Chapter Eleven

 

 

She was sitting with her hip pressed to Argus’s when her phone went off. Imara rose from the bench and wandered off for some quiet. The occasional howl that broke from the pack was making everyone laugh.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Apprentice Death Keeper Mirrin? This is Mage Guide Leader Severance. I am just calling to confirm the visit to the spectral event for Monday night.”

Imara blinked. “Of course. If you send me the list of names, I will make sure that the relatives of the girls are aware and ready for our visit.”

“That will be wonderful. Thank you so much.”

“I will meet you at the rest site. See you on Monday at seven in the evening. I will explain what Death Keepers do, and then, we will all go into the site. Those who are scared can hang back, but if any of the parents wish to come along, I am willing to work with their family spectres.”

“That is amazing. We will see you there.”

Imara hung up and sighed. Before she could forget, she put the information in her phone. “Damn, almost forgot about that.”

Once she had secured the appointment, she returned to the table and snagged a passing slice of pie.

“You look like you saw a ghost, and for you, that is saying something.” Argus murmured it in her ear.

“I was just reminded that I am volunteering with the Mage Guides on Monday night.”

His shoulders started shaking. “You are going through with it?”

“I am. The more folks learn about Death Keepers, the more it will be a developing branch of study. It is the fear of death that stops folk from using the wisdom of passed mages.”

Argus grinned. “You are practicing right now.”

“Hell yes, I have to face nine Mage Guides on Monday night. It is a miracle I am not drinking.” She stabbed the pie savagely.

Down the table, Mr. E was eating the pie that had been made for him alone, and the pack was cheering him on.

“Is he really eating an entire pie?”

Imara grabbed a second slice and got munching. “Yup. I have no idea where he gets it from.”

Argus laughed again.

Imara looked around and kept eating until there was nothing more than crumbs left in the pie plate in front of her. She never could resist pie.

 

After the sun started to sink, Andy got up and thanked them all for helping them plant. The regular farm hands agreed that the help had been welcome, since they didn’t have to do anything.

Imara joined the others in cheering and applauding their host’s generosity. She did it lightly because her hands were raw from the digging.

“I hope this can become a fast friendship between our two properties. It was a bumpy start, but the Deegles stand ready to help with all of your seer needs. Oh, and dairy and wool.”

The pack applauded and let out yips of agreement.

Kitty came over to Imara. “You get separate thanks later. Tomorrow, my dad is firing up the glass works, and you are going to get some custom pieces.”

Imara smiled and yawned. “Sorry to be a party pooper, but I think I am going to have to turn in. It has been a tiring day.”

“No worries. We will see you in the morning.”

Imara turned to Argus. “I am sorry you came all this way, but I am beat.”

“I loved helping out. Should you get calls for brute labour more often, I would love to find a way to be there.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and gave her a hug.

“You used your other form.”

He shrugged. “I was making a point. You have to with some of the new packs. It is a matter of strength.”

“And you got to play in the dirt.”

Argus snickered, “That too.”

She groaned and flexed her hands, glancing over the crowd. “When did Noro and his guys get here?”

“While we were planting. It isn’t often that we get to take part in rather enjoyable community activity.”

“Do you know them?”

He chuckled. “Yeah, we train together on an annual basis. The wolf is a hot head, Noro is a tramp, and their undead member only moves when he has to. He should be pulling up in an hour or so.”

“I don’t think I am going to make it. I have to finish binding the trees, and then, I am going to be done for the night.”

“What does that entail?”

She smiled softly. “Come with me.”

Imara paused and checked in with Kitty, letting her know that she was turning in for the night.

“So soon? Grandpa was going to play his violin.”

“I am sure I will be able to hear it. I am just a little tired, and I have one more task to do. I will see you in the morning.”

Kitty nodded, but there was a frown between her brows.

Argus was waiting. She took him by the hand, leading him behind the house and to the spectre stone.

“What are you doing?”

“The most secret part of my job. Since you are law enforcement, I thought this would be educational for you.” She breathed deeply and placed her hands on the stone.

 

* * * *

 

Argus watched as her body tensed. Light began to glow under her palms, and slowly, Imara took on the same glow.

Her breathing increased in speed, and the glow got brighter. When the light was blinding, she dug her fingertips into the stone, and the switch was flipped.

Light coursed out in a spoke pattern, streaking out to all edges of the property. As one, the trees lit up. All the new, small, wavy saplings thickened and became heavy and mature as the light burned within them.

She was aging the trees.

“Holy shit.” He whispered it softly as the display continued. The family and pack gathered behind him to watch.

Slowly, the light faded, and she pulled what was left back into the stone. From the stone, it seeped back into her skin.

There was something about her posture that alerted him. He rushed forward and caught her as she fell.

Imara smiled. “There, now, he can last until all the trees are gone. If he wants to go earlier, they can just let me know.”

Her lids were fluttering, and her pulse was beating fast in her neck.

“You need help.”

She muttered softly. “I need sleep. If one freaking wolf scratches around my door tonight, I am going to use lightning.”

“I will pass along the message.” He lifted her higher and walked past the stunned audience.

Andy Deegle nodded. The Althos pack master nodded as well. No one was going to wake her up until she wanted to wake up.

Mr. E trotted along next to him, relaxed and casual. It made Argus feel considerably better. If her familiar wasn’t worried, she was just tired.

The tiny house was ridiculously cute. Climbing the ladder to the sleeping loft wasn’t easy, but once he had her in bed, he wasn’t sure if he should help her out of her clothing.

May Deegle cleared her throat from the main floor. “I will take it from here, Agent.”

He nodded. “Oh, thank you. That wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have with her after the fact.”

“I know. Shoo.”

From the unconscious woman on the bed, he heard the distinct, “Night, Argus.”

He grinned and headed down the ladder. “Good night, Imara. Good work today.”

Her eyes opened slightly, she slowly raised one thumb before she closed her eyes and relaxed.

Argus left the tiny house, and May headed up the ladder to help Imara get ready for bed.

 

* * * *

 

May helped Imara out of her grimy clothing and shoes. “Imara, how can we repay you? Not only have you become one of Kitty’s few friends, but you have also given consistently and selflessly. What can we do for you?”

Imara mumbled, “More pie, and do you know a tailor?”

May smiled at the young lady as she settled into bed. “What do you need a tailor for?”

“New robes. Upgrade and I got taller. They don’t match anymore.” She rubbed her nose in the quilt. “And quilts. I love the quilts.”

May stroked the dark hair from her forehead. “I think that something can be done. You are a Master now?”

“Master Death Keeper. That’s me.” It was her last utterance; she fell back and was snoring gently in seconds.

May nodded and left the woman to her rest.

Once outside the tiny house, she grabbed Kitty and hauled her to the edge of the gathering. “Do you know her size?”

“Sure, me plus three inches and thirty pounds. She’s a solid, tall size twelve.”

“Excellent. Fire up the embroidery machine and get the patterns for Death Keepers from the internet. I need them coded as quickly as you can manage it.”

“Why?”

“We are making her a present. I am heading into town and shaking up your aunty April.”

May turned to her husband and let out a sharp whistle. The keys to the truck flew through the air in seconds. “Thanks, Honey.”

She got into the car and headed into town. Having her mother-in-law restored to sanity and her father-in-law back to help work the farm was a gift that she had never imagined. The least she could do was use her family’s fabric shop to outfit the Death Keeper appropriately. Anna could make the pie.

 

* * * *

 

Imara woke up feeling itchy. The sweat from the day before was fused on her skin. She could vaguely remember being tucked into bed, but now, she wanted a shower, a glass of water, and breakfast.

Her arms could barely hold her as she headed down the ladder. The shower helped, warming her muscles and getting rid of the dirt and sweat. She was nearly human when she left her small house with Mr. E pattering along beside her.

“Did you stay out long after I passed out?”

No, I curled up next to you, occasionally licking salt off your wrist. I am a cat after all.

She scooped him up and softly mashed his ears until he purred. “You are a kitten, and don’t you forget it.”

The scent of coffee was in the air, and when she headed into the farmhouse, it was Anderson who was making it. Around the room, it looked as if a fabric bomb had gone off and taken the Deegles and the pack with them.

“They couldn’t decide on a colour, so they made you one in brown, one in grey, and one in black.” Anderson grinned.

“One what?”

“What did you ask for before you went to sleep?” He hinted.

“Pie?” It was a safe guess.

He chuckled. “I believe you are entitled to your Master’s robes. That was what you mentioned to May, and she was the right person to talk to. My daughter-in-law is a champion seamstress who used to win every county fair with her needlework. She shifted to quilting after I died, but this was a chance she couldn’t resist. That new machine of hers was chugging along all night.”

Tears started to sting her eyes. “They made me robes?”

“Three different styles. Kitty got the patterns and made the sewing machine recognize them. Digitizing, I think they said. Everyone else was measuring, sewing, and checking the fit.”

“How did they check the fit?”

“Anna noted that the pack alpha was the same size as you but one inch shorter. After that she was used for all pinning and assembly.”

“Why is everyone lying around like the dead?”

“Well, it does take a contribution of living energy for the enchanting of the robes. With three sets of robes, everyone donated some energy. I don’t know of many others who will be wearing power from seers, fey, shifters, and two undead.”

She blushed. “The XIA donated as well?”

“They have great community spirit, especially your fella. He only has eyes for you, you know.”

She smiled. “I know. The feeling is mutual. Only two more terms and a license and I can do something about it.”

Anderson raised his brows. “Marriage license?”

“No, business magic license. I am going to make my natural skill for the dead pay.”

“Speaking of that, what did you do? I feel almost alive again.”

She flexed her fingers and took the cup of coffee that he held out to her. “Ah, well, the saplings were given a taste of age. It was a division of power. I gave them some of you, and as you live here, your presence will be fed by their strong, vigorous lives. It is like a battery and a solar panel. They will charge you continuously, but you can also instantly appear at any point near a tree. If there is a disturbance, you can be there in a blink. If there is a lost lamb, missing calf, or a wild animal, you can be there in a heartbeat.”

“What about Anna?”

She brushed the hair from her face and sighed, “I have primed the standing stone that you are embedded in. When she passes, either you can fade away, or I can set her in the stone as well. She can share the energy lines, and you two can exist here in any physical memory you have. You can both appear young again, or you can remain the doting grandparents.”

“Speaking of which, what kind of woman is my granddaughter?”

Imara smiled. “She is a wonderful woman, good heart, strong magic, and willing to embrace whatever comes her way. She is the kind of woman to give you the shirt off her back in a blizzard and then pretend she isn’t cold.” She summed it up. “She is a very good friend.”

“Good. She was a kind child, but I have not known her for twenty years.”

“You know her now. Learn who she is now, and it is definitely a person worth knowing.” She looked around. “Should I be here?”

He chuckled. “I was going to tend the animals and saw movement. Thought you could use the coffee.”

“What time is it?”

“Five. Dawn was ten minutes ago.”

“Oh, hell. I am going back to bed.” She didn’t know when Mr. E had made it to her shoulder, but she reached up to pet him. “Did you want to come along, or do you want to use our last hours here to chase sheep.”

He was off her shoulder and at the door in seconds.

She opened the door, and the dark streak disappeared. “I hope he doesn’t hurt them or himself.”

Anderson took her empty cup. “He won’t. He’s riding them.”

The shock that ripped through her was followed by a bubbling laughter that wouldn’t be contained. She sprinted out of the farmhouse, ran into the tiny house, and let the laughter loose.

When the mirth had faded, she checked the charge on her phone and tiptoed out of her small temporary home, heading for the sheep paddock. This was worthy of a photo.