Alora: The Wander-Jewel (Alora 1)

“But that’s impossible,” said Kaevin.

Beth rolled her eyes. “This from the guy who was explaining how a bearer can move people from one place to another by thinking about it.”

“You guys are so frustrating,” Alora declared. “The big problem here is how to make my uncle believe me.”

“You should just relax for now. He’ll listen to you eventually—it just may not be tonight,” said Beth.

Alora huffed out of the den and plopped down into a chair in front of the huge stone fireplace, refusing to join the others watching television. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

“Hello, Alora. Where have you brought me?” Alora’s eyes flew open to find a willowy woman with brown wavy hair sprinkled with gray. The corners of her deep green eyes were crinkled with amusement. “You seem to be practicing your gift with increasing frequency, although I suspect it is somewhat inadvertent. Please be very careful not to send me off to some unknown destination until I’ve had time to give you some lessons,” said Raelene.

“But how can I be sure I won’t do just that? I have no idea how I got you here in the first place.”

“For the moment, it’s important to avoid strong emotions. Most beginners transport accidentally at the beginning of an emotional spike or as they begin to relax.”

“Avoid strong emotions?” Alora gave a sarcastic laugh. “Ha! That’s impossible.”

“Perhaps we could first make some tea? That might be relaxing.”

“That sounds great, Rae—Uhmm... what do I call you?”

A smile lit her face. “I’d love for you to call me Grandmother.”

“The kitchen’s in here, Grandmother,” said Alora, leading the way. Her heart grew warm and fuzzy when she said the word Grandmother. It felt so nice rolling from her tongue. “You’re in my house in Montana. Kaevin’s in the den, watching television with Beth and Wesley.”

Raelene slid into a chair at the table, her gaze following Alora with undisguised curiosity, as she filled the kettle with water and placed it on the gas stove to heat. She pulled out two mugs, and opened a cabinet to examine the tea options.

“Would you like black tea? Or something herbal, like chamomile?”

“I’ll let you choose for me—whatever you’re having.”

“Ahem,” said Charles, clearing his throat as he approached the table. “I didn’t know we had new visitors. I’m Charles,” he said, extending his hand toward Raelene.

She held out her own in similar fashion and allowed him to shake it. “I’m Raelene. I’m Alora’s grandmother. I’ve only just arrived.”

“That’s wonderful. Finally, someone who really understands what’s going on. I can actually get to the bottom of all this mess. I’m glad you were able to drive here safely with that terrible snowstorm.” He pulled out a chair and sat across from her. “And I hope, when you return home, you’ll take Kaevin with you. I really don’t approve of all that’s transpired between these two youngsters. They have no idea what they’re doing. They’re going to ruin their lives.”

Alora’s trembling hands fumbled with a spoon, which went clattering to the floor. She bent to pick it up and risked a sidelong glance at her grandmother whose face was the picture of serenity. “Yes, Charles. It seems we have much to talk about.”

Chapter Six

“Of course we’re soulmates,” Kaevin insisted. “That’s why Alora called to me at the offset. And after our hands touched, we completed the bond. Separation sickness began one day later.”

It was Friday morning, and as Wesley had hoped, school had been canceled. The group sat around the table eating a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs and pancakes, while discussing the events of the previous week. Alora thought Kaevin looked especially nice, sporting some of the new borrowed clothes—blue jeans and a shirt that stretched tightly across his broad shoulder muscles. His unbound hair was freshly washed, the waves still damp around his face.

Alora continued the argument. “Remember, Uncle Charles? That’s when my headache started, Monday night. And then it just got worse and worse.”

“I’m certain we both would have died if she hadn’t transported me to her,” Kaevin declared.

“And Grandmother can explain why we had to keep touching for so long after that, because we’d gone three whole days without contact.” She looked to Raelene for confirmation.

“Alora, dear,” Raelene said, “I’m afraid I still cannot support your theory. We believe Kaevin was sick with the plague. The timing of his recovery merely happened to coincide with your reunion.”

“I don’t know,” said Beth. “If you’d seen them screaming with pain and passing out until they got their hands together, you might be inclined to go with that soulmate theory.”

“I agree,” Wesley said. “I can’t explain it, but I sure believe it.”

“They are too young to be soulmates,” Raelene stated in a no-nonsense tone.