interception can never happen again. I have my work cut out for me, writing my reports. The new Superior General has recommended that I rest, but that’s impossible.”
“But you have to rest some of the time, Yuri. You know you do. We all do.”
“I sleep for four hours. Then I get up. I think about what happened. I write. I write for maybe four, five hours. Then I sleep again. At mealtimes they come and get me. They make me go downstairs. It’s nice. It’s nice to be back with them. But what about you, Michael?”
“Yuri, I love this man. I love Ash the way I loved Aaron. I’ve been listening to him talk for hours. It’s no secret, what he’s telling us, of course, but he won’t let us record any of it. He says that we should take away only what we naturally remember. Yuri, I don’t think this man will ever hurt us or anyone connected with us. I’m sure of it. You know, it’s one of those situations. I’ve put my trust in him. And if he does come to hurt us, for any reason, well, that’s going to be what happens.”
“I understand. And Rowan? How is she?”
“I think she loves him too. I know she does. But how much and in what way, well, that’s her story. I never could speak for Rowan. We’re going to stay here, as I said, for another two days, maybe more, then we have to go back down south. We’re a little worried about Mona.”
“Why?”
“It’s nothing terrible. She’s run off with her cousin Mary Jane Mayfair—this is a young woman you’ve not had the pleasure of meeting—and they’re a bit too young to be running around without any parental supervision.”
“Michael, I’ve written a letter to Mona. I had to write it. You know, before I left New Orleans, I pledged my heart to Mona. But Mona is too young for such a pledge, and now that I am home, back with the Order, I realize more than ever how unsuited I am to court Mona. I’ve sent my letter to the Amelia Street address, but I fear that Mona will, for a little while at least, be angry with me.”
“Yuri, Mona has other things on her mind right now. This is probably the best decision you could have made. We forget that Mona is thirteen. Everybody forgets it. And certainly Mona forgets it. But you’ve done the right thing. Besides, she can contact you if she wants to, can’t she?”
“Yes, I am here. I am safe. I am home.”
“And Tessa?”
“Well, they took her away, Michael. That’s the Talamasca for you. I’m sure that’s what happened to her. She was surrounded by a very courtly group of companions and invited to go with them, probably to Amsterdam. I kissed her goodbye before she left. There was some talk of a nice place for her where she could rest, and where all her memories and stories would be recorded. No one seems to know how to calculate her age. No one knows if what Ash has said is true, that she will die soon.”
“But she’s happy, and the Talamasca has taken care of her.”
“Yes, absolutely. Of course, if she ever wants to leave, she can leave. That’s our way. But I don’t think Tessa thinks in those terms. I think she drifted for years—how many years, no one knows—from one protector to another. She didn’t grieve too long for Gordon, by the way. She says that she doesn’t care to dwell on unpleasant things.”
Michael laughed. “I understand. Believe me. Look, I’ve got to go back now. We’re having some supper together, and then Ash is going to go on with his story. It’s beautiful here where we are. Snowing and cold, but beautiful. Everything that surrounds Ash reflects his personality. It’s always that way. The buildings we choose for ourselves, they’re always reflections of us. This place is filled with colored marble and with paintings, and with … with things that interest him. I don’t suppose I should talk about it much. He does want his privacy, to be left in peace after we leave him.”
“I know. I understand. Listen, Michael, when you see Mona, you must tell her something for me … that … you must tell her that I …”
“She’ll understand, Yuri. Mona has other things on her mind right now. It’s an exciting time for her. The family wants her to leave Sacred Heart, to start studying with