When Pierre approached Danny Mac and Kenann to see if they needed anything, they indicated the articles Angelo had delivered would suffice for the present, but the boy required clothing and other articles. He must be treated well until the appointed hour and hoped this would explain their interest in Blade. Pierre assured them these needs would be attended to. Danny Mac and Kenann had discussed this next course of action at length and had decided a direct approach was best.
Kenann spoke, “Pierre, we will need to review the scrolls.”
Pierre’s raised eyebrow was his only indication of surprise.
She continued, “Daniel and I will sit down with you at your earliest convenience to discuss the Night of the Lion. We need to finalize the ceremony, don’t you think?”
“Yes, of course. I’ll gather them and call for you. Will that be acceptable?”
“Yes and thank you for your kind attention.” Pierre glowed under her compliment and bowed his way out the door. They dressed casually in the clothes Katerina had provided for them and waited. They did not have to wait long. Pierre came for them and led them to a library in the back of the villa. It was all dark wood and leather and on a long conference table lay scrolls encased under glass.
“How old are these, Pierre?” She saw him look at her quizzically and added, “Just because I am reincarnated does not make me omniscient, Pierre. That is why I have been revealed only to you. You are to guide me with any information I do not have.”
“Of course, Your Highness. These are 1000 years old. This will be the third Night of the Lion they have seen.”
She didn’t dare hope they were written in colloquial English. What was she going to do now that she couldn’t read any of it? She approached the table slowly. Danny Mac stepped forward and looking down said, “Your Highness, allow me to assist you.”
She looked at him and nodded. He went around the table looking carefully at each panel. She realized she was holding her breath and released it slowly. Pierre watched him expectantly.
Danny Mac looked at Kenann and said, “I would like time to examine the scrolls if you will permit me?”
“Of course, Daniel. Pierre and I will be on the veranda enjoying the sunshine. Would you care for some refreshment?”
Pierre was slightly annoyed by the way they seemed to have taken over but accepted this as a natural progression of the prophesy. He led Kenann from the room. She stole a glance over her shoulder and Danny Mac winked at her. She smiled back and left the room.
Kenann decided to make use of her time with Pierre to quiz him about the ceremony. He was eager to impress her with his knowledge. She waived away his obsequious attempts to ingratiate himself and asked him to give her facts and details. She bade him leave nothing out. He complied.
When he had finished, she sat in stunned silence. She quickly regained her composure and complimented him and his predecessors on the accuracy they had been able to maintain to the original ceremony. Pierre beamed. He could not believe his true good fortune to be here at this moment with this woman, fulfilling a destiny determined centuries ago. Kenann felt herself losing steam. There was too much to assimilate. She indicated she would go to Daniel in the library. Pierre made to accompany her, but she raised her hand in refusal. He was stopped dead by the motion. She thought she could get used to this goddess thing.
Danny Mac was pouring over the documents when she entered the room. He looked up and shook his head slightly when she started to speak. She understood he was cautioning her against listening devices in this room. They were not necessarily for them. Pierre probably listened in on private conversations of unaware business associates in this cozy atmosphere. Kenann went to stand beside Danny Mac. She looked down at the play of lines across the papyrus and hoped Danny was not bluffing about being able to decipher them.
He spoke, “I’ll be finished here soon.”
Kenann nodded and watched in fascination as Danny Mac perused the document closely. He moved back and forth between the panels comparing something known only to him. Finally, he straightened and reached for her hand.
“Let’s go, Your Highness.” She thought she detected a slight note of laughter in his voice. She gave him her hand and he placed it on his arm. They left the library and proceeded to their suite of rooms.