CHAPTER 12
Helena bowed before the Great Spirit Leader, perched precariously on a small, round, stone ledge above a heart-stopping drop down the mountain to the ground below. It had been designed to put visitors on edge and let the Spirit Leader see how they reacted in uncomfortable situations. Helena had been here a number of times before, and not once had she managed to keep her energy stable. This she found extremely annoying, which meant she also had to try and hide her annoyance from the Spirit Leader, who could, of course, read her energy as though she were an open book. All in all, it was an especially stressful experience and she didn’t relish her visits to the mountain.
‘So nice to see you again Helena,’ came the Spirit Leader’s calm, even, almost bored tones. He sat in the centre of a mat, in the middle of a small pillared room, open on all sides to the elements, the wind gently toying with the fabric draped from the ceiling. He was a short-ish man, of medium build, with thick, wavy, sandy coloured hair and a voice that had a way of penetrating to the core of a person, so they couldn’t help but sit up and listen. He had wise features and an aura around him of gravitas and severity, the kind of person you would always want on your side.
‘The pleasure is all mine,’ replied Helena, in a voice slightly louder than she had meant it to be. ‘How can I be of assistance?’
The Spirit Leader chuckled. ‘Typical Body,’ he said. ‘No preamble, just straight to the point.’
‘My sincere apologies,’ jousted Helena, ‘how’s the family?’
He snickered again, pleased to be having an effect on her. Helena had never liked being so out of control. ‘Very well, have it your way. I summoned you here to see how you’re getting on with Anita.’ He hadn’t moved a muscle since she’d got there and he stayed very still as the words hit Helena’s ears like bullets, watching for any slight reaction she might show.
Helena froze. How the hell did he know about Anita? Who had let slip? Did they have a mole? She knew he would’ve already read her surprise, so there was no point in trying to hide it. ‘How do you know about Anita?’
‘There isn’t much I can’t find out if I put my mind to it Helena, you should know that by now.’ He sent a meaningful look her way as he stood up in one, swift, seamless movement and made his way to a small stone table at the edge of the room. ‘Please,’ he said, indicating to the chair next to his, ‘come and join me.’
Helena made her way to the seat, making a point of doing so at a dignified speed, a shock of cold hitting her from the freezing stone chair as she sat down. She always marvelled that the Spirit Leader could meditate out here all day in such unpleasant temperatures, dressed only in light robes. He somehow seemed to radiate warmth, so she’d often wondered if he cheated and snuck a hot water bottle under his clothes. She’d questioned him on it once and he’d spouted something about harnessing the power of the Mind, her least favourite discipline, so she’d left it there.
‘So, how are you getting on with Anita?’ he repeated patiently, more patiently than you would expect from a man so young.
‘I’d be getting on a lot better if I hadn’t had to take a significant amount of time out to come here and pay you a visit. I told her I’d be expecting an answer several days ago, however, I haven’t exactly been in a position to follow it up, given that I’ve been travelling here.’
‘Then I wasn’t too late with my invitation. Good.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ she barked.
He fixed her with his eyes in a way that made Helena feel like an impatient school girl, before replying in a slow, even voice. ‘Anita needs time. I know your natural reaction is to bully her into it, but she won’t respond well to that; she’s a lot like you, you see.’
‘So that’s why you summoned me here? To bully me into doing things your way?’
‘Touché. Hopefully by the time you get back she’ll have had enough time. Until next time, Helena.’
‘I’ll look forward to it, I’m sure,’ she replied through gritted teeth, making no attempt at all to hide her angry energy.
The Spirit Leader smiled a tolerant smile as he got up and made his way back to his mat. He sat down and started to meditate, ignoring that Helena was still in his presence. As she made her way out, making sure she walked close enough to him to disturb his energy field, she marveled, as she always did, that he was so young. That he was no older than her and yet held such a position of authority was baffling. She herself had reached what most would consider dizzying heights at an early age, but he had reached the pinnacle, and she’d always been more than a little jealous. One day I’ll find out how you did it, she said, under her breath, as she made her way down the stone steps to the main chambers below.