They all turned to face me, their mouths agape. Before any of them could get their thoughts together I continued.
"Fear not. The spell is only temporary. When you pass through the portal again, it will be undone."
Suddenly, I felt the presence of the Great Goddess. I didn't fight her but let her speak.
As the soldiers reformed their orderly ranks, the official came to stand in front of them.
I relaxed completely as the Goddess picked me up off the ground and I stood tall with my back straight. But, I suppose, 'stood' is the wrong word, as my feet didn't touch the ground at all.
The Goddess had me comfortably hovering over the ground by about half a foot. After a few moments' dramatic pause, I slowly floated in a dream-like way towards the newcomers. I halted a few meters away.
The official was the one to speak. His voice was haltering and stuttering. "Pardon us for the intrusion..."
The Great Goddess (speaking through me) interrupted him in a harsh voice. "Do you know whom you are addressing? Have you no reverence for me or the Great Mother?"
A strangled sort of cry escaped from his throat and he and all with him instantly dropped to their knees and bowed their heads. "Forgive us. We didn't recognize you. We didn't intend to cause any insult…"
"Enough. State who you are, and why you are here. I have much to do."
"I am a high official and advisor to the King of the South, and with me are ten of the personal bodyguards of the King. We have been sent to find the High Priestess of the Great Goddess of All and deliver to her- you, a summons to the Royal Palace of the King of the South."
Here, the official used his sleeve to wipe at his sweating face.
The silence that lasted the next few seconds was so intense, almost all the werewolves shifted their weight from foot to foot restlessly.
I broke the uneasy silence by asking "So, where is this summons?"
The official jumped suddenly, like I had electrocuted him. He desperately shoved his hand into his robes, then looked like he was going to be sick.
I gave him a moment to take a deep breath and search again, but I already knew it wasn't there. I knew it was on the other side of the portal with the armor and weapons.
The official looked like he was willing the ground to open and swallow him whole. "I...I can't find it." he said in a small voice.
"Do you know exactly what it said?" I asked him.
"No. I only know the summons was for you and that he intended you to arrive at the castle the day after the harvest festival at the latest. But that is all I know of the matter."
I nodded my head thoughtfully, a far away look in my eyes.
"Very well, you are all dismissed." I said with a slight nod to them.
The rest of the men stood, and all bowed to me, bending at the waist.
With a gesture of my hand, a portal instantly reappeared where the first one had previously been.
This portal was well conjured, and the castles' turreted top was easily seen on the other side, as well as the very surprised face that belonged to the spell caster who was utterly amazed at my creation.
The men had already turned their backs to me and were facing the portal. Suddenly, the official sucked in a breath and turned around suddenly.
"But High Priestess, forgive me, what shall I tell the king in reply?"
"Tell him simply, that I will arrive when I arrive. Nothing more. Now go!"
I made a shooing motion at them with my hand.
The men went through, and then the portal closed in the blink of an eye. There was nothing now but absolute silence.
The Great Goddess loosened her grip over me, and I gently dropped to my feet on the ground. I took a second to readjust to the fact that I was fully back in control of my body.
I turned to face David. He looked at me with a look on his face that let me know he was pondering and calculating about this new information he had on me.
"David?" I said aloud to catch his attention. "The Great Goddess is gone. Everything is fine, we won't have to worry about any more portals opening up today."
He didn't say anything, just continued staring at me.
I heaved a sigh. "David, would you like to have a talk? You look like you have lots of questions. You can ask me things you know. At this point, I think it is safe to assume that I can tell you everything."
He nodded his head and deeply bowed from the waist.
"High Priestess.." he began.
With a small cry, I cut him off. At the same time, I rushed towards him and firmly grabbed his right arm with both hands.
"David, no!" I quietly begged him. "Don't. I don't want you to."
I don't know if it was my grabbing his arm, or the tone of despair in my voice, but his body language showed he was surprised. I was still trying to get this tall, well-built man to stop bowing at me, when he stopped resisting me and stood tall suddenly.
This was not calculated for by me, and suddenly off balance, I pitched forwards, and found myself leaning on him both my hands flat against his chest. I sucked in a breath suddenly, and very quickly took a few steps backwards.
My eyes looked off to the right, and down, and I saw every detail there was to see about a particularly deep green patch of grass. As I was not looking at him, I didn't notice the small upturn at the corners of his mouth that became a small, sly smirk.
But I did know about what my face looked like. I could easily feel the blush across my cheeks and knew it was already creeping up to my ears.
"I'm sorry." I gushed. "Please, I don't want you to bow to me. You shouldn't have to. I'm not like that. I'm not comfortable with people showing reverence for me. It's part of the reason I resisted for so long, trying not to be who I am. I…"
I sucked in a ragged breath, took a moment to compose myself and then said simply: "It's hard sometimes, to reconcile who I am with who I am supposed to be."
To my surprise, I heard him chuckle softly. I decided to take a chance and be brave, so I lifted my gaze to look up at his face.
"You're telling me." he said with amusement in his voice. "Well, lady, it looks like you're preaching to the choir."
I smiled a 100% genuine smile. I knew he forgave me and that everything would be ok between us. He turned then and spoke to the still present werewolves.
"You may all leave. The threat is gone. Anyone who wishes to stay, and train can, and anyone who wants to take a day off from it may."
"Uh, wait, David?"
He turned around to face me.
"You should ask Luke to stay."
"Luke? What for?" He asked me.
"Well, you guys told me he is your second-in-command. I figured that would be sort of like an advisor or someone who helps you think through decisions. I just thought if he was present, then it would be easier, as you wouldn't have to repeat what I say to him."
I waited patiently to hear David's' thoughts on the matter. He stood silent for a moment, and then said: "You are right about that, it would be easier."
Just then, I noticed Luke jogging back towards us. I waved at him. He came to a stop in front of us. He bowed first to David and then to me, saying; "Alpha, High Priestess." as he did so.
I made an unhappy growling, grumbling noise in my throat.
"You, ok?" David asked. "I know you don't like that sort of thing, people bowing to you and all. But it may be that the whole respect and rank thing is too ingrained in the werewolves for them to easily change."
"She doesn't want me to bow to her?" Luke asked, sounding confused.
"Maybe we can reach a compromise?" David suggested. "I can tell them only to nod their heads in respect to you and not to bow, as it will offend you."
I sighed. I wondered if this was the best I was going to get?
"Well, it is better than bowing." I conceded. "But I suppose it is selfish of me to want to change your peoples' culture just to suit me."
I smiled a warm smile at him and said, "Thank you, Alpha David. I would appreciate that very much."
"Shall we all go somewhere a bit more private and have our discussion?" David suggested.
I nodded. Then I remembered something.
"Wait, David!" I called. He was ahead of us, leading us back in the direction of his house. He turned.
"Please. May I use a phone? My roommates expected me back a while ago, and I don't have my cell on me. I don't want them to worry about my safety."
David grinned like he was amused. "Yes, of course!" he said as he held out his cell phone for me to take.
I caught up with him and took the phone. I dialled Amanda's number and heard it ring.
"Hello?" she said. She had picked up on the fourth ring. I noticed she sounded worried.
"Hello!" I said happily.
"Sinead?! Is that you?"
"Yes. Sorry. I had to borrow someone's phone to call you. I didn't bring mine with me."
"Well, I noticed that." she said dryly. "I followed the ringing sound all the way to the side table beside your bed, earlier."
"I really am sorry. Anyways, I am calling you now to let you know I am well and safe. I will most likely be home after dinnertime. Don't wait for me to eat dinner."
"Sinead, where are you? Whos' phone are you calling me on?"
"Listen, I don't want to ring up a phone bill. I got to go. Bye!"
I pushed the end call button and handed the phone back to David.
"Thanks." I said as we all began walking back to David's' house.