The Collector

Chapter Four

Sebastian turned on his heels and left the room without another word. He was angry at Mac. This was not the way he had intended to handle the gypsy case and Mac knew it. Aleera apologizing quikly to Mr. Peabody turned and followed after her cousin. They traveled back to his home in silence. Leera didn't dare ask any questions of Sebastian when he was in this mood. He was liable to force her mouth shut until he released her. 

Leera had experienced this uncomforatable situation a handful of times in their growing up years and was not eager to experience it again. So she waited. Sebastian finally looked at her as they were pulling onto his street and sighed.

"I guess we have a journey to prepare for, Leera."

She nodded then gently asked, "And Avery?"

"She will have to be sent away to a relative in the country. Do you have any?" He asked this with the stunning realization that he actually didn't know the answer to that question. 

"No, we do not. My father was an only child and you are my only relations on my mother's side yet living. Perhaps, she could stay with a relation of yours?"

Sebastian looked thoughtful, "I suppose we could send her to my great aunt Lucretia. Avery will not thank us for it. Aunt Lucretia is an awful old stiff." 

"Good Heavens! Not her." entoned Aleera, "I wouldn't let her take care of a cat I liked let alone a sister that I love."

Sebastian grinned and acknowledge, "Yes I suppose that really isn't an option. She could stay at the house with my house keeper to look after her until you and I return."

Leera nodded, "She'd prefer that to anything else."

After another pause Leera stated, " We need to leave right away. Solomon will be where I am by nightfall. "

Sebastian nodded but looked concerned. 

Leera gave him an odd smile as she asserted, " I do not need much, just a good horse and some provisions. I am as tough as anything you'll see."

Inwardly Sebastian remembered the wild girl that Aleera had been and thought that she really was as hardy as could be, but what would this little adventure do for her season. On second though, her father's murder would probably have already ruined that prospect. 

They came to a stop and both Aleera and Sebastian descended the carriage. And both set about making preparations for their journey. 

------------------------------ The Mystery Girl of the Woods--------

People in the villiage of Glen Shee had been making sightings of a strange apparition in the foothills of their rough mountains. Some reports were that they had seen a beautiful fairy queens for which their ancestors had named the surrounding land coming to reclaim her land. Others were convinced that it was a lovely young witch whose animal familiars trailed on her heels haunting the glens. 

They had been seeing her for months and yet, none were brave enough to approach and talk to her. She was strange and otherworldly and the superstitious people were afraid that by approaching her, they would put a curse upon themselves. 

Still others believed that she was a good omen. Like a Druid Goddess of old, she and her animals could foretell a rich harvest and safe deliveries of new children into their parts. 

Yes, The villagers were content to let her be. All save Alistair Duncan, Lord of Dalnaglar Castle. He was a staunch protestant and did not believe in such supersitions. If she was a witch, she would need to be exorcised of her evil ways, if she was a fairy queen well, this was his home and his friends and relations that she was worrying. He determined that he could wait no longer. 

One a fine day when the glen's green grass colored the late spring of Glen Shee He rode out on his enormous gelding Freyer and set off across the old roman bridge and into the foothills of the nearby mountains. He had only been searching for an hour when out in a clearing he spotted her sitting on a rock looking into a small pond created by the icemelt and rain. She was softly singing. 

There were several things that Alistair noticed right away. Her clothes were of fine make but tattered by long use and rough living. She wore no shoes and her feet were scarred and cut with the treacheries of the terrain. 

He dismounted his horse and decided to get a little closer, if he could. He was maybe half way between the girl and where he had left freyer when a stag of astonishing size and horn blocked his pack and snorted a warning. 

The girl's head shot up in surprise. Alistair noticed yet another thing about her. She was terrified. 

He put both his hands up and shouted, "Are ye in some trouble lass?"

She was up in a flash and out of the trees came another, much more dangerous creature. One that Alistair had never seen before but had read about in the papers. A tiger. The giant cat growled and he took a few steps back. 

"Don't come any closer!" the girl shouted. 

"I donna mean ya harm, lass." Alisair was terrified and his voice was not as steady as he would have liked. The girl's accent was that of a english woman. What was she doing here and what strange power did she have over these animals?

He saw her brown eyes fill with tears and she only said, "You stay where you are so that I may leave in peace. I want no trouble."

Alistair nodded but pity was now a more strong instinct than his fear. He found himself saying, "Do ya need shelter? Perhaps a warm meal? I am Alistair Duncan of..." 

Before he had finished, she had taken off into the depths of the forest closely followed by her two strange companions. 

One thing that Alistair was certain of, is she was just a girl. Not goddess or fairy. Perhaps she was from a carnival...but no her clothes and accent were those of a lady. 

This mystery would haunt him for many days to come.