“You’re right,” Reigna interrupted. “I like the idea.”
“Yes, she deserves a break,” Eden said. “When will you leave?”
He shrugged. “As soon as she’s able to travel.”
“Has she said anything? Does she know about your plan?”
“Well actually, yes.” He hoped the twins wouldn’t catch him in his web of lies. “I admit she surprised me, but she mentioned going back to her old home.”
“That’s impossible,” Reigna said.
“She said she’d never go back there,” Eden added.
“I know. I know. But sometimes when a person goes through a . . . trauma, an emergency, he finds he wants to . . . revisit familiar things.”
The sisters shared a glance.
“We understand,” Eden said. “What can we do to help?”
He patted out a rhythm on his thigh. “You can help me to put some of her things together so that we’ll both be ready to go as soon as she’s feeling better.”
“That soon?” Reigna asked.
“She sounded quite sure of herself. So the sooner we go, the sooner we can get back here.”
“You’re in no shape to go now, Dixon. Look at you.”
“I’m fine. But you’re right—I do need some rest.”
“You see to that, and we’ll put Mara’s things together,” Eden offered.
“Thanks, sweet.” He stood.
The twins followed suit.
Reigna put her arms around him and leaned her cheek against his chest. “I’m just glad to know that she’s all right.”
He returned the embrace, then gathered Eden into his arms, as well. “Me too,” he said. “Me too.”
Chapter Three
As dawn rose, a dozen guards left the main camp, once again heading out to search for Nina and Jules’s daughter, Carlie, in the outer reaches of the forest that surrounded much of the compound. At midday they returned empty handed.
Jules, who served as head of the compound guard, ordered another group out to continue the search, even as Dixon saddled two horses for his journey. Mara had rested most of the previous day, but became increasingly more insistent each time she awakened. She wanted to go home. He, Basha, and Therese, then spoke with her. They asked her to say very little to the others. At first, the request seemed to confuse her, but she agreed she’d play along so that Dixon could see her safely from the compound and back home. As to Lucy, the three arranged for her to visit Mara’s bedside only when she slept.
So far, so good, on that front, Dixon thought. Now if we can just keep the conversation to a minimum . . .
Looking up as some guards passed by him, he motioned for Jules to approach. “Anything?”
“No. No signs of Carlie.”
“I’m so sorry, Jules. I can’t imagine what could’ve happened to her.”
The man hung his head. “Yes, I know. We’ll keep searching. Nina is sick with worry and . . . Well, as you know, I can’t give up on my daughter.”
“No, of course not. I’m just sorry I won’t be here to help.”
Jules nodded. “Anyway, they did find three men who came in across the river on the north side. It’s the same place we figured they came in the day Mara was injured. But the intruders peppered our men with arrows and, in defense, they responded, killing them all.”
“So, you got no information from them then.”
“That’s right. I arranged for another contingent to make camp out that direction to keep an eye on things. Samuel agreed to lead the group.”
“Are you increasing the number of scouts in the other areas, so that an invasion from elsewhere doesn’t come as a surprise? The intrusions from the north may just be a ruse.”
Jules brushed away his wavy blond hair from his peacock green eyes. “We’ll take care of things here.” He set his jaw.
“The most important thing is to find Carlie,” Dixon said, tugging on a saddle strap. “But make sure the inner guard isn’t cut too thin. It’s important no one makes it to the interior.”
“Right.” Jules shuffled his foot in the sand, watching Dixon tighten another strap. “It’s unusual for Mara to leave her charges,” he said.
Dixon glanced his way. “Hmmm,” he muttered, then looked out. “Well, everyone needs to get away now and again. It seemed as good a time as any since, let’s face it, there is no good time. Mara’s confident in your ability to keep the compound—to keep the twins—safe.”
He reached down for a bag. Among other things, it carried Mara’s Oathtaker’s blade, so that it would be there for her when she got better and asked for it. He strapped the bag to his saddle, then tied another one, filled with clothing and personal effects for Mara, to her saddle.
Basha stepped out of the infirmary. “She’s ready to go.”
The next few minutes would be the most important. Above all, we have to keep Lucy in the dark, he communicated to his Oathtaker friend silently, by magic.
He turned to Jules. “We’ll be back as soon as possible.” He patted the man’s shoulder. “Thank you, my friend.”
“I won’t let you down.” Jules turned away. “I’ll let Nina know you’re leaving soon,” he said over his shoulder. “She and the little ones won’t want to miss saying ‘good-bye.’”
Dixon watched him walk away. He was proud and honored to call the likes of Jules and Samuel, his friends. He whispered to Basha. “Have Reigna and Eden caught on to anything?”
“I don’t think so. They do most of the talking, you know.” She grinned. “Mara pretty much just listens—which is good, since it’s difficult to get them to leave her side.”
They looked up to find Lucy headed their way, even as Therese stepped out of the infirmary.
Dixon’s eyes flashed from Lucy to Basha, and then rested on Therese as she came to his side. “Just do as much talking for Mara as you can,” he whispered. “And whatever else you do—do not let Lucy get her alone.”
“Well, you three certainly have your heads close together,” Lucy commented as she neared them. “Is all well?”
He tightened the last of Mara’s saddle straps. “All’s well,” he said, his eyes averted. He could feel Lucy watching him. She was a great friend and cohort, but sometimes she thought that her way was the only way. Moreover, she’d do anything she felt proper to protect the twins—and it was just too bad for anyone who contradicted her.
“I’ll get her now,” Basha said.
“Oh, here’s Adele,” Therese said, “with Jules, Nina, and their little ones. It looks like everyone is coming out to see you two off,” she said to Dixon.
“Well, it is rather unusual—” Lucy commented.
“Stop it,” Dixon interrupted her. “Mara needs a break and she deserves one. Besides, we’ll be back before you know it.”
“Still—”
“Oh look! Fidel and Leala are coming as well,” Therese exclaimed, cutting Lucy off.
Jules, Nina, and their two youngest, reached the group just as Basha stepped out of the infirmary with Mara and the twins.
The children ran to Mara.
“Careful, careful,” Basha said.
Caden frowned. “But Mama says she’s all right now.”
“She is. She’s fine. But we must be careful.”
Calandra took Mara’s hand. Her dark eyes looked up at her. “Are you good now?”
Smiling, Mara crouched down. She couldn’t know that Calandra loved her dearly, that she followed her around like a shadow, and that she’d been nearly sick with worry for her. “I’m well,” she said. “Who’re—”
“Oh look!” Basha interrupted. “Jules and Nina want to see you off, as well.” She motioned toward the children. “Come on Caden. Come on Calandra.”
Mara patted first one of them, then the other, on the head. “Aren’t you lovely?”
Nina stepped up. She leaned in to embrace her friend. For a moment, Mara seemed taken aback, but she returned the gesture.
“I hope you get back soon,”
Nina said, tears glistening in her eyes.
Mara smiled, but said nothing.
Leala and Fidel each spoke to Mara briefly, wishing her a safe trip.
“You ready to go then?” Dixon asked as he turned her way. In that moment he was thrown back in his memory with an impact that nearly took his breath away. It was to the time, just after he and Mara had learned that because they’d both sworn a life oath to protect the twins, and because Ehyeh had confirmed both of their oaths, they could marry after all. Mara’s response to Dixon’s question then had been, “So long as you go with me.” It had become a habit of theirs over the years, when coming and going, to question and answer one another in that manner. Dixon watched her closely for any sign of recognition.
There was none. She simply nodded. If anyone noticed that she failed to respond to him in her usual manner, they said nothing.
Lucy stepped to her side. “Well, Mara, I can’t say that I exactly understand this—”
“Lucy,” Dixon cautioned.
She glanced at him and sighed. “Well, have a good trip then.”
“Thank you,” Mara said.
“All right,” Dixon said, “we’re ready here.”
The twins approached.
“Come back soon,” Reigna said. She embraced her Oathtaker tightly. When she released her, a single tear dropped down her cheek.
Mara’s brow fell. She tipped her head and narrowed her eyes as she watched, then wiped the young woman’s tears away with the edge of her thumb.
Then Eden hugged Mara. “We’ll miss you,” she said.
Mara stroked her cheek.
Dixon watched, mesmerized. It was the same mannerism she’d always displayed with the girls. Maybe she’s remembering something . . .
“I’m ready,” she said.
No, I guess not.
He helped her into her saddle and then prepared himself to go. Turning to the others, he nodded. Noting that Mara faced away from the group, he asked her quietly, “Can you wave at them all?”
She turned, raised her hand, and then waved “good-bye.”
Chapter Four
Lucy called a meeting. She felt it imperative that the key group of compound residents, those whose main duties included defending the facility, review all of their plans and defenses—particularly now that Mara and Dixon were absent. She asked Adele to prepare a meal and ordered that all those not joining the meeting were to eat on the first shift.
The last of the early diners waved at her as they made their way out. Lucy didn’t have close personal friends amongst the other compound inhabitants, but they all respected her position of authority.
Jules and Nina, whose children Nina’s sister, Erin, watched for the evening, arrived first. The oldtimers, Fidel and Leala, showed up shortly thereafter. With them came Kayson, Raman, and more Oathtakers and Select. Lucy instructed everyone to get right to dinner so that the meeting wouldn’t run too late.
The attendees helped themselves to heaping plates of wood roasted chicken, baked potatoes with butter, sour cream and chives, and fire-roasted broccoli sprinkled with garlic and drizzled with spicy red pepper-infused olive oil.
Before long, Basha and Therese arrived.
“How is everything?” Basha asked Lucy.
“Fine. I just thought with Mara and Dixon . . . gone,” she shook her head, clearly disapproving of their absence, “and with Carlie still missing, that we should take a good look at our situation.”
“Have you eaten, Lucy?” Therese asked, as the din in the room grew.
“No. I’m waiting for the last to arrive.”
“Who else are you expecting?”
“Just a number of the guard who’ve led defensive groups into the outer perimeter of the compound in search of Carlie, and a handful of some of the senior Select. Oh, and I’ve asked Marshall to attend, of course.” She scanned the room. “Samuel is out with a group, so unfortunately, he’ll not be with us.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes. Oh, and Velia and Jerrett. They just returned from their trip for supplies.”
Just then the cafeteria door opened. In walked Reigna and Eden, both dressed in training gear of loose fitting pants and tunics tied at their waists and with leather armguards about their wrists.
Lucy rushed their way. “Girls,” she said, “you needn’t be here this evening. I hadn’t realized you didn’t get dinner earlier. I’ll have some sent to your cabin.”
“We’re not going anywhere,” Reigna said.
Lucy furrowed her brow. “Wh— Whyever would you want to trouble yourself with all of this?” she asked, waving her hand.
“Because it concerns us,” Eden said. “We’re staying.”
Lucy scowled. “Really, it’s not necessary.”
Basha approached. “I think it’s an excellent idea for you two to join us,” she said to the twins.
“But Basha—” Lucy argued.
“Goodness, Lucy, as the twin were good enough to remind me recently, they are no longer children. The fact is that they’ve long since left childhood behind. They should know what’s going on around here, and why.”
“It seems unnecessary to trouble them with—”
“You’re not troubling us,” Reigna interrupted. “You know, all our lives we’ve been told that we’re all here—that you’re all here—at this compound, for our safety. All our lives we’ve watched others do whatever is necessary to keep this place secret, and to keep it—to keep us—safe.” She bit her lower lip. “You know, Mara always said: ‘the only thing worse than making a child grow up too fast, is to keep her a baby for too long.’ We agree. So, we’ve decided. We’ll not be babied anymore. It’s time we knew more. We’re staying.”
Lucy glanced Eden’s way, apparently seeking her assistance.
Eden failed to comply. She grabbed her twin’s arm. “Come on, let’s get some dinner.”
They went to fill their plates after first greeting Nina with a hug.
Basha watched them. “They’re right, you know.”
Lucy scowled. “I never understood that saying.”
“What? About keeping someone a baby for too long?”
“Exactly. What’s that supposed to mean anyway?”
Basha chuckled. “Well, I can tell you what Mara told me.”
Lucy crossed her arms and raised her brow, a question in her eyes.
“Have you ever seen a nine year old left with the responsibility of seeing her younger siblings clothed and fed after their mother died? Or a teenage boy responsible for running the family farm after his father suffered a heart attack?”
“Of course,” she huffed.
“Those things are sad.”
“Yes. So?”
“So, have you ever seen a child nurse at its mother’s breast at five years of age? Or a full grown, able-bodied man, tied to his mother’s apron strings, depending on her to make his decisions, his meals, his livelihood, even?”
“What of it?” Lucy asked as she looked over the dining room.
Basha put her hand on her arm. “Those things aren’t sad—they’re tragic. Hence, Mara’s statement: ‘The only thing worse than making a child grow up too fast, is to keep her a baby for too long.’”
Lucy shook her head. “The girls shouldn’t be here. They needn’t concern themselves with the goings on.”
“You’re wrong, Lucy. They belong here. Its time we quit treating them like children. Mara was well aware of that fact. Her going away might be the best thing that ever happened to them. They’ll learn to stand on their own feet. What’s more, they want to. If you stop them now, they might never rise to their proper positions later.”
Lucy huffed, then turned toward the door as Velia and Jerrett entered. The two of them were important residents, as they’d been instrumental in helping to thwart Lilith’s plans to kill Reigna and Eden when they were just infants. Much to everyone’s surprise, they revealed some time later, that their interest in one another had blossomed. Since neithe
r of them had a currently living charge, they married. Now they had four boys, the eldest, eight, the youngest, a newborn.
Standing over six feet tall, and exceptionally muscular, Jerrett always wore loose linen pants and an open vest that exaggerated the size of his biceps and the strength of his abdominal muscles. He wore at all times, a belt from which numerous weapons hung. His presence frightened anyone who didn’t know him, as before becoming an Oathtaker, he’d lived a rather wild young life. His tattoos of serpents with open mouths and fangs exposed, evidenced that fact. Notwithstanding his appearance, however, Reigna and Eden favored him. Indeed, even the youngest of the compound children did.
The twins jumped up to meet the newcomers.
“Come, join us at our table,” Eden offered, taking Velia’s arm.
Once again the door opened and Marshall stepped in. He’d been Lilith’s Oathtaker, though she’d released him shortly before she’d set out on her murderous journey to seek out the twins and to kill them. Her actions devastated him. When Mara finally informed the Council of what Lilith had done, they renewed Marshall’s Oathtaker credentials. He then swore that he’d take only one more oath in his lifetime, and that, for the twins’ benefit. After doing so, he joined Lucy’s compound.
“Hello, Marshall!” Reigna exclaimed.
“Hey.” He glanced about the room. For the most part, only the key decision-makers were in attendance. “What are you two doing here?”
“We told Lucy that since this is about us—in one way or another—we’re staying.”
He chuckled.
“Please, join us.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Your table will be full, I’m sure.”
“Come on,” Reigna urged. She grabbed his arm and pulled him along. “We’ll make room for you.” Then they, with Eden, Velia, and Jerrett, sat at Jules and Nina’s table.
The room grew noisier as the diners talked, laughed, and ate. Occasionally, when someone mentioned Mara or Dixon, the group momentarily quieted, but all in all, they enjoyed themselves and one another’s company.
As they were finishing up, Adele stepped into the dining area. Formerly a personal maid to Rowena, she later served Lilith, who treated her cruelly. From the moment Adele escaped the woman’s clutches and joined Mara and Dixon, she’d looked upon them as her family. Now she ran the compound kitchen, seeking to serve the others in some small way.
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