Part 11
The doctor stepped around a rather confused Hetty and vigorously shook Callendor's hand.
"Who might you be sir?"
"I'm the doctor!" he said looking rather hurt. "Of course you won't recognise me." he said rocking back on his heels.
"What are you jabbering about man?" Callendor said squaring up to the doctor.
"It's a neat little trick us time lords have; a way to cheat death just that little bit longer!"
"You are delusional!" Callendor gestured over his shoulder. Some of the villagers entered the barn.
"Ok, ok!" the doctor said holding up his hands. "Let me think?" he said backing towards Hetty.
"That's it!" he shouted. "On the night of your sisters wedding you were so drunk that you danced naked in the fountain." Callendor held up his hand to stop the oncoming villagers. "You then tried to climb the battlements wearing one of her dresses!" there was a snigger from behind him.
"My goodness! You are the doctor; there is only one way you could have known that and that was to be there!" the doctor beamed at him and then turned to Hetty who had know got over her fit of giggles. "Come doctor lets get out of this hideous place." Callendor gestured towards the door. Hetty stood definitely with her hands on her hips.
The doctor was in the doorway when he remembered her.
"Well come on then!" he shouted back to her. Hetty rolled her eyes and followed him.
The doctor and Callendor were deep in conversation ahead of her. They were walking through the village once more. The suns beat down and baked the rustic path beneath her feet. Lush green grass adorned both sides dotted with the occasional wild flower. The villagers were still making themselves scarce. Why hadn't the doctor told Callendor about her? He was after all her uncle. She had so many questions that she wanted to ask him. What was her mother like? Did her father ever love her? They had come to a stop ahead; in front of them were a pair of wrought iron gates. A man opened them an allowed them to enter. The gates led on to a large courtyard.
The walls of the house were blanched white. The roof was made of terracotta tile. It reminded her of pictures of villas she seen in the holiday brochures. It felt cooler here, more comfortable, she felt at home here. Was that it? Was this the house that she had seen in her dream? Was this where she was born. She stood in thought until she felt a hand in hers.
"Penny for them?" the doctor chirped.
"I was just wondering if this is where I was born!" she said looking up at the second floor windows. The doctor sighed.
"Yes it is, this is the house that we fled from."
"So this is where she died?"
"That I don't know. I guess we should ask Callendor that."
"Why didn't you tell him about me?" she asked turning to face him.
"The least he knows the better right now, your father has spies everywhere!" he placed his hands on her shoulders to reassure her. "All in good time, I'm sure you have a million and one questions to ask him." Hetty sighed, he did have a good point.
"So let's go in and find out what we can hmm." he said raising his eyebrow.
"Ok, but please promise me one thing?"
"What would that be?"
"No more tales of my uncle dancing naked in any fountains!" the doctor laughed and they entered the house.
The doctor found Callendor on the veranda. From where he stood he could see down into the whole village. The suns had begun to set and dusk had started to creep across the landscape below them.
"I never tire of being here!" Callendor said as heard the doctor approach.
"It feels good to be back."
"Why did you leave it so long old friend?" the doctor stood in thought for a moment with his hands placed firmly behind his back.
"I guess that it would be unsafe, for me to come back. What happened to Derra?" Callendor hung his head. The doctor placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"After you left the Imperian guards got into the house. Some of the villagers tried to keep them back but failed. Derra was in no fit state to be moved, she was frighteningly calm, like she was waiting for it to happen. We heard them outside the door and she started to get up from the bed, I tried to stop her but she insisted. The guard broke down the door and knocked me unconscious. When I woke up she was gone. I looked everywhere for her but I couldn't find her. I even got a group of villagers together and stormed Menavore's castle. She wasn't there. If she is still alive she does not want to be found."
"Why?"
"She has her reasons, as long as the child is safe Derra will always live on." the doctor shifted nervously. "She is safe isn't she? You have watched over Calla?"
"Calla?"
"Derra gave her that name just after you left!"
"There has been trouble. Imperian guard were sent to earth to try and track…. Calla down."
"What? How?" Callendor shouted.
"I'm not sure yet, I think that her powers may have surfaced and somehow Menavore" the doctor hissed his name "has managed to trace it to earth."
"Is she safe? Please doctor tell me that she is safe?"
"Well….. She is for now!" he said scratching the back of his head and stroking his chin with his long fingers.
"What do you mean for now?" Callendor paused. "No, no please don't tell me that girl who is travelling with you is Calla!"
The doctor shifted awkwardly "Ok I won't!"
"What in the universe possessed you to bring her back here! He will find her for sure!" Callendor shouted enraged.
"While she is with me I can make sure she is safe! If I had left her on earth he would have found her eventually. He won't know to look on his own doorstep now will he!" Callendor sighed.
"I guess you are right….. As always." the doctor smiled at him.
"I sometimes get things right. That's my job." Suddenly Callendor's face fell.
"What about selection?"
"Sorry not quite following?" the doctor said confused.
"Every 21 days Menavore sends his guard into the village to select more aides from amongst the villagers."
"That is a problem?"
"No one is immune, not even me! He can take anyone, and they never come back!" the realisation began to show on the doctors face.
"When is it?" Callendor could not face him. "Tell me when it is?"
Callendor met his gaze "Tonight!"
As if on cue Hetty appeared on the veranda.
"Ok what did I miss?"
