This choice: Put off the choice for now • Go Back...Chapter #120The Gathering by: imaj   “Now that you’ve shown me sir,” you say nervously. “I’m not so sure.”
You’d expected him to be annoyed, or maybe even angry, but Charles just smiles and nods. “It’s a big decision, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” you reply. “Thanks you for showing me, it really helps a lot, but I need to know more – a lot more – to make the right decision. It’s going to affect the rest of my life, isn’t it? I can’t just hop back into the Libra and get it cut back off again can I,” you ask with a faint little half laugh.
Charles smiles at your bad little joke, more to be reassuring than anything else you think. “I don’t think it would be a good idea, no. If you give me a few days I think I can come up with a way to help you find out all you need to in order to make your decision.”
“Thank you sir.”
*****
The living room is crowded, very crowded. In the two weeks you’ve been here, you don’t think there’s been a time when all the guests at Olympia have been in it at the same time. Yet now, just after lunch on New Years Eve, Charles has called a meeting and everyone has trooped into the living room.
Kali, Miko and Maria are sitting on the small couch. You’d actually been lucky enough to get a seat on it yourself earlier, but then Miko had sat next to you. There were no seats left when Maria arrived and you’d wilted under their combined stares and generously offered your seat to Maria.
Nash is perched on the couch armrest next to Kali, a cigarette hanging from his mouth. It is unlit though, the air in the room is close enough without having cigarette smoke wafting through it as well. The arm rest next to Maria is empty, and you know better than to perch on it yourself.
Rick is leaning on the windowsill, looking a little ill at ease. He isn’t anywhere near as awkward looking as Father Ed though. Ed’s standing by the door and his arms hang loosely as if he isn’t quite sure what to do with them.
Rosalie and Joe are on the floor. They’re leaning back against the little table the television sits on, arms wrapped around each others back. Lacking anywhere else to go, you sit down next to Rosalie. She smiles at you before turning back to Joe. You grimace a little as your stomach turns.
There is one seat still empty, an old high backed armchair. It is threadbare and worn, the colours faded. Charles enters the living room and takes his place in it, his back ramrod straight, his hands gripping the ends of the armrests. The idle chatter in the room stops abruptly.
“Afternoon folks,” says Charles with a faint smile. “You know me, I don’t like to do these things much, so I’ll try to get it done with as quick as I can.” There are soft murmurs round the living room and Nash leans and whispers something in Kali’s ear. She giggles briefly and puts her hand to her mouth. “Now Nash,” grins Charles. “I’ve sat through your seminars and you’re just as bad.”
“It’s true,” laughs Nash.
“We got two people to formally welcome to our family. They’ve been with us for a little while already, so you all know them, but still… This is New Year’s Eve and tomorrow is a time for new beginnings,” he explains as Kali nods knowingly. “Firstly, a new acolyte: Rosalie Stewart. Rosalie,” he says, gesturing to her.
Rosalie smiles vaguely and waves at everyone. “Hi.” There is a chorus of hellos and welcomes.
“This should be no surprise, but Kali, you’ll be spending some time with Rosalie. However…” Charles pauses for a few seconds. “As a Glundandra, I have a part to play in Rosalie’s education as well. So for the next two months Rosalie will stay here in Olympia rather than got to L.A.. And so will you Kali.”
There is a moment of shocked silence before Kali speaks. “This is most vexing Charles. I have only just fixed the disruption caused by my unexpected trip to England.”
“Well, I have a way of minimising the disruption that we’ll discuss later,” he replies. He glances at you briefly, almost so quickly that you missed. “If you’ll consent to it.”
Kali must have caught it too, because she looks at you stiffly. “Till then,” she says.
“Secondly, Will Prescott, who becomes an apprentice today,” continues Charles.
“Well done squirt,” calls Rick. Joe leans over and gives you a friendly punch in the arm. Everyone else offers congratulations and encouragement as well, even Ed.
“Normally I’d assign an apprentice to a single senior member who was best suited to help them develop their talents, but Will is an unusual case,” continues Charles. “We’ve discovered that Will only has one ousiarch…”
“Thanks to Nash,” hollers Nash, interrupting.
“Thanks to Nash,” sighs Charles. “Although it would be simple enough for me to help Will choose a new ousiarch to be his second, Will has asked for more information to help him decide. That’s why I’ve decided to apprentice him to several of you rather than just one person. Over the coming year two or three months with many of you to help him decide which ousiarch he should take as his second”
Joe leans over and whispers in your ear. “That’s Dad all over,” he says enthusiastically. “Brilliant solution.”
There’s a lot of quiet talking in the living room now. Obviously this arrangement is pretty unusual. Charles simply holds up his right hand till everyone falls silent. “Will’s first assignment will be with Miko,” he explains once everyone is listening.
Your jaw drops. She stares daggers at you and the message, though unspoken, is clear enough: ‘So that’s what you think of me?’. You gulp and try to force a smile. It must seem terribly forced.
“I’ll discuss the arrangements with you later personally Miko,” continues Charles, either oblivious or ignoring the pair of you. “And with the rest of you as the time approaches. That’s everything. Thank you for your time folks.” He starts to rise from his chair but then sits back down. “Oh Joe,” he adds as an afterthought. “If you could come see me in my study.”
The meeting breaks up and people start to drift away. You sit for a few moments, lost in your thoughts until you realise a shadow is looming over you. It’s Miko.
“Get up,” she says brusquely.
You jump awkwardly to your feet. “Uh… yes…” your stutter. “Yes… Ma’am?”
“Oh Ma’am is it now,” she asks with a cat like grin. “I think I could get used to that.”
Well this is going to be fun, you think.
*****
Will’s adventures continue in "Reunion Tour"  in "The Wandering Stars" .
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