I noticed Tess coloring brightly, and I studiously turned to watch the setting sun.
“You didn’t tell me we’d have company when I called,” Ashley said. Her voice was husky and sensual.
“They just arrived a few minutes ago. Ashley, this is my niece, Therese and her friend Rafe. Tess, this is Ashley…my wife.”
Tess tried to choke something out, but nothing came. I moved beside her and spoke up to give her time to adjust to the change in circumstances. “We’re pleased to meet you, Ashley. I must say I’m a little surprised. In my day we didn’t see these things.”
Ashley frowned. “Your day? What are you talking about? Same-sex marriage has been legal for years.”
“Oh, no,” I said with a shake of my head. “You misunderstand. I was talking about fraternization.”
“That doesn’t apply when the individuals are in different units, and you can see we’re not even in the same branch of service,” Emily said.
“Of course, I was just wondering. There have been a lot of changes since I served and I don’t really keep up with the trends,” I said apologetically.
“When you served? You’re what twenty-two, three? You couldn’t have left service more than a couple of years ago,” Ashley said.
Tess finally found her voice. “You’re married!”
Ashley smiled and took Emily’s left hand in hers and kissed its palm while holding the ring finger up to clearly show the wedding band.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, Tess. I wasn’t sure how you’d take it and with your injuries, well, maybe it’s just an excuse, but I didn’t want you to have any more shocks while you were recovering.”
Tess stepped close and threw her arms around both women. The three hugged for a good minute, while I returned my attention to the sun that had reached the line of mountains to the west. I could hear little sobs from all three women, and I wanted to slink out the door and let them have their moment.
Instead, I moved closer to the windows and killed the power to my enhanced senses tat. There, that was better.
After another couple of minutes, during which the mountains gradually eclipsed the sun, Tess called me back.
The women had taken seats. The married couple on the large couch, their sides touching, and their hands interlocked between them. Tess sat on a matching love seat adjacent to them, and I took a wing chair across the coffee table from the three women.
“So, Rafe,” Ashley began. “Tess tells me you healed all of her injuries. I must say I haven’t seen a healing spell that could restore limbs.”
I looked at her quizzically and then noticed the Chaplin insignia on her uniform. The Star of David above the ten commandments tablet informed me where the cabalistic warding had come from.
“Ah, well, you learn something new every day,” I said without emphasis.
“I don’t want you to think I don’t appreciate all that you’ve done for my niece, but why did you take her out of the hospital? It’s going to be tough to get the Army to drop the AWOL charges,” Emily stated.
“Well,” I began, wishing then that I had left my senses tat active so that I knew what Tess had said. “Perhaps Tess should fill you in on my reasons.”
Both women looked from me to Tess.
Tess gave a short laugh and glanced at me. Her look was beseeching.
I shrugged toward her. “They’re your family, and you wanted to see your aunt. It’s up to you to explain. I haven’t forgotten how much fun you thought it was when I was explaining to Laura.”
“That was different,” Tess protested.
“Not so much,” I said with a shake of my head to emphasize my certainty.
Tess sighed. “All right. If I have to.”
“You don’t have to tell them anything. We can leave now if you want,” I said.
Emily gave me a hard stare, and I was reminded of that unconscious reach for a weapon.
“You aren’t taking my Niece anywhere unless she convinces me it’s for her own good,” Emily snarled in the voice of a Command Sergeant Major.
I kept my face neutral as Tess intervened. “Aunt Emily, Rafe is one of the good guys. Don’t make threats that you can’t carry out.”
“I can carry out any threat I make,” Emily responded.
“Oh, for goodness sake. Look, Aunty, Rafe has taken me on as his apprentice. I work for him now. I’m sorry about leaving the Army without giving notice, but there was no helping it.”
“Look Corporal Sylvan. You are not leaving this house without a full explanation, or I will be forced to restrain you and call the MPs,” Emily growled.
This time, I did smile.
Ashley moved one hand from their position in Emily’s to the other woman’s bicep. “Sweetheart, you have to give her a chance to explain. Don’t be so cross with her. I know you’ve been worried sick ever since she disappeared, but at least hear her out before being all army about it.”
Emily pursed her lips, but after a moment, she nodded. “All right, Tess, I’ll hear you out before I make any judgment. Go on, what’s this apprenticeship you’ve agreed to?”
Tess spoke rapidly as if thinking that speed would lessen the impact of her words, “Well, it’s a long story, but the gist of it is that a Norse god sent a Valkyrie to reap me when I was killed in the IED blast. I was selected to become a Wanderer like Rafe, and that’s why he came to get me at the hospital.”
Emily’s brow narrowed. I could hear her teeth grating together even without my senses tat. Ashley turned to look at me for a second, her eyes wide. She turned back to Tess. “That’s not possible, Tess. There’s no such thing as Wanderers. It’s just a myth witches tell their children to keep them in line.”
Emily turned toward her wife. “Witches?”
Ashley gave her a smile. “There are witches dear.”
“That’s as hard to believe as Valkyries and gods. What are you talking
