The Raven Saga Box Set

Chapter 27

Later that night after much walking, we had set up camp, built a small fire and ate supper, when Gabriel surprised me with another talent I knew nothing about. He carefully took out a small musical instrument from his rucksack and began to play the most beautiful tune I'd heard since my first arrival in Powell River when I'd heard that Portuguese song that had led me to Rose.

The instrument looked like a kind of flute, and I was so shocked when he carefully put it to his lips and played it so beautifully, especially considering he'd never played it in my presence before.

Lying down by the fire and snuggling into my sleeping bag, I stared up at the night sky and listened intently to the music. Even though it was quite chilly, I felt completely peaceful and comfortable. It was a magical feeling, lying there, listening to him playing and watching the sky filled with the brightest of stars. I enjoyed the moment, keeping very quiet until he had finished.

“That was beautiful Gabriel. How come you never play at home?” I asked, sitting up and leaning on my elbows as I looked across the softly burning fire towards him.

“It's something I only do when I come out here,” he said before he continued to play some more. The music, combined with the gentle sound of the running water from a little stream nearby, gently lulled me to sleep.

Surprisingly I slept remarkably well that night. I had thought that the cold would prevent me from getting a good night's sleep, but the fresh air must have counteracted it. I awoke feeling fresher and more alive than ever.

Climbing out of my warm cosy sleeping bag, I noticed Gabriel had already packed up his sleeping bag but was nowhere to be seen. All his things were still there, though.

“Gabriel,” I called out and waited for a reply, but none came.

Again, I yelled his name even louder and hoped that he just hadn't heard me the first time. But nothing. I decided to sit and wait for a while, hoping that he had just gone for a brief walk while I slept.

It didn't take long for my mind to begin running riot with terrifying possibilities. Vampires, werewolves, witches, bears. Had any of these creatures taken my grand-father? I could feel my body twitching, wanting to change. I knew that my senses would be a hundred times more in tune with the nature surrounding me as a lion. If I changed, I might be able to find the creatures that had taken him. But he had told me this journey was one that must be taken in human form, regardless of what happened.

So I stood still and breathed deeply, just as Rose had shown me. I had to keep calm and relax.

“Ah... you're awake,” yelled a cheery voice and my entire body slumped forward in relief.

“Gabriel... I thought something had happened to you.”

“You seem to forget that I am becoming an old man. My ears aren't quite as good as they were when I was your age,” he laughed, “I was just washing my face in the stream,” he added.

Since discovering the truth about myself, I had become more of a worrier. I decided it was something I needed to work on as we both sat down and enjoyed a nice cup of tea.

“We have a long and arduous hike ahead of us today, Lilly. It's important that we stay focused,” he said, adding “but if something should happen, remember what I told you. This is a journey to be made in human form. You are not to transform yourself, except only in the direst of circumstances.”

I agreed, wondering why it was so important, but I didn't ask. I was too busy thinking what 'the direst of circumstances' could be. A niggling little doubt crept into my mind that something awful was going to happen.

On the other hand, it could be a test. Could Gabriel be testing me? Was this some kind of ritual that all changelings had to go through? I hoped it was, at least then I didn't have to worry about a nasty experience awaiting us. Did I?

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

After we had eaten a good, hearty breakfast and set off on foot, we spent the majority of that day hiking through forests until eventually the terrain began to change and the trees became a little scarcer. It was the beginning of the ascent up the mountains. Although I loved being among the forested areas, I enjoyed the change of scenery, and the mountainous region was absolutely breathtaking.

Gabriel and I spoke about all kinds of things as we walked together, him always in front, leading the way. He wanted to know more about my life in London, not that there was an awful lot to tell. He already knew what living there had been like for me, mostly lonely and uneventful.

But still, he wanted to know what my school had been like, whether or not I had ever had any friends if the teachers had been fond of me – everything.

“December Moon was my one and only friend,” I had told him. “My life was incredibly dull until she arrived.” I smiled as I thought about the quirky girl with the red hair that had brought some sunshine into my otherwise dark life.

I told Gabriel all about her and her own strange, unhappy life.

“Perhaps we could arrange for her to come and visit sometime,” he had suggested.

“Oh, that would be wonderful. I'd love for you to meet her. I just know that everyone would love her. She would just fit in with us here if you know what I mean?” I laughed.

Gabriel nodded and smiled at me, and I was suddenly reminded of my father. I don't know what it was, perhaps an expression that Gabriel shared with him. I felt a sudden pang in the pit of my stomach, and I had to stop walking for a moment.

“Are you all right, my dear,” he asked as he pulled out a bottle of water and handed it to me.

Taking a deep drink, I nodded. “Yes, I'm fine. You just reminded me of father.” He nodded too and smiled sadly, “We will find him, Lilly. If the search takes me to the grave, we will find him,” he said sombrely.

I gulped another swig of water and attempted a smile. That was not a thought I would cherish. The search sending Gabriel to his grave, or the search taking that long.

My heart began to feel like it was breaking just a little bit more and Gabriel obviously sensed it, so he changed the subject again.

He began to tell me about his long and eventful life in Powell River, and I learned even more about my family. The heaviness in my heart was lifted, and I became intrigued, as we continued our long walk.

Perhaps this was another reason for our journey. We could finally talk honestly together, just the two of us.

He talked more about his wife, Elsebeth, who had died of breast cancer when she was just 31. It had been a very aggressive form of cancer, and she'd had little time between her diagnosis and her death, “but she was happy that she had the chance to say goodbye to everyone that she loved,” he said.

“I'm sorry, Gabriel. It must have been heartbreaking to see her like that. How long ago did she die?” I asked.

“She's been gone about thirty years, but never forgotten,” he added, smiling. “She was a remarkable woman. Not unlike Rose, actually. They were good friends.”

“You and Rose are very close,” I replied, and he laughed, nodding,

“Elsebeth made us promise that we would be there for each other. She wanted Rose to take her place. She felt that I needed a wife and Rose was the person she nominated,” he chuckled, “but Rose and I are, and have always been, just very good friends. I have managed on my own, but Rose is always there when I need her, and vice versa.”

I agreed that he and Rose would make a great couple, but understood perfectly that some people are better off living alone – well, kind of alone.

“Gabriel?” I said.

“Mm?”

“I'm sorry about Oliver. I'm sorry that I made him go away. I know that he is like a son to you.”

Gabriel stopped walking and turned to me, “Don't apologise for being who you are Lilly. It is not your fault that it happened the way it did. Oliver is a fine young man, he can look after himself, and I know he'll be okay. Like I said to you before, I am a strong believer in fate. What is meant to be, will be, so don't blame yourself” he said, “he'll be fine. And so will we.”

We continued walking uphill in silence until the terrain started to become a little more rugged. Gabriel pointed to an area where there were a few more trees and told me that was where we would stop for the night. As we approached, myself a little breathless, I noticed a small cave, the entrance of which was well hidden by foliage.

“This is where I usually stop and sleep,” he said as we exhaustedly let our backpacks drop to the ground. I slumped down on a nearby rock until my breathing became slower and steadier, watching as Gabriel began collecting sticks and twigs and larger pieces of wood to create a fire.

He had barely even caught his breath. Feeling guilty for just sitting and watching, I stood up and began to help, but I soon stopped when I had the feeling we were being watched.

I moved closer to Gabriel's side and whispered, “Gabriel, I think there's someone here. I think someone's watching us.”

“Stay close Lilly, and act naturally,” he replied without looking up as he continued to collect kindling for the fire.

I saw from the corner of my eye that he was discreetly looking around to see who it could be. Suddenly he stood upright and chuckled. I turned to see the source of his amusement and noticed a rather large white wild mountain goat perched slightly above us, watching us with beady eyes.

“Hello, old chap,” shouted Gabriel, “I thought I might bump into you again.”

The goat carefully and cleverly climbed down from the narrow shelf above us, and as he did so, the top half of his body changed dramatically. Like Sammy, he was half animal, half human in every sense of the words.

His head and arms were that of a human and the rest of him were most certainly that of a goat. His hair was completely white, as was his long goatee. Age-wise, I would have said he was in his sixties.

“Gabriel. Good to see you, old man. Frightfully sorry if I gave the young girl cause for concern,” he said in a posh British accent, which completely puzzled me.

“Hello my dear,” he said as he walked over to me, with his hand outstretched. I shook it, my mouth open in surprise.

“Close your mouth, Lilly,” laughed Gabriel, “this is an acquaintance of mine, Charlie.”

“Acquaintance? I would say, friend... would you not?” he chuckled, before adding, “absolutely charmed to meet you, my dear Lilly. You must be the old man's grand-daughter from London, I presume,” he said, still holding my hand in his.

I nodded, not quite sure what to say. I'd never seen a half-man, half goat before. Especially not one with such a strong English accent.

“Nice to meet you, Charlie,” I eventually managed to spit out.

He finally let go of my hand and turned his attention to Gabriel, just as Gabriel was explaining that he had met Charlie when he'd visited the Elders the previous winter, at about the same time I'd arrived – the reason Gabriel had been unable to collect me from the airport.

“I presume you are on your way to visit the Elders?” Charlie asked while he began to assist making the fire.

“Yes, I'm taking Lilly up to meet them. What have you been up to lately, Charlie?” asked Gabriel.

Charlie stuttered momentarily before explaining that he had actually been recovering from an injury and so he'd had little choice but to stay on the mountain for the last few months.

“What kind of injury?” asked Gabriel as he lit the fire.

“Oh, nothing to worry about really,” answered Charlie in a way that suggested he didn't want to talk about it. Gabriel promptly changed the subject, asking if he'd met anyone of interest there lately.