Aednat and the Wolf

Chapter 23 Extended Family

"The seers have reported another possible pendant wearer my lord," the First Lord said as he genuflected to the Overlord.

"WHO...WHERE!"

"The youngest daughter of the witch Abigale. She is currently with Siofra and others. She is wearing the pendant now."

"Send a message to the Fifth Lord we must take her. We have three targets in our sights! In fact you go there yourself and take charge."

"Yes my Lord."

"Bring me all three!"

"This may be more difficult than initially planned," the Second Lord said.

"What do you suggest?"

"We use the laws to hold them. Let me set up a dummy consulate with phone lines in their capitol. Then if a simple snatch and run fails to work we can use their own forces to hold them."

"How long to set this up?"

"I had anticipated we may require something more subtle my lord. This girl has plentiful determined resources at her disposal. I've already got everything in place."

"I'm impressed." The Overlord looked at him shrewdly and smiled, "very impressed."

**********

David held the door to the lodge open as Aednat and the rest of her companions filed in. "We found some of Aediy's family have arrived in town. We invited them to stay here, they will pay for any lodging and food." Several of David's family gathered. "This is her younger sister Greta, her brother Eric, her aunt Sophie and her husband Leman and Loki, Leman's grandfather."

"I'm actually his great-grandfather," Loki corrected.

"I know you!" Gertrude said to Loki as they hugged. "I've known Loki from my days on the Faeroe's. That was over thirty years ago."

"You missed dinner," Ruth said.

"We had pizza in town," David said as he continued a long round of introductions.

"You can skate with us tomorrow Greta," Stacy said as they lead her away. "How old are you?"

"Almost sixteen, what's skate mean?"

"You all can take the rooms here in the lodge," Ruth said, "I'll show you where they are."

"Mom," David said, "Aednat wants Greta to stay with us."

"Use the roll-out bed, where are you going to put it?"

"We don't need it she can bunk with me I got a full sized bed," Rosie said. "Uncle Ted, Eric has some gems to sell. Do you know where he can go?"

"Marquette, we could take him in my truck tomorrow."

"Let's do it. The girls should have no problem getting a ride to the ice rink," David said. That night David found himself alone. He could hear Aednat, her sister and Rosemary talking and singing and occasionally roughhousing in the room next door. They had opened the couch bed and simply usurped the living area. They had a fire blazing in the stove and were all wearing pilfered tee shirts. Rosemary had remembered to bring her portable record player and records. He missed having Aednat with him but realized she needed time with her sister. It was four AM when David felt Aednat climb into bed. She had shed her tee shirt. He had not even heard her enter the room.

"Are you awake?" she whispered in his ear.

"I am now."

"I'm cold."