The Law of Hospitality...Part 2

“Rusty, we invoked the Law of Hospitality when we came to this place--asking the Spirit here to open its home to us--that same Spirit requires us to observe that same law now that there is another person coming. That Spirit makes no distinction between Drake and any other visitor. Therefore, we must observe the Law.”

“I see. So how soon will he be here?”

“He could be here any moment. This meat looks done enough for now. Come with me.”

Cerrydwen stood up, planted the butt-end of her stick into the soft earth and strode over to the table.

I followed her example with my stick and followed her.

As she turned to face me, I was again confronted directly with her near naked form. I tried to keep my eyes from wandering, focusing instead on her face.

She stood silent for a moment, closed her eyes and shuddered momentarily. When her eyes opened, they were glowing with a soft white light. Her voice, when she spoke, was more dynamic, taking on a kind of distant quality like she was using a hidden microphone.

“Have you come to this sacred island of your own free will?”

Confused for a moment, I didn’t answer immediately. “Uh...yes.”

“Why have you come?”

“I want to release...uh..the trapped spirits in these two urns.”

“You are an honored guest in this place, it is my duty to see that you are safe from harm. The Spirits within those vessels are held by magick and curses of ancient origin. As the Guardian of this place, I ask that you entrust these vessels and the Spirits contained within to my safekeeping. These beings will be released, but in a way that will insure the safety of you and my other guests. Is this acceptable to you?”

“Uh...yes, I suppose so.”

“Very well, I accept these urns and the charges they contain, in exchange for the hospitality that has been extended to you and your companions. Before you depart from this place, I will present you with gifts of my own as well.”

“OK...thanks, I guess.”

The white light faded from her eyes, Cerrydwen shuddered again and almost fell to her knees, but I caught her before she fell. She recovered quickly and was standing on her own again very quickly. When she noted my look of concern, she shrugged and flashed a quick, small smile. “It’s OK. I’m used to such visits.” She nodded back towards the beach we had landed on. “The Frau is coming back. That means Drake will have just arrived.”

I spun around to see the lumbering form of the greying black bear as it loped across the clearing towards us. As the bear approached to within ten feet of us, it stopped, sniffed at the fire and the bits of cooked hare and then shuffled off to the far side of the stone table before settling down for a nap.

“Rusty, you have now turned over responsibility for these urns to the Spirit of this place. The Spirit has asked me to welcome Drake and to deal with him. I need you to stay out of the conversation and to not interfere in any way with whatever happens. Is that clear?”

Her eyes were as intense as I had ever seen them, her expression one of grim determination. What else was there to say? “OK, I’ll try. But if things get nasty, I don’t know if I will be able to hold back.”

She stepped closer and whispered to me. “You must NOT interfere. No matter what happens. Trust in our hostess. Trust me. Now go stand on the other side of the table from the Frau. I see him coming through the woods now.”

I nodded, a tingle of suspense growing inside. Without looking back, I walked to the opposite side of the table from where the bear had settled. Once in place, I turned to see the dark form of Drake striding up to the now vulnerable looking form of Cerrydwen. For the first time, I noticed that the wind had kicked up, lending to the looming, ominous atmosphere...