Waymakers (Champions of the Crystal Book 9)

Chapter 13.1

Mara's schedule did not permit her to meet with them any earlier than after supper, quite late by the time she was able to leave the Council of the Realm. Sabrina and Scotty waited for her in her rooms by her invitation, dressed in their Earth clothes and fidgeting. When Mara joined them, they were surprised to see her dressed as they were.

"You comin' with us?" Scotty asked as they stood and put on their coats, then grabbed their duffel bags.

"Yes. You have been with me in my times of grief; I intend to return the favor," she said. "You attended both my parents' funerals, and your Aunt Euphrasia stands as a parent to you. I am curious to meet her, though I will not intrude upon her death bed unless you wish it."

"Of course we want you with us," Sabrina said.

"Tirqwin wanted to come, but with things as they are, it would be difficult."

"We understand," Sabrina assured her.

Scotty said, "Yeah. Let's get this over with."

Mara reached out a hand to each of them, and they had no sooner clasped hers than they were gone.

A moment later, they were standing on a quiet street corner, with the sun coming up through the trees in a nearby park. "Where's this?" Scotty asked.

"The hospice where your Aunt Euphrasia has come," Mara answered. "Khediva had quite a bit of research on her final days. She arrived last night, upon her doctor determining that nothing further could be done to treat her lungs."

Sabrina sighed. "She quit smoking so many years ago, but the damage was done, apparently. Emphysema and lung cancer run in the family, she told me once."

"Nothing either of you need to worry about," Mara assured her.

"How long do we have?" Scotty asked.

"Three days. Would you like to get breakfast first? I fear it may not be visiting hours quite yet."

"I don't know if I can eat," Sabrina said.

"Well, I can," Scotty protested. "C'mon, there's bound to be someplace we can get a bite around here. What part of London is this?"

"No part; we are on the outskirts of Canterbury, in Kent," Mara replied. "This hospice advertises a quiet environment and plenty of fresh air. I suppose that must have appealed to her."

Sabrina found it hard to picture; Aunt Euphrasia had lived in London as long as she'd known her. But her townhouse near Holland Park had lots of stairs, and she wasn't surprised Aunt Euphrasia had decided to move. "We should have been here to help her relocate."

"She had help from some children of friends," Mara said. "She hasn't been lonely; Mrs. Leighson, her housekeeper, came down with her. There is nothing to feel guilty about. She had the number of the satellite phone; she never used it."

Scotty said, "Yeah, because you and Khediva and I weren't in the right galaxy to get any calls."

"Control monitors it as well; we have, as you know, a long-range satellite in orbit of Earth to alert us of any alien activity. They are our unknowing allies." Mara smiled. "Though no one here knows it, Praxatillus is greatly in their debt. When they are ready to take their first steps  into the galaxy, we will welcome them with open arms."

"Any idea when that is?" Scotty asked.

"Not in our time period, at any rate, though I believe they have established a foothold on the fourth planet in the system. Do not worry, Scotty; Control has my instructions. Even if none of us are alive when the time comes, Earth will find itself protected, and your descendants will be notified."

Scotty thought for a moment, then said, "Does that mean Praxatillus survives the Kyan?"

"I cannot know for sure. So yes, it is possible that your descendants will be here on Earth when they achieve long-range space travel."

"Not mine," Scotty said. "They're Ruschars. They'll fight for Praxatillus as long as there's a planet and people to fight for."

"Mine, maybe," Sabrina admitted. "Though it would take a lot for us to abandon hope."

They walked in silence until they came to a small bakery which was not only open, but was the source of a mouth-watering smell. Scotty was drawn to it as if he were a bloodhound, and Sabrina and Mara exchanged a smile and followed.

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They spent longer at breakfast than they should have, until Sabrina caught Scotty's rueful gaze and realized they were stalling. The clock on the wall read 9 a.m., which meant the hospice house was probably open for visitors by now.

They paid the bill, thankful Khediva had thought to provide both currency and a debit card, and walked back the way they'd come, though more slowly. Mara tried to make conversation. "It's a converted mansion, with private rooms. It was a hotel after the family who built it was forced to sell, and it became a hospice about ten years ago. The photos Khediva found look very nice."

"She always had good taste," Scotty said. "I remember how much she hated my T-shirts. Not that I could wear them to that stupid school here."

"At least nobody made you wear a skirt every day," Sabrina said.

That seemed to be the end of the conversation, and they were quiet as they went in the front door of the house. A young woman sat at the front desk, and she looked up with a smile. "Good morning. How may I help you?"

"We're here to see Euphrasia Hamilton," Sabrina said. "We're her great-niece and nephew, and a friend."

The receptionist consulted a computer. "Your names?"

"Sabrina and Scotty Devon, and Mara Tassan."

"I have the first two names on the list, but not the third. That's all right, though. Do you mind signing in?" She nodded to a visitor's book. "And if I could see some identification?"

Khediva had provided that as well, so they were able to sign in without incident. Then they went to the room the receptionist told them how to reach. "And don't be alarmed, but she is hooked up to a machine to help her breathe. There's some tubing. But she isn't in any pain," the receptionist assured them.

"Thank you," Mara said, when it became apparent that Sabrina and Scotty weren't going to respond.