Ardal (The Sabbats)

Chapter One

Sunday, October 27 th .

High Mountain. West Virginia.

Helga, Ardal’s falcon, sat on her perch outside the kitchen window where she always sat when she wanted him to take her hunting in the forest.

She could go alone but Ardal had caught her, tamed her a little and spoiled her a lot. Now they were best friends and she liked to wait until he went with her.

“What’s in your beak, girl?”

Helga screeched when Ardal spoke through the window to her and the paper fell out of her beak. Quick as lightning, she swooped down and retrieved it and regained her perch.

Interest piqued, Ardal left the dishes he was washing the mundane way and went out the back door with Rosita on his heels.

He rounded the house he adored. When they began their Fated life together, Rowan had magically built this cottage on the mountain for him and even though their love had ended tragically, Ardal would never give up the house. He lived on this magic mountain all alone. It was his destiny, and he never argued with the Fates.

Helga looked so funny sitting on her perch with the paper in her beak, she made Ardal laugh.

“Where did you get that glob of paper?”

She cocked her head to one side, her eyes wide, too wise to screech again and drop it.

Ardal held out his hand and Helga obediently opened her beak and dropped the ball of paper into his palm.

“Thank you, Helga.” Ardal reached into his pocket and conjured up a reward. She snatched the live squirrel out of his hand and flew up to her nest to eat it.

Damp and mashed up a little, it took Ardal a minute to open the paper note and spread it out so he could read the words.

“Aw, Helga, this was written with a quill and ink from an ink well and look what you’ve done to the beautiful calligraphy.”

He laughed at the way the words had all run together like little black rivulets.

A quick flick of his wrist, and the words realigned themselves perfectly. “That’s much better. Let me see what the message says.”

You are cordially invited to a thinning of the veil gathering at number nine Saint Gillian Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. Feel free to bring a plus one as long as they are not mundane. This particular party is not for the faint of heart.

Ardal laughed at Misty. She was always so funny and inventive. He rushed back into the house wondering who else was invited to her party.

“Rosita, we haven’t left the mountain all summer. It’s time we had some fun and saw some people.”

Rosita wagged her tail and Ardal patted her head.

He sat at the kitchen table with the note in front of him and thought about who he should take with him to New Orleans as his date.

Of course he called Gilly first to see if she was invited.

“I got my invitation this morning, sweetie. Who are you inviting as your plus one?”

“You, I guess.”

“Don’t invite me. I’m already invited. Bring someone fun.”

“You’re the only fun person I know.”

“You need to broaden your scope, my beloved brother.”

“The invitation says they can’t be mundane,” said Ardal. “There’s no one but me on the mountain. My choices are limited.”

“Go to New Orleans early and hang out in some of the bars. You’ll find a date easily enough. You have a rep in Jackson Square as the most eligible stud.”

Ardal laughed. “You’re making that up.”

“No, I’m not. People still talk about you.”

“I haven’t been in the bayou for months, Gilly.”

“It’s time you went back and visited Angelique. She’ll know who your perfect plus one would be.”

“Possibly. I should spend time with her anyway. She’s always a huge help with my spells and my doll magick. Who do you have in mind to bring?”

“I was thinking of bringing Freddie Binks.”

“He’s dead.”

Gillette laughed. “Then I wouldn’t have a date until the veil thinned, would I?”

“If we’re waiting that long for our dates to show up, I guess I could pick someone who already passed too.”

“Don’t pick Ember,” snapped Gillette. “That would break your heart for another seven years. Bring someone who has a little life left in their body.”

“I’ll work on a list of possibilities this week while I get ready to go.”

“Go tomorrow and hit the bars. You need some excitement in your life, Ardal. You spend way too much time alone on the mountain.”

“I’m supposed to be alone on the mountain. It’s my destiny. I’m studying and practicing.”

“I can’t wait to see what new things you can do, honey bun.”

“I’ll show you after the party in Misty’s back garden. Remind me.”

“Don’t worry. Your powers are something I won’t forget about. We should have a little contest while we’re together.”

“No. That will never happen. I won’t risk hurting the person I love most in this world.”

“I meant more of a fun contest.”

“What did Mama always say? It’s all fun until someone loses control of their powers.”

Gillette laughed. “I remember her saying that.”

“The invitation didn’t mention if it was a costume party,” said Ardal.

“You don’t need a costume. You’re already wearing it.”

“Humorous. Sure. Make fun of my clothes. I’ll have to bring Rosita and Helga with me. They can’t stay up here alone for almost a week.”

“Bring Rosita. Helga can feed herself. She did fine before your caught her and made her into your pet canary.”

Ardal laughed. “She loves to eat canaries. She snaps those little yellow birds right out of the air.”

“Do you have a bird feeder in your yard?” asked Gillette.

“That would be cruel.”

“But so much fun to watch.” Gillette laughed.

“Yeah, I guess I could leave Helga here while I’m gone. She hasn’t forgotten how to hunt on her own.”

“Of course not. She’s a born predator.” Gillette laughed. “Just like you. That’s why you’re so perfect together.”

“I stay on the mountain, so I won’t hurt anyone,” said Ardal. “I have a soft side.”

Gillette giggled. “I love that side of you. The other side too. I love the entire package.”

“Same.”