Chapter 25
Paris
Upon reading about the killings at the school the day before, Nick Wolfe had hurriedly paid the check and led the way back to his apartment. Learning that David Maillot had apparently died worried him. Maillot had been good, but it was the deaths of the five mortals at the school and the deaths of four others at a lawyer's office earlier in the day that had most upset Nick.
Any immortal knew that he or she might be challenged and die at any time. It was the way of the game both Amanda and Liam had explained to him early on... before he'd known he was one of them. Maillot had likely met his death courageously... facing his opponent with the savoir faire with which he'd faced his life. For him... Nick grieved... but did not mourn. The Frenchman had died as he had lived... and the game went on.
Marie-France looked troubled. It was evident she wanted to gather Valeraine up and leave Paris. But the tiny blonde immortal was simmering with a hatred that Nick found off-putting.
"I will find this immortal! Maybe I was wrong about Kenny! Maybe it was this one! I won't go until I have justice for Rosalie!" she hissed with an anger Nick had not seen in her before. Then she stamped her foot, as would a child throwing a temper tantrum. Nick smiled.
"Let me check with Burt... and his contacts... maybe I can learn something. Meanwhile, you two stay here."
"But I want to hunt!" hissed Valeraine.
"Not now Val," Nick said calmly, "Not right now. When I get back... We'll see when I get back. Maillot was my friend... I want to know what happened to him as much as you want to know what happened to Rosalie. Give me time to check things out."
Val collapsed onto the sofa pouting... but she stopped trying to convince him to take her along. Nick head for the door.
"Nick!" He turned at the sound of Marie-France's soft voice. "Please be careful." Nick saw a warm smile on the young woman's face... a smile that made him forget for a moment that she was eight hundred years older than he was... and... that she was a nun.
He nodded his head. "I will ladies... I will." With that he was out the door and off to Sanctuary.
***
Ste. Genevieve
Duncan bid his farewells to Alisaunne, promising he'd be back for her as soon as it was safe.
"You will let Mother Magdelena know I'm safe?" she asked, her voice pleading with him for the promise he was not certain he could give.
Finally Duncan smiled gently. "As soon as I can... I will call her. Now promise me you'll stay here. No wandering about," Duncan admonished her. "Promise me!"
Alisaunne shifted her weight to one side and glanced about at the vineyards... the open fields, the range of mountains in the distance. Then she arched her eyebrows at Duncan. "And where would I go Monsieur? This place is so isolated there does not appear to be another soul in this valley but for those who live here."
Duncan nodded with a smile. "Why do you think we brought you here... " He sobered once more. "Promise me on your life, Alisaunne."
The young woman bit her lower lip, apparently considering his request.
"She will stay... I'll make certain of it." Ian Daffyd's voice broke in on their conversation.
Duncan met the young man's eyes and saw the honesty of his soul reflected there. If he'd have the time, Duncan wanted to know this boy better. Where was he from? When was he from? How long had he been here? But right now, Duncan MacLeod had no time for answers.
"I'd still like you to promise me," he finally said to Alisaunne, noticing that her attention was now on the young man at her side. "At least," thought Duncan, "she seems to have found another infatuation." Not that it was any better for the girl than the previous one she'd had on him.
Alisaunne nodded, "Yes... I'll stay."
Duncan gave her arm a squeeze as he backed away to his car. He motioned to Ian to follow him.
"Why not go with Sister Simplice and see about quarters," Ian gently suggested to the girl. After she left with one of the mortal nuns, Ian joined Duncan at his car.
"Keep a close eye on her while I'm gone."
"Aye... that I'd do anyway. I seldom see young ladies of my apparent age."
Duncan laughed deep in his throat then pushed Ian against the hood of the Citroen. "Don't get any ideas. If anything happens to that girl because of you... I will see to it that you do not see the next year in. Do I make myself clear?"
Ian gazed at the Highlander evenly. "I am not a fool, Duncan MacLeod. Do you think I'd wish this half-life we have here on anyone? Too young to wander the world in safety! Too young to enter the game! Too young to really go anywhere... be anything! For nearly two hundred years I've lived here. Despite appearances... I am not a child. Nor are the others."
Duncan released the boy and stood back sensing bitterness and longing in Ian Daffyd. "Ursa will be watching her, too. Just keep her safe. Promise me."
"I do swear it... I will watch her and keep her from harm."
Duncan climbed into his car, placing his sunglasses across the bridge of his nose. He turned on the ignition.
Ian leaned down by the open driver's window. "Come soon for her, Duncan MacLeod. This is not a place she should stay long. She will figure too much out if she stays."
"Do the mortals here know?" Duncan asked.
"Aye... they keep our secret here. The day laborers who work the fields don't know, of course, but the sisters know. Many of them were children here. These few chose to remain after they were grown."
"Who would bring children here to raise?" Duncan pondered aloud.
"One of the others. She finds little ones sometimes and brings them here... a child, younger than me and so much older. I think she despairs of ever having children of her own... even if it were magically possible, so young she is. She finds them... she raises them... she lets them go. But some stay."
Duncan nodded in understanding. Immortals find different ways to deal with the long centuries of their lives. A child raising children, who would one day grow to be adults while she remained forever a child... Duncan shook his head with a smile at the thought. He shifted into drive. With a wave, Duncan pulled onto the gravel road and headed once more to Paris.
The sooner he got back... the sooner he and Methos could get this immortal... and the sooner they could get back to their research. In the rear view mirror... the convent became a blip on the horizon. Duncan wondered if he were doing the right thing leaving the girl here. But... did he have any other choice?
