Back In Time

Chapter 24: In Which We Visit A Pub

Using words and memories to explain the entire chain of events, it took approximately an hour to relay everything and field their questions. Eric was supremely pleased to hear about the demise of the man he'd been tracking since his human life and especially happy that he was possibly only a month away from meeting him in the flesh. We could only assume that the business partner Cabral had referred to was Edgington and if that was the case, we needed to get the ball rolling on teaching me to fight. I had no doubt that Russell was going to be well protected considering that was basically how he rolled all through eternity, from what I'd gathered. Once we got on to that topic, there were a couple of things that needed to be discussed.

"I guess now's as good a time as any to tell you that I have a tiny bit of Fairy strength," I said casually. I really wasn't sure why I hadn't told them about it before, other than it hadn't come up.

"That explains how you overpowered me the night you arrived," Eric answered immediately. I nodded.

"Yes, but that was an accident. I haven't exactly mastered it yet. When I was human it was like a blue light in the palms of my hands. There were a couple of times when I was able to sort of throw it at people. Actually, the first time I did it, Edgington was there," I remembered as I spoke. I shook the thought from my head, hating that so many of my human memories were bad. I glanced over at Eric to see him staring at me all broodingly and remembered that I had some really good ones too, which made me feel a little better. "Anyway, after I was turned, we worked on it a little. I can still muster up the light when I concentrate but I can also channel it into my strength, sort of. It's hard to explain. There's no light but it makes me super strong. The bad part is that it doesn't last very long at all and I get really tired after I use it," I finished up. Guessing what the first question would be, I decided to add a disclaimer. "I'll show you what I mean, but it's best if I do it outside. Just before or after feeding."

"Understood," Godric answered. "We will need to begin teaching you strategy as soon as possible, though we also need to maintain a presence at court. I do not wish to appear weak or intimidated by Cabral and the female's presence. Especially if Cabral is mated with this Edgington only, because that means the female likely has a mate or two nearby as well. It's imperative that we change our habits as little as possible and since any human in the palace can attest to the fact that we are regularly in attendance, we should continue to be there."

"Luckily, we do not always attend together," Eric interjected. "Which means that you can begin Sookie's training on tactics and I can continue to appear at court. Once she has a foundation, we can trade off with her training but I think we can both agree you would be the better teacher for strategy."

Godric chuckled. "Yes, you have a point there. We will need to appear together four or five times each fortnight, at the very least, to avoid suspicion. Now that Sookie is here, she will also need to attend. We could claim she was ill to fool the humans, but the vampires will need a better excuse. We certainly do not wish them to think she is either vulnerable or valuable and that we are protecting her by withholding her from their scrutiny."

"Yes, you are correct. Perhaps we can begin her training tomorrow evening and determine a schedule based on how she absorbs it. I am certain she will be a quick study," Eric added.

"I agree," Godric replied. I was starting to feel like a dog watching a tennis match, my head turning back and forth to look at each of them as they spoke. "We will also need to test the limits of your telepathy," Godric continued, looking directly at me. I nodded.

"Makes sense. We should probably see how far I can hear you both and also how far away I can project to you. In the future, I can hear Eric from nearly a mile away but with most others it's less than half of that. Unless the person knows I'm listening. I can hear farther if you think directly at me, if that makes any sense," I floundered. It made sense in my head but I wasn't sure if I'd explained it clearly enough. When they nodded, I assumed I had.