Episode Thirteen: Enjoy Your Flight!

 Vincent took the exit to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and drove past the boulevard that would take most passengers to the terminal for commercial international flights and away to another part of the sprawling facility to a sleek mirrored glass building that looked like a smoked-mirrored jewelry box. He pulled in under the portico and a uniformed attendant came to take the rental away. Vincent opened the trunk of the car, and another attendant took their luggage and set it on the curb of the building. 

 Katherine got out of the car and slung her backpack over one shoulder. Vincent came and took her elbow, and they went through the sliding glass doors into the quiet coolness of the reception area. To the right was the modified ticket counter and on the left was an area where there was a small group of Arabian men dressed in ankle-length white robes and red and white checked keffiyehs (Kah fee yahs) held in place by black and gold headbands. They stood around looking at a large television screen with several views of horse racing events. The men acknowledged them with a nod, then returned to watching the screens. 

 Vincent inclined his head in a slight nod at them and then went to the desk, taking Katherine along with him. "Welcome back Mr. Thys," the young woman said, smiling brightly at him. "Your captain is just finishing up his flight plan. You should begin boarding in just a few minutes."

 "Good," Vincent replied, he glanced once more at the Saudi men then saw a man in a crisp blue pilot's uniform stride into the building from the tarmac. He tucked his hat under his arm, lifted a hand to Vincent in greeting, and nodded to Katherine as he came to stand with them.

 "We're fueled and waiting," he replied. "Whenever you are ready."

 Vincent turned to Katherine, "Katherine, this is Captain Hawker. Francis, my I present, Ms. Van Dermer."

 Francis smiled at Katherine and executed a slight bow, "A pleasure to meet you, madame." he made no attempt to engage her further but stepped back and placed his hat on his head and touched the brim, "At your command."

 Vincent nodded at Francis and turned to Katherine, "Shall we?"

 They followed the captain out to a sleek white jet with swept-back wings. It was larger than Katherine expected, and its engines were throwing hot gusts of wind around the area as they began their powering-up cycles. Katherine climbed the steps and was met by a young woman who welcomed her aboard. The seats were built like recliners, and like the rest of the interior, they were light creamy leather and beige fabric. Once Vincent and the captain were aboard the loud whine of engines was muffled as the cabin door was closed and secured. 

 Katherine took her seat, and the attendant came to her, "Would you care for something to drink, Miss Van Dermeer?"

 "Nothing right now, thank you," Katherine replied. She clipped her seat belt on and placed her backpack on the floor next to the window.

 Vincent took the seat across the aisle from Katherine and secured his seat belt. He glanced over at Katherine. "Once we get underway, we can go over the papers you received. I'll tell you about the manor and the grounds."

 "A manor?" Katherine repeated. "Is it in Geneva?"

 "No, it is tucked away in the foothills on a private preserve with forest all around it. It's been in the Vanderau family for many years. It is where he has his stables," Vincent replied. "I will show you pictures later so you will know where you are going." 

 "Curiouser and curiouser," Katherine murmured mostly to herself. 

 "You will not fall down a rabbit hole, Katherine," Vincent told her. "I promised!"

 "I know you did," Katherine told him with a fond smile thrown in his direction, "Just nerves, that's all."

 The jet began to roll back away from the terminal, the engines began to growl louder as they began to taxi toward the runway. Katherine had not even shown her driver's license or any identification, just arrived and got on the jet. Was this how the super-wealthy traveled? Vanderau had to be one of the elite families that just made a few calls or had someone like Vincent do all the calling and make all the arrangements. It was extraordinary for her to grasp that she was now heading off into a world of privilege and access to whatever she desired. 

 There was a bit of anxiousness as the jet paused at the end of the runway then Katherine was pressed into her seat by the acceleration of the jet engines. Scenery flashed by her oval window and then a brief moment of weightlessness and the whirring of the wheels going up and the thump of the doors closing and sealing. They were airborne! The sleek jet banked right and continued its assent into the sky. The noise level prevented conversation but after several right banking turns, the jet began to level off and reach an altitude where the engines were working most efficiently. Now there was only the sound of their hum, and the sound of air rushing over the skin of the aircraft. Just like on commercial aircraft, the captain came on over the loudspeakers:

 "Good morning, this is your captain speaking. Welcome aboard Athena Flight 2188. We are currently cruising at an altitude of 51,000 feet at an airspeed of five hundred and thirty miles per hour. The time is 10:43 am. The weather looks good and with the tailwind on our side, we are expecting to land in London approximately fifteen to twenty minutes ahead of schedule. The weather in London has been clear and sunny, with a high of 54 degrees. We will be landing in the late evening at about 10:30 pm. Sophia is your flight attendant, and if you need anything she will take care of you. I'll talk to you again before we reach our destination. Until then, sit back, relax, and enjoy your flight."

 Sophia came and handed each a box with noise-canceling headphones. "If you wish to listen to music or watch television during the flight, these headphones are Bluetooth capable, and you will not disturb either one. If the captain makes an announcement you will hear it through your headphones."

 Katherine took her box and put it on the little table that was attached to the side of her seat. Vincent motioned to Sophia, "Could you set up a small conference area for Ms. Van Dermeer and me, we have a bit of paperwork to go over before we reach London."

 Sophia nodded. "Of course, Mr. Thys. I'll let you know when it's ready."

 "Thank you, Sophia." Vincent replied then looked over a Katherine, "We will go over everything while we're fresh and then you do not have to think about it anymore."

 "The legal documents are in another language, so you'll have to translate again," Katherine replied.

 "Yes, I know, which is why we can shred those when we're done. A new set of documents in English were sent this morning via courier." Vincent replied with a smile. Sophia came back and gestured to the mid-section of the jet, "The area is ready at your convenience, Mr. Thys."

 Katherine slid her backpack from under the side table and pulled the padded envelope out. Vincent unbuckled his seatbelt, went up to where there was a storage bin, and reached in for a leather attaché case. Katherine unbuckled her seatbelt and walked back to the area that had been assembled as a small conference area. It put her in mind of the booths at Papa's BBQ only much more lavish and modular in design. She slid into one side of the conference booth and laid the envelope at her left elbow. Vincent came and took a seat across from her and set the attaché case to his right. He fished into his pants pocket and brought out a set of keys. He selected a small key from several that hung from the ring of keys and unlocked the case. He drew out a packet and set it in front of him. He closed the case and set it beside him to reach for additional items he needed. "Shall we begin, Katherine?"

 Katherine reached for the padded envelope to her left and slid all the contents out onto the table between them. "Ready!"

 Vincent pulled the documents from Katherine's envelope and looked at them one by one, "Yes, let us get these out of the way first," he paused, opened his packet, slid the same type of documents out, and handed them over to her. "I will translate these, and you can read the English documents.

 "Maybe instead of shredding the ones in another language, I'll sign both, that way there will be no question of the validity of my signature," Katherine suggested.

 "Very well," Vincent replied. He began to read aloud the first document and Katherine read silently along. When he got to the end he looked over at her. "Do you agree?"

 "As I understand, I am officially being acknowledged as a member of the Vanderau family. With certain privileges and responsibilities as a member of the family. I will be held accountable for upholding these privileges and responsibilities while I am in the guardianship of the Dominus Vanderau."

 "In a nutshell," Vincent said. He pulled a pen from the attaché case and handed her the copy he had translated.

 Katherine raised an eyebrow as she took the pen, "You mean I don't have to sign in my blood?"

 "That comes later," Vincent replied then laughed when she gaped at him in astonishment. "No, Katherine – no blood oaths of any kind!"

 She laughed with him and remembered what Vanderau had typed, 'Sarcasm masks your fear…'

 She took the pen and signed both documents and he took both and placed them inside the attaché case. He picked up the next document and read that one. She agreed to that document too. It outlined how her money would still be waiting for her in the event she was not selected as gladio. Whatever she did with the money was her affair and she could not request more – a one-time big deposit and they were done. She signed both of those documents and Vincent placed them in the case. "Now this one is a bit more complicated," Vincent said. "This addresses the possibility that if you are selected as gladio by the Sept what those terms will be."

 "Okay, let's hear it," Katherine said. "I'm sure there are privileges and responsibilities that go along with being the gladio."

 "Indeed," Vincent answered then began reading the last document. It was promissory of some kind, that if she were selected as gladio, she would receive letters of ennoblement from each of the seven families. For that, she would be ranked upon the agreement of the Sept with all the rights and responsibilities that went along with that noble rank. At the end of her service, she would retain the title and receive a pension for the remainder of her life and that sum would be determined according to the noble families and ennoblement rank bestowed. Katherine listened to Vincent to the end, then held up her hand when there was a piece that spoke to her affixing her seal to the document. "I don't have a seal."

 Vincent nodded. "If you become gladio, you will have an official seal. You'll receive that at the investiture ceremony." She nodded and signed the two documents, and he took them and placed them in the case. He opened the case at his side and pulled a small box from the upper pocket. He opened it and looked at the contents then closed the lid. "If you sign this last document, you receive the family ring."

 "So, a title, pension, and a seal --- if I am selected."

 "Yes," Vincent replied. "If you do become gladio you will affix your seal to all these documents." He turned the small box around and pushed it toward her. "Now the last order of business and the last document you will need to sign. I witness your oath and you take the family ring. It is made to be worn on your right index finger and it signifies and indicates your affiliation to the Vanderau family."

 She opened the lid and looked down at an antique silver ring with an oval onyx stone deeply carved with the Vanderau crest. She took a closer look at the crest, it was a crowned gryphon. The crown was silver set with diamonds and the gryphon's eye was an emerald. "Is this silver or white gold?"

 "It is platinum," Vincent replied. "Very rare for its age." 

 Katherine took the ring from its box and examined it closely. The inside of the ring was smooth as silk and there was an inscription date of 1520. She put it back in the box. Vincent looked the document over and glanced at Katherine. "There is only one copy of this document, and it is in Latin, but I will translate it for you."

 She sat back as Vincent opened the stiff parchment document. He opened the box, took the ring in the fingers of his right hand, and held out his left hand to Katherine, "Your right hand, Katherine, and repeat after me," She placed her hand in his and he began to read the oath of fealty. "By the Lord our God, whom this relic is made holy, I, Katherine Elena Van Dermeer, will be to Nicklaus Alexander Vanderau, Dominus of the Septum Noblium Familarum, faithful and true, according to God's law, and according to the world's principles, and never, by will nor by force, by word nor by work, do ought of what is loathsome to him; on condition that he keeps me as I am willing to deserve, and all that fulfills our agreement when I to him submit and choose his will. Do you so swear?"

 Katherine met his look as he raised his eyes from the parchment. She felt an odd wave of chills race down her spine at the same time a warmth began to grow in her chest. "Vincent call him, now."

 Vincent did not have to call, his phone began vibrating! He reached into his coat pocket and drew out the phone. It was Vanderau! He answered and spoke in rapid French, and he placed the phone on the table and pressed the speaker button on the phone, "I will repeat the oath," he said. Your right hand, Katherine,"

 She placed her hand in Vincent's and this time there was a slight tremor in both his and her hands. This time as Katherine repeated the oath, she felt something like an electrical tingle leap from the ring Vincent held in his left hand. "Do you so swear?" he asked again.

 "Yes, I do so swear," Katherine answered. Vincent slid the ring onto her index finger. As the metal band slid over her finger she felt ice slide down her spine.

 Then from the speaker of Vincent's phone came the rich warm voice Katherine had only heard in her dreams! Vincent saw her face grow pale in shock and her eyes grow bright with tears as the Dominus spoke. "I Nicklaus Alexander Vanderau will hold fast to the honor given and keep my solemn pledge to Katherine Elena Van Dermeer to the utmost of my power, to maintain the Laws of God. I will to the utmost of my power, maintain the duties and responsibilities as the Dominus of the Septum Noblium Familarum. My power causes Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all my judgments. This I so do swear." 

 She was not crazy! Whatever was happening to her now was opening up her entire world! Everything she had experienced had brought her to this moment in time. Whatever happened, whether she was the one they waited for, or she was found lacking, she now knew she was not crazy! She dashed the tears away, took the pen, and signed the document. 

 "Katherine, are you all right?" Vincent asked. 

 She nodded silently, got up, went to the bathroom, and closed the door. Vincent picked up the phone and closed the speaker option. "Is there anything wrong?" Vanderau asked.

 Vincent looked at the closed door of the lavatory. "No sir, everything is very right. She is already showing strong connections. I suspect she has been experiencing her potential for quite a while. The man she was with had nearly convinced her she was suffering from some kind of mental breakdown."

 "Be careful with her, Vincent," Vanderau said. "She just may be the blade we've all been waiting for."

 "I will, Dominus." Vincent intoned and then added, "There is something I must add."

 There was a long pause on the other end of the phone. Then Vanderau spoke, "Vincent, by whatever means, by whatever lengths necessary – I am grateful to you."

 Vincent released the breath he was holding. "Yes, sir." 

 "I will contact you later," Vanderau told Vincent. "I will be joining you at Heathrow."

 Katherine returned to the conference area. She was fully composed and was examining her family ring. She looked over at Vincent and she nodded to indicate she was feeling fine. He listened intently and responded in French then hung up, laying the phone to one side. "Are you all right?"

 "I am. Just a lot to take in and it is good to know that I am not insane," Katherine murmured. 

 "You were never insane, Katherine!" he declared sharply. He began packing away the contents of the envelope and the signed documents. He sorted through them, taking the documents, and putting them into his attaché case. "It is natural to be wary when faced with strange new situations." His dark brown eyes fastened on her face, and she looked into his eyes. "Ballard dropped into your mind the notion that what you were experiencing was unbalanced and needed fixing. He was wrong!"

 "You think what I had going on with the dreams and anxiety for the last three years was some kind of prophetic glimpse to this moment and what might be coming?" 

 Vincent sat back and locked the case. "That is what you are going to discover," Then Vincent's phone began to vibrate again. He picked it up and looked at it. "This is for you, I believe, Katherine."

 He turned the face of the phone to her, and a single text line said simply: "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

 Katherine smiled. "Say thank you for me." She murmured. 

 Vincent texted back but no reply came in response. He tucked the phone back into his jacket pocket. "Now to the less stressful part. Take a look at the rest of the items in your packet." He opened a white 9 x 12-inch envelope and pulled a stack of photographs out. He turned them to face Katherine. "These are photographs of where you will be living for the next few weeks. It is the manor where the Dominus keeps his horses."

 Katherine picked up the first photo. It was a professional photo shoot of the manor house. It was hidden away in the thick alpine forest that encircled the estate and land for thousands of acres. The aerial views were spectacular. The manor was of yellow stone with a meandering drive through the forest up to the iron gates that gave entrance to a massive stone courtyard. A wide bank of steps took you to the front entrance. Vincent explained as she studied each photograph, what she was looking at, and how to navigate from the great hall up the sweeping staircase to the second floor. There were three galleries. The front gallery was where you received guests and visitors during the day. The side galleries were for the evening and private affairs. There was a huge kitchen across nearly the entire back part of the manor. There were towers at the end of each of the side galleries, a massive library was in one tower, and the other tower was the private quarters of the Dominus, there were offices, a workroom, and other rooms that were separate from the rest of the manor and could only be entered from an elevator. Vanderau was the only one who had keys. 

 Upstairs in the main part of the manor were suites of bedrooms, bathrooms, and sitting rooms. Katherine counted eight bedrooms, bathrooms, and sitting rooms – they were all decorated differently. Above the library tower was a private set of rooms with all the modern conveniences. It reminded her of her duplex. There was a private entrance from the library or from the short set of stairs that led up to the heavy wooden arched door that had iron door hinges and a lock that was also of iron. Vincent held up a ring of keys, most were brass skeleton or black iron keys. "These are yours for the duration of your stay. You will be the lady of the house, so somewhere on there are the keys to the pantry, wine cellar, and storage rooms." 

 She took the heavy ring and wagged it, so the keys clanked against one another, "Absolutely medieval looking!"

 Vincent nodded. "They are."

 "Oh, right," Katherine said laying the keys to one side. "I forgot!"

 Vincent flipped through the photos and then tapped the picture of a massive stable. It looked incredibly modern compared to the manor house. "This is the stableman's house and office. You will meet Etienne tomorrow. He will give you the tour of the stables and pastures."

 The next picture was of the interior of the stables. "Wow, are these racehorses' quarters?" Katherine asked picking up the photo to take a closer look.

 "Dominus Vanderau breeds Friesen and Percheron horses as a pastime," Vincent said. "He's quite proud of his stock."

 There were several pictures of the animals and Katherine had to admit that both breeds were magnificent! Then the picture tour was over, and the rest of the photos were of the private and formal gardens, there was a greenhouse and other farm animals that the full complement of staff and groomsmen took care of. "You will meet the house staff and Mrs. Tremeur, the housekeeper when we arrive. And once you have settled in, you will meet your instructors."

 "Sounds like a full day," Katherine murmured. "When do I meet the Dominus?"

 "I am not certain what he had planned," Vincent replied. "We do have a conference call with him and the Sept after breakfast tomorrow morning." 

 Katherine nodded. She picked up the stack of photographs, slid them back into the envelope, and put the heavy ring of keys in with them. There was a set of car keys with a key fob. "And this?" she asked holding them in her hand.

 "A car, to run errands. There is a town not far away. Maybe a fifteen-minute drive." Vincent replied. "Do you drive standard?"

 "I haven't in years, but you never forget!" Katherine replied.

 "Then you'll enjoy this car, it is a little Italian thing," Vincent replied.

 She looked at the ring on her right index finger. It felt heavy but it also fit her finger perfectly. 

 The flight seemed to go on forever, Katherine paced the length of the jet a few times every hour, and then after a light meal, Sophia began to lower the lighting in the main area of the jet and brought Katherine a cup of herbal tea to help begin acclimation to the new time. The skies darkened and as she finished the tea she placed her headphones on and listened to music. She put the seat back and drifted off to sleep. Sophia draped a light blanket over her, and she snuggled down into the soft velvety folds. 

 "I hope she continues to rest during the refueling," Vincent told Sophia as they both stood looking down at Katherine. "We're picking up a passenger at Heathrow."

 "The Dominus?" Sophia guessed.

 "Yes. He wants to get his first look, without her being aware of him." Vincent replied.

 "Will that be possible?" Sophia wondered. "The tea will allow her to rest, but with the Dominus so near --"

 "He will be in the copilot's chair," Vincent replied. "When we land in Geneva he will wait until the right moment, and then leave to drive into town for his meetings."

 Sophia smiled as she looked over at Katherine as she slept. "I'll try to keep her asleep until we're on our way from Heathrow."

 "Thank you, Sophia," Vincent replied. He looked at his watch. "I believe I will try to get a little nap in myself. It is going to be a very busy day tomorrow!"