Chapter Twenty-Nine: An Elemental Arrival

 Collette laid out her clothes and had an overnight bag packed with everything she would need the next day. Two garment bags were hanging on the hook of the dressing room, and Katherine guessed one was the ballgown. She wondered about the second bag. She dressed and walked over to unzip each bag and peek in. One did indeed have the ballgown, but the other bag held a long black gown with the Vanderau crest embroidered on the chest with silver threads and gryphon in silver and green there was a sparkling red jewel at the eye. It was a near match to the family ring she wore. Hanging in with the gown was a highly ornate belt with an empty scabbard that would hold --- the thought froze in her mind – a blade!

 She closed the bag and went out to Collette who brushed and fixed her hair in a soft coil at her neck. Katherine went to her bedside stand and pulled open the top drawer. She took the ring box out and opened it. In the black velvet fold was the Vanderau family ring. The emerald eye winked up at her. She slipped it on her right index finger and turned to Collette. The young woman hugged her tightly. "Good luck tomorrow, madame!"

 "Thank you, Collette." Katherine returned the hug and the young woman rushed out of the room nearly colliding with Vanderau.

 "Did I miss something?" he drawled, watching Collette's quickly vanishing figure. Katherine came to the door where he leaned against the door jam.

 "I think she's a little nervous for me," Katherine replied. She looked at him appraisingly, "You clean up pretty good!"

 "So do you," he murmured, leaning in to kiss her mouth, "But I rather like you covered in mud too."

 She clucked her tongue at him in mock disapproval and he chuckled and offered his arm. They strolled across the second floor to the door that would take them up the back stairs to his suite. They entered and were met by Mrs. Tremeur. She dipped a little curtsey and Vanderau nodded.

 Sauvageon was already ensconced in his chair by the fire. Katherine went to him and took his extended hands in hers. "Pierre, how are you feeling?"

 "I am well, Katherine," Sauvageon answered, "You have good color, both of you."

 "The great outdoors!" Vanderau cheered.

 They sat down to dinner. Mrs. Tremeur had fixed a delicious stew with vegetables and yeast rolls. Katherine had a good appetite. They relaxed with glasses of wine. Sauvageon turned to Katherine. "This is a good time to tell you about the proceedings, Katherine." He glanced at Vanderau, "They will be foreign to both of you."

 "How so?"

 "As a potential, you will be sequestered, like the old days." He glanced at Vanderau. "I spoke with the Chamberlain earlier to get the particulars. He requests sequestration to establish that all the potentials are unmolested until the testing."

 "I thought he might be severe," Vanderau said quietly. He looked over at Katherine who was not revealing anything she was feeling. "You will be separated from everyone, to prepare yourself for testing. In the old days, it was much like a knight preparing spiritually."

 "I understand," Katherine said. "When will the testing begin?"

 "It will begin at sunrise," Sauvageon replied. "Which begins the Equinox. Usually, the testing is just before the noon hour, but again the Chamberlain has returned to the old ways."

 "Why do you think he's doing it this way?" Katherine asked.

 "To evoke a more ritualistic and mystical testing," Vanderau said. "With so much at stake, he is doing all he can to maintain the balance between the families."

 "Rares and Makarov destroyed that!" Sauvageon growled. "I would not let either of them into the testing!"

 "I think we're way past trying to fix that," Katherine said. "Everyone should be present, to witness in person and pay proper respect to the head of the Seven."

 "Agreed," Vanderau replied. "So, we will do as the Chamberlain requests." He looked at Sauvageon, "Do we still travel together to the Oculus?"

 "We do," Sauvageon replied. "Vincent and his father, Martine will be responsible for our safety and be present with the other Indago at the testing."

 "Vincent and his father have our backs," Vanderau told Katherine with a smile, but his eyes smoldered as he spoke. "The Ring of Huntsmen in the old days were the knights that protected the members of the Sept."

 Mrs. Tremeur came to stand at the door of the dining room, "The car just arrived, Dominus."

 Vanderau pushed up from his chair, "Thank you Mrs. Tremeur. Has the luggage been brought down?"

 "Yes, sir." Answered Mrs. Tremeur.

 Once downstairs, Vanderau, Katherine, and Sauvageon waited inside the entrance hall. The vehicle they were to ride in looked like it came from the Secret Service fleet. The windows were dark, and Katherine could only make out the driver. Two security men loaded the luggage in the very back of the SUV. Vincent observed the entire operation with a close eye. He was dressed in a dark high-tabbed collar uniform. He wore an odd device on the right side of his uniform jacket. Nicklaus leaned over, "It's the order of the Huntsmen."

 "And it looks like he's wearing a lethal-looking hunting knife too," Katherine observed. "Part of the role of Indago?"

 "Indeed," Sauvageon answered. "No one in or out of the Oculus is permitted to carry weapons, except the Indago. It has been out-of-fashion for some time to wear the Huntsmen uniform, but the image is everything, according to the Chamberlain."

 The security guards saluted Vincent and he returned a sharp incline of his head. He went to the passenger side of the vehicle and opened the doors. He then came up the steps and opened the door. He lowered his head in salute to Vanderau, "Your will, Dominus."

 Vanderau returned the salute. "We are ready."

 Vincent turned to Sauvageon, "Master Sauvageon, you will ride up front with my father."

 Sauvageon nodded and Vincent helped the old gladio down the steps and into the car. Vincent handed the seatbelt to the gladio and closed the door. Katherine recognized the courtesy and smiled. Vincent returned, "Dominus, you and Katherine will sit in the left seats, I will be facing you on the right. You both need to move quickly into the car."

 Vanderau nodded and glanced at Katherine, "Like a mad dash through the rain."

 Katherine smiled and on the silent count of three, Vanderau and she quickly descended the steps and hopped into the back of the SUV with Vincent one step behind them. He closed and secured the doors. He watched as Katherine snapped her seatbelt into place and Vanderau locked his seatbelt in place before knocking on the dividing window behind Martine's head.

 The SUV pulled out and was off. Dusk was falling as they reached the main road. Katherine felt suddenly conflicted, almost the same way she had arrived at the Sun Maiden manor two weeks ago! It felt like a lifetime ago, but only two weeks had passed, and she was embarking on the greatest adventure of her life. She looked over at Vincent and he met her eyes and smiled. "How is your French coming along?"

 "Just fine, immersion is the key to remembering – that and two excellent tutors," Katherine replied.

 Vincent's brows raised in surprise, "Your accent is flawless! I would never know you were an American."

 Katherine laughed lightly and the mood in the car lightened significantly. Vanderau let it wash over him. It was like being submerged in champagne only more intoxicating!

 They did not speak much on the drive. They did not stop, and Martine navigated the twists and turns of the roads expertly. They traveled at a high rate of speed, but the sturdiness of the SUV and the capable driver made it a comfortable ride.

 They got to Geneva and Martine raised the inner shields in the back windows and side door panels. Another shield rose behind Vincent's head. Katherine looked around anxiously and was thankful when the floor lights began to cast a light in the secure cabin. "For your protection and to protect the precise location of the Oculus," Vincent told her. "Once installed, you will know the location."

 The sound changed and Katherine could feel that they were heading down. Possibly a lower-level parking garage. The SUV slowed and came to a stop. The inner door panels and shields lowered, and Katherine looked out. All she could see was that they were in an underground parking garage. Martine unlocked the doors and Vincent was out and standing at the open car doors. Katherine unfastened her seatbelt, but Vanderau kept her from getting out of the car. "Wait here for a moment, mon coeur. Other guards coming."

 From the stairs carved out of the yellow stone that comprised the lower level of the building where they were parked, men dressed in similar uniforms to Vincent came, unpacked the luggage, and assembled around the SUV. Martine opened the back driver's side and Vanderau stepped out. He greeted Martine with a warm hug and the elder Thys returned the embrace. They spoke a language that Katherine could not determine the origin of. Vanderau went around the front of the SUV with Martine and Vanderau helped Sauvageon out of the passenger side. Martine greeted the old gladio formally, even though they had ridden together up front. Vincent directed the men with the luggage to go ahead of them and then he reached in to assist Katherine from the SUV.

 A heavy wooden panel door opened and a cherubic man in a scarlet tabbed collar and grey uniform stepped out. He came and greeted Vanderau with a courteous bow. "Good evening Dominus, I trust your trip was uneventful."

 "Indeed, it was, Chamberlain," Vanderau answered, he then turned to Katherine, "Katherine this is Jan Huyghs, Chamberlain of the Oculus." He looked to the Chamberlain, "May I present the Vanderau Potential, Katherine Elena Van Dermeer."

 "A pleasure to meet you, Lord Chamberlain," Katherine answered and extended her hand in greeting.

 Jan Huyghs took her hand briefly in both of his, "The pleasure is mine, Ms. Van Dermeer. Welcome to the Oculus."

 "Thank you." Katherine returned. "Please call me Katherine."

 The Chamberlain stepped to one side, "Katherine, let's see you settled. We'll take the elevator," he looked to Martine and Vincent, "You will proceed with us. Dominus and Sauvageon will be behind with the escort taking up the rear."

 Vincent and his father moved down the hallway with everyone falling into place behind them. When they reached the elevator the Chamberlain and Katherine stepped in with Sauvageon and Vanderau behind them. Martine and Vincent stepped into the elevator, and the two additional guards turned and took up guard at the elevator.

 They rode up two or three stories and the elevator doors opened. Martine and Vincent stepped out and the Chamberlain led them all a few steps away. He turned to Vanderau and Sauvageon. "Here is where we all part company until tomorrow one hour before sunrise – which I understand is 5:46 a.m." He looked to Katherine, "Your sequestration begins now, Katherine. You will be summoned anytime between 6:00 am and 8:00 am."

 "I understand," Katherine said. She looked over at Vanderau and met his worried look. The Chamberlain caught the intense look between them and directed a patient, but firm look at Vanderau.

 "Because circumstances have altered, we might chafe at what appears to be medieval to previous searches and testing, it is being enforced for particular reasons."

 Vanderau glowered at the Chamberlain. "Not by my doing, Lord Chamberlain!" he growled.

 Unfazed, the Chamberlain continued, "Protocol will be adhered to, and the severity of these procedures are precisely for your protection Dominus, and that of your Potential. Do you agree?"

 "Yes," Vanderau hissed irritably, "I agree. But I do not like it at all!" He looked at Katherine and his gaze softened. "It is only for a short time, mon coeur. I will see you in the morning."

 She nodded. She did not trust that her voice would not break with anxiety and emotion. Instead, she smiled bravely, stepped away, and turned to join Martine and Vincent. The Chamberlain bowed to Vanderau, "Good evening, Dominus."

 Vanderau gave a curt nod at the Chamberlain and watched Katherine disappear down the corridor of the eastern wing of the complex. Sauvageon clapped Vanderau on the shoulder, "Come on Nicklaus, you need your rest as much as Katherine does. Tomorrow is the big day!"

 Katherine followed Martine and Vincent down the corridor with the Chamberlain close behind. They reached a heavy wooden door to the left side of the corridor. The Chamberlain took a heavy skeleton key from his vest pocket and opened the door. He allowed Vincent to enter and make sure everything was secure. He flipped on the overhead lights and checked the luggage and the garment bags. He came out. "All is secure."

 The Chamberlain handed the iron key to Katherine. "When you enter, lock yourself inside. There is a hook to the left of the door where you can hang the key. Only you can unlock the door from your side anytime. Martine and Vincent will be on the watch. Since this is a time of reflection and meditation, I have delivered to your room several histories of the Sept to which you belong. Sauvageon suggested these histories would be of particular interest to you. I hope you have a good evening. We will see you in the morning."

 Katherine took the key and entered the room. "Good night, Lord Chamberlain, Master Martine, Vincent." She closed the door and locked it. As she hung the key on the hook, she turned to get the first look at her quarters.

 It looked like a hotel room, comfortable but non-descript. She had a bathroom, a bedroom, a small desk and chair with an overstuffed chair and footstool. There was a Persian carpet in the bedroom and a reading lamp. Beyond the essentials, there was no telephone or television. So, she unpacked her travel bag and found the toiletries Collette had packed for her. She took the ring box from her pocket, set it on the bedside table, and placed the family ring in its cushioned fold. She gathered up her nightclothes and slippers and went to shower.

 When she emerged, she opened the garment bags to look at what she would wear during the testing. It was a long black gown with the ornate Vanderau crest worked in silver threads. The jewel in the gryphon's eye was indeed an emerald cabochon. It glimmered balefully at her. The pearls and other stones used created the Vanderau crest as a family device that identified her as belonging to the family of Vanderau. The belt was made of black leather and was highly embellished with silver brads and toolwork on the sword scabbard. She put it on over her pajamas, buckled it, and rested the belt at her hips. She had to go into the bathroom to look at herself. She laughed at how ridiculous she looked with such an ornate and old-world device hanging around her hips in her pink pajamas! Katherine wondered if the empty scabbard was symbolic, or if she would carry a real blade at some point. She took the shoes out of the garment bag and looked them over, they were soft leather ballet slippers with black ribbons that laced around the ankles.

 She unzipped the garment bag holding her ballgown and found a heavily embellished shift with seed pearls and twinkling translucent glass beads sewn into the ornate Battenberg lace. It was exquisite and looked to be antique. She wondered whose gown it had been. She put everything back in the bags she would be wearing tomorrow and left them unzipped for easy access in the morning. She looked over the volumes the Chamberlain had brought to look through. One caught her attention, and she took it with her and crawled into bed. She opened the volume and began reading, she had not expected to fall asleep so fast, but she did and did not stir until she heard knocking at the door.