Soul Dancing with the Brass Band (The Brass Band Series) (27 page)

Dec 29, 2010

Dad was insisting on giving Will some alone time with Lee to decide if he might be one of the
souls McCollum was looking for.

“You don’t have to leave, Terry,” Will said as he sat down in the coffee shop. “I will know within a few minutes if indeed Lee is one of us and then we will adjourn within the hour for a more lengthy conversation in the privacy of my apartment,” Will reassured Dad as their coffee was delivered.

Mom and I had walked with them as far as the coffee shop and then headed around the corner to the grocery store. We mostly talked while placing a few items in our cart.

“I always knew there was something very special about you,” Mom said looking up at me from her 4’11” stature. “I’m not saying that Kenny isn’t also special because he is, but not the way you are. Dad always talked about the way you understood things, deeper
, more philosophical things. Kenny could care less about mysticism. I’m not judging one to be better than the other, but you two kids are very different.”

I knew what Mom meant. Give Kenny a sunny day, a ball to play with and he was in heaven. He didn’t need to
know
. It just didn’t matter in his world and to be totally honest, he was the happiest person I’d ever known and that was huge. As for me, I always believed there had to be more to life than the
American Dream
and knew I had to find
it
to be truly happy.

We finished shopping and rounded the corner by the coffee shop. Dad and Will were still inside sitting at our usual table against the back wall and to my amazement the group was one larger than I had expected.

Will and Dad were facing the front window and waved us in when they saw us. Obvious by his ponytail, Lee was sitting across from Will and next to Dr. Edwards was another very familiar back. Turning, Gilbert’s smile was the biggest of them all.

Dr. Edwards motioned to the barista to bring two more lattes and two more chairs were quickly pulled up to the table.

As I sat down next to Will and eyed Gilbert curiously, I could literally feel the energy in the air. This was one heck of an electric group and Will was grinning as much as everyone else.

“We may be complete, Hillary,” Will said in a low tone while squeezing my hand. “We need to meet with McCollum, but I think this is our group. Well, plus George and Ruth. If all goes as planned, George will talk Ruth into coming back from Kansas City early and then
we can join the New Year’s initiation as a group, or should I say as ONE.” I had never seen him so animated.

Mom passed me my latte and whispered, “Drink up, Hillary. We need to get these boys home before they cause a scene.”

As I looked at each face around our table, I wondered how many people thought we were just having a cup of coffee. I was even more amazed that the people sitting near us couldn’t feel it. The energy in the coffee shop was so high that my coffee was vibrating in its cup.

Will leaned in and the rest of us were all ears.

“It’s a good thing that the customers in this coffee shop are oblivious to how auspicious this moment is,” he whispered. “They will continue about their business as if this is just another average day, but I’m here to tell you that today is anything but average because all of us have not sat at the same table for centuries.”

Dad threw a big tip on the table before we became unruly and asked Mom if we had enough leftovers for the whole group. That was an absolutely ridiculous question; Mom could whip up a banquet if she had but five minutes.

As we all stood to leave, I noticed a few people looking at us and wondered what they saw.

“DID YOU talk her into coming back?” I asked George as he walked into the kitchen. He had set the table in the lower apartment for seven even though the old rescued computer was sitting out on the coffee table.

“I emailed her two hours ago and all I have to say is that
... we’ll need another table setting. By my calculation, she will be here before the food is!” I could see his heart was jumping for joy.

He was right about the timing. Mom barely had the food on the table when there was a knock at the door. George threw it open, Ruth jumped into his arms and he spun around twice before remembering they had an audience.

“Hi, Ruth, welcome home,” I said as George set her down on the floor. Then she flung herself at the rest of us, in her dramatic Ruth fashion, until we all had been thoroughly hugged. I was impressed that she had only hesitated momentarily before throwing herself into Dr. Edward’s open arms.

The high level of excitement continued throughout dinner, while the food was passed from hand to hand and talking never slowed. Speaking nonstop as we ate and laughing like we were half liquored-up, the room felt like magic. Even Buddy was chirping from the edge of his box, clearly home for the occasion.

Finally, when the food was all but gone and the utensils were laid across plates, George passed around glasses of Scottish Port. We all leaned back in our chairs and Will stood to propose a toast. A sweet silence transcended the room and Will held his glass high.

“I remember each one of you and have loved you for thousands of years. I can now see the many faces you have worn in past lifetimes and I’m humbled to stand before
you.”

Looking toward my parents, he began. “I’ve only known two Dreamers who could open so completely in meditation that they could feel the movement of each soul their consciousness envelopes.” He smiled as he moved around the table
, placing a hand on Gilbert’s shoulders. “Gillian was the last of a bloodline that had the ability to interpret nature in such an intimate way that it was his to control. Dr. Eduardo was an Alchemist who traveled from a distant land to meld powers with McCollum to become a Shape Shifter, the likes the world had never seen before.” He moved beyond Dr. Edwards to George.

“Then there
’s my most trusted friend who stood guard over the bodies of my Druid students, while we meditated in far away places. Although our affection has always been mutual, Georog only had eyes for Rutiah.”

Ruth blushed as she realized Will was speaking of her. “Ruth the one who found Hillary, lifetime after lifetime, to push her
forward on her life’s path while offering her the comfort of a true friend.”

Ruth placed her hand protectively over mine as Will moved to stand by me. “Hilsbeth lead us
as a mythical warrior and defended us until her death.” He placed his hand over his heart, “And me, I am Liam, the one who will always love her.”

I feel all of your hearts as they rise to the forefront, defined by the essence of your divinity. Yes, we have been all things, but when we stand together we create greatness.”

“Ancient stories tell of the many great souls in the heavens who have been searching though the Akashic records of the universe. These records contain all knowledge of the human experience and the history of the cosmos. They’ve been looking for a precise point in time, which is pivotal for the advancement of mankind.” He paused, connecting with each of us with a glance. "That time is now and we are together again. The heavenly souls are dancing tonight in celebration with us as we complete the circle we began so long ago.”

“Here, here” George said as he raised his glass, and we all drank to what the future held for us.

DECEMBER
31, 38 AD

Pure adrenaline is all we have left, riding night and day, but not able to out run the destiny that follows us. But even the strongest must rest, so last night we made camp and slept.

As the sun slowly rises, I hear the wings of geese take flight as they greet another day. Terrance and Kathryn still sleep atop a rock outcropping, finding security in the high ground as they stand guard in protective meditation, tethered only by a thin thread to their bodies. Gillian finds his comfort slumbering in the fork of an ancient tree, spending his dreamtime gathering strength and the secrets from nature. Rutiah is still asleep in her bedroll while Eduardo brings last night’s fire back to life. Soon all will rouse, seeking the fire’s heat and a warm drink. I see Georog’s face looking up the hillside to where I sleep alone, offering me his silent reassurance and understanding.

I turn as I hear the sound of hooves on rock to see the silhouette of McCollum against the morning sun. Hobbling his horse nearby, he motions for me to approach.

I walk to where he stands and there is no need for greetings between us, so I begin.

“My soul dances in sorrow,” I said, my head hung low. “I went to Marcus Flavius last night in my dreams and found him waiting for me.” I have never spoken in detail to McCollum of my relationship with the Roman general, but suspect he knows the lengths I must go to, to be in Marcus Flavius’s confidence even in his dreams. The general allows his fantasies about me to come alive after dark, which causes him to have a twisted affection toward me in the light of day.

“The General has a directive from Rome to kill us all and then destroy the memory of us,” I state bluntly, raising my face to look into McCollum’s eyes for the first time.

He looks back sympathetically knowing that neither I nor the great general, who must by now be in love with me, could be doing this nightly travel without becoming somewhat entwined.

Gathering my thoughts, I begin my report. “We must raise an army. We, alone, will not be able to defend our homeland. The ships with reinforcements will be landing at Dover at winter’s end. Then their march westward will begin in earnest and they will hunt us down no matter where we hide.”

We move down the hill toward the fire, meeting Rutiah who pulls me close, stroking me as I try desperately to hold back the guilt I feel from my nights with Flavius and the overwhelming loneliness in my world without Liam.

“Gather round,” McCollum commands. “We must determine our future! Each of you is an imperative part without which the whole cannot exist. We have honed our powers, using the energy of each other to make this possible. I am a shape shifter, made invincible by my alchemist friend who shares my talent. Our Dreamer’s power is multiplied by their merging in meditation. The magic of The River of Knowledge runs deep in our veins and we are powerful when we stand together. Even the one smallest in stature,” McCollum states looking into Gillian eyes, “is a giant among the magical beings who are so intimately a part of nature, that they have the power to control it.”

“Each of you is respected by all Chieftains of this great land and will now be sent forth to raise the army we must have to defeat the onslaught of warriors sent from far shores.” McCollum dispatches us, two by two, to the great tribes of Britannica, Eceni, Coritani, Brigantes, and Cornovil, with orders to return within the month. Only then, when we know the size of our army, will we be able to put together our final battle plan
.

December 31,2010

The sun slowly flooded the room and the fluttering of Buddy’s wings could be heard as he flew to his birdie door to greet another day. Pure adrenaline had kept us going through the night, but now sleep was going to happen whether we wanted it or not. Dad, Mom and Lee left to fill the beds upstairs and the four of us retired to the downstairs bedrooms, leaving Gilbert content on the couch in front of the fireplace. We were all so completely joined we didn’t want the atmosphere to be broken by moving too far from each other.

My worry about what Mom and Dad thought about me spending the night with Will was a thing of the past. By now, everyone knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that we would all be together for the rest of our human lives. We were on a journey together, each one of us needing the others.

We joined the New Year’s Celebration as a group of ONE, with eight souls united with one purpose. Will told us nothing about what to expect, except that each of our journeys would be unique and to be open to the joy of what it would bring. We all were in great anticipation of what was in store for us.

McCollum smiled as he opened the door, bowing his head to Will in approval. We entered the temple with our new meditation pillows and shawls and were intoxicated by the smell of incense. Will motioned us to the front of the room where space had been set aside, so all of us could sit together. Dad, Mom, Gilbert and Lee took their places on the floor in the front row and Ruth, George, Will and I sat behind them.