Summer of the Moon Flower by Annie Seaton

Author:Annie Seaton [Seaton, Annie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-12-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

“Aunt Sofia!” The shrill, combined voices of her nephews rang out over the whistle of the steam train as it pulled into Salzburg station. “We’re almost there. Is this the mountains? Where’s the snow?”

Mr. Grimoult smiled at her and reached across to grab the shirts of the two boys who were leaning out the train window before they fell out.

“We have a short trip in a steam carriage and then we will be at the mountains,” Sofia replied patiently. “Although we will not see much snow until we walk the alpine paths.” She reached up and adjusted the light gold chain around her neck and tucked the black jewel inside her blouse. Zane had embedded the device onto the back of a black stone and it resembled an elegant piece of jewelry rather than a chronometric communication device. She had already used it to transmit news of their safe arrival to Indigo.

“Come, we have arrived.” With a flurry of leg and arms, Sofia managed to catch the hands of the two boys while Mr. Grimoult struggled along behind them with the luggage. She was enjoying the company of her two nephews and had delighted in their intelligent conversations with her on the train journey. They had a far deeper understanding of the world than she would have expected at their age.

The steam carriage Mr. Grimoult had booked to convey them to Schladming was waiting for them on the paved road outside the station. The boys laughed with delight as the driver took their luggage from Mr. Grimoult. The carriage was painted with cow bells and when it started, the musical sound of bells rang across the still morning air covering the hissing of the steam.

Sofia nodded with satisfaction; they certainly looked like a family on holiday and she was glad the boys were accompanying her.

The owners of the Schladming Inn welcomed Sofia with affection. She was a regular visitor and had been staying there for many years. It had been several months since her last visit and Herr Schwandt fussed around her.

“ As you haf the children, we haf given you the large cabin.” He assisted Mr. Grimoult with their bags and Sofia grabbed the collars of the two boys as they went flying down the path past her.

“Just one moment, you pair,” she cautioned. “We need to have a little discussion.”

She tucked her arms through theirs, one child on either side and walked up the grassy incline behind their cabin. As they crested the hill, a panoramic view met them. Snow capped mountains rose from the low fields where cattle grazed and the ever present tinkle of cow bells drifted across to them. In the distance, two small figures walked out of the narrow green valley that passed between the two highest peaks.

Sofia pointed to the edge of the fields where the cattle grazed, to a line of tall conifers edging the lower slopes of the mountain. “That is the limit of your explorations when you are by yourselves.

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