The streets of Olburg were congested this particular day, and Roni circled the bookstore block four times before she snagged a parking space. Walking toward In The Bind, her jumbled thoughts and conflicted heart duked it out within her. After everything the team had been through, it seemed wrong to hide information from them. But she had already started working on how to free her father — something Gram was against. Plus, she wanted her memories back — another thing Gram resisted. Perhaps, if she kept quiet for now, it would be best.
Turning the corner, she shelved the debate for a later time when she would have privacy. She entered the bookstore and noted the lack of customers. Gram, Elliot, and Sully sat at the big table.
“Don’t look so distraught,” Gram said. They had a bottle of gin and a bottle of brandy sitting in the center of the table. “This isn’t the first time we’ve had to close up the store for over a week so we could go save the universe. We always reopen and eventually the customers come back.”
Sully tilted back a glass of brandy. “Yes, yes. We’ve been at this for a long time. You can learn a thing or two from your elders about how to run this place.”
“I’m sure,” Roni said.
With a wave of his hand, Elliot said, “Come. Join us.”
Roni shook her head. The way the three of them sat so comfortably at the table reminded her that there newly formed team had only been temporary. “I have a lot of work to do in the Grand Library.”
Sully banged his glass on the table. “Says who?”
Gram raised her hands, palms out. “Don’t look at me. I’m not leader anymore — and I don’t want the job back.”
“Then I guess I’m still the leader.” Sully pushed back his chair and stood. “This is the New Gang and you, young lady, are part of it. We’re a team and it’s time that you acted like part of us. Now get over here and drink some alcohol.”
Trying to hide her enthusiasm, Roni sauntered over to the table. Sully gently rocked from side to side — a little drunk, apparently. He slid an empty glass toward Roni.
“We have gin, and we have brandy. Or you can make a disgusting mixture of both.”
Roni chuckled. “I guess I’ll opt for the gin.”
Elliot jingled the ice in his glass. “Smart choice. I find it quite delicious.”
“I didn’t think you drank.”
“There are always occasions which permit one to bend rules.”
Gram lifted her glass. “I’ll drink to that.” After tossing it back, she reached for the gin and filled half her glass with it. Then she poured in the brandy to top it off. “Never mind what these boys say. It’s delicious.”
Before Roni could pick up her glass, Gram sloshed brandy into her gin. The liquids swirled around each other resembling a weak tea. Sully lifted his glass and tapped it with a pencil until everybody raised their glasses as well.
“While we have much to celebrate including the formation of this latest chapter of the Parallel Society, now that the four of us are assembled together, we should take a moment to recognize those not with us. To Rocky and all of the golems past and future — fallen heroes, each and every one. May they forgive me for the tasks I ask of them and may they always be remembered as partners and teammates of our group.”
“Here, here,” Elliot said.
“And,” Gram said, “let us not forget to toast Sully for taking on the thankless and difficult job of herding us cats.”
“Here, here,” Sully said.
“Also,” Roni said, surprising herself as much as the New Gang, “let’s toast to a new level of honesty between us. Secrets kept from me throughout my life led to unfortunate outcomes. And to me being a bit stubborn.”
“A bit?” Gram said, and the boys laughed.
“Perhaps more than a bit. But we can’t be a solid team unless we build trust. That comes from sharing information, not hiding it.”
“To honesty,” Sully said, lifting his glass higher and dribbling a little gin onto his hand in the process.
“To honesty.” Elliot knocked back his drink, as did Gram.
Roni took a short swig from her glass. She thought of her father and Yal-hara. And secrets.
The drink burned down her throat.