Page 76 of Father of the Wolf

Hope studied the book. It was ancient and leather bound, but rather plain looking. The cover was a mottled brown with the letter “V” tooled onto the front. Did the “V” stand for Vali? Hope started to open it, but Granny stopped her by lifting it from Hope’s hands.

“First, we will need to prepare a place. We are not of magic like they are, so we must wrap the magic around us during a ceremony.” Granny stood in front of the card table. She placed the book on the table and motioned for Hope to stand next to her. “This will seem strange but remember that we will still be in this room and will remain completely safe.”

“What will happen?”

Granny held out her hand, showing Hope four small stones. Each had a symbol on it. “These are rune stones. All rune stones are special. These can summon the Children of Vali to the Keeper. They were given to the First Keeper to gather the scattered clans and maintain contact with each group. Now I will use them to call to Bequlf and summon him to the meeting.”

“Granny, why am I a part of this?”

“Because you will be Keeper when I’m gone. I’ve waited far too long to begin your training and today, I will begin to correct that mistake. Don’t worry, dear. I’ll tell you exactly what to do.” She picked up the book and stepped around to the opposite side of the table. She then laid down the book and opened it to about half way. “Place your hands on the table.”

Hope did as she was told.

“Close your eyes.”

She heard the words, and her eyelids immediately grew heavy and slid closed. The table was still under her hands, but it felt different. She explored the texture with her fingertips, feeling the deep grain of old wood instead of the papery feel of the folding table. Hope shifted her weight nervously and noticed that the floor had gone soft under her feet, unlike the hardwood of the library. It was soft, like they stood in a moss covered glen. With the image of the glen came the scents and sounds to go along with it.

“With the gifts of Odin’s wisdom in her hand, Eisa used the wisdom to choose the words. Eisa, daughter of Loki, used the words to call the magic. Eisa, she who was given to mortality. She used the magic to summon the chosen. Eisa, my mother long gone before, passed the wisdom, the words, and the magic down through the ages to me. And to you.”

Hope opened her eyes. Granny now looked the role of Keeper in a long, red silk robe. She also held a totally different and powerful presence. She was the Keeper. Hope and the Keeper now stood on opposite sides of a round wooden table. The center of the table was carved into a depression which held the four rune stones. Three lay with their runes down and hidden. The fourth lay face up, but she did not know what the rune said.

The Keeper spoke an ancient language and sprinkled fine dust over the one rune. Thin smoke curled up from the table. Again, she said the words, and then Hope heard the Keeper speak the formal name Bequlf, son of Basqulf. The smoke spun in lazy circles.

Hope wondered if this was the extent of the ceremony. How did it work? Would Bequlf hear the words and come? She watched as Granny repeated the steps again. Something in the way the words sounded felt wrong, as if the ceremony wasn’t working.

As the words were said a third time, Hope realized they were slightly different. This time they called to Belquavir, the shaman. This time, the smoke thickened, and a soft voice answered the Keeper.

“Keeper, I have answered your call.”

“A meeting must be set,” the Keeper said bluntly. “A truce must be discussed”

“If it is your will.” Belquavir sounded reluctant.

“It is. Come to me. And bring Bequlf.” The Keeper’s voice rang with command, and obvious disapproval for Bequlf.

“He will not go there.”

“Then where?”

“The park, where we once liked to walk.”

“Fine, the park, at noon.” The Keeper’s voice softened and then she swept up the runes into her hand.

The smoke thinned, and Hope saw the card table and the library. She reached out and touched her fingers to the center of the table, almost expecting to find a depression there. But of course, there was none. The table was as flat and flimsy as ever.

She looked up in surprise when Granny slammed the book shut with enough force to blow dust from the ancient pages.

“What’s wrong?”

“That-that disrespecting miscreant. How dare he? Just who does he think he is to ignore a summons?”

“If Bequlf didn’t have to answer, why would Belquavir?”

“Bequlf should have answered. A summons is considered an honor, because it provides an individual with a voice in the Keeper’s records. I usually don’t need to use the summoning runes in present day, because I can telephone those I need to contact much more easily. But to use the stones adds honor to a call. In this case, it was more dignified than yelling across the back field. Bel at least recognized the honor that was given.”

“What did Belquavir mean when he mentioned the place where you used to walk?”

“Bel and I were friends at a time when we both needed support. It was after George died that I moved our family to this place. I wanted to be closer to a strong clan. Bel’s mate had also died, and we had grief in common.” The phone rang, and Granny raised the receiver to answer.

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