Chapter 1 - Starting Over

“That’s four attacks this week,” Zohn sighed, and turned to the other Elders. The Council sat quietly while the Elders tried to decide what to do.

“I don’t really understand, they know Emily is at Island Coven, why attack Thukil and Powan to get her?” Quinn asked.

Chevalier shrugged, “I suspect they are hoping she finds out and comes to them to stop the attacks.”

“Which will happen if she does find out,” Kyle told them.

“If she doesn’t fall for that soon, I’m guessing Island Coven is next on the attack list,” Chevalier said. “My coven can hold them off for a while, but not indefinitely. We’d need her here for that kind of protection.”

“I’ve tried three times in the last six months. She’s not coming back,” Kyle said.

“Did Mark, Silas, or Kralen make any lee-way?” Quinn asked Chevalier.

“Nope, she’s dead set on staying on the island.”

“She’s that stubborn that she’ll stay in harm’s way just to avoid running into me?” Zohn asked, frowning.

“Yes, she is,” Chevalier said, and grinned slightly.

“Then I should go talk to her.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Why not? No one else has been able to convince her to return to Council City.”

“Island Coven is her safe haven from you. I’m worried what would happen if you intrude on that.”

“Who haven’t we tried?” Quinn asked.

“We’ve tried everyone she’s close to,” Chevalier said.

“The problem is, she has no reason to come back. She feels safe on the island, she enjoys being there, and she has free reign. Until her safe haven is attacked, there’s no reason to return here,” Kyle explained.

“By the time it’s attacked, it could be too late though,” Zohn said. “The Valle and Encala aren’t going to send 100 heku into Island Coven. It’ll be thousands, and by that time, she may not be able to escape.”

“Maybe he’s right, maybe we should send Zohn,” Quinn said, glancing at Kyle.

“I really don’t think… who has Emily’s truck?” Kyle said, frowning.

The Council all listened to the sound of the Dodge Ram 3500 pulling out of the garage.

“Mark?” Quinn called out, and they turned to the trial area when he arrived.

“Yes, Elder?”

“Who has Emily’s truck?”

Mark looked shocked, “I wasn’t aware anyone had it. I’ll go find out.”

Quinn nodded and turned back to Kyle, “You were saying?”

“I was just saying, that I really don’t think sending Zohn over for a one-on-one with Emily is going to work.”

“It could backfire,” Chevalier said. “I know she’s been considering moving back into the mortal world.”

Zohn sighed, “Why would she do that? She would have to move constantly to avoid anyone noticing that she doesn’t age.”

Mark glared at the blue Dodge Ram and blurred toward it, “Who said you could use this truck?”

“I didn’t know I needed permission to drive my own truck,” Emily said, crawling out from under the horse trailer and brushing herself off.

Mark smiled, “You’re back!”

“No, I’m not back. I’m just getting the truck and trailer, so I can take some horses back to the island.”

“Still, we’ve missed you.”

“What’s that?” Emily asked, turning to look at the large building that was being built on the east lawn.

“It started out as just a pool. Now they’ve added guard training classrooms, and a new training gym.”

Emily pulled a pair of pliers out of her pocket and went back to work attaching the trailer to the truck.

“Can you stay for a while?” Mark asked.

“Nope, I’m leaving as soon as I can. I have a tiller I need to pick up tomorrow in Maine. I need to drive back and unload the horses, so I can use the truck.”

Mark frowned, “Alone?”

Emily smiled up at him, “Yes, alone.”

When she headed into the stables, Mark whispered to the Elders. She came back out with her stallion in tow, and stopped when she saw the entire Council surrounding her truck.

“I’ll get my truck off your lawn in a few minutes,” Emily told them, and led the horse into the trailer.

“We aren’t here because of the lawn,” Zohn said, and grew silent when Quinn glared at him.

“We’ve missed you,” Quinn said, smiling at her when she came out of the trailer.

“You should come to the island once in a while, call it a vacation,” Emily told him, and then leaned back against the trailer.

“Maybe I will… or maybe you should stay here.”

“If that’s why you are all out here, then you’re wasting your time,” Emily said, and looked over at Zohn. “Or will you blame this waste of time on me?”

Zohn sighed, “You aren’t wasting our time.”

Chevalier opened the truck and gently pulled Dain from the car seat when he started to fuss. The baby looked up at his Dad, and his bottom lip began to quiver, seconds before he started to kick and scream.

Emily pulled off her leather gloves and took the 8-month-old from Chevalier. He immediately stopped crying and began to gnaw on the knuckle of her right index finger.

“I told you not to let him do that,” Chevalier sighed.

“And I told you that he’s teething.”

“It’s not teething when you’re the only one he’ll chew on.”

Emily glanced at the Council and turned back to Chevalier, “I’m not discussing this right now.”

“Then let me hold him,” Quinn said, reaching out for the baby.

Emily handed Dain over to Quinn, and went back into the stables after another horse. The baby almost immediately started crying and when offered a knuckle, kicked and screamed harder.

“I think you may be right,” Quinn whispered. “Do you think he’s attempting to feed?”

Chevalier sighed, “Yes, I do.”

Emily came back out leading the mustang. She was talking on the cell phone, “No… why did you call me?”

She stopped when Mark took the reins, and leaned back against the trailer, “I have no desire whatsoever to talk to your new Elder.”

“Who is she talking to?” Dustin asked, watching her.

“Not sure,” Chevalier said, moving a step closer. He could hear the voice on the other end, but wasn’t able to make out the words. Emily learned early that if she wanted any privacy on the cell phone, she had to turn the volume down.

“What do you mean why not? I thought you were all supposed to hate me now,” Emily said, rolling her eyes.

Emily gasped and her eyes grew wide. The Council watched as the color drained from her face, “But…”

“Em?” Chevalier asked, frowning.

Emily slammed her phone shut and ran for the palace doors, followed by the Council.

“What’s going on?” Quinn asked. He handed Dain over to Silas and ran after her.

“Who was on the phone?” Kyle asked, running behind her.

Emily turned just inside the doors and ran to the former ancient’s room. She pushed against the door, and when it didn’t open, Zohn reached over and opened it for her. She walked inside and looked around at the small markings, then went over to the banishment sight of Exavior and started to dig.

Chevalier put a hand on her shoulder, “Why are you digging up Exavior, Em?”

She didn’t answer, but continued to dig until she found the small leather bag. She pulled it out and dumped the ashes into a pile.

“Revive him,” Emily said, turning to Kyle.

“We can’t revive Exavior,” Quinn told her.

“Do it.”

Kyle sighed, “Seriously, Em, why revive him?”

“I say just do it. We can re-banish him when she’s done,” Zohn said.

Emily looked at him, shocked, and then turned back to Kyle, “Just revive him.”

Kyle glanced at Quinn and Chevalier, and they finally nodded. He pulled the ceremonial dagger from his pocket and cut his finger, allowing one drop of blood to fall to the ashes as the entire Council crouched slightly.

The ash began to form and a scream was heard as the heku emerged.

“Who the hell are you?” Quinn asked, looking at the strange heku.

“Damnit, they revived him and he replaced Vizia,” Emily said, looking at the heku.

“Exavior’s the new Valle Elder?” Zohn asked, his eyes wide.

“Yes”

“I asked who you are,” Quinn repeated.

“Denkers, Chief of Defense for the Ferus,” he said, and crouched, facing the Equites Council. They gasped when he turned to ash.

“Stop it, no more,” Chevalier said to Emily.

Emily turned on her heels and walked out of the banishment room, headed for the truck.

“Zohn, lead a delegation to find out what the hell they were thinking,” Quinn growled. “We need to talk to Emily.”

Emily shut the door to her truck and took screaming Dain from Silas. He calmed immediately and leaned his head against her shoulder with his nose softly touching her neck.

“Ford!” Emily yelled, and then whistled. The Border collie appeared from the stables and jumped into the horse trailer before she shut it.

“Just stop,” Chevalier growled. “Do not leave right now, talk to us.”

“About what?” Emily asked, locking the trailer door. “About how Exavior’s now going to be on the warpath again, or how ashes were taken from a supposedly secure room in the palace?”

“About you staying here where it’s safe.”

“Island Coven is safe. You’ve always told me that.”

“It is, but the palace is safer,” Chevalier told her.

“Someone took Exavior’s ashes from the palace, that doesn’t seem safe to me.”

“We had a small… security issue when the alliance was broken. It had to have happened then,” Quinn explained.

“We haven’t had a security issue on the island,” Emily said, and tucked Dain into his car seat.

Emily got back into the Dodge Ram, and before she started it, Chevalier crawled into the passenger seat while Silas and Kralen each took up a spot in the backseat next to Dain. She shook her head and buckled in.

Most of the drive was in silence. It wasn’t until after their first stop that Chevalier finally spoke, “Do the other factions call you often?”

“Yes,” Emily said, and pulled her sunglasses out of her purse, slipping them on.

“Doesn’t that seem odd?”

“Yes”

“What do they want?”

“Usually they call with offers.”

“What kind of offers?” Chevalier asked, frowning.

Emily grinned, “Pretty good ones actually.”

“Like what?” Silas asked when Chevalier didn’t.

“The usual, my own coven, freedom, no attacks, husbands…”

“Husbands?” Chevalier growled.

“Yes, my pick, and as many as I want,” she said, amused.

“Why haven’t you told us that they are calling?”

“Why tell? Not like I’m going to take them up on their offer.”

“Because the Council needs to know.”

Emily shrugged, “Well, now they do.”

The rest of the drive was spent in silence or small talk. When it got late, Emily finally let Chevalier drive, and she leaned the passenger seat back and slept. She woke up as they were crossing into Jonesport.

“Oh, go to AQS hardware, there on Main Street,” she said, and then yawned.

Chevalier glanced at her and then pulled into the hardware store.

“Be right back,” Emily said, and got out of the truck. She didn’t realize until she was inside the store that Kralen was with her. They came out a short time later with four bags and a tiller. Kralen checked around carefully and then one-handed the tiller into the back of the truck. When they were on the ferry, they started to talk again.

“What exactly are you going to till?” Chevalier asked, looking over at Emily.

“I’m planting a garden.”

“Why?”

“Why not?”

Chevalier shrugged, “Just asking. I haven’t seen you do that is all.”

“I always had a garden at the Montana ranch,” Emily said, and watched as the tugboats hooked onto the ferry. She grinned when the pier guards caught sight of the Elder and stood at attention.

When they arrived at the castle, there was a line of guards waiting, and Storm was in the front, watching as Chevalier pulled the truck and trailer up to the front doors and the island returned to lockdown.

“Sir,” Storm said, smiling.

“Good morning,” Chevalier said, and got sleeping Dain out of the truck. “I’ll be ready for an update in a few minutes.”

“Yes, Sir… Lady Emily, a moment please?” Storm asked, and she and Emily headed off alone.

Chevalier watched them for a moment before heading in to his office. Kralen and Silas began unloading the horses as Ford ran frantically around the lawn, trying to herd the guards.

Chevalier called in the guard Generals and got an update on the happenings of the island. After a few hours, he called Anna into his office.

“Yes, Sir?” Anna asked, sitting down in a chair across from the Elder’s desk.

“Have you done as I asked?”

“Yes, I have.”

“And?”

“I would have to agree with you, Sir. The baby does seem more inclined to rest against the Lady’s neck. He often chews on her fingers, and rarely sleeps. He lies awake while she sleeps and again, his nose must be against her neck.”

Chevalier sighed, “This could be a problem.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Chevalier glanced at the baby as he slept, “So he mainly naps during the day. Does he sleep at night?”

“Not that I’ve seen. He naps around 3 hours during the day, and that’s all.”

“Did you try to allow him to chew on your fingers?”

“Yes, Sir, and he won’t do it. The Lady says he’s teething and allows him to do it to her often though. I do remember her allowing both Allen and Alexis to do the same, but they weren’t as… shall we call it… persistent with it,” Anna said.

“Suggestions?”

Anna shrugged, “None, Sir.”

“Where is Emily?”

“In her office.”

Chevalier raised an eyebrow, “She has on office?”

“Yes, Sir, and heku are forbidden from entering.”

“She said that?”

“Yes, Sir,” Anna told him, and grinned.

“We’ll see about that,” Chevalier said, and stood up, smiling. “I think I’ll go check out this new office.”

“It’s Perk’s old office,” Anna said, and followed him out after grabbing the baby.

Chevalier knocked lightly on the office door. He could hear Emily inside as she came to the door. She opened it enough to slip out and then shut the door behind her.

“Yes?” she asked, looking up at Chevalier, her back to the door.

“Hiding something?”

“No”

“Then why is no one allowed in your office?” he asked, amused.

“Because it’s mine.”

“Interesting”

“There’s no reason for anyone to be in there,” Emily told him, and headed toward the back exit.

Chevalier grinned and followed her out after whispering for Silas to check out her office while they were gone.

“Damnit, Kralen, what are you doing?” Emily asked, crossing her arms. Kralen was just finishing up tilling a fenced off section of land by the barn.

“I was bored,” he said, turning off the tiller.

Chevalier chuckled, “You were going to till it?”

Emily glared at him, “Yes, I was.”

“Sir?” Storm said from behind them.

Chevalier turned toward her.

“There’s a Valle delegation on the pier. They arrived by boat a few minutes ago.”

He frowned, “What do they want?”

“They want a word with the Lady. I don’t think they know you are here.”

“How many are there?”

“Four”

“Kralen, take Silas and a handful of guards, escort them in to the main conference room… don’t mention I’m here,” Chevalier ordered, and headed inside.

Emily followed him, “Why don’t you let me meet with them alone?”

“Why would I do that?”

“They aren’t going to tell me whatever it is they want if you are sitting there,” she said, and stepped into the conference room when he opened the door.

“Damn, that’s true,” Chevalier said, and sighed. “I’ll be next door listening, though.”

Emily nodded and sat down at the table. A few minutes later, Kralen and Silas entered the conference room with Exavior, Alec, and two Valle guards who were in dark gray robes with the hoods covering their faces, normal travel attire for the Imperial Guards. Silas shut the door behind the Valle and then took a spot by the door next to Kralen.

Exavior and Alec sat down across from Emily and she glanced at Silas nervously.

“Thank you for seeing us,” Exavior said, smiling.

“You’re looking well,” Alec said, a little stiffly.

“Why are you here?” Emily asked.

“I got the divorce papers,” Exavior said. “I’ll admit I was shocked.”

“You came here to ask about the divorce?”

“I’ve contested it.”

“Of course you have,” Emily said. “Again… why did you come here?”

“I wanted to apologize, and to ask what it would take to get you to join us, your family, at the Valle.”

“My family? You tortured me into marrying you, and Alec made it perfectly clear that you are his family, not me,” Emily said angrily.

“You obviously are uncomfortable with the Equites. Otherwise, you would still be at the palace.”

“I’m not uncomfortable with the Equites.”

“Then why are you here on the island?”

“I like it here.”

“Emi, please, give us a month with the Valle,” Alec said, leaning forward. “See what it’s like, and if you don’t like it, you can come back.”

“Yeah right, the Valle would just let me walk out.”

“We would,” Exavior said. “We want you to be where you’re happiest, but you haven’t given us a chance.”

“Stop it!” Emily yelled, and stood up. “Alec, you have no idea how fast I could turn on you.”

Alec smiled slightly, “I had to try.”

“Try what?” Silas asked, tensing.

“I’m not sick, I’m not tired, and you most certainly aren’t an ‘old one,’ so don’t even give it a try,” Emily said, sitting back down.

“You were trying to control her?” Kralen asked, taking a step forward.

“For her own good,” Alec said, and glanced at Exavior.

Emily’s eyes narrowed, “Wait… why would you try to and not Exavior?”

“I don’t know what you mean. I wasn’t aware he was trying,” Exavior said.

“You… there’s something missing… something…”

“I just wanted to try it, Emi. I heard it can’t be done,” Alec said.

“Why do I get the feeling you came here thinking I was weak enough that’d work? Then you had Alec try because you think I trust him.”

“That’s not true,” Alec said, glancing nervously at Kralen.

“Did I dodge an attack?” Emily asked.

“No, there’ve been no attacks on you, Elder’s orders,” Alec explained. The room fell silent for a few minutes while Emily thought.

Suddenly, Emily frowned, “What’s going on?”

“What?” Kralen asked, crouching.

“I feel weird,” she said, frowning.

Chevalier appeared in the doorway. Exavior and Alec both stood up to face him, and crouched as their guards moved to the side of them. Suddenly, the castle was full of Island Coven guards.

“Time for you to leave,” Chevalier hissed.

“Call us if you change your mind,” Alec said to Emily, and then followed Exavior out.

“Wait…” The Valle turned as Chevalier spoke to one of their guards, “Who are you?”

The guard glanced at Exavior.

“He’s one of the Imperial Guards,” Exavior said.

Chevalier’s eyes narrowed, “Show me your face.”

“Don’t take orders from the Equites, come, let’s go,” Exavior said, and they all headed out again.

Chevalier put a hand on the guard’s shoulder, “Show me your face.”

“It’s ok, let them go,” Emily said, and touched Chevalier’s arm.

He looked over at her and then back to Exavior, “Just get off my island.”

“We need to do away with diplomatic immunity,” Silas growled as the Valle left the castle.

Emily started for the door, “I’m going with them.”

“You are?” Chevalier asked, turning to look at her.

She opened the door and ran out into the foyer.

“Em, wait,” he called after her, and she stopped and turned to him. “Stay, please.”

Emily nodded.

“Why would you go with them?” he asked, irritated.

“I better go with them,” she said, and started for the door.

“Stop!” he growled, and she froze in place, watching the door. “Just wait here.”

Kralen and Silas moved to her side while the other guards followed Chevalier out to make sure the Valle left. It was two hours before he returned, and found Emily in the exact same spot, still watching the door.

“What’s going on?” he asked, walking up to them.

Kralen shrugged, “We’re just standing here.”

“Em?”

“Yes?” she asked, and turned to him.

“Why did you want to leave with them?”

“He told me to.”

“Who did?”

“The guard told me to come with them.”

Chevalier frowned, “So you thought you’d do as he asked?”

“Yes”

“That doesn’t make any sense… Do you want to go to the Valle?”

She shrugged.

“Why would you do what he said?” Chevalier asked, getting frustrated.

Emily didn’t answer. She just stood perfectly still in the main-floor foyer.

Chevalier growled, “I don’t even know what you’re thinking.”

She shrugged.

He threw his hands in the air and stormed off to his office.

“Come on, let’s get you some lunch,” Kralen said, and turned for the kitchen. Emily followed him with Silas behind her. They walked into the kitchen and Gordon smiled.

“Welcome, Child! What would you like for lunch today?”

Emily looked over at Silas.

Silas glanced at Kralen and then back to Emily, “What do you want?”

“Would you like to make your own lunch?” Gordon asked when she didn’t answer.

Emily shrugged.

“Go ahead, it’s ok. Make whatever you’d like,” he said, and exited the kitchen. Emily set out making grilled cheese sandwiches.

“Make us some too while you’re at it,” Kralen chuckled.

Silas glared at him, “Stop it.”

“I was just kidding and she knows it.”

They both turned and watched her quickly make sandwiches. She sat a plate down in front of Kralen and Silas, and then sat with her own plate and started to eat.

Kralen looked down at the grilled cheese, “I was kidding, you know that…”

“It’s just a joke, right?” Silas asked, smiling, and looked over at Emily. She continued to eat in silence. When she finished, she sat perfectly still at the table and watched the wall. After almost an hour, Silas glanced at Kralen and he shrugged, not sure what to do.

“Did… did you maybe want to go start planting in the garden?” Silas asked, watching her.

Emily looked over at him, but didn’t speak.

“Come on, we’ll help,” Kralen said, and stood up. Emily got up finally and followed them out to the newly tilled land. She grabbed a set of tools and a bag of seeds, and began to plant while Kralen and Silas started at the other end.

Night fell and she continued to plant, even when a light rain began to fall. Silas and Kralen stayed at their task and kept a close eye on her, wondering when she was going to stop.

“What are you still doing out here?” Chevalier asked, walking up to the garden.

Kralen shrugged, “We figured we’d stop when she does.”

“Em, it’s 11 o’clock,” Chevalier told her, but she continued to plant.

“She’s not very chatty,” Silas whispered, too low for her to hear.

Chevalier sighed, “Just go to bed, Em.”

Emily nodded, stood up, and headed inside, followed by the three heku. They followed her in and watched, confused, as she crawled into bed fully dressed.

Kralen watched her for a few seconds, and then took up his post outside of her door, trailed shortly by Silas.

“Em?” Chevalier asked, sitting on the side of the bed.

“Yes?”

“Are you ok?”

“Yes”

“At least put on a nightgown before going to bed.”

Emily nodded and got out of bed. She pulled off her clothes suddenly as Chevalier rushed to shut the door. After putting on a nightgown, she got back into bed and shut her eyes.

Chevalier met Anna at the door and she handed Dain over. He was crying loudly and obviously upset. He took the baby and laid him in bed with Emily, watching closely as he scooted closer to her and leaned his head against her neck before settling down. Dain stayed awake, but lay perfectly still while Emily slept.

Chevalier joined Silas and Kralen out in the ante-chamber, and shut the door, “Something’s not right.”

“Maybe she’s just tired?” Kralen suggested.

“I don’t know… Silas, what’s in her office?”

“Not that much, other than one huge computer setup. Three small form computers and six wide-screen monitors, all running various things I don’t understand.”

Chevalier frowned, “That can’t be it then. I guess just see if she’s better in the morning.”