Chapter Eighteen
"So I suppose since you're here, you'd like to share with them what we're about to talk about." Juniper said.
"Wait a minute. I need to know what you've told them first." He said.
"Nothing," She replied.
"Nothing?" he asked, as if surprised. "I'm actually wondering how much they've figured out on their own." You could tell he was eyeing us both at this moment because he turned his head as if in observation as to what we might do or say.
I looked at Cal and he was just looking on silently, listening to them both as I was.
"I'm not so sure I know why you're talking about us with us right in front of you," I commented. It was simply distressing to just listen to all of this when it was obviously about us and we didn't know anything about it. Or maybe Cal did. I certainly didn't!
For a moment Gabriel and Juniper turned their heads to look at me. She was in the middle of saying something about us not being old enough to understand…which rather irked me, I must say.
"You know…" I said to them again. "If we were merely supposed to be talked about rather than talked to, then maybe I can go to sleep." I yawned surprisingly, as if on cue. "I suppose I shall figure all of this out tomorrow." I began to turn back the way we'd come.
I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Raina," Gabriel said. "We've much to explain. It's been….a long time."
"Would you please care to explain?" I asked, trying not to act too annoyed. As much as I wanted to stick out my lower lip in the pouting I'd come to be so skilled at doing at home, I restrained from it here. Somehow, I didn't think it would be as affective.
"Yes, but there are a few things I have to tell you both first," Juniper walked up to me. "It's about you and Cal."
"Well that's quite obvious, I should think," Cal said from behind her. "If you would simply explain..." Cal was obviously beginning to be annoyed too.
Gabriel sighed and looked back at Juniper. "So they really don't know."
"Know what?" I interrupted Juniper as she was about answer.
Juniper turned to me. "We're getting to that Raina."
I just shut my mouth, glancing over at the Gabriel.
"I think they should know, Juniper," Gabriel growled. "I mean, if they were ever in any danger…"
"Danger?" I said again, trying to get as much as I could out of how little they were revealing from this conversation.
"Look Raina," Juniper said coming up to me. Her eyes penetrated into my own. "You've got nothing to worry about."
"I think I should be able to decide that myself. If you would just explain," I replied.
Gabriel sighed and looked back at me for a moment, staring into my eyes with more intensity than before. I did my best to not cringe and clenched my hand into a fist.
He sighed once he saw my determined stare. "All right. I shall tell you."
Gabriel began to pace back in forth. He looked at both of us. "I know you've know reason to trust me, but what I am about to tell you is true." He sighed again.
"I once knew a very good storyteller." His voice was quiet. "He would share tales of lands he'd visited. Some of the stories were so incredible that many thought them to be fictional and, well, perhaps they were. A…" He paused a moment and stopped his pacing. "A few years ago we unfortunately lost him on this earth."
I bit my lip. No. It couldn't be. I mean a great storyteller? There could be many of them on the land we lived. It didn't have to be….father? But I felt a lump in my throat that I was unable to swallow as I listened both in anticipation and fear.
"I have known this man a great many years. He was a great man, a loyal husband, as well as a hero to all who knew him."
"That…" Cal began quietly. "That sounds like my….." Then he stopped and mumbled. "Someone I know…"
I looked at Cal, and I realized I was thinking the same thing. "Me too…" I whispered.
Gabriel chuckled suddenly. "Ah and yes, there is one thing I've been meaning to mention."
Juniper came up to us and looked really amused. "You're brother and sister!"