Huntr held the door as they stepped into the home. "I'm glad you decided to join us." He winked at Bandon.
"Yes sir. Thank you for having me." Bandon bowed his head and slipped inside.
They were all standing in the living room when Huntr's family came in from the dining room.
The commander stepped towards the older woman. "This is my wife, Caurma, and my daughters, Lil and Raesa." He turned to his guests. "Ladies, this is Rhea, Randell, Daen, Taulin, and Bandon."
Each gave a slight bow when introduced.
"Welcome. Please come in and have a seat." Caurma presented the room. "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. Can we offer you something to drink while you wait? Ale, wine?" She looked at Rhea first.
"Wine would be nice, thank you."
The others requested ale.
Rhea had just finished scanning the room for veil openings when Huntr's daughters returned with their drinks but then disappeared back into the kitchen. She thought Raesa was close to her age while Lil was a few years younger but given the way Luxatrans age, she had no idea and wasn't sure she should ask.
She turned to Caurma. "You have a lovely home. Thank you for allowing us to join you this evening."
"It's our pleasure." Caurma glanced at Huntr. "We don't have guests as often as I would like." She proceeded to engage them in small talk while they waited for Raesa and Lil to announce dinner was ready. "What brings you to Cauhill?"
"We're just passing through," Daen answered. "Your husband was kind enough to provide us an escort for part of our journey."
"Where are you from?"
Daen took the lead again. "I'm a guardian." Everyone knew where guardians resided.
"Bandon and I are from Laundan," said Taulin.
Caurma looked at Randell next. He hesitated. "I ... I'm not from Sentran."
Her expression conveyed a bit of confusion, but manners kept her from pushing further. Then she turned to Rhea for her answer.
"My family is from Sentran and Taulomi."
Again, Caurma's expression conveyed some confusion regarding the odd answers Randell and Rhea had given, but Rhea was thankful she didn't press the topic. "You said you're passing through. Might I inquire as to where your travels take you?"
This time Rhea took the lead. "We're waiting for word from my family before we decide."
Before she could ask another question, Lil announced that dinner was served.
~~~
The generous main course looked and tasted like roast beef, and it was wonderful. There were potatoes, carrots, and fresh bread. Rhea had to force herself not to eat too fast. She looked up and saw that her male companions were losing the battle as they quickly devoured their first helping and were reaching for seconds.
Rhea had been surrounded by men for most of her stay in Luxatra. Now was her chance to hear from the women in this world. "Lil, Raesa, do you have plans for your futures?" She hoped her question was appropriate, not knowing for sure their ages.
Lil's face shined. "I'm studying to be a tailor. I want to design and make clothes for women."
Raesa was quiet, so Rhea gave her a gentle verbal nudge. "Raesa, do you have plans?"
Raesa lifted her eyes from her plate and looked at Daen but didn't reply.
"Raesa wishes to be a guardian," her father answered for her.
Daen leaned back in his chair and met Raesa's eyes. "Tell me why you want to be a guardian."
"It's a feeling I have, like it's something I'm supposed to do." Raesa's answer conveyed excitement and passion.
"She knows when something is going to happen before it happens," Caurma added.
"I sense things and have visions." Raesa glanced at her father and then down to her plate.
Daen turned to Huntr. "How do you feel about Raesa becoming a guardian?"
"I know I should be fine with it but I can't help worrying."
"He's protective." Caurma's eyes connected with Huntr from the opposite end of the table.
Huntr placed his fork on his plate. "Yes, I'm protective."
Daen nodded. "Guardians perform different tasks. I'll grant you some can be dangerous, but others aren't. If Raesa were to become a guardian, her tasks would be consistent with her strengths."
Huntr didn't receive any comfort from Daen's comment.
"Raesa, what is your strength?" Rhea asked.
"I'm pretty good with a sword."
"Oh, I see." Rhea tried not to smile. Now she understood Huntr's concerns. Raesa would likely join the ranks of the warrior guardians, like Daen.
"Father doesn't want me to be a guardian," Raesa continued. "He says my strength would put me in harm's way."
Daen looked at Huntr. "May I test her?"
Raesa's eyes went wide, and Rhea could swear her body started to tremble with delight. She didn't breathe until her father answered.
Huntr swallowed hard, fighting his fears. "She's old enough to make her own decisions," he said quietly. "I won't keep her from her pursuits. I've made my opinion clear."
"Thank you." Daen looked at Raesa. "Perhaps after dinner? Before it gets too dark."
"I would like that very much."
~~~
Dinner didn't last much longer. Daen glanced at Raesa a few times, trying to keep a straight face as her glee bubbled over.
While Daen and Raesa prepared for the test, Rhea tried to give Huntr's youngest daughter some attention as well. "Lil, do you have any of your designs here?"
She nodded shyly. "They're upstairs in my room."
"May I see them?"
Lil's shyness melted away. "You want to see my designs?" She glanced at her mother.
"If you don't want to show me, that's okay," said Rhea.
Caurma waved her hand at Lil. "Go get them. You have to learn to hear what people think if you want them to hire you."
Everyone except Daen and Raesa adjourned to the living room while Lil retrieved her sketchbook.
Rhea flipped through the pages of Lil's book as the men sat quietly watching. "Randell, come look."
"I'm not one to judge fashion." He said as he reluctantly leaned over Rhea's shoulder to see the drawings on her lap. "Ah. I see. I like them."
Her drawings were consistent with what women wore when they were conquering the west in the world of shadows—different styles of pants that looked like skirts.
Rhea saw that Huntr and Caurma had puzzled looks on their faces. "I take it you didn't expect our endorsement."
"Oh, no, it's ..." Caurma hestitated. "Well, her designs are not what I am used to." She seemed a little flustered.
Huntr placed his hand on his wife's hand. "Our girls aren't going to conform to our way of thinking. If I have to accept Raesa being a guardian, then you have to accept Lil wanting to change the way women dress. I think her designs take the functionality we get from wearing long pants and make them look ladylike."
"Thank you, Father." Lil was grinning from ear to ear.
Before the fashion discussion could go further, Raesa came in the room. "Do you want to watch?"
The men jumped up, eager to be engaged in something they could appreciate more than women's apparel.
~~~
The group watched from the back porch and could see that Raesa was quite good. Her reaction time impressive, she anticipated Daen's attacks and blocks for the ten minutes they sparred.
When Daen called a stop, they applauded.
"Well done, Raesa," Rhea called out.
Raesa was glowing. "Thank you. Daen tells me you're good with the sword as well?"
Rhea shook her head. "He's being kind. I'm just learning."
Daen moved to stand next to Rhea. "Test her." He whispered and gave her a look she couldn't misunderstand. "Raesa, would you mind if Rhea tested you?"
Raesa bowed. "I'd like that."
Rhea knew what Daen was asking and wasn't totally comfortable with it. But, if Raesa was going to be a
guardian, she would need to be tested against different styles and strengths.
Rhea drew her sword and called for her helpers. A calm feeling came over her, and as usual, everything slowed down. Raesa started the match with an attack that Rhea easily blocked. "Don't hold anything back, Raesa."
That was all she needed to hear. Raesa came at Rhea, fast and strong.
After Rhea got the feel of her style, she started to return the attacks. She heard Daen's voice in the background. "Rhea, don't hold back."
She didn't think it was fair, what she was about to do, but she knew Daen wanted to see what Raesa could handle. Rhea opened her connection with the Libraim further and planned how to finish the mock battle, or at least, that was what she thought.
The more Rhea tried, the more she failed. Raesa was anticipating her every move, and she was beginning to believe that it she was being tested and not Raesa. The longer they sparred, the clearer it became that she was not going to defeat Raesa at her own game. She needed to be clever. All's fair in love and war.
Rhea blocked Raesa's strike and froze her in place. The shocked look on Raesa's face sent a pang of guilt into Rhea's stomach. She felt sorry for her, but if this had been a real fight, she wouldn't have had a choice, and Raesa needed to learn this lesson just as much as she did. Rhea stepped back, breathing hard as she released her.
Raesa stumbled forward but caught herself quickly. "What just happened?"
Rhea held her hands on front of her. "Please don't be mad. I didn't have a choice. I couldn't see how to best you by the sword, so I cheated."
Daen stepped forward with Huntr at his side. "You didn't cheat. You both learned something. Rhea, you learned that you might need to mix things up, and Raesa, you learned to never assume you're fighting someone who doesn't have a gift you can defend against."
Raesa's face paled. "Does this mean I can't be a guardian?"
Daen stifled a laughed. "No. If you want to be a guardian, then I believe you would be an asset to us." He looked at Rhea standing by his side. "There aren't many out there like Rhea. As you hone your gift, you might be able to sense someone like her and plan accordingly." He patted her on her back and turned to Huntr. "I don't believe I could defeat Raesa. Rhea is the only one who has ever bested me sword-to-sword, and even she needed her other ... abilities."
Huntr wrapped his arm around Raesa's shoulder and gently kissed her head. "I'm proud of you."
Raesa rested her head on her father's shoulder as he walked her to the house.
Taulin and Randell came to Rhea's side. "How was it, fighting someone who's always one step ahead of you?" Randell was grinning as he waited to hear Rhea's answer.
Rhea watched Raesa enter the house. "I want her on my side, that's for sure."
32
Messages
Gaibel and Lanne reached the south quadrant station shortly before the light started to fade to darkness. They'd ridden straight through, stopping three times for fresh horses. The journey was hard on both of them, but the reward was worth it. A message was waiting for Gaibel, a message from Daen stating, 'Queen notified of Rhea and false warriors.'
Gaibel handed the message to Lanne and turned to the station captain. "Where did the bird come from?"
"Cauhill."
Gaibel and Lanne looked knowingly at each other as Gaibel led Lanne to a room they could share. Rhea had made it to Cauhill, but something had happened.
Lanne closed the door to their room. "What do you think the queen's been told? What is Daen trying to tell us?"
Gaibel wondered the same. Did she learn that she was a channel? Did she learn who Rhea's father is? A chill ran up her back at this last possibility.
Lanne reached for Gaibel's hand. "I'm sure she's fine. Daen is with her."
Gaibel nodded but still worried.
"I can't imagine what could have happened that someone would know what she is," Lanne continued. "I think this is about who she is. I suspect they ran into trouble with the Sentran border guards, and she used her royal mark to get them out of a tough spot."
Gaibel studied the cryptic message again and started to pace the length of the small room. "That makes sense. If she was forced to reveal her mark to the authorities to get out of a problem, they would have to report her mark to the queen."
"The queen is going to want to see it," Lanne stated. "If she doesn't believe it's real, whatever problem forced Rhea's hand is going to come back on them."
Gaibel picked up her gear. "I have to get to the queen before Rhea, tell her everything."
Lanne watched Gaibel collect her things. "How will you prove you're married to Kalaub?"
Gaibel paused and looked at Lanne, but not really seeing her, as she tried to find the answer. "The holy man who married us. I have to find him." She started for the door.
Lanne jumped in front of her. "You can't leave now. It's getting dark, and you haven't eaten or slept."
Gaibel's frustration was beginning to spill over the invisible wall that kept her emotions from getting the best of her. If Lanne wasn't Gaibel's loving cousin, she would have shoved her not-so-gently aside. She knew Lanne was right, but Gaibel's guilt for abandoning her daughter drove an internal fire that could not be extinguished. Common sense seemed to elude her when it came to protecting Terrwyn.
Lanne watched the battle rage in Gaibel's eyes as she stood in front of her, flexing her jaw. "We will eat, return a message to Cauhill in case they are still there, sleep for a few hours, and then head for the palace to see the queen."
Gaibel glared at Lanne while she tried to see fault in her logic, but she couldn't. She spun around and tossed her things back on her bed. "Fine. Let's send the message." She slipped past Lanne who was still partially blocking the door.
Lanne released the breath she'd been holding when Gaibel finally gave in.
~~~
The evening at Commander Nauylor's home came to a close after the exhibition. It had been a nice change of pace since arriving in Luxatra, to be relaxed and in trusted company.
On the ride back to the inn, they made arrangements with Huntr to meet for breakfast in the inn's dining room so he could lead them to see his father-in-law, Taelr. He didn't make any promises that Taelr would know the stone building, but it was worth a try.
"Thank you again for a lovely evening, Huntr. We'll see you in the morning." Rhea waved as he turned the carriage and headed home.
Bandon walked his horse to the stables, leaving Taulin with his companions.
"If Raesa keeps up her training, she'll make a fine guardian," said Daen as Huntr drove away.
"I haven't met many people with the gift of foresight as refined as hers," said Taulin.
Daen shook his head. "Neither have I."
Rhea looked into the dark sky. "Randell. How many nights is the moon bright each month?"
"About six or seven, I suppose. If the moon is less than half, I'm not sure it's bright enough to make a shadow, but I can't be sure."
Rhea thought about how often Lanne appeared in the shadows of her room. "If memory serves, even when the moon wasn't full, even the hint of moonlight allowed me to see into Luxatra. It wasn't very clear, but I could see a little."
Taulin looked puzzled. "I'm not following you."
"We arrived here when the moon in the world of shadows was just past full. About six days in the other world have passed. That means the opening between the worlds is closed for the month. If the dark-haired man isn't here already, I'm not sure if he'll be able to get here by using an opening in the veil."
Taulin looked up and down the road. "Do you see any openings?"
"On the way to dinner tonight, I only saw tiny openings here and there. I don't see any now." Rhea looked at her watch. "But it's almost morning, so that might explain why." Rhea turned towards the inn, as did the others.
"Maybe we should keep a calendar of when we are in sync and the moon would be bright enough to create a shadow," said
Randell.
"I've been meaning to update my journal. I can make some notes," Daen offered.
The lobby was empty, except for the clerk at the counter. They checked to see if the message center had left word, but there was nothing.
As they climbed the stairs to the second level, there was an unspoken agreement that there was nothing left to discuss, so they said goodnight and retired to their rooms.
~~~
Morning came early for Rhea, once again. For the first time in days, her fear of dreaming hadn't entered her mind. She'd quickly gotten ready for bed and had fallen asleep in minutes.
Now, she lay under the blankets, staring into the darkness, listening for any sign that someone was up and about. She closed her eyes and reached out to see beyond the walls of her room.
She started with the hallway and mentally walked down the stairs and out the front door of the inn. Although she'd explored the camp from within her tent, she was surprise to realize that she could mentally traverse a building.
The street lamps glowed, providing small disks of light every twenty to thirty yards. She could see the space lit by the lamps, but to see past them was like trying to look out a window at night with the lights on inside. If someone were on the street, she wouldn't know it, so she switched to looking for energy spots.
She didn't see anyone, not at first. It wasn't until she drifted to the corner that she saw a figure standing across the road. He wasn't moving, which seemed odd. Anyone out at this hour would most likely be going to work or coming home late, not standing about doing nothing.
She drifted closer and replaced his heat with an actual image. The lamplight touched the edge of his face, affording her the opportunity to know he was looking up towards the second floor windows of the inn.
She didn't notice the second man approach until the first man turned to speak. "They're staying here. She's in one of those rooms."
The second man glanced up briefly. "What are our orders?"
The first man stepped back out of the light. "Keep an eye on them and send a bird if they leave."
The Channel (The Gifted Book 2) Page 24