‘Fear not,’ she told her, ‘all will be well. What you see are tears of joy.’ Seeing the girl’s expression she went on, ‘I cannot tell you more, child. Believe me when I say these are good tidings.’
The maid let out a sigh of relief. ‘Then this is a happy day still?’
Rhiannon nodded, smiling, her heart full. ‘A happy day indeed.’
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
London, 2019
For Deri, one of the joys of his work was that he could share it with his twin sons. It was, unfortunately, also one of his greatest sadnesses. His position as concierge and caretaker of the Aurora was one he had inherited from his own father, and one he planned to hand on to the boys when the time came. This would always be their home. That gave him comfort. What troubled him was not the practical work his post involved. As he watched them now, working together to put up a new run of wooden panel fencing in part of the gardens behind the building, he knew there was little they could not do. They were handy, sensible boys, and knew the job inside out. They were personable too, calm and courteous with the residents, and organised and hard working. No, he had not doubts or worries regarding their suitability for the position. What concerned him, what kept him awake and troubled in the small hours of the night, was their shared burden as guardians not only of the Aurora, but of its most important resident. Of its main purpose, in fact.
Matthew looked up and saw that they were being watched.
Smiling he asked, ‘Are you going to just stand there, Da?’
‘No, I was planning to pick holes when you’d finished.’
David gave a snort as he struggled under the weight of the fence. ‘Nice to know you’re there to help,’ he said, setting the panel down into its proper place. Taran loped forwards to sniff the new wooden installation. ‘At least he approves,’ David pointed out.
Matthew leaned down to ruffle the dog’s fur. ‘Bit warm for you out here today, boy. You need to be in the shade.’
Deri waved towards the garden table and chairs beneath the copper beech tree. ‘Time for a break. Let’s sit for a while.’
Matthew looked up. ‘We can get this finished before lunch if we press on.’
Dismissing this idea, Deri sat down, clearly waiting for them to join him.
The boys exchanged puzzled glances. They set down their tools and went to their father, Taran following. The hound flopped into a furry heap beneath the wrought iron table. Deri waited until his sons were seated. He knew they were surprised he had interruptedtheir task. He knew he already had their full attention. He glanced around at the beautifully kept grounds to check once again that they were alone and their conversation would not be overheard. Not for the first time, he sensed a presence, not close enough to listen to them, but near enough to be detected. It was an unnecessary reminder of why he must speak with his boys. It also underlined the fact that he must cease to think of them as boys. They were twenty-one. Although the age itself really meant nothing, they would need to be men to face what lay ahead. He wished he had brought out beers for them to share while they talked, but it was too late to organise that now, and the conversation could not be put off any longer. Now that the moment had come, the moment he had hoped he would not see in his lifetime, he found he did not know where to start. He was both pleased and relieved, therefore, when Matthew spoke.
‘So, we need to be ready. What do you want us to do, Da?’
David nodded. ‘It’s already gone too far. We have to be better prepared.’
Deri felt himself relax just a little. He had done a better job of rearing them to their destiny than he gave himself credit for. ‘We have shown our weakness,’ he said at last. ‘These terrible killings…’
‘Murders, Da. Let’s call them what they were.’
Matthew agreed. ‘Though Mrs Salinger and Kyle were as much victims as the rest of them.’
‘I shall never forgive myself,’ Deri said.
‘It wasn’t your fault.’
‘It happened on my watch.’
‘It was so sudden, the change,’ Matthew insisted, ‘you couldn’t have seen what was coming.’
‘But I should have!’ Deri was angry now, with himself, and with their foes. It was an anger he had damped down for too long. ‘I am a guardian! It has been my life’s work. I am here to protect…’
‘So are we, Da. So are we,’ David said, reaching across the table to take his father’s hand. ‘You are not going to have to deal with this on your own.’
‘That it should have come to this so soon.’ He looked from one child to the other. ‘I had hoped you would never have to face what is ahead.’
‘Don’t worry about us, Da,’ said Matthew. ‘We’re not afraid.’
‘Well you should be!’ he snapped, instantly regretting the sharpness in his voice. More gently he went on, ‘The shifting is not something you can defeat with bravery and youth,bachgen.The terrible darkness that is visited upon people does so with the stealth of a snake at night time. It creeps and winds and movestowards its prey barely visible, detectable only by those born to see it, and then, sometimes, too late.’
‘You will be ready next time, Da. We all will.’
