River Horse

Chapter Eight

Hans paced back and forth in the small room relentlessly. Ivan watched him, his eyes calm.

"Why did she have to go?!" Hans finally exploded. "I mentioned the gathering, and she immediately decided on going on a trip with her family!" He spun around furiously. "How obvious is she trying to make it? I could practically see wheels turning in Uncle Troy's head! Why-"

"Hans!" Ivan finally interrupted. "Everything is fine! There's no way anyone will guess she's a kelpie! Stop worrying yourself to death."

Hans let out a sigh and dropped down against the wall, rubbing his face tiredly. "What the hell is wrong with me?" he mused. "I can't stop thinking about her."

Ivan smiled smugly. "It's pretty obvious. You're helplessly in love!"

Hans turned and glared. "I know!" he snapped. Ivan only smiled wider. Hans leaned his head against the wall and flexed his hands. He wished he could hold a bow in his hands. Nothing else gave him that sense of power and control. Whenever he was upset, he could always go and shoot at targets to ease his mind. But the school might have had a slight problem with that, so he and Ivan had locked themselves in a tiny seminar room so Hans could vent.

He and Ivan were the only ones who knew that Alicia was a kelpie. Though Hans had been sorely tempted to tell his brother, he wouldnt betray Alicia's trust. He could only imagine what Gareth would do. His hatred of kelpies went deep, deeper than anyone knew.

He groaned. It wasn't right that he was hiding something so big from his own brother! He had always told Gareth everything, no matter what. His brother was his friend, his confidant, his partner in crime, and his comrade. But this time, he couldn't trust him.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked over at Ivan. "Don't let it get to you too much," he said, his voice a soft rumble. "I know you want to tell Gareth, but it's too dangerous. Maybe later we can tell Eric, but... We'll figure out how to deal with your brother later. Right now, it's time to go to class. Are you better?"

Hans nodded and let Ivan pull him up. At least, he concluded, I'm not alone.

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As I trotted into the clearing, I tried to hide my surprise. A blue lake glittered in the sunlight. A mass of jumbled rocks were heaped upon the shore. There was a large beach with soft white sand dotted here and there with large smooth rocks perfect for sunning on. More than that, there were about two hundred kelpies, swimming or sunning on the beach.

I felt a dozen welcoming thoughts sent my way and a kelpie trotted over to us. He had steel gray scales that shimmered darkly in the sun. He rose up on his hind legs and pawed the air with a thunderous neigh before dropping down. Tyson, Diana, and I did the same. It's a traditional greeting.

Welcome to the Gathering, a deep, musical voice said mentally. The gray kelpie bowed his head. My name is Vezlan, son of Hof. What are your names?

Tyson stepped forward proudly. I am Tyson, son of Joren. This is Diana, daughter of Natalie, and Alicia, also daughter of Natalie. They are my sisters.

Vezlan's ear flicked backward in surprise. Joren and Natalie? Natalie is my blood cousin. It is an honor to meet her offspring. He bowed again, and we dipped our heads politely. However, may I ask where my cousin and her mate may be?

Tyson looked down, his tail drooping. They have passed on, he said haltingly. They died warriors' deaths defending our river from swamp sirens.

Vezlan snorted in anger. I understood. The swamp sirens had a mutual understanding with us; keep off our land, and we'll keep off yours. To invade a kelpie's territory with undue cause was a broach of the taboo.