Double Star

by Cindy Saunders

  Your fate will hinge upon these three

  Each intertwined with your destiny.

  “The mute, the mutant, and the metamorphosis,” Oisin said. “Gabriel is the mute, but what does he have to do with our destiny?”

  Corm showed Oisin the drawing. “Perhaps more than we think.”

  Liam walked in and smiled when he saw Ally. “The horses are ready,” he said. “Why are you looking at me that way?”

  “You need to see this,” Oisin said.

  Ally and Liam walked into the house together. Gabriel was still in the kitchen by himself. Liam put the drawing on the table and placed three gold coins beside it. “Thank you and your family for your hospitality.” He bowed and turned toward the door, but before he could walk away, Gabriel jumped up from his chair, nearly knocking the table over. He grabbed Liam by the arm, patted his own chest, and picked up a bag on the floor.

  “He wants to come with us,” Ally said. Had that been what she agreed to earlier? She closed her eyes, furious for misleading him.

  “No.” Liam shook his head. “You cannot.”

  Gabriel nodded, tears of disappointment gleaming in his eyes, and he dropped into the chair.

  Liam put his hand under the boy’s chin, forcing their eyes to meet. “I will see you upon my return,” he said, carefully pronouncing each word. “I promise.”

  “I have to be honest,” Ally said, once they were on the road, “Gabriel’s drawing has me a little freaked out.”

  “Freaked out?” Liam said.

  “It’s bothering me.”

  “Aye. It has me freaked out as well then. But we are safe as long as we are in the forest.”

  “What happens when we leave it?” she asked.

  “Then we will need to be on our guard.”

  That statement got her thinking and she took a deep breath. “Liam, are there guns over here?”

  “Guns?”

  She let out a heavy sigh. Their worlds were so different. Was it possible the weapons that existed in her world hadn’t made it over here… yet?

  “My world can be really violent, really immoral at times,” she said. “We’ve developed weapons more powerful and deadly than a sword or a bow and arrow.” She pointed with her index finger and cocked her thumb. “We have guns, a firearm that shoots a bullet, a small piece of lead, so fast and so hard it can enter here,” she pointed to her chest, “and exit through your back. There’s chemical... and nuclear warfare.”

  His expression was blank at first then turned to surprise.

  “I’m glad you don’t know what I’m talking about. The truth is—my world has perfected the art of killing one another.”

  “You cannot be serious.”

  “Unfortunately, I am. And I’m starting to worry that if I was able to come over, maybe others have as well. Maybe they’ve brought those kinds of weapons here. Weapons that make what we have,” she said, looking at his sword, “useless.”

  “It might be a bit selfish of me,” he said, “but I pray they remain over there. Your world does not sound like a place I would like to visit. So, please tell me, why are you so eager to return?”

  That was a good question based on the little she’d told him. “I don’t know. I have to believe things will change. Besides, based on what Thea said, maybe we’re not totally to blame.” There was also another reason. The most important. “I have to go back. My mom is there, and right now she’s alone.”

  “Aye. That, I understand.” Liam smiled. “And you were born in that world. It cannot be all bad.”

  “It’s not. Most people there are good.”

  “So why have they not done something about it? About the killing of each other?”

  “They’ve tried but…”

  “I find that type of indifference difficult to comprehend.”

  Corm stopped Lightning and waited for them to catch up. “I have been listening to your conversation but feel guilty about eavesdropping. Do you mind if I join you? This discussion is definitely more interesting than that one.” He pointed ahead of them.

  Shane was arguing, “A bear will always beat a cat or a wolf!”

  “Sure,” Ally said and touched the heart around her neck. “My dad actually took an interest in trying to improve things. His job wasn’t creating weapons, but helping to protect our country against attacks from others. He worked for the Department of Defense.”

  “As opposed to the Department of Offense?” Corm said.

  She nodded her head but, in reality, they were probably the same thing.

  “I was never sure what he did. He was never able to talk about it and then one day, my mom got a call. He was in the hospital. The doctors had never seen a virus like it before. What they did know, what they were sure of, was he didn’t have long.” She’d never told anyone this and it was harder than she imagined.

  “We went into his room and it was difficult for him to talk. It was weird, because I’d just seen him two days before and he was fine. He saw how upset we were and he actually tried to smile. Then he whispered, ‘Don’t cry. It’ll be okay. I did my best to ensure that. I love you both more than you’ll ever know.’ And then he was gone.”

  She blinked away the tears and looked at the road ahead of her.

  “I am sorry about the loss of your father,” Liam said quietly.

  “Aye, I am as well,” said Corm.

  “Thanks. They never figured out what happened but that’s why I need to get home. I’m kind of a miracle baby. My mom wasn’t supposed to be able to have kids and I know losing us both would destroy her.”

  Chapter 24

  Ally glanced around as they rode into Exeter. It was much larger than Pembroke or Constance, and it felt good to be in a town so full of life. Many small shops lined the main street, but there were also roads to the left and right marked with more stores and houses. Children played in the cobblestone streets while adults stood nearby engaged in conversation.

  “Should we seek out the local veterinarian?” Oisin asked.

  “I think we should discuss our options over an ale and hot meal,” Shane replied.

  They found a tavern near the center of town. The sign that hung from the front of the two-story brick building read “The Oar.”

  When they walked in, Ally noticed that half the tables in the pub were already taken—the other half could seat only four, maybe six comfortably. A bald man with a black handlebar mustache stood behind the bar and waved them in. “I can push two tables together, but with the likes of him,” he looked at Shane, “you might want to take the table in the back. Norma,” he called to a waitress hurrying by, “show them to the table in the bower.”

  As they began to move behind Norma, Liam put his hand on Ally’s lower back, and a shiver traveled down her spine. Stop it! She tried to focus instead on the oars and paddles that were mounted on the wall to the right while they were led to an alcove near the kitchen. Before they reached the table, Ally stopped. “Where’s the bathroom?” she whispered to Liam. He pointed back to the bar. Hallelujah!

  When she exited the restroom five minutes later, Ally felt like a new person. She headed back toward the others but could see only Liam and Corm. The rest were out of view behind a narrow wall. Liam stood and pulled out the chair at the head of the table. “What are we all having?” she asked.

  “The lovely Norma will give us her recommendation when she returns,” Ian said.

  A few moments later, Norma placed a mug in front of each of the boys.

  “I am sorry,” Liam said. “I did not know what to order for you.”

  “That’s okay. Do you have tea?”

  “Best sweet tea this side of Big River,” Norma said and flashed a crooked smile.

  “That sounds great,” Ally replied, but the smile wasn’t meant for her.

  Norma stared at Corm. “Would you like to hear the specials?”

  “What do you recommend?” Corm asked in return.

  She raised an eyebrow and smiled seductively. �
��Although it is an acquired taste, the lamb will melt in your mouth.”

  “Then I will try that,” Corm said.

  “I believe Norma is taken with you, Corm,” Shane said when the waitress was out of earshot.

  “Do you think?” Ally replied, stifling a giggle.

  “Only if necessary,” Shane answered. “But I am curious about something. Do tell, Ally. You are a lass.” He ignored the exasperated look from Ian and continued. “Perhaps you could provide insight on this matter. What are women in search of when it comes to romance?”

  “Well, that depends on the girl.”

  “Do you see?” Shane said, and took a drink. “This is exactly what I am talking about. I can never get a straight answer. It is no wonder I have yet to attract the girl of my dreams.”

  “She has a point, Shane,” Oisin said.

  “And what do you think they are looking for, my esteemed friend?” Shane asked.

  “The same thing we are all in search of,” Oisin replied. “Someone who sees and accepts us for who we are.”

  Shane belched loudly. “Then, perhaps it might take me a while. Though you must admit, in our little corner of the forest, the odds are against the perfect person dropping into your lap. Except for Liam, that is.”

  “Yes, I am lucky in that respect,” Liam said. He took Ally’s hand and kissed her cheek.

  Wow. He was so different from any boy she’d ever met.

  “Would you gentlemen care for another pint?” Norma asked on her way back to the kitchen. “Your food should be out in a minute.”

  Liam and Corm shook their heads, but Oisin, Ian, and Shane nodded.

  “I take it there’s no legal drinking age here,” Ally said to no one in particular.

  “What do you mean by legal?” Ian asked.

  “I mean, where I’m from, you’re not allowed to drink until you’re twenty-one.”

  “Twenty-one?” Oisin cried.

  “There are a lot of rules meant to protect us… from ourselves, I guess.”

  “But twenty-one seems a bit much, no?” Oisin said. “I mean, it is not as if someone his age could get a drink.” He pointed to a boy bussing a table.

  His back was to them, so Ally couldn’t tell how old he was, but he looked too young to be working. She was about to add there were also rules about child labor in her world, but bit her tongue.

  Norma put plates in front of her, Liam, and Corm. “I will be right back,” she said.

  Ally looked back at the boy. He was placing dirty dishes into a wooden bucket. When he finished, he lifted it with his right hand and straddled it on his hip. The maneuver looked awkward, but she didn’t know why. When he turned and shuffled toward them, the answer was clear. He had only one arm.

  He couldn’t have been more than ten or eleven and was struggling with the weight of the dishes, but his arm wasn’t the only disfigurement. The entire left side of his face was covered with scars.

  “Get out of the way, Adam,” Norma said roughly, as he limped past. He backed against the wall and she placed the remaining dinners on the table. “Can I get you anything else?” she asked, and smiled warmly at Corm.

  Corm shook his head in disgust. “No, thank you.”

  Shane looked up from his plate. “What do you suppose happened to him?”

  “Looks like he was in a fire,” Oisin replied. “Poor kid.”

  “He is too young to be working, especially in a place like this,” Liam said.

  The front door slammed and laughter drifted their way. Three boys walked in and something in their swagger caused Ally to inwardly groan. Punks.

  The restaurant was almost empty now, and half a dozen tables needed to be cleared. “So where are we going to stay tonight?” Shane asked.

  “I have a suggestion,” Oisin said. “We could camp outside of town. It is—” He put his nose into the air.

  “What is it?” Corm asked.

  “I smell trouble,” Oisin answered in a low voice.

  Ally glanced at the bartender, who eyed the newcomers with a look of annoyance. “Marcus, please, sit at a table that is clean,” he said when the boys were about to sit at one still covered with dirty dishes.

  “Bernard, is that any way to talk to your best customers?” the boy, Marcus, said loudly. He laughed and looked at his two friends.

  “I am simply stating a fact. Sit wherever you like,” Bernard replied.

  Adam hurried to the front of the restaurant, bucket in hand. He filled it and began to walk toward the kitchen. The three boys looked at each other and grinned. She knew that look, had seen it before, and put her fork down. Please, let me be wrong.

  Adam moved past the trio, and Ally watched in horror as Marcus put his foot directly in his path. Adam tripped, fell to the floor, and the sound of smashing dishes filled the air.

  Ally leaped to her feet and rushed to Adam’s side. She glared at Marcus. “What are you? An asshole? What’s the matter with you?” Adam was trying hard not to cry as he got to his knees and began to pick up the broken pieces. “Let me help you with that,” she said.

  Marcus squatted beside her, his face inches from her own. “What if I am? What are you going to do about it, bitch?”

  “Marcus,” one of his friends said in a low but urgent tone. Marcus got to his feet and tookHe a step back.

  Ally turned around. Standing behind her were Liam and the others.

  “That is not the proper way to address a lady,” Liam said, his hands clenched into fists at his side. “Never mind the way you treated this boy. You have a choice. First, and this is not a choice, you will apologize to both of them for your rude behavior. Second, and this is where you do have a decision to make, you can take your leave or deal with me.”

  One of the boys looked at Shane. “Let us go, Marcus. The food here is only fit for animals anyway.”

  Marcus hesitated and gritted his teeth. “Shayeen trash,” he finally said. “You think you are better than the rest of us. Well, you are wrong. I am sorry,” he said to Adam and looked at Ally. “You, too.” He pushed his friends out of the way, marched through the restaurant, and out the front door.

  “Are you all right?” Ally asked Adam. She expected to see the boy she’d seen earlier, the one who was on the verge of tears, but instead he was beaming.

  “Yeah, I’m okay.” His black hair reached his shoulders. The left side of his face was definitely worse than the right. But his brown eyes were full of life.

  “Adam, please bring the broken dishes into the kitchen,” Bernard said. Adam hoisted the bucket onto his hip and skipped from view.

  “It wasn’t his fault, you know,” Ally said.

  Bernard nodded. “I know. It is one thing when Marcus picks on Norma or any of the other help I manage to keep,” he said, “but it is with Adam he gets the most pleasure.”

  “Why don’t you just stop him from coming in here?” she asked.

  “It is not that simple. His father owns this building and, in turn, my livelihood… a price I must pay to do business. But, if you noticed, I was not going to stop your friends from mopping the floor with them.”

  “What about Adam?” Liam asked.

  “Unfortunate, I have to admit. But I am trying to help him. I gave him a job, a place to live. I cannot babysit as well. He needs to learn how to take care of himself. I have been meaning to seek out another living arrangement. This is no place for a child. Thank you for stepping in today. I would like to offer your meals as a token of my appreciation—” The door opened and two couples walked in. “Excuse me.”

  Liam helped her to her feet. “You are going to keep me busy, are you not?”

  “Well, what would you’ve done?”

  “I was actually about to do the same but could not move quickly enough. It is one of your many qualities that I admire.”

  One of her many qualities? Please. “I guess you bring out the best in me,” she said. “Besides, it’s always good to pay it forward.”

  “Pay it what?”<
br />
  “Pay It Forward. It was a movie where…” She saw the confused look on his face. “Argh, a story where the pictures move. Never mind. The idea is, if you do something good for someone, they in turn will do something good for someone else, and so on and so on.”

  “But what if something bad is done to someone?” Liam asked. “Does that ‘pay it forward’ as well?”

  She’d never thought of it like that, and remembered Adam’s eyes. They still had a shine in them. “I hope not.”

  Adam walked over to the table. “Thanks,” he said.

  “It does not mean he will not return tomorrow,” Shane answered, eating the balance of Corm’s meal.

  “Nah. His da’s back. Don’t see too much of him when he’s round. Surprised he’s here today. Shayeen.” He said the word with reverence and looked at Ally. “What’re you?”

  Corm smiled. “She is our conscience. We should settle up and determine where we are going to camp.”

  “The meals are compliments of Bernard,” Liam said. “It is his way of saying thank you for a situation beyond his control.”

  “Where you camping?” Adam asked.

  “Not sure,” Ian said, “Do you have any suggestions?”

  “Abandoned farm right outside town. Don’t think anyone would mind. Barn would be okay for horses, and there’s an open field right behind it, be perfect for camping.”

  “That does sound ideal,” Liam said. “What time are you finished here?”

  ***

  Bernard agreed to let Adam camp with them, and he rode on Pollux in front of Liam.

  “This horse is something,” Adam said. “Can we ride fast?”

  Liam grinned. “Oh, yes. Are you ready?”

  They sped down the road and reached the barn ahead of the others. Liam dismounted Pollux and lifted Adam from the saddle.

  “The barn will work for the horses,” Liam said. “They will not mind sharing their quarters with a few mice and bats.” He walked through the door, which hung loosely on a well-worn hinge.

  “Do you have a tent big enough for all of us?” Adam asked.

  The others walked in behind them. “No, and that is probably a good thing,” Ian said.