Monday, December 21<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure you\u2019re okay with this?\u201d Molly asked her sister-in-law again, a worried look on her face. \u201cI mean, it\u2019s a big imposition.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHuge,\u201d Corrine agreed wryly, rolling her eyes at her. \u201cI mean, you spent all yesterday cooking, so all we have to do is warm everything up on Friday, so you don\u2019t have to worry about hosting. The house needs to be cleaned, and Nathan is taking the girls for the week so I can do that. I get to be by myself for three days, until they join me, in a house that is stocked with amazing food and a great wine cellar. However will I survive?\u201d She gave Molly a hug. \u201cTrust me, I\u2019ll be fine. The girls will be fine. You need to get going, or Pavel will think you aren\u2019t coming.\u201d<\/p>\n
It will be okay, Molly,<\/em> Jack added. I\u2019m staying here, and really, what could happen that you being here could stop?<\/em> The big hound licked her hand. I\u2019ll make sure everything is safe!<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI know, I know,\u201d Molly said, surrendering. \u201cI just hate to impose.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can finish wrapping all my gifts without interference,\u201d Corrine said. \u201cThat\u2019s worth having to vacuum your house alone.\u201d<\/p>\n Come on, Molly! We don\u2019t want them to leave without us!<\/em> Schrodinger was already in the Jeep, leaning out of the window, his tail whipping against the seat.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m coming, I\u2019m coming!\u201d Molly said, giving Corrine one last hug, and ruffling the fur on Jack\u2019s head. Then she ran down the steps and hopped into the Jeep before she could think of anything else she might have forgotten.<\/p>\n \u201cReady for an adventure, Cat?\u201d she said, making sure Schrodinger was fully in the car before she rolled up the window. It was bitterly cold out, and Molly cranked the heat, trying not to shiver.<\/p>\n I wonder how cold it will be at Pavel\u2019s grandmother\u2019s house?<\/em> Schrodinger said, wrapping his tail around his paws. He was wearing his heaviest coat, as well as the hat Mrs. Barrett had made for him, and was shivering a little too. That\u2019s how Molly knew it was really cold.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d she said, flexing her fingers inside her mittens. She had small gloves on under the mittens, so her fingers would be protected if she needed to take the mittens off for any reason. \u201cI guess it depends on where she lives. Did Pavel say anything to you about it?\u201d<\/p>\n No, and I forgot to ask,<\/em> Schrodinger admitted sheepishly. I was too excited about going.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMe too,\u201d Molly agreed, laughing a little. \u201cWell, we\u2019ll find out soon enough!\u201d \u201cWe were asked to bring some supplies through for the town my mother lives in,\u201d Ella said. Her voice issued from the depths of the knitted hood she was wearing, and Molly could barely see the glint of her blue eyes. \u201cWhen they heard we were coming, they asked if we could bring some things.\u201d<\/p>\n What are we bringing?<\/em> Schrodinger asked.<\/p>\n \u201cCloth, and some foods, mostly meat and fruits, that they cannot normally get,\u201d Ella said. \u201cIt\u2019s a rather small town, my mother says, even with the Gate there, so she asked if we could bring some things to make Christmas even brighter for them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWill we have enough room for everything?\u201d Molly said, looking at the pile.<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes,\u201d Pavel assured her, stopping for a moment to look over at them. \u201cIt\u2019s not as much as it appears, and we\u2019ve got plenty of room.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s because you got this sleigh set up to smuggle things, Pavel.\u201d Drew chuckled. \u201cHow much did that spell on the cargo box cost you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s made me far more money than I spent, so what does it matter?\u201d Pavel countered, winking at Molly and Schrodinger. \u201cBesides, it means I don\u2019t have to leave your clothes behind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that\u2019s good, because I don\u2019t intend to leave without my clothing,\u201d Molly said, laughing at the pirate. \u201cIt\u2019s too cold here to be walking around naked, and since we\u2019re taking the sleigh, I\u2019m assuming it will be too cold there too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery true,\u201d Pavel said. \u201cThe town we are heading to is right on the ocean, and is quite cold in the Yule season. I hope you packed warmly.\u201d<\/p>\n We did<\/em>, Schrodinger assured him. And Molly even brought extra blankets!<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cJust in case,\u201d Molly said, shrugging. \u201cI don\u2019t like being cold.\u201d<\/p>\n The wind whistled around them, cutting through Molly\u2019s heavy layers and making her shiver. Drew saw that and said, \u201cMolly, why don\u2019t you, Ella and Schrodinger go into the Station? We\u2019re almost done here, and you can warm up while we finish. Just leave your bags here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSounds good to me.\u201d Molly hastily added their personal luggage to the pile, snagging the box of scones she had made for Mal as she did so, and led Ella into the mansion that housed Carter\u2019s Cove Land Gate. As they hit the warm air, she pulled her hat off and fluffed out her hair, trying to get her ears to warm up. \u201cElla, if it\u2019s an ocean town, why aren\u2019t we taking the ship?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause my son knows how much I loathe sea travel,\u201d Ella said, pulling her hood down. Her silver streaked hair was braided back again in her customary coronet, which Molly saw covered her ears. \u201cI get sea-sick.\u201d<\/p>\n Molly looked at her. \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally.\u201d Ella nodded. \u201cIt\u2019s a shame, and I know it. I\u2019m the first in a long line of sailors to hate the sea.\u201d She laughed a little. \u201cIt\u2019s probably why Pavel\u2019s father didn\u2019t take me with him when he left. Can you imagine, sea sickness AND morning sickness?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat would be awful,\u201d Molly agreed, shivering as much from the image as the residual chill in her bones. \u201cCome on, we\u2019re going this way.\u201d<\/p>\n They stopped in Mal\u2019s crowded office, and he gave Molly a mock-scowl. \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d he growled, but Molly and Schrodinger both saw the twinkle in his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cTo thank you personally for letting Drew come with us,\u201d Molly said, picking her way through the mess to his desk. \u201cTwo dozen turkey cranberry scones, AND a tin of my chocolate orange fudge. For you and you alone.\u201d<\/p>\n Mal\u2019s eyes lit up, and the scowl dropped away. \u201cFudge too?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFudge too,\u201d she assured him, handing him the box. \u201cAnd you don\u2019t have to share.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe next time I\u2019ll raise my prices,\u201d he said, switching the ever-present cigarette in his mouth to the other side so she could plant a kiss on his cheek.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe next time I won\u2019t pay,\u201d she countered, and he laughed. \u201cMerry Christmas, Mal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMerry Christmas, Molly. Now go, so I can get some work done.\u201d<\/p>\n The Gate room was warm and green-smelling, as always, and Molly saw Steve manning the terminal. He raised his hand in greeting, but then turned as the bay doors opened at the end of the room. Pavel and Drew came through, Pavel guiding his horses expertly along the path.<\/p>\n \u201cReady to go?\u201d he shouted, as he pulled up beside them. \u201cSnuggle in!\u201d<\/p>\n Schrodinger hopped up, not into the sleigh itself, but up on to the driver\u2019s seat with Pavel. Please, can I ride here?<\/em> He asked, looking up at the pirate. I want to see everything!<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOf course you can!\u201d Pavel said, grinning. He turned to make sure his mother and Molly were safely in the back of the sleigh, wrapped up with Drew in the veritable pile of furs and blankets, then moved the sleigh up to the Gate terminal. He handed Steve a piece of paper with the coordinates on it, and Molly settled back into Drew\u2019s arms to wait.<\/p>\n She loved watching the Gate open up. Normally, it was a deceptively-simple looking stone arch, with symbols carved into it. It wasn\u2019t actually all stone – there were portions that were actual metallic and housed the mixture of technology and magic that allowed the Gate technicians and engineers to manipulate the Roads.<\/p>\n \u201cSo how did the Gates work before we had the technology to program them?\u201d she asked Drew quietly, as the Gate began to glow in front of them.<\/p>\n \u201cIt took a lot more magic,\u201d he said. \u201cThe people who used them basically forced the Roads to go through the Gates with magical force. Now, we understand the equations that make it easier for us to move them. Not all the equations, but enough of them to let the computers do most of the work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI trust you,\u201d Molly told him. \u201cI\u2019m glad it works. But I don\u2019t think I want to try and figure out any more.\u201d<\/p>\n He laughed.<\/p>\n The Road from Carter\u2019s Cove to Hfrafell, the town where Captain Brynna Stromsdottir was now living, was a calm one, and the trip took less than an hour. The Gate at the other end of the Road was housed in a large barn, and in addition to green grass, the scent of animals hit Molly\u2019s nose. On either side of the Road track were large sheep that grazed on the grass generated by the Gate\u2019s heat. The animals seemed not to be bothered by the sleigh – indeed, they barely looked up from their grazing.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, how cute,\u201d Molly said, catching sight of one of their faces. It was black, and with its shaggy grey wool all over, it looked almost like a stuffed animal. \u201cThey look so warm!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re bred for this climate,\u201d Ella told her. \u201cThey probably only allow them in the Gate room for a bit every day, so they don\u2019t overheat.\u201d She pointed to the open doors at the end. \u201cLook, they don\u2019t have them blocked off. I\u2019ll bet the temperature is just warm enough in here to keep the grass alive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s true,\u201d said one of the large men that came over to the sleigh. Unlike the Gate technicians at Carter\u2019s Cove, he was in what looked like woolen leggings, tucked into high leather boots, and a heavy tunic of more wool. He reminded Molly of the Vikings in some of the books Schrodinger had been enjoying lately. \u201cThere are doors, though. We keep them in here when the weather gets bad, or once we start shearing, if it\u2019s still too cold.\u201d He smiled, white teeth gleaming in his dark beard. \u201cWelcome to Hfrafell. Where are you from, and where are you heading?\u201d<\/p>\n Pavel leaned over and handed him a piece of paper. \u201cWe\u2019re from Carter\u2019s Cove, and we\u2019re heading to the General Store with some supplies we were asked to bring, and then to Captain Brynna Stromsdottir\u2019s,\u201d he said, and the tech\u2019s face lit up.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, you must be Pavel, her grandson! She said you\u2019d be coming through!\u201d He reached up and offered Pavel his hand. \u201cI\u2019m Argus, one of the main Gate engineers here, and I\u2019m pleased to meet you, Pavel!\u201d Argus then turned to Ella and doffed his head. \u201cMa\u2019am, Miss.\u201d<\/p>\n Drew untangled his hand from the blankets and held it out. \u201cDrew McIntyre, Gate engineer at Carter\u2019s Cove,\u201d he said, and Argus shook his hand heartily.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re all very welcome!\u201d the engineer said, grinning. \u201cGeneral Store\u2019ll be happy to see you – that\u2019s a straight shot out of the doors here. Just follow the road, until you see MacKay\u2019s. Old Man MacKay is expecting you. He\u2019ll give you directions to Brynna\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you!\u201d Pavel said, and Schrodinger stuck his head around to echo, Yes, thank you!<\/em><\/p>\n Argus looked as if someone had hit him with a two-by-four to the forehead, then his grin returned. \u201cWhat\u2026a CrossCat? Here? It IS a big day!\u201d He shook his head. \u201cWe\u2019ve not had a CrossCat here in years!\u201d<\/p>\n Then I\u2019ll have to make it memorable,<\/em> Schrodinger said.<\/p>\n \u201cNot necessary,\u201d Molly told him, knowing that \u201cmemorable\u201d could mean a lot of different things, depending on the CrossCat\u2019s frame of mind that moment. \u201cLet\u2019s just go.\u201d<\/p>\n Pavel shook his reins, and the horses jumped forward, causing the sheep to move away from the track. They burst out into icy sunshine, and clattered down the road towards MacKay\u2019s General Store.<\/p>\n Everyone looked around in interest. Pavel had said the town was built on the side of the ocean, but Molly hadn\u2019t realized that this meant it was a cliff-side town. Hfrafell clung to the side of a large mountain, layers of terraces that were arranged with houses and gardens, all shrouded in snow. There were no lights on the houses, but there were candles set in bundles of evergreens in the windows, and wreaths on the doors. MacKay\u2019s General Store, a large building with a generous porch that held several large rocking chairs, was three terraces down from the Gate station, and there were several people waiting for them when Pavel\u2019s sleigh pulled up.<\/p>\n \u201cHo, are you Brynna\u2019s boy?\u201d One of them shouted to Pavel, stepping out into the street near the sleigh. \u201cWe\u2019ve been waiting for you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am,\u201d Pavel affirmed, bringing the horses to a stop. If he was bothered at all by the fact that everyone seemed to know him as his grandmother\u2019s grandson, he didn\u2019t show it, at least to Molly\u2019s eyes. He tossed the reins to the man on the street and hopped down, Schrodinger after him. \u201cAnd we come with supplies!\u201d<\/p>\n A cheer went up from the men, and they joined in, helping him and Drew carry the boxes and sacks inside, while Molly and Ella waited in the sleigh. It didn\u2019t take very long, but Schrodinger, in his excitement, managed to get in the way more than he helped. Finally, all the supplies were unloaded, Schrodinger had been coaxed into the sleigh by Molly, and Pavel had gotten directions from Old Man MacKay about how to get to Brynna\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty easy,\u201d the old man, his long beard braided into two neat braids and tied with red ribbons (the sight reminded Molly of Zoey\u2019s braids, oddly enough). \u201cJust take the next road to the right, and then follow it almost to the edge of town, on the final upper terrace. Brynna\u2019s house is blue, and it\u2019s got a large widow\u2019s walk at the top. She likes to keep an eye on her ship when she\u2019s in port, and that house looks right down on the piers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen she\u2019s in port?\u201d Pavel blinked, surprised. \u201cShe still sails?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs if you could keep her off the sea,\u201d Old Man MacKay snorted. \u201cAlthough sometimes I think Paul urges her to go. She gets cranky if she\u2019s on the land for too long.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSounds familiar,\u201d Molly said, looking innocently at Pavel. \u201cI wondered where you got it from.\u201d<\/p>\n Pavel snorted, and climbed back up on the driver\u2019s seat of the sleigh.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you again,\u201d Old Man MacKay told him. \u201cYou\u2019ve made this a better Christmas, since the ships have been delayed. A lot of folks will be thanking you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur pleasure,\u201d Pavel said, and shook the reins to start the horses up again. \u201cThe widow\u2019s walk,\u201d she said quietly, and Ella nodded. The spot where countless captains\u2019 wives had stood, waiting for a glimpse of their husband\u2019s ships on the horizons. Molly had always wanted to stand and look out over the ocean from one.<\/p>\n As the horses drew up in front of the gate (the house was set back a little from the road, with a front yard that may have had some beds in it, but it was covered in so much snow that Molly couldn\u2019t tell), the front door opened, and a woman came out.<\/p>\n She was tall, like Pavel, but she had Ella\u2019s blue eyes, and her long grey hair hung in two braids, one over either shoulder. Her face was weathered from years at sea, but it looked like both Ella and Pavel\u2019s, and Molly could see the hesitation in every part of her body.<\/p>\n Pavel swung himself down from the driver\u2019s seat, but it was Ella who made it to the woman first, moving faster than Molly would have thought possible.<\/p>\n \u201cMother!\u201d she said, and burst into tears as she threw herself in Brynna\u2019s arms. \u201cI\u2019ve missed you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I\u2019ve missed you too,\u201d Brynna replied, enfolding her daughter in her strong arms, tears leaking down her face as well. \u201cI\u2019ve missed you too.\u201d<\/p>\n Then she looked up at her tall grandson, and with only a little hesitation, she held out one of her arms. \u201cPavel?\u201d<\/p>\n Molly held her breath, hoping that he wouldn\u2019t step away, that he\u2019d join the embrace. After a long moment, he did, putting his arms around both women, and buried his face in his grandmother\u2019s hair.<\/p>\n They stood for a while like that, just embracing, and then Brynna stepped back, trying to compose herself. \u201cIt\u2019s too cold to continue this out here,\u201d she said briskly. \u201cPut the horses in the barn in back, Pavel, and bring everyone inside. Welcome to my home.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Monday, December 21 \u201cAre you sure you\u2019re okay with this?\u201d Molly asked her sister-in-law again, a worried look on her face. \u201cI mean, it\u2019s a big imposition.\u201d \u201cHuge,\u201d Corrine agreed wryly, rolling her eyes at her. \u201cI mean, you spent all yesterday cooking, so all we have to do is warm everything up on Friday, …<\/p>\n
\nPavel had his sleigh around the back of the Gate Station when they pulled into the employee parking lot, and he and Drew were busy loading boxes and bags onto the back of it. \u201cWhat is all this?\u201d Molly asked, as she and Schrodinger joined Ella, who was supervising the two men.<\/p>\n
\nThe town wasn\u2019t that large, and after a few minutes, they climbed onto the final terrace and Molly could see the blue house that Old Man MacKay had directed them to. It was larger than some of them, but not overly so, and part of the roof was flat, with a railing around it.<\/p>\n