Chapter 110

Three weeks later, Aldara stood beside Marc in front of her new in-laws, and the elderly soothsayer Lady Helene - the three gargoyles who made up the Council who ran the clan. She and Marc had returned from their two-week honeymoon at his island retreat, and she was settling in to her new job as a music teacher at the clan's small private school. She'd also made friends with Mari, Katie and Dana, who stood beside her, along with their husbands in the great hall of the matriarch's chateau. Apart from them was a young gargoyle woman Aldara had met in passing. Charlotte Dumont was Lady Helene's apprentice.
"I'm sure you're all wondering why you're here," Lady Genevieve began. The diamonds of the crown she wore twinkled in the light of the chandelier.
Aldara smiled up at Marc's mother, knowing she'd get to the point eventually. The matriarch did love to stand on ceremony.
"You know, love, this might be better handled in the conference room," Lord Etienne interrupted. "Don't you think?"
"Right." Lady Helene nodded to Remy. "Come get me out of this chair, please. Let's go talk somewhere comfortable."
"I seem to be overruled." Genevieve Armel rolled her eyes and smiled wryly. "How about we go into one of the sitting rooms instead? Then we can all get comfortable."
The whole group followed as she and Etienne led the way into a formally decorated parlor. They all arranged themselves on the couches and chairs except for Marc and Remy, who stood behind the loveseat Aldara and Mari shared.
"Now. There are some things about our history that not everyone in the clan knows," Genevieve began. "But those of you in this room need to be aware of them."
"Go on, Maman." Marc squeezed one of Aldara's shoulders. It was evening, so all of them were in their human forms.
"Damien and Katie, Beau and Dana, Remy and Mari, Marc and Aldara - you have each played a role in the continued survival of our race. Our four newest female gargoyles all bring unique skills and connections to the tribe. The fact that each of you is a gemstone gargoyle is a wonderfully hopeful sign. Lady Helene assures us that adding magical and shapeshifter blood to our gene pool will only make us stronger and that the four of you are just the beginning. Now that the dark days of our people have passed, a new era of rebuilding and prosperity will begin. And each of you has a part to play in the days to come.
"You all know the four regalia artifacts as belonging to the matriarch or patriarch of our clan - you've all seen the painting of my father with all four. But once upon a time, they were each held separately, and the Council believes this is the way it should be again. Dana already wears the ring and Katie the belt. I also believe the cup is meant to be in the hands of Remy and Mari, leaving only the crown to the current ruler." She gestured up at the crown she now wore on official occasions.
"Additionally, in times past, the council was much larger than it is now. It consisted of the holders of each artifact, plus the clan's seer and their spouses, for a total of ten members."
"Finally, I wanted each of you in this room to know that Etienne and I have decided to retire. This is another tradition from before when it was normal for us to live for several centuries. It kept our leaders from being assassinated by their offspring in bad times and made for a more dynamic culture in good. My son Marc is more than ready to be in charge and his wife Aldara is perfectly suited to stand by his side as his primary advisor."
Hushed silence greeted this pronouncement. Marc's fingers tightened almost painfully on Aldara's shoulders, but she just reached up and covered his hands with hers. He would make a wonderful patriarch, and she'd do everything she could to help and support him.
Slowly a sound filled the room as Beau then Remy then Damien began to applaud, quickly joined by their wives and the two seers. Aldara felt tears stinging her eyes at the unconditional support she saw Marc's friends showing him.
"Don't applaud yet," Lord Etienne warned, beaming proudly at his son. "That means more work for all of you. You'll be the Council - every one of you. Lady Helene has agreed to stay to facilitate the transition, but says she's retiring as well."
"I've been doing this job for far too long," the elderly gargoyle agreed with an exaggerated wink. She was dressed as a goth princess tonight in black and pink and sparkles with thick black eyeliner. Aldara had already grown fond of the quirky old lady. "It's my niece Charlotte's turn."
"But that still makes only eight on the council, in addition to myself," Marc pointed out. "Who do you recommend for the other one? Father?"
"No, son, though of course you can come to us whenever you need to, and the transition won't be overnight." Genevieve smiled and arched an eyebrow at Helene. "Charlotte has a fiancé. When Helene steps down, he'll take his place beside his wife."
"It's all in hand," the seer agreed. "Now somebody said something about there being ice cream down in the kitchen. I think we're done here." With a quick flurry of her layered black and pink skirts, she got up and scurried to the door.
She turned to Marc and Aldara on her way out and winked. "You'll be fine. Don't sweat the small stuff." Then she pulled a pendant off her neck, a beautiful clear crystal orb held in a silver dragon's claw mounting. Almost carelessly, she tossed it to Charlotte. "There are actually five artifacts, but we don't advertise this one. It's yours now. Have fun, kiddo." Then she ran out of the room with all the energy of a five-year-old, leaving the others shaking their heads in her wake.
A little later, Marc and Aldara walked home through the crisp, cool November night. "You realize, my little diamond harpy, that this means we'll have to move into the chateau." Marc squeezed her closer to his side. "I hope you can stand French provincial furniture."
"It doesn't matter to me. I can live anywhere as long as I'm with you. I think after all these years, your parents have earned some time to play, don't you?"
"Yeah." He was silent for a moment then shook his head. "I'm just not sure I'm ready to be anybody's leader."
Aldara laughed. "You're kidding me? You've got more brains, guts and compassion than anyone I've ever met. You're going to be fine."
"As long as I have you, I guess I can handle anything."
He paused beneath a streetlamp and turned her in his arms. Even through their clothes and coats, she swore she could feel the warmth of his hands on her shoulders.
"I love you. Thank you for washing up on just the right beach at just the right time."
"That was the smartest thing I ever did, even if I was unconscious at the time." She leaned up into his kiss, knowing that wherever he was, she was home for good.

The End