Gabal

Chapter 6

After their quiet heart to heart, Gabal and Aoifa regained their places and went about business as usual. They ironed out the details of the date and time of departure, as well as the method of travel.

All in attendance were confused when the witch told them she had their journey covered. And after a very vague and short explanation, they decided they did not need all the details. Magical travel was often very messy, stress beforehand could make it even more so. She had just told them to all be in her house at the time, and asked that Gabal had a map marked with a ten acre square, cleared of animals and people, in his packlands. She emphasized the cleared portion of that sentence several times as she spoke. He got the message and had Jackson, the Betason, contact his brother to get it done.

Once things were in motion, all they had to do was wait a couple hours and they would be off. The weres made themselves at home, being almost as accepted by the house as Gabal had been. Lefony had taken up a place in the living room on an old couch, taking interest in an old medical journal from the time Aoifa was still a human. Goddard had found Aoifa's weapons corner. It was filled with all manner of things picked up during her time traveling throughout the years. Much like her books, they told stories of her life she thought no one would ever know. Places and times she had been, people she had seen, lives she had taken or saved.

Overall, she felt a bit exposed. A foreign feeling in her own home. But as these strangers marveled over her secrets, it was a hard feeling to quell. She was relieved that the youngest, and most inquisitive of the group, had decided to only explore her kitchen. He was quick to devour some of her stores, making sounds of appreciation as he went, gorging himself on flavored meats and fruits until he was resting happily on the floor against her cabinets, hands held over his belly, satisfied smile in place across his face.

The fourth member of their group was still seated at her table, he had yet to say a word and only stared blankly in the general direction of Gabal. His eyes tracking his movement, yet constantly aware of his surroundings. It wasn't until the house started to clean up after Jackson's mess that the silent stranger made a move. He would have impaled one of Aoifa's favorite plates if she had not stopped the knife. She had not seen him draw it or throw, but she could feel the ivory the handle was made from, hunted during a time when elephants posed a threat to humans and agriculture, making it a choice between their life and his. She could feel it, the care he had used crafting the weapons, more than one for she could feel its brothers lying against his skin. It was easy to call the knife to her, and as she studied it, she missed the awe in those around her.

She raised her eyes to meet those of the stranger. "My house and the things in it tend to move on their own, you'll find that when I'm around, what is alive acts of its own will. Please refrain from impaling my things in the future. I can assure you one hundred percent, as long as no one brings me harm, no harm will come to you and yours." She paused and thought a moment, rectifying her statement. "Except the occasional stubbed toe or lost item," she finished with a warm, secretive smile. She willed the knife back to him, resting it softly on the table when he made no move to grab it from the air

After he had stowed it, he stood and bowed deeply at the waist, surprising her again. "My name is Ansel, a warrior. I apologize for my rash actions." A grunt came from Gabal, who was now sitting under her, public affection be damned. He could tell his Given prefered him here, so that was where he would be.

"Shadow," he grumbled, not pleased by the fib his protector had slipped to his mate. He was a warrior, that was true, but he was also so much more. He was a shadow in every sense but the literal one. Ansel followed Gabal everywhere. He had saved him more times than he could count, and though Gabal could hold his own against just about anything, Ansel was there for the underhanded stuff Gabal had a hard time detecting. As strong as he was, assassination attempts were often dishonest, swift, and quiet. A deadly combination when used in the right way. Gabal, for all his ancient strength, owed his life, many times over, to his silent defender.