Page 37 of Winds of War
The others nodded, and about ten minutes later, they stepped inside the building that served mainly as the festivity hall during the Christmas parties and other special occasions. Ardan greeted them with a warm, paternal smile. “Look at you. The future of The Base! Now that we are all here, the meeting can start,” he spoke in a lighthearted tone.
The Crazy Bunch went to the row of chairs aligned alongside the long table, and each of them took a seat. Lothier, Brennan, Seymour, Zachary, and all the other men forming the council that made The Base run smoothly were sitting on the opposite side of the table. They sensed the kids' tension and gave them a warm, encouraging smile.
Nico saw Seamus somewhere across the table, the man's presence making him relax and let out a small sigh of relief. The subtle change in his attitude was noticed by all the other boys, who, one by one, relaxed into their chairs, getting ready to listen to what Ardan and the other members of the council had to say.
From his place at the boss's right side, Fabian discreetly studied the face of the one he considered his own flesh and blood. Usually, he was good at deciphering the subtle messages Ardan's expression sent, but that particular day it was unreadable. After a couple of minutes, Fabian gave up searching for answers in advance, turning his attention to The Base's leader, who discreetly cleared his throat.
“Thank you all for coming, and I deeply apologize if this unscheduled meeting worried any of you, but I assure you it's nothing to worry about.” Ardan's words, accompanied by his signature shy smile, made everyone in the Remembrance Hall sigh in relief. “Let's get straight to the point,” he continued, taking a folder from the pile neatly stacked in front of him. “I need one or two volunteers to pass these among yourself, then take a look and tell me what you think.”
“But that's a map of the land around The Base all the way to the old farm where I lived when Caleb and I first met.” Zachary frowned in confusion. “Do you intend to expand the sanctuary?”
”Yes and no.” Ardan's words made everyone turn their attention to him, the smile playing on his lips becoming mysterious. “Over the years, I realized children are not the only victims of abuse and neglect; more often than not, loving parents are also the target of their spouses and life partners' violent behavior.”
“So you are suggesting building another center for those parents who are caught in abusive relationships but can't leave because of the children? If yes, you have my full, unconditional support,” Seamus enthusiastically said, wiping off a tear that slid on his cheek. “I've been there, witnessed firsthand the beatings my wretched father gave Mom, and I'll do everything in my power to spare other women of her cruel fate.”
“Thank you, Seamus. I knew I could count on you.” Ardan dipped his head in his nephew's fiancé’s direction. “In fact, I intend to expand the neighborhood around The Base and turn it into a little town where the victims of domestic abuse and their children can find shelter, counseling, legal assistance, medical care, and education, all for free.”
“Do you want to create an autonomous entity that doesn't have anything to do with the New York City's Mayor's Office? Because if you do, there's a ton of paperwork to fill out, not to mention the duration of the whole process, so you better brace yourself.” Whitey philosophically scratched the back of his head. “I study Public Administration and can make you a list with the forms to fill in and permits to get, but other than that...”
“This is excellent, thank you so much, Jeroen,” Ardan left his chair, going next to where Whitey was sitting and kissing the boy on the top of his head. “Having a list like that would save me from a lot of headaches.”
“If you ever need a topometry specialist, here I am.” Gavin raised his hand. “Well, not a specialist yet, but I'll be happy to put my knowledge on the subject to good use.”
“I can volunteer at the counseling center until we can hire all the specialized personnel we need,” Ira spoke without hesitation. “As an FBI profiler, my stepfather worked on some of the cases involving domestic abuse that degenerated into something much worse, and I've read some of his notes back then. Of course, I'll read more on the subject to be prepared for a wide range of situations,” he added.
One by one, the teens and young men everyone knew as the Crazy Bunch volunteered to help one way or another, and Elaine started to make a list with their names and how each of them would like to contribute to the project. Ardan's heart swelled with paternal affection and pride at the younger generation's enthusiasm, his turquoise eyes damp with tears.
The Crazy Bunch's reaction surpassed The Base's boss's most optimistic expectations. The future looks very bright and promising, he thought, but a few seconds later, worry shadowed his turquoise eyes. Ardan wondered if the group of teens and young men, and even some of the adults, would show the same enthusiasm after he made the next announcement.
Instinctively, Fabian Bloom sensed his honorary stepson's distress and raised his head, locking eyes with the younger man. The calmness and assurance in his advisor's sapphire-blue eyes soothed Ardan's tensed nerves, giving him back the confidence he lost for a moment. He raised from the chair and let out a cough, getting everyone's full attention.
“Hoping the best and expecting the worst is the key to building a solid future for us and everything The Base stands for. None of us who are running it now are immortal, and we have to be prepared for the unwanted eventuality of an untimely death. That's why I would like to appoint my successor, here, today.”
The solemnity of Ardan's voice and the words he spoke made everyone stare at him in shock. Brennan was the first to react. “Is...is there something wrong with you? Did your heart condition worsen? Why...why didn't you tell us anything earlier? We could have...” the young man stuttered, unable to form coherent sentences.
”Relax, little brother, there's nothing like that.” Ardan gave Brennan a reassuring smile, making him relax a bit. “I just want to make the name of my successor known to give him time to get used to his new position and responsibilities. He'll undergo an extensive training period under my and Pater's guidance, and I hope I can also count on you to help him by sharing your experience.”
“Whew, that's...now I'm relieved.” Brennan let out a long, audible sigh. “Of course I'll support your successor in everything. It's my double duty as member of the council and uncle.” He grinned.
“I always admired your wisdom, and this time is no exception,” Saint spoke in his British-accented voice. “What's the name of the young man worthy of your trust? I want you to know from the start he has my unconditional support.”
“Thank you very much for the kind words. The identity of my successor will be a surprise for many, but no matter what you say or do, I won't change my decision. Gentlemen, I give you Elias Bloom-Stanley, the future leader of The Base.”
“Ardan, don't get me wrong. I don't have anything against the kid,” Caleb started in a low, somewhat pained voice, “but to choose him over your own sons and Gavin, who is also a MacNamara, this is... Sorry, but I can't agree with your choice.”
“You are my older brother, and I would happily give my life if that's what it would take for you to live, but please, don't ask me to watch how my nephews are stripped away of what's rightfully theirs.” Although Brennan's tone was calm and respectful, Ardan sensed the anger boiling inside his brother.
“Long before I came to The Base”—Lorcan stood and spoke in a voice thick with emotion—” I dreamed of becoming a doctor and thanks to Spitfire's loving guidance, that dream will come true in a couple of years. I'm not interested in taking over The Base when Pater retires, and I think the sanctuary will have a great leader in Elias.”
“Until two years ago, I didn't even know I had an uncle who ran a sanctuary for abused and neglected children.” Nico offered everyone a shy smile. “My dream is to become a vet, and I also want to get specialized in pet therapy and help the residents of The Base overcome their traumatic past by bonding with cats, rabbits, and other animals. I appreciate Elias as a friend, and I think Uncle Ardan couldn't have made a better choice of successor.
With these words, Fergus's son left his seat, went where Elias was sitting, and stood behind his chair with Lorcan following him right away. One by one, Gavin, Whitey, Lochlin, Emery, Ira, Tarrin, and all the other teens and young men forming the Crazy Bunch spoke in Elias's favor, moving behind his chair.
The young generation's demonstration of loyalty moved the members of the counsel to tears, and they finally understood the reasons behind Ardan's choice. First, as a survivor of the horrors many of The Base's residents endured, Elias understood the poor souls and knew how to get close to them and make them feel safe. Just like the current leader, the successor wouldn't hesitate to put his life on the line to keep the sanctuary intact and its inhabitants safe.
Although he was at The Base for less than a year, Elias managed to win the affection and trust of the Crazy Bunch, who, unlike some adults, didn't associate him with his father's name and evil deeds. Those teens and young men looked into his soul and saw all the qualities that made Ardan choose the boy as his successor.
One by one, they congratulated Elias for being appointed as the next leader of The Base and assured him of their full, unconditional support. The boy humbly thanked everyone for their kind words, promising that he would do everything in his power not to disappoint them.
Ardan's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he watched the teens and young men grouped around Elias congratulating him and playfully calling him boss. No more crazy winds of war, he thought, smiling inwardly. They were replaced by the sweet, calm breeze of peace.