Chapter Twenty
Circling above white clouds, the small airplane waited for its turn to land in Dundee, Scotland. The last week of travel brought Amanda closer to her destiny.
Properly disguised with a red wig and green contacts, she hid her figure under loose clothes. A black coat hid her sword. Carl Robinson made her practice at almost every stop they had. They even dodged a few immortals traveling and stayed clear of them.
It was now time to put all else aside expect to answer the call.
Carl walked back to where Amanda waited with the luggage. He was holding the car rental keys. She started to speak but he held up his hand, "Not yet." He told her, "Let's load up the car first."
Once they were safely in the car, Amanda pulled off her wig and rubbed her light hair as she said to Carl, "We're going into this gathering blind."
He turned to her and said, "Look, it's not like that. I know where to go and you are still safe with me."
Checking the route they would travel over the next few days, Carl considered her comment. While he had no idea what was going to happen once the immortals were gathered together, he could not doubt or deny the why he was compelled to go. Without further thought, he started the car and turned onto the main highway.
Amanda watched Carl driving, her expression became serious and she said, "We've both double crossed Egan and when this is over he could take revenge on us."
Carl shook his head saying, "When this is over, Egan Lasco won't matter."
"I'm all for that." Amanda said quietly.
Carl remarked, "Your training has gone very well with the new sword."
Amanda shrugged her shoulders and said, "You helped a little."
Leaning back in her seat for the long ride she candidly asked him, "How did you end up with the Watchers and Egan Lasco?"
"That's a long story," Carl told her.
"I'd like to hear it," Amanda replied.
"It started with this friend I was training with out in the boonies of Louisiana. Right after we finished our sword training. We went back to the car and just stood there chatting. All of a sudden, we heard a crash. Just down the road we found a man trapped in a car that had been smashed by a hit and run driver. I pulled him out but he was dying. With his last breath he told me that he was my watcher and to be careful. He pulled out a notebook hidden in his coat. I saw the tattoo on his wrist."
"That's an incredible story," she remarked, "What happened then?"
"I read the journal that talked about me and also notes on a Watchers Organization. The replacement watcher came around a few weeks later. He was not very discreet and soon I found myself talking to him. He recruited me to work for Egan Lasco offering many benefits."
"It always starts that way," said Amanda implying she too was recruited with much the same approach.
He continued saying, "I helped them track other immortals and get inside information, easy stuff. They wanted to test my loyalty and when the contract to kill you came up. I took it to keep you safe."
She told him sincerely, "Thank you for saving me when I needed it, even when I had to trust you enough to jump in the ocean."
He remarked, "Duncan talked about you with great affection so I knew I had to protect you. And when I heard the gathering call and it was just a matter making the right choice."
Amanda asked him, "Do you think the watchers are going to stand by and let you do what you want?"
He laughed and said, "Oh, they were mad when I told them in Morocco that I wasn't coming back to France. There were some threats but I told them I would be in Scotland early and would make sure events went their way."
She countered with, "They bought that?"
"Well," he admitted, "It is the best outcome for all of us and thanks to Duncan MacLeod, I've become an optimist."
Amanda reached back to get her wig and told him, "Here is the hotel and I need some rest."
Carl hesitated but acquiesced, "We can rest for a while and then we have to get back on the road by nightfall."
Checking the area as he pulled into the parking lot, Amanda started to open the car door.
Carl took a hold of her arm and held it tightly. He said into her ear, "Don't get out yet there is a car following us."
He turned the engine back on they went for the exit before he could be blocked in. They sped off under the noon sun when mysterious blue car with dark windows got back on the road and followed them.
Amulree, Scotland
Deep in the forest preserve, stood a small cabin. If someone came across the clearing, it would not have been visible. She kept the secrets of illusion shrouded by a mist of ancient magic.
The men walked just a half of a kilometer to reach the old cabin and knocked on the door quietly knowing the occupant had sensed their approach.
In a moment, the door opened. Seeing the face that greeted him, Connor's memory came back and he remembered Cassandra.
McFadden stepped in first and greeted her as a daughter. Connor took her hand and kissed it looking into her eyes he said, "I remember you now."
Cassandra replied, "I knew you would but we have more important matters to discuss." She pulled him inside, withdrew her hand and shut the door. She bade them, "Please sit down and be comfortable. I have drinks ready."
Frank sat down and picked up the first mug. He took a sip and then finished it in one long swallow. A sigh of satisfaction followed. He said, "You have not lost your touch, this is the best Leanne Meala ever."
Connor sat down but kept his eyes on Cassandra. He spoke as if in a dream, "I knew you even before Heather, we…"
She stopped him by saying, "We had one night and the next day I had to make you forget." Her words set him straight. "It was not fated for us to be together."
Connor picked up his mug and drank slowly his eyes lifting to agree with Frank on the quality of the mead.
Cassandra sat across from them and inquired, "Frank, I can sense that you want my help. Can you tell me what you have in mind?"
He answered, "You are aware the gathering is here and that is one reason why you are already in Scotland."
She agreed saying, "I heard the call and came here right away."
Then he stated, "This event cannot be observed by outsiders."
"Mortals," Connor interjected.
McFadden replied, "Oh I'm sure there will be watchers sneaking in to have a look but we must control all aspects of this event."
Cassandra considered this and said, "Then you need narcotic plants and herbs that cause confusion and forgetfulness."
"Yes," Frank said, "And whatever else you use to hide your cabin so well from everyone."
"Except me," said Connor, "I remember now. I was out hunting for game and found your cabin. You were bathing outside." He laughed heartily and said, "The look on your face was..."
Cassandra added, "And you wouldn't leave so I had to drug your food."
Coming back to subject, McFadden said, "Can you estimate how much you will need to conceal the surrounding area?"
She thought for a moment and asked, "How big of an area are you thinking of?"
Frank shrugged his shoulders and said, "Maybe fifteen or sixteen kilometers square. It is going to be in a small valley it's the one north of here near the Spittal of Glenshee."
Cassandra still looked doubtful. She added, "I don't think even with all my tricks I can shield an area like that."
"It's a two part plan actually and the first part will be to cause an evacuation big enough and long enough to last a week. The second part is keeping them away."
Connor asked him, "Is that how long you think it will last?"
"I think so," he replied. "It should take a week to get through the first round of challenges and anyone else who shows up during and after the beginning ceremony."
"We're having ceremony too?" Connor said with admiration. He held his mug out to be refilled and commented, "You think of everything."
"Wait," said Cassandra, holding up her hand for attention, "What are you going to do to cause an evacuation on that scale?"
McFadden said in all gravity, "A gas explosion."
Cassandra exclaimed with surprise, "You are going to kill mortals?"
Frank answered, "In all fairness, Incapacitants are biological and chemical substances that have a "calmative" effect on humans. It can cause symptoms such as nausea, disorganized thinking and hallucinations."
Connor asked, "So how will you get this gas?"
Frank gave a slight wink, "I have a friend in Russia that can quietly send some my way but I'll need you, Cassandra to insure the success of this plan."
The three immortals finished their mead talking late into the night about the gathering and a demon.
.
