Accordance by Shelly Crane Page A

I’m not trying to muck up tradition or be disrespectful but I can’t have everyone bowing to me every time they see me. I’m still the same old me. Treat me like the same old me. Please?”
    He nodded and smiled slightly.
    “Whatever you wish, my dear.”
    “Dad,” Caleb protested for me.
    “I meant that as Maggie’s wish, not a Visionary’s wish,” he clarified. “Whatever makes Maggie happy.”
    I nodded in gratitude.
    Caleb went to hug his mom and I made my way to my dad. He was holding himself in check but wanted to grab me the second he saw me. As soon as I got close enough, he pulled me roughly to him.
    “Ah, baby girl. I’ve missed you something fierce.”
    “Me, too, Dad.”
    I realized it was true. Then he looked at me and cocked his head. He put a hand up to rub the ends of my hair.
    “Peter told me what happened with your hair. It’s looks really great this way though.”
    “Thanks.”
    Did Peter really bow to you? I nodded. Is that normal?
    “Apparently.”
    I hope you’re behaving…
    He looked at me expectantly with a perfectly arched questioning brown eyebrow.
    “Yes, Dad, of course,” I obliged.
    He smiled and nodded his head to Caleb in hello, then looked around.
    “Where’s Bish?”
    “Playing a video game with Kyle.”
    “Really? Bish? Strange.”
    “Yeah, tell me about it. So...what are you doing here?”
    “Well, I heard a little rumor that you were a goddess or something.”
    “Dad, come on,” I said more forcefully than I had intended.
    “Hey. It’s true isn’t it? You are this Visionary person? So I figured, it couldn’t hurt to have your old man here to keep you grounded. Don’t let all this go to your head.” He winked.
    “Thanks,” I said through a smirk.
    A sense of urgency came over me. I knew the time had come to show the Champion what I had seen. I could hear their awe and wonder as they looked at me and the mark. They were waiting for something spectacular to happen.
    “Kyle, Bish!” I yelled, startling Jen.
    “What’s up? Uncle Peter! Hey!” Kyle hugged them as Bish came in and he was more stunned than I had been about seeing Dad.
    Jen’s thoughts slammed into me. She was still just as interested and taken in by Bish as she had been before. He had been on her mind every since that day and it was driving her crazy. She bit her lip and looked at me quickly before looking away, ashamed knowing that I’d heard her thoughts.
    “Hey, Dad, what are you doing here?” Bish asked.
    “Just checking in.”
    “Hey, Kyle,” I called. “Can you take Bish to the store and get some steaks? I’m gonna make some for tonight but I need to talk to Dad about some stuff.” He looked around and knew he was being left out of something. He took a deep angry breath. I stopped him before he started. “Kyle, please do this for me? I need you to.”
    He softened a bit.
    “Fine, but you show me later,” he compromised and pointed at me.
    “Absolutely.”
    “Show what?” Bish said just as he noticed Jen standing there.
    He got a bright look on his face for a few seconds before he fixed on a blank expression.
    Oh, what is she doing here? Daggumit! How am I going to keep an eye on Maggie with all these people here? Especially her. Gah, look at those arms... She’s just so...
    “Hi,” he said.
    “ Hi,” she said softly and I felt Caleb tense. “How are you?”
    “Good. How was your flight?”
    “Good.”
    “Good,” he answered and noticed us all watching so he cleared his throat and spoke to Kyle. “Steaks?” he said happily seeking an out.
    “Yeah, let’s go.”
    Once they were gone I turned to them. Caleb stood next to his father and watched along with the rest of them. He wasn’t thinking he shouldn’t be with me, just that he would be in the way.
    I looked at Peter.
    “Champion, I have a message for you.”
    He sighed in wonder and started to kneel.
    “No. No, kneeling either. I need you to stand. You’re going to need to stand up, literally, for