by Raine Thomas
Taking the deep blue-green seat, she caught Sebastian’s gaze. “How did you know?”
He sat across the circle in the lavender chair. “How did we know that there would be a Kynzesti elder? It was a simple deduction based upon the evolution of our kind. We have suspected since your birth and the births of the other Kynzesti that an elder would emerge. Each class requires governance that extends beyond the bonds of parenthood.”
She blinked. No one had ever mentioned this to her.
“We never suspected it would happen while you were still so young,” Knorbis explained. “Our assumption of power took place over centuries of being.”
“Oh.” She gripped the arms of the chair as she continued wrestling with the powerful sensation. Now that all of the elders sat in the circle, the surge in feeling had her wanting to jump out of her chair. “Why do you think this is happening now?” she asked.
Belatedly, she considered the pregnancy. Her gaze darted to Ini-herit, who sat next to Sebastian. He looked back at her without expression, though he did tilt his head as though in question.
“It could be because you have such powerful parents,” Jabari replied. “Your father is the Gloresti elder and your mother is the most skilled fighter on the plane. It was when she was your age that your mother assumed her abilities.”
That was true, Clara Kate thought. It brought to mind the line of the Elder Scroll supposedly pertaining to her: One conceived of age and might.
“Whatever the reason, there are steps that must be taken now that you have come into your powers,” Malukali explained.
“Each class requires a hierarchy of leadership,” Uriel said. “In the past, each elder selected a commander, second commander and lieutenant as the core group to govern the class. Second lieutenants on down the hierarchy were then selected jointly by this core. This process, like our development as elders, took place over a period of time.”
Clara Kate nodded. “I understand. But I don’t need time. My core is sitting in the next room.”
Jabari smiled. “We reasoned you would say as much. We’ll firm up those details with your cousins in a moment. Right now, we need to discuss what it means to have assumed the powers and abilities of an elder.”
“Will I always feel like this?” she asked, pressing a hand to her chest.
“Yes,” Jabari said. “What you need to understand is that you are now connected to all of us. Right now, that connection is physical. If you are in danger, we will sense it. You’ll also sense when one of us is threatened. This is quite instinctive and will require no thought on your part.”
Malukali added, “Once we travel back to your homeland and see your father, we’ll all perform the proper ritual to connect you to our thoughts, as well.”
That had Clara Kate biting her lip. Her hand lowered from her chest and passed briefly over her abdomen. Joined in thought with all of the elders? That meant that her thoughts could possibly be intercepted by her father or Ini-herit.
Though she wasn’t sure she was ready, she knew the time to tell Ini-herit about their baby would have to come sooner rather than later.
It took Metis longer than she anticipated to slip away from the Estilorians who were caring for her. What was it with these creatures and their cloying concern? Was it too much to ask for some time to herself?
The Waresti had escorted her through so many tubes and tunnels that she lost her sense of direction. This place was even more challenging to navigate than Tethys’ maze. Eventually, they reached a tall, wide room with many beings walking from various directions and continuing on their way. She gleaned from one of the Waresti’s thoughts that this was the main hall. It joined multiple buildings and served as a central point of access.
They approached a collection of waist-high colored lights bouncing above the floor. One of the Waresti walked over to the lavender ball of light and took it into his hand. Then he tossed it into the air.
It sparkled and cast lavender light, bobbing well above their heads. Metis understood from the thoughts of her companions that this was meant to call the attention of the “ranking Lekwuesti in residence.” Sure enough, within three minutes, a female with billowing blonde curls and lavender eyes approached with swift strides. When she got close enough, she extended her hand and called the ball of light back to her. Then she replaced it among the other lights.
“Greetings, warriors. I’m Dara. What can I do for you?”
“Dara, Jocelyn here has had an unsettling experience on the mainland,” Patrick explained. “She requests a room here at the main base so that she can discuss her experience with archigos Malukali after the ball.”
“Of course,” Dara replied. “Please come with me.”
It took another hour to get Metis settled in her accommodations. The Waresti left after she assured them she was fine and thanked them for their concern. The Lekwuesti, however, had apparently made it her mission to drive Metis out of her mind with all of her questions and comments.
Had her experience interrupted her connection to her Lekwuesti? Was she in need of healing? Did she wish to speak to archigos Malukali the moment the ball ended, or tomorrow morning? Were there any special requests regarding food, clothing or accommodations?
“I require nothing else,” Metis finally snapped, unable to endure the other female’s presence for a moment longer. “Except rest.”
“My apologies,” Dara said. Ungrateful wretch, she thought.
Catching the thought, Metis almost used her powers of mind control to have the female stab herself with a fork. Then she thought better of it, not wanting to draw undue attention to herself.
“No, I apologize,” she said, not having to feign the weariness in her voice. “I fear my experience today has me acting out of sorts. While I do appreciate all of your efforts, I would like to rest now. I do hope you understand.”
Compassion radiated from the Lekwuesti. “Certainly, Jocelyn. I’ll leave you to your rest. We’ll come and get you in the morning to meet with archigos Malukali.”
“Thank you.”
Metis thought about asking the female for information about the ball, having learned by listening in on the thoughts of those around her that Tate and Ariana would be in attendance. Then she realized how foolish it would be to attempt to get both females while they were so thoroughly surrounded, so she withheld the question. Pacing in her room once Dara left, she considered what to do.
She had no idea where the Kynzesti and their companions were staying. After scanning the thoughts of the Waresti and Lekwuesti earlier and discovering that they didn’t know, either, she had attempted to listen in on other beings as she walked to her accommodations. It was quite difficult, though. Nothing she managed to pick up helped her at all.
Deciding it wasn’t doing her any good to remain in the room, she strode to the door and opened it, taking care to check outside to make sure it was unguarded. Not seeing anyone, she closed the door behind her and hurried down the hall.
It took her another half-hour to find out where the ball was being held, and twenty minutes more to find someone she could follow to the main ballroom. Once she got close enough to the event’s location, she eased behind a pillar of a nearby building and started listening. At one point, she had the uncomfortable feeling that another being was doing to her mind what she did to others, almost like the thoughts of another touched hers. The sensation was over as quick as she felt it, though, so she dismissed it.
She didn’t have to stand there long to pick up many thoughts of unease, excitement, curiosity and other reactions that told her something notable was occurring inside the ballroom. Most of the thoughts were jumbled, but she easily picked up the name Zachariah. Then another: Clara Kate.
Blinking as the flood of thoughts intensified, she brought her hands to the sides of her head to try and block them. She briefly squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them, she spied all of the elders in attendance and the group of individuals she sought exiting the ballroom. She had no c
hoice but to follow.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t read any of them except Ariana, who was talking to the male Kynzesti beside her. Her thoughts were focused on the male.
Frowning, Metis pressed her luck and did a more thorough scan of the Lekwuesti’s thoughts. She shouldn’t have done it. Within seconds, both Malukali and Knorbis glanced over their shoulders, probably having sensed the use of mental powers on one in their care. The couple then looked at the Waresti elder in silent warning, and Metis knew she had to perform a strategic retreat.
As she hurried away, she clung to the scraps she had managed to glean from the Lekwuesti’s thoughts.
Clara Kate’s abilities…
… enable us…
…use the Elder Scroll.
What she concluded was that the key to using the Elder Scroll lay not in Ariana or Tate, but in the eldest Kynzesti. Metis realized that Eirik had been focusing on the wrong target in his ultimate quest. She was determined not to make the same mistake.
Chapter 23
When they returned to their rooms, Zachariah entered first. He conducted a sweep of the bedroom as well as the bathroom, then proceeded to check the empty bedroom beside theirs. Only when he determined there were no threats did he tell Tate to enter.
She walked into the room, casting a light as she did. He sometimes forgot that the others couldn’t see in the dark. It made him all too aware of his base nature.
Tate didn’t seem to notice. She hummed as she moved around the room, performing a couple of turns that mimicked their dancing. When she twirled close to him, she grabbed his hand in an attempt to urge him to join her. Rather than resist, he moved in line with her and continued dancing.
“What is that you’re humming?” he asked.
“I have no idea,” she said with a smile. “Just one of the songs we heard tonight.”
He quirked an eyebrow. She couldn’t carry a tune to save her life.
When she laughed, he realized he had conveyed the thought to her. Fortunately, she already knew this about herself and wasn’t offended. Her eyes sparkled as she caught his gaze. He glanced at her lips and considered kissing the smile from her lovely face.
“Are you okay with the fact that Clara Kate named me the Kynzesti second commander?”
Coming to a stop at the abrupt question, he lowered his arms and frowned. “Of course. It’s an honor for you.”
She reached up and fiddled with his tie, not meeting his eyes. “I know. It’s just, well, that was once your role with the Gloresti.”
“I’m aware of that. It doesn’t diminish the achievement for you.”
Now she met his gaze. He recognized the worry there. “Okay, Sparky,” she said.
She gave him a small smile that he knew was meant to reassure. He watched her step away, watched the smile fall from her face when she turned from him. His eyes moved to the symbol marking her right shoulder blade. He wondered if she could ever know how significant that mark would always be to him.
“Tate,” he said. She looked back at him. He rarely used her name when addressing her. “The fact that you would ask me just reinforces why I love you so much.”
Her eyes widened. When her lips parted, a knock sounded at the door.
“Tate?” came Ariana’s voice through the door. “Would you like my assistance changing into your nightclothes?”
Zachariah continued to hold Tate’s gaze. He could tell by the moisture gathering in her eyes that her voice had failed her.
“We’ll be all right,” he called out.
“Okay. Good night.”
Not bothering to respond to the Lekwuesti, he pulled Tate closer. She pressed her cheek against his chest. He rested his chin on top of her head and wrapped his arms around her, inhaling her scent. When she continued to hold him, he trailed his fingers along the nape of her neck and along her shoulder. Then he traced her marking. She shivered.
“I wish we’d had more time to dance,” she said after a while. Her voice was muffled against his jacket.
Knowing he was the reason the ball was cut short for her and the others, he briefly closed his eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“You should be,” she said. She lifted her head, prompting him to open his eyes to look at her. “You kept me from getting the other Estilorians to do the Chicken Dance.”
Blinking, he repeated, “‘The Chicken Dance?’”
“Yeah.” Now, she grinned. The guilt that had gripped him eased at the look in her eye. “Haven’t you heard of it? Okay…just picture archigos Ini-herit doing this.”
She stepped a few feet away from him and started humming again. Then she moved her fingers in what he assumed was the manner of a chicken beak moving up and down, followed by an exaggerated flapping of her arms and jutting of her chin. She looked…absurd.
While she was in an awkward squat halfway to the floor, she froze. He realized she had stopped humming. Her deep blue-green eyes rested on his face.
“What?” he asked.
She slowly rose back to her full height. Her expression ranged from disbelieving to ecstatic. “You—you’re smiling.”
“I am?”
Now, a wide smile spread across her face. “You sure are. And—wow. It’s totally sexy hot.”
“Is it?” When she got close enough, he reached out and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her against him. “I’ll tell you what, Beautiful. If you let me see you in only those shoes and what you’re wearing beneath this gown again, I’ll give you all the sexy smiles you want.”
Ini-herit showered and changed into his sleep tank and pants when he returned to his room after meeting with Clara Kate and the others. As he tied his damp hair back, he considered what this new development meant—not only to all Estilorians, but to him.
There would be no more avoiding contact with Clara Kate. Although he knew his presence caused her pain, he was now a permanent part of her existence. She would require extensive training on the use of her new power. Each of the elders would work with her on discovering and developing her burgeoning abilities. As her power grew, so would theirs. He and the other elders would work with her one-on-one to ensure she had a well-rounded grasp of each of their innate abilities.
He realized that he looked forward to that time alone with her. It wasn’t a feeling he’d ever experienced before, so he wasn’t sure what to make of it. In light of the other unusual feelings he’d had regarding Clara Kate, he had to take this as a positive sign.
There have been an unusual number of thought intrusions at Central this evening.
The thought flashed through his mind as he pulled back the cover on his bed. Malukali rarely expressed such concerns as this one, so it captured his attention as she warned all of the elders at once.
I’ll continue to monitor this, as will Knorbis, she continued. It could be a result of the masquerade. With so many beings trying to catch the attention of one another, there will naturally be unusual fluctuations in the use of mental abilities. But I want to explore this further to make sure it isn’t something more concerning.
Ini-herit appreciated Malukali’s caution. These large events did tend to produce more reactions from their classes than usual, he mused as he climbed into bed. There was a sense bordering on urgency among those who rarely ventured from their class homelands to interact socially with the other classes. Although he didn’t really understand the reasoning behind this human-like ritual, he acknowledged its influence on Estilorian society, especially the younger generations.
Glancing at the door that separated his room from Clara Kate’s, he considered knocking and telling her this news. Since she wasn’t yet connected to the other elders, she wouldn’t know about Malukali’s observations.
After a moment, he decided not to alarm her. Malukali hadn’t implied that they were at risk. From what he understood, the Kynzesti were resistant to thought intrusion. Besides, Clara Kate preferred that he keep as far from her as possible. Closing his eyes, he decided he could at least fulfill this wis
h since he had failed her on so many others.
Clara Kate went to bed feeling exhausted, but she couldn’t sleep. Her body still buzzed with the elder energy that now permanently flowed through her. While it didn’t feel unnatural, it was still something to which she had to become adjusted.
After more than two hours of lying in bed without falling asleep, she tried taking a warm bath in her luxurious tub in an effort to relax. Despite the wonderfully scented bubbles, it didn’t help. When she returned to bed, her mind continued to spin over how dramatically her life had changed in the span of only days.
She was now an elder. As the Kynzesti class grew, she would work with her cousins to shape it. Someday, they might even have a reserved homeland here at Central. They would learn more about their skills and elemental abilities and integrate them with those of the other classes, using them for the betterment of all.
No pressure, though, Clara Kate mused, rolling onto her side and flipping her pillow.
Regardless of her new elder status, she couldn’t help but wonder what others would think about her pregnancy. How could her class—or any other class, for that matter—respect her in light of her circumstances? Her mother and aunts had given birth at her age, sure. But they had been married and avowed, too. In fact, if it hadn’t been for their pregnancies, they might not have actually succeeded in fulfilling the Great Foretelling. Hard to question something like that, she thought.
The fact that her pregnancy had also resulted from a connection based on love wouldn’t likely earn her any points on the respect scale. She had chosen to have unprotected sex with Harry. Period.
No, she knew she’d instead have to earn her dues through her future actions. It was fortunate that her first decision as elder was such a no-brainer. Establishing her core leaders within the class hadn’t taken much thought at all. She and her cousins were as close as siblings. She knew their strengths and she knew there was no one else she trusted more.