Despite the late night talking with
Jerome, we arose early as we would on any travel day. It was a perfect Spring morning and spirits were high as we broke camp and pushed on toward Reston. I was excited for Jerome in particular to meet the rest of our sept. He and Anna followed us in their own car, eager to continue forging this fast friendship. I'd had this feeling before, so soon after meeting people...most of those people I'd felt that way about I now call family and we're driving around together in a camper across the continent. My septmates who had met Jerome and Anna seemed to feel a truly fond affinity as well. We were all quite swept away, singing and laughing the miles away as was our custom.
When at last we arrived at the meeting place in Reston, our enthusiasm as we jumped from the camper suffocated in an vacuum that hung over
Del'yar and Tindar. I'd been running over to hug each of them, but about half way there I stopped short and asked, "What's wrong?"
"We have a long story to tell and not much time to tell it," Tindar began, all business. I suspected he had some details about our schedule to convey...perhaps an earlier start than we'd been told. He looked behind me, seeing Jerome and Anna approaching. "A small family meeting before the introductions might be in order."
I haven't an impolite bone in my body. There was simply no way I could carry on without saying, "Tindar, Del'yar, I'd like you to meet the two very sweet people we told you about last night. Anna, Jerome, the intense looking fellow is Tindar." His frown was stern beyond even Tindar's usual demeanor. "And this is Del'yar."
Del'yar nodded and managed half a smile. "I'm sorry to be so abrupt. If you could just give us a few moments."
"Of course," said Jerome, looking a little deflated.
"Tindar, I know you're all wrapped up in the business of the day. Del'yar, surely it would be less rude to just tell us what's on your mind."
Nothing makes you feel more like a stranger than to walk into the middle of family tensions. Anna was obviously very uncomfortable. Jerome seemed less flustered, but was withdrawing already, apologizing for no good reason at all. I had been so eager for this meeting to go well, I was furious at the first impression Tindar and Del'yar were making.
Matching my ire, raised eyebrow for down-turned lip, Tindar said flatly, "A statue reputed to point to a Wanderer treasure was stolen this morning from a local museum. From the indications of a poor picture in the paper and discussion with a couple who'd already seen it once, we believe one of the markings on the base of the statue was the Wanderer Chandorean symbol you drew on the camper, Miel. Researchers seem to believe these symbols are the key to unravelling the mystery."
"Leave it to Tindar to wield the truth like a blunt weapon,"
Ascher frowned in disapproval.
I sat down on the curb, absorbing the news. Tindar turned back to Jerome and Anna...with a thick blend of sincere charm and biting irony, for my benefit, in his voice he said, "I'm truly happy to meet you both. Very sorry for not saying so sooner. In all honesty, I wasn't sure that was news we should discuss in front of you both, but I guess that's sort of a moot point now. No reflection on you, just...we don't really discuss that sort of thing in front of new friends as a rule."
"Nor would we have, I think, if we'd been given half a chance to decide,"
Danidesh looked at both Tindar and me with an admonishing glare. "But you are our confidants now, Jerome and Anna. I hope you don't mind being included in our deepest trust so rashly. I think I speak for the sept when I say we would prefer to finish our stay in Reston in quiet anonymity."
It was Anna who broke the uncomfortable silence with a warm smile, "Honestly I think that confidence was entrusted to us last night when Jerome recognized the "Words of Binding".
Tindar nodded once, slowly, in agreement.
"Good heavens, what would we want to go around telling anyone about you being Wanderers for?"
"Well..." Del'yar began.
"Please," Jerome smiled inviting the question. "I'd like to know what you're thinking."
"There have been a lot of pilgrims who have come to see this statue. Those who are fascinated by a poorly understood culture from the distant past. It would be a real circus if anyone stood up and pointed out Wanderers in their midst."
"Why would anyone do that?" Jerome wondered.
"Fame? Association? Who knows?" Tindar offered.
"I'm interested in Wanderer culture, mostly because it has something to do with my own past. I'd kinda like to piece that together. If I wanted a circus I'd follow the elephant droppings instead."
We all laughed, even Tindar. Del'yar soon grew serious again, not fully satisfied. Finally she got around to the hard question on her mind. "Jerome, did you recognize that symbol on the camper because you'd been to see the statue already here in Reston?"
"Gracious no," he laughed. "I don't need to drive all the way to Reston to see them things."
Tindar perked up, drawing his full attention to bear on Jerome expectantly.
It was soft-spoken Syha who coaxed him to continue, "You've seen these before Jerome, haven't you?"
He lowered his eyes, shy of Syha's eyes upon him.
"Yes, lots of them. In the old stone building on the lower acre."
Even Anna looked surprised. "I knew there was an old ruin down there. I never thought to ask what it was. It's just part of the scenery."
"The place we live has been in my family for generations. I learned about this building on our property, just like I learned the 'Words of Binding', in stories about my family's connections to the Wanderers. My mother told me these tales. She asked me to remember them...to pass them down, like she did. I don't think she ever had the same interest in them I did. But she passed them down all the same."
"You asked me last night how Wanderers survived out of sight for all these generations Jerome..." I said.
"Yes, I remember," he answered, curious.
"I think, without realizing it, you might know more about that than any of us," I suggested.
"Jerome, can you tell us some of these stories?" Danidesh asked. "Do you still remember them?"
"Sure, but it would be way easier to just show you."
