Chapter Seven

The view was amazing. No matter which way she turned, Imara saw beauty and life.

Kitty rode ahead of her, and her ease in the saddle was apparent. Aside from envy, Imara had a few things she needed to ask, so she steeled herself and made her move. It took a bit of goading, but Imara got Bright Bell to draw even with Kitty’s mount.

“So, Kitty, who did you need me to work with?”

Kitty looked confused. “What?”

“The spectre.”

“Oh. It’s a long story, but the end of it is my grandfather.”

“I need a bit more information, please.”

Kitty sighed. “Twenty years ago, my grandfather passed, and my grandmother didn’t take it well. She was an orb seer, just like my father and me, so she began to stare into the future. She took the master orb that my dad had made and poured her energy into it. In that orb, she saw my grandfather holding her hand once again. Ever since, she spends her days looking five minutes into the future, looking for him.”

“Oh damn.”

“Right, so you see the problem.”

“Did you put your grandfather to rest as a mage?”

“We did. I mean, I was a child, but my mother says that his gravesite is properly cared for.”

Imara sighed. “I will have to talk to your parents about his effects. I can use one of the retaining stones and his link to your grandmother to bring him out, but only if the connection is strong on all counts.”

Kitty looked hopeful. “You actually think you can do it?”

“If the proper rituals were engaged in when he passed, yes. It is easy.” Imara had a thought. “You were right about the Mage Guides. They are eager to have me volunteer by taking a tour through a cemetery in order to talk to some spectres.”

Kitty smirked. “Thought so. It is a neglected area of mage-craft just because we can’t get anyone to show us around. It is always depicted as creepy, just because it is unknown.”

Bright Bell stiffened under her, and Imara looked around to see what had gotten his attention.

“Damn. Dad said they had moved in, but I was hoping that they weren’t this far to the edge of their territory yet.” Kitty’s mood shifted suddenly as she stared at the brush in the valley below.

“Is something here?”

“A new werewolf pack split and left their elders and are now running around on the fifty acres to the west of our property line.” She grimaced. “It is nowhere near enough space for them, but it is what was available.”

Imara stared at the edge of the treeline, and within it, she could see the flicker of shadows and flash of silver fur. “Don’t those trees abut your property line?”

“The first row on our side is the windbreak.”

The horses shifted restlessly. Kitty got her mount under control, but Imara had to focus as Bright Bell got nervous. “Easy, dude.”

“We had better turn back.”

Kitty had no sooner mentioned it than a howl broke free of the woods and a rush of dark fur came toward them.

Bright Bell reared and tossed his head before turning and bolting toward the barn. Imara’s grip on the saddle kept her in place during the jarring sprint, but a glance back showed that the wolves were waiting on the ridge, defending what they considered to be their territory. This required investigation as soon as she got her butt of the leather that was being pounded into it.

Kitty and her mount beat them to the barn, and she held Bright Bell while Imara slithered off with the grace of a bag of pudding.

“You go and grab a hot shower. I will take care of the horses.”

She nodded and headed for the tiny house with the intent of contacting Argus. If anyone knew what was going on and what could be done about werewolves encroaching on territories, it would be another shifter.

When she dragged herself out of the shower, wrapped in a towel, the flashing light on her phone told her that Argus was up.

She called him and smiled at the rumble of his voice.

“What have you gotten yourself into, Imara?”

“Nothing. Just a little light territorial encroachment by a pack on a local farmer. I want to know what I am able to do to defend the space.”

“Can’t the farmer do it? He has the right.”

“I don’t think so. He is mainly a seer, and his daughter is still in school with me.”

She could almost sense his brain heating up while he worked out what he would say next.

“Technically, they are responsible for their defense, but if they offer you a legal foothold for yourself or your power, you can act on their behalf.”

“Wow. It is like you are a seer yourself. I have that very setup, or will by the end of the evening. So, I am allowed to defend this place?”

“By any means necessary. Call me if things escalate beyond posturing. I may not be able to come, but I can get a local XIA detachment to send someone out.”

“I will.”

“And Imara? Take care of yourself. This could get dangerous very quickly.”

“I will. Thanks for the consultation, Argus. I owe you dinner when I get home.”

“You don’t cook.”

“But you are a very brave soul. I am sure that I can figure something out.” She grinned, her soul bubbling a little as it always did when she talked to him.

“Make sure that Mr. E is nearby if you want to do anything really stupid. He knows his job.”

“Yes, Agent Argus.”

“I mean it. I worry about you.” His tone was low.

“I know. I don’t mean to get into trouble, but it seems to seek me out.”

“Well, at least you are lucky.”

She smirked. “Of course, I am. I met you, didn’t I?”

His laugh was wry. “Yeah, you did, and I am willing to pay the price for the association. Be on guard but be cautious. I am going to look into the pack that has moved in and see if I can get you any more information.”

“I await your update. Have a good shift. Don’t let the boys eat too many tacos. You know that trolls have delicate digestion.”

“Don’t remind me. Have a fun evening. I should have details in a few hours.”

Imara smiled and disconnected the call. They didn’t say goodbye, just like they didn’t need to say hello. Their communication was just one long conversation interrupted by time. Nothing could, or would, separate them. Part of her had realized it the moment that they met.

She got dressed in fresh clothing and went in search of Kitty. Mr. E sauntered up to her, and she lifted him to put him on her shoulder.

“Dude, you smell like sheep.”

I was making friends. They are very friendly sheep.

She rolled her eyes and found Kitty in the barn, brushing Bright Bell and soothing him. The horse was still quivering with upset.

Let me speak to him.

Imara approached and cleared her throat. “Mr. E is going to chat with Bright Bell.”

The kitten walked from her shoulder to the top of the stall door.

Kitty paused in her ministrations when the horse visibly calmed. “What is he saying?”

“I have no idea. He is speaking via his kitten side, so I am not privy to it. It isn’t anything bad though. Bright Bell looks calmer already.”

The horse in question moved forward and pressed his long nose to Imara’s shoulder. He nipped gently at her sleeve, and she stroked his head.

“Well, whatever he said worked. All of the horses are relaxed and at ease.” Andy’s voice was low and calm. “Ladies, time to wash up for dinner.”

Kitty nodded, and Imara finished petting Bright Bell as her friend exited the stall.

Mr. E hopped back onto her shoulder, and they left the barn where the animals were diving into their dinners and went to find their own.

The family dinner table was something that Imara had heard of but never experienced firsthand. Meals at the hall were generally had around the table in the library or in the common room.

Dishes were set around the table, and everyone had a place. Kitty’s mother showed her the seat that was set aside for guests. “Here you go, just call out if anything is out of your reach.”

“I will. Thank you. It smells wonderful.”

“Thank you. It is delightful to have a friend of Kitigan’s here at the farm.”

“It has been fun so far. Thank you for having me.” She went through the rituals that Bara had drummed into her.

“Oh, I am May, by the way.”

“Pleased to meet you, May. Your daughter has been an excellent study partner.”

Kitty came in, shaking her hands. “Don’t listen to that. Imara is an amazing and natural mage. Anyone near her gets better by simple proximity.”

“Can you get your grandmother?”

“She is washing up. Is she any better?” Kitty looked worried.

“She is as she has been.”

Imara cleared her throat. “I have some questions to ask about her husband, if I may.”

May looked at her for a moment. “After dinner is soon enough when my mother-in-law has resumed her watch on the future.”

Imara nodded, and when the elder Deegle appeared, she introduced herself to the vague and unfocused woman.

Dinner conversation was polite and centred around the class that Kitty and Imara were taking. Weather was a large concern on the farm.

When the grandmother rose and headed back to her attic room, Imara sighed, “All right. I hate to ask, but what measures were taken when Mr. Deegle passed away? Was his spectre stone generated? Are there any artifacts to anchor him? Where is he buried?”

May looked confused, but Andy cleared his throat. “We have the spectre stone, but we didn’t anchor it.”

Imara made a face. “Right. Okay.”

“We have enough personal effects to fill a room. This entire property was his selection. They moved here, and May and I moved in with them when we married. The land was perfect for both our family needs.”

“Would you mind having his spectre around?” It was an important question, and she watched them carefully.

Andy nodded his head slowly. “I would like to be able to speak with him again.”

May asked the pertinent question, “Would the spectre outlast Anna? I couldn’t bear it if she lost him again.”

Imara smiled. “I can anchor him to the land and give you directions for his slow dissolve after she passes. If you choose to keep him, he can be a permanent guardian.”

Kitty blinked. “You talk about him like he’s a dog.”

Imara rubbed her jaw. “His soul is gone; this is a copy of his emotion and intellect. He knows he’s dead, but I can give him enough energy to keep him solid when he wants to be. His spirit can roam this land and watch over it if you like. It would just involve a lot of rock and some planted trees.”

Andy stared at her. “It is that easy?”

“Well, if you are a Death Keeper, yes. The primary issue is the generating site. Where do you want to keep him and talk to him directly?”

Andy got up from the table, and he returned in a moment with a map. He moved dishes aside and opened it up. “Here. We always meant to install the stone here, but it is so expensive to get a private installation.”

“Right. I am going to need a hammer, chisel, the spectre stone, and a bunch of pebbles or river rocks. The trees can be planted later.”

May asked, “Do you need it by midnight?”

“Well, I would like to head to bed before eleven, so the sooner, the better. Time isn’t a factor, and we could do it tomorrow morning if you wanted. I just thought that having him here tonight would be a good start.”

The Deegles shot out in different directions, and Imara prepared another plate for Mr. E.

Why are you doing this? It will take a lot of energy.

“They are in pain. An entire family is in pain, and I can fix it. That doesn’t cost me anything but slight dizziness and a few hours of focus. I will be fine in the morning, and I can send them powered items as they need it.”

They are mages, and hundreds of families can’t afford what you are about to do, are you going to do it for all of them?

“The ones that I meet face to face, sure. Just imagine, we can come back here for maintenance and you can chase more sheep.”

Point taken. Focus. You are going to connect some very rusty dots. This I have got to see.

With that encouragement, she started the inner chant that would focus the energy she needed to wake the spectre stone and bind it to the rock. She was going to need another meal when it was over or maybe just some pie.