gerald went for what he hoped would be the safer option, although he still had his reservations.  “I don’t mean to be rude but ye be a small woman and … well, I ain’t exactly the weight of a child.  How will ye manage to even lift me off the ground, let alone fly around the estate carrying me?”

“I be stronger than ye think” she replied, chuckling.  “Though I be old enough to be yer grandma, I still manage martial arts practice several times a week, plus me work in the gardens.  In a fight, I can take down bigger men than ye.  Ask Andreas about that tomorrow.  Anyways, let’s go!”

Before he had a chance to object, the elderly Matriarch grabbed him around the waist and carried him over to the window.  Her wiry strength reminded him of Andreas.

Luigi picked up Elsa.  He was the first to launch himself out of the open window.  It was fully dark by that time and being that the estate was outside the city limits, there was very little light pollution.  The stars twinkled in the night sky and the air was still pleasantly warm.

Luigi soared over the gardens, past the orchard and on towards the hedge maze, hovering over it so that Elsa could see the layout from above.  Far from being afraid, she felt thrilled and energised.  Even when Luigi turned somersaults, she did not feel the slightest twinge of nausea.

“So how does the cloak work?” Elsa asked, when they took a brief rest on the roof of one of the smaller residences on the far side of the huge estate.

“Faith, dear Elsa”.  Luigi no longer spoke in his customary childish manner.  “When ye first construct yer cloak, ye have to think of a good memory, one which inspires ye and makes ye feel happy.  If yer faith be strong enough, the cloak will grow”.

“Can anyone learn how to fly?”  She paused and took a deep breath.  “Like me, for example?”

“If ye have faith” he answered.  “The cloak won’t work outside the Fenian Galaxy unless ye have powers of sorcery, but if ye can grow one while ye be here, ye can learn to fly like the rest of us”.

Faith had always been a problem for Elsa but the thought of being able to fly fascinated her.  “What was your good memory that made your cloak grow?”

He grinned at her.  “Riding in the car with me Pa.  I used to have difficulty sleeping when I were a small child.  Pa had one of those big old limousines of the kind they don’t make anymore.  He used to drive me around the estate until I fell asleep.  That car became me bedchamber”.

“Open yer eyes, Gerald!” Galea urged.  “The view of the estate be magnificent and ye be missing out”.

“How d’ye know me eyes be closed?” he dared to ask.

She chuckled.  “I can feel the tension in ye.  Relax and enjoy yerself.  Yer wife ain’t scared.  Look!"

She picked up speed, zooming over to where Luigi was preparing to dive off a roof with Elsa.

Gerald opened his eyes just in time to see the little bandaged man plunge downwards in free-fall, holding Elsa in his skinny arms.  At the moment when it seemed as though they would hit the ground, Luigi stopped.  The dome of his bald head was mere inches from the neatly mown lawn and Elsa’s braid trailed in the grass.

A few minutes later, Luigi spun around so that he and Elsa were the right way up.  He took off again, landing neatly on the roof of the building.  “Go again?” he asked Elsa, who nodded.

“Fancy trying that?” Galea asked Gerald.

“Think I’ll pass for now” he answered.  “Just stick to regular flying if ye don’t mind”.

Armando and Alonzo also took turns to jump off the building.  Then Luigi set Elsa down on the roof and allowed his brother to push him off.  He pretended to fall but stopped himself part way down, whooping with joy and turning somersaults.

Gerald could not help feeling relieved when Galea declared that she and Armando were off to bed.  They returned to the parlour via the open window, followed by Luigi and the others.

“I haven’t had that much fun in ages!” Elsa enthused, giving Gerald a hug.  “Thanks for bringing me here”.

“Andreas brought us here” Gerald pointed out.

“You know what I mean!”  She giggled and slapped his arm playfully.  “Now you may escort me to our bedchamber”.  She put on a fake upper class accent and gave him a haughty look, like one might give to a servant.

Gerald laughed.  “At yer service, me Lady!”  He picked her up in his arms and carried her out of the parlour and along the corridor to the spiral staircase.  He did not let go of her until they were laying on the bed.

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Andreas caught up with River the next morning when she was on her way to her first lesson of the day.  “I need a quick word with ye.  Don’t worry about being late for Zul.  I’ve already told him”.

She started to write an apology for going to the city without asking permission, but he shook his head.  “It ain’t about that.  Ye did nothing wrong.  I be happy that ye’ve made a friend here.  I came to tell ye that I’ll be away on vacation for a few weeks.  I ain’t exactly sure how long, but Anni will be taking over yer lessons until I get back.  If ye need anything, or ye just want someone to talk to, she’ll be there for ye.  So will any of yer teachers”.

“Thanks”.  She managed to project the one word before the effort became too much for her.  The rest she had to write.  “Please don’t be angry with Rita.  She did it for me.  She wanted to make me happy, which she did.  I don’t want her to get into trouble because of me”.

“Don’t ye worry about Rita” he said, grinning and patting her arm.  “She ain’t a bad girl.  Tis just that she be used to getting her own way all the time.  Now, I’d best let ye get along to yer lesson”.  He inclined his head to her before going off to see another student.

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Rita sighed in irritation and returned her cellphone to her pocket.  It was the fifth time she had tried to call Andreas but the calls simply would not connect.  “He never turns his phone off!  Never!”

She tried once more, with the same result.  Swearing loudly, she glared at the unresponsive screen of her phone, not noticing that River was approaching.

River tapped her on the arm and held up her book.  “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing much”.  Rita managed a smile for her new friend.  “Me phone ain’t working and I’ve still got that healing essay to do”.

“I don’t understand about phones but I can help you with your essay” River wrote.

This time, Rita’s smile was genuine.  “Really?  No-one’s ever offered to help me afore.  Thank ye.  Would ye like to watch a movie with me after?”

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More nightmares had plagued Gerald in the night, but he’d managed to keep from screaming and waking Elsa once more. It was about dawn when he woke up and slipped out of bed. He was sweating madly, trying to calm his racing heart. He’d hoped that their arrival in the Fenian Galaxy would put a halt to them, but he’d been wrong. They were there, and just as potent as ever. Was he doomed never to get another peaceful night of rest?

The view over the estate was fantastic with the rising sun. Gerald stood at the glass area for a few minutes, simply taking it in. Seeing that Elsa was still asleep, he dressed and slipped downstairs. Most of the inhabitants were already up and about, including Morgan, who was hanging around in the kitchen.

Deciding that he wouldn’t come between Morgan and his favourite thing — food — Gerald went outside. Nobody bothered him; they let him wander the gardens on his own. It truly was a beautiful place, and he felt slightly jealous of Andreas for being such good friends with so many people.

He kept his distance from the others. He was never a morning person to begin with, and lately, with his nightmares, he’d been half-asleep in the morning until after breakfast. The smell of the fresh grass was unusual, different than that in Vordelle. Or even Dundar.

“Excuse me.” Gerald turned and saw one of the children looking at him. She was a small child, probably only about six or seven. She looked up at him with a curious expression. “Be ye one of the visitors?”

Gerald nodded. “Aye.”

The little girl dimpled. “Ye be awfully big.”

Gerald couldn’t resist a chuckle. “Aye, suppose I am, especially compared to Andreas. And to ye.”

“Do ye have any brothers or sisters? Ye know, to play with. Ye don’t seem very happy, and ye seem lonely.”

Gerald knelt to face the child on equal ground. “I left me brother behind a long time ago,” he said quietly. “Never did play with him much. But I ain’t lonely nor unhappy now. Never been happier.”

The girl smiled. “Ye want to play with me?”

He’d known she was working up to that with the childish desire to just play with him. But he didn’t mind. “Oh, alright,” Gerald said. He lunged for the child, who squealed with pleasure and scampered away from him. He gave jocular chase and more children came out of nowhere, mobbing him and knocking him to the ground. He started laughing, buried beneath a mob of children. “Get off me, ye little monsters! Ye be crushing the life out of me!”

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Elsa watched from the window of the observatory, smiling at the sight of Gerald playing with the children. The mercenary was notoriously known for complaining about the loudness of children, but it seemed he was full of it. He looked like he was just another of the children — from what she could tell from beneath the pile of children on top of him.

Once she’d stopped feeling sorry for herself, the vacation actually seemed to be fun. Even Gerald seemed to be enjoying himself more now.

She dressed and went downstairs, unbraiding her hair and leaving it in untamed curls around her shoulders. In the kitchen, Morgan was struggling to learn how to make a Carpathian breakfast, but laughing all the while. Elsa paused and waved to him. “How’s it going?” she asked.

He grinned with some food substance on his cheek. “I’ll learn this, you’ll see!” he answered. “I think Gerald’s outside.”

“Buried under a pile of children he claims he doesn’t like,” Elsa replied with a grin. “He really doesn’t know himself very well, does he?”

Morgan was too busy to respond, and she hurried outside.

Sure enough, Gerald was still under the children, who were giggling and standing on top of him like they had conquered a wild beast. He saw Elsa from beneath them and called, “Help me, love! They think I be a dragon they’ve conquered!”

Elsa laughed. “You are, aren’t you?”

“Oh, ow!” Gerald complained. “Those be the cakes I ate yesterday that ye be crushing! Have pity, Elsa!”

Elsa grinned slyly. “I don’t need you until breakfast,” she said. “Carry on until then, children.”

With squeals of delight, they went back to posing atop his conquered body while Elsa looked on and laughed.

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River smiled and nodded at Rita’s question. “I’d love to watch a movie with you!” she wrote. “Nothing too exciting, though. I don’t much like some of the exciting movies the other kids watch. Perhaps a comedy, like the book I’m reading?”

“I could probably arrange that,” Rita agreed. “Best be getting off to me last class. Until later.”

River waved, watching Rita walk off. She did feel a tiny twinge deep inside of her at Rita’s behaviour before she had approached. The girl had seemed unusually angry, and River had never heard her swear before.

Shaking off the feeling, River went off to her next class.