Chapter 12

Joey returned the next day, and Sarah realised that the elder girl had started to grow up. She knew the reason that she didn't really fit in with her form was because of who she was. As the Slayer, she had a responsibility to the world, which had made her old beyond her years, and it enabled her to recognise Joey's newfound maturity.

It may have been expected that after the excitements of Marie's wedding and the birth of David James Russell, peace would have reigned at the Chalet School for a while. However, Cornelia had unwisely asked Joey about the caves once the young Miss Bettany had returned from the Sonnalpe, and the terse reply which she received was enough for the young American to end the truce which had been established for the festivities of the previous day.

Sarah was due to spend that weekend with Rosemary, and so after prep on the Saturday morning, Sarah reported to Mademoiselle to request permission to go and meet her 'Aunt'. Mademoiselle distractedly consented, her mind with her partner up on the Sonnalpe, and Sarah thankfully left the study to go and collect what she would need for the weekend. Once out of the school grounds Sarah waved her farewells to those form mates who were the closest thing she had to friends, and headed for the Kron Prinz Karl, where her Watcher awaited her.

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"…so there definitely are caves in the area. Herr Braun wasn't sure when I asked him, although he did concede that the cleft would be a likely entrance. But if you can find out anything more about these caves and their location, it would be very useful."

Sarah looked at her Watcher from where she lay on her bed, having eaten more than she should have done for lunch, taking the advantage of not being under Matey's eye's.

"I can try and find out, Rosemary." She started, "But it was Marie's sister's fiancé's father who remembered the caves, and I don't thing that he told Marie much." she paused, thinking for a second. "I do wish that Wanda, that's Marie's sister, would come to the school though. Apparently she's even lovelier than Marie is - she must be like a princess…" Sarah finished with a sigh.

Rosemary smiled. Sarah had spoken non-stop through Frühstuck about her fellow pupils at the Chalet School, and it seemed that despite her Slayers initial nervousness, she had settled into school life more easily than she had expected. However there were more important things to deal with than Sarah's enthusiasm for school.

"How have your patrol's been?"

"Nothing!" Sarah said flatly. "It's almost as if they know I'm here and are keeping hidden." then she suddenly grinned again. "Oh, I had to fake a stumble on the stairs yesterday morning though, I fell over a tree root on patrol on Thursday night and if Matey had spotted that my ankle was swollen before I purposely fell on the stairs she would have been so angry."

"Has the swelling gone down?" Rosemary asked, concerned about Sarah's welfare, especially considering that she was very much aware that Sarah had been patrolling the previous night.

"Oh yes." Sarah replied breezily. "I just needed the bandage for a little while, but by the time I removed it last night my ankle felt just the same as normal." She gave a little shrug, displaying her bandaged ankle. "But I thought that I should put it back on this morning, I don't think Matey's used to injuries healing quite as quickly as mine."

"No!" Rosemary's face relaxed into a smile. "You certainly seem to be enjoying school though."

Sarah's face lit up again "Oh, I am!" she grinned. "The girls are all so friendly, well, apart from Cornelia. She thinks I read too much." Sarah shrugged, indicating that what Cornelia thought did not matter to her. "But everyone else is so nice." she sighed wistfully. "It's just… sad in a way that I can't really make friends."

Rosemary looked at the girl stood in front of her. She had been dubious from the start about the Council's plan to place Sarah in a school, feeling that it would have been easier for the Council to simply send someone else along who could act as a tutor for Sarah. However the Council was against this plan, probably, Rosemary mused, because Slayer's did not have too long a life expectancy, and to risk losing two Watcher's, as opposed to just one, would be a waste of, what was in the Council's eyes, valuable resources.

"I know it's hard, Sarah." Rosemary began. "But you have to understand that you have no idea where you may be posted next, and -"

"and whether I'll still be alive." Sarah's voice interrupted. Her eye's downcast.

Rosemary closed her eyes, unsure of how to comfort the young girl sitting before her. "Sarah… You know that I can't give you a promise… but if it is within my abilities I will not let you die, not whilst I am your Watcher." Rosemary shocked herself with the forcefulness of her pronunciation, but she just hoped that it would not turn out to be false. Looking at Sarah, still looking downcast, Rosemary suddenly stood up, wanting to go somewhere else.

"What are you doing?" Sarah asked, puzzled, as her Watcher started pulling on her shoes and coat.

"Come on, we'll go and do some shopping in Spärtz and have Kaffee und Kuchen there as well. Get your coat on."

Sarah smiled, still feeling a little downcast, but feeling brighter at the prospect of cakes in Spärtz.

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For the rest of the weekend, Rosemary kept the conversation away from the topic of Slaying, and as a result, Sarah's mood improved considerably.

It was not until they were making their way back to the Kron Prinz Karl on the Sunday morning, having walked to Seespitz and taken the Steamer back, that Rosemary again brought up the subject of Sarah's calling.

"Sarah…" she began. "You do understand why it's best for you not to become close to the girls at school, don't you?"

Sarah nodded slowly. "I can't really make any friends in case I decide to confide in them, tell them who I really am. That would put them and me in danger. A Slayer works alone…" Sarah paused for a moment, considering, "well, apart from her Watcher."

"It is a lonely life." Rosemary agreed. "In a way I consider myself lucky that I was never Chosen as the Slayer myself."

"'She alone'." Sarah murmured, almost under her breath. "that's what it says. I just don't want to be forgotten."

Rosemary gave a small smile, remembering the diary she was filling in. back at the hotel. "Don't worry, Sarah. You won't be forgotten. That is something that I can promise you."