The Chief’s eyes linger on me, and then he smirks at Griff, “Oh, your ma is going to love this.”
We all burst out laughing.
“That’s pretty much the only thing that we have been told since we arrived,” I say with a big smile.
His smile widens, “You’ll be fine, lass. She’s one of our most loved clan members.” His attention turns back to Griff, “So, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?”
“First, we’ve been told that we need to make some really strong wards,” Griff starts.
“I presume that this has something to do with you winning the Choosing?” the Chief asks.
I can’t help but look surprised when he mentions the Choosing.
Almost everyone that we have come across hasn’t mentioned the Choosing. Apart from those who know us best. They all seem to remember.
Ty already told us that there is no pattern and seemingly no reason for who remembers the Choosing and who doesn’t. It doesn’t seem to have anything to do with power level or status or anything really. If it were then, I would have expected the Chief to know.
“The Choosing?” Baz asks, with his eyebrows drawn down slightly. “They’re still doing that? I didn’t hear of one being called while I was in,” he pauses and then rephrases, “while I was away.”
I nod and quickly explain, “Yeah, they still do it, although it doesn’t happen as often since the gates closed.”
“And you guys won one?” Baz asks, looking impressed. River nods with a huge, proud smile, and Baz continues, “I remember I always wanted to do one.”
“You do?” Van asks with surprise.
Baz nods, his eyebrows drawn down slightly. “Yeah.”
Doc claps him on his shoulder, “Careful. It doesn’t surprise me that you felt that way. You’re one of us, and we were all more excited than we were worried about participating in the Choosing.”
Griff clears his throat and then gets us back on track, which is an especially good idea since we don’t particularly want the Chief to be aware of our current situation with Baz. That’s got nothing to do withthe Chief. We don’t want anyone to be aware of that to be fair, that’s a family thing.
“Yes, it does have something to do with the Choosing, actually. Ransom has worked on some amazing ones, but he’s missing an ingredient. After a lot of research and some magical help, it turns out that the ingredient that Ransom needs in order to stop the other ingredients from clashing is the purple plant that grows here with the little star-shaped leaves. The Rionnag Purpaidh. We were wondering if it would be possible to have some?”
The Chief pauses for a moment before he answers, “Under any other circumstances, I would say no. However, this is not a normal circumstance, and you are a high-ranking member of the clan.”
He is? Even though he’s never here. Huh, I’m going to file that comment away for later inspection, and/or questioning.
The Chief studies Griff, as we all remain silent and hopeful. This is the only chance that we have of making the wards as strong as Ransom wants them to be.
If there was another way, then Ransom would have found it.
“You know that the plant you’re describing is extremely rare and powerful. I will need your oath that it will be used by Ransom to make the wards and for nothing else,” the Chief finally says.
“Of course, Michael,” Griff replies.
Huh, I wondered what his name was, but I didn’t think it was Michael, though. Although, to be fair, I don’t know what I thought it could be. Michael just wasn’t on my list.
The Voices snicker.
That’s fair.
My brain is on one today and keeps going off on mini escapades that don’t really make much sense even to me, and I’m the one who is thinking the thoughts that are misbehaving.
Wow. Just wow.
Michael, or Chief, I think I might keep calling him Chief, or maybe not, who fucking knows? Anyway, he smiles.
“Excellent, I will send a few people out tomorrow to get it. It’s quite a trek, and they will have to check a couple of places as the flowers don’t always grow in the same places,” the Chief replies.
