Aednat and the Wolf

Chapter 10 The Amulet of the Runes

"Grandma, Aednat has something for you to see," Rosemary whispered as she and Aednat sat on the pine log picnic table Gert was sitting at while she read, Ulfy sat on the ground.

"Seats are made for sitting not table tops," she said.

"Show her Nit." Aednat opened the clasp and took off her pendant and handed over. Gert took off her reading glassed and looked with surprise at the amulet. She then reached behind her to undo the clasp and produced an almost identical amulet.

"How did you come by this?"

"My mother sent it. Ulfy brought it to me. My mother called it the Amulet of the Runes. She was hoping it would help me recall my past."

"You have no memory of your life? I think you mentioned that to me."

"My memories start when I was seven. All I remember is a great sadness over being taken. I could not recall anything and was sold into slavery. It was in Ireland. I was bought and taken to the Greenland Colonies."

"The amulet has several names. There were four of them. A Puca named Loki gave this one to my great-grandmother. Loki called it the Amulet of Time."

"What does it do?" Aednat asked.

"Just one, nothing. Two have the power to stay the effects of time, grant eternal live at a terrible price. The other two (these two) halt the passage of time for short intervals. I have no idea how they work."

"The first two, do they still exist?" Aednat asked.

"Yes," Ulfy whispered, "He has them, our eternal enemy, the Overlord."

"Four of them together are supposed to have even more power," Gert continued, "But how or what I have no idea. Rosemary, I pass this amulet to you. Wear it always, it is time for me to pass it on."

"I can't..."

"You must, it is your destiny, yours and Aednat's." Aednat and Rosemary put the necklace on and closed the clasp. They both looked at each other not being able to find words.

"GRANDMA!" someone shouted. "Stacy has drowned!" The limp form of a fourteen year girl was carried to the table.

"David and I tried CPR," William said as he carried the girl.

"Lay her on the table." Stacy was lying on her back, she was not breathing.

"I can't feel a pulse," David whispered, his eyes tearing. Gert placed her hands on Stacy's chest.

"Rose, Aednat put your hands on mine." They both did as Gert whispered a prayer. Her hand glowed blue and then Rosemary's and Aednat's. They felt their lungs fill with fluid, they saw through Stacy's eyes the tangled mass of seaweed holding her down. The sun was glowing above through the green water of the lake as Stacy's life's breath escaped bubbling to the surface and she inhaled the water. It was terribly cold shock as the water filled their lungs and their bodies convulsed and their chest hurt. Then their breathing and heart stopped. Then Stacy took a breath, and then another. Gert turned on her side as Stacy coughed up the water and vomited.

"You're going to be fine Stacy," Gert whispered. Aednat and Rosemary suddenly felt too weak to stand. Rose, Aediy just sit here I'll bring you something to drink. Root beer OK?" They nodded. The rest of you...be off, enjoy the day." Stacy's father had ran from the boat dock and was panting when he lifted Stacy into his arms. "Take her to your cabin Paul, she will be fine after a rest. Paul had tears in his eyes as his wife joined him and they carried Stacy home.

"Thank you, thank you, all of you!" he whispered.

They sat together at the table when Grandma Gert brought them very large glasses. "I added a little ice cream to the root beer."

"Thank you," they whispered.

"What happened?" Rosemary whispered, "I could see and feel Stacy drown. I could feel her pain, the shock of the cold water in my lung."

"I thought my breathing and heart stopped," Aednat added.

"Yet you both held on," Gert said.

"I love Stacy," Rosemary said, "I couldn't let her go." Aednat nodded.

"It's time to share a family secret. I'm a witch, simple as that."

"Is Mom one too?"

"No, but you are one, you too Aediy."

"Ulfy mentioned that when she gave me the amulet," Aednat said.

"You are both destined for a great adventure."

"Yes, high school," Rosemary said sarcastically.

"Are you feeling better now after the root beer?" They nodded.

"I know the runes," Aednat said, "Perhaps I can figure them out."

"Runes are strange," Gert said, "The Norsemen left them written all over Europe yet historians said they had no written language. The runes are said to possess magic and are far more ancient in origin than imagined. You are going to be surprised now that you have emerged as witches."

"How Grandma?" Rosemary asked.

"That is for you to discover."

Later that day David was sitting and talking with his father and his family. They were drinking beer and talking loudly in Norwegian. David and Rosemary could speak it well, but the other grandchildren knew only English. Ruth had opened several beer bottles and asked Aednat to pass them out. She walked to the group of men carrying a tray and after passing them out sat on David's lap. "I have no idea what Gert and the redheads did today, but I am grateful," Paul said in Norwegian.

"We're witches Uncle Paul," Aednat said in excellent Norwegian, "We performed a healing."

"You can speak Norwegian?" David asked looking surprised.

"No, I'm talking in Norse."

"You just spoke perfect Norwegian!" David said. Aednat looked at him puzzled. He then spoke to her in German and she replied in German. David laughed and in English he said, "You are full of surprises. Your English was perfect too."

"You're teasing me."

"No, we aren't Red, talk to us some more," Ted said in Italian. She responded in Italian.

"That was Italian," David said, "When did you learn Italian Uncle Ted.

"From a beautiful Italian girl I met while fighting in Italy, I married her but she died shortly after, I never told anyone."

"I'm sorry Uncle Ted," Aednat whispered as she and Rosemary gently touched his chest. Their hands glowed blue for an instant and comforted by her touch Ted told the family of his love and subsequent loss he had been carrying alone for all these years.

"Her name was Maria Pardanello," he whispered as he ended his tale.

Ted sat with David, Rosemary and Aednat for dinner that night. "We think Wednesday would work for the car wash," Rosemary said.

"Make it Thursday both weeks so I can get word out," Ted replied.

"Stacy, Gloria and Joanne want to come too," Rosemary said.

"The more the merrier!"

"We plan on wearing bathing suits, is that OK?"

"Are you planning on getting wet?"

"Very wet!" Aednat said and they both laughed.

"Bring your dog," Ted said. "You'll be safer with that huge dog at your side."

"Ulfy is actually a wolf, don't tell anyone."

"I'm rather good at secrets," Ted replied.