“No one needs to know, hmm?”
Her eyes widened. “Does your Maestro know?”
“Yes, of course.” He rolled his eyes. “It would be impossible to not tell her. But aside from her, I mean. And you, I guess.”
Suddenly, what Desmond said about Laura keeping her mouth shut concerning Devon made sense. She was hiding a condition of his from the Jurors, likely to keep them from controversial choices he was making.
“Are you…” She paused, trying to think of the best words. “You are very sick?”
“If this was the twenty-first century on Earth or somewhere else remote, I might be,” he answered. “But here, and now? No. There's so many things they have. Don't let the tubing fool you. I don't feel any pain, I don't have sick days, and I won't drop dead anytime soon.”
His grin was infectious. Despite the lightness of his voice, she felt like he had just let her in on a secret. They had something in common, and he had told her something that no one else knew.
Maybe she could trust him.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Just down to the cafeteria,” he answered. “I'm starving, and you know how they are with these drugs. Never eat anything fun until they are done. Can you walk?”
“Mostly,” she was slow, but she could still place her feet on the floor.
“Here, my lady,” he said, and held out his arm.
“Sir,” she grinned as they touched. Shivers went down her spine, and she leaned slightly on him as they walked. This was the first real adventure she'd had in months, and she was glad to have it with him.
Chapter 5
“No, you didn't!” Laura grinned at Nathaniel as she sipped the tea he had gotten for them.
“I did,” he said. “In the middle of the palace, and I didn't care. Someone needed to stand up to the South.”
“Someone needed to stand up to your mouth,” she howled with laughter. “Oh, no wonder you are a legend.”
“I don't think I'm a legend,” he said as he grinned, his feet up on a chair. He had been told Sienna was napping, and although he desperately wanted one himself, he was happy for the distraction. She was funny, full of life, and willing to exchange disastrous quest stories. If he had to sit here in the world's most uncomfortable chair, at least she could entertain him.
“Of course, you are.” She grinned, putting her feet up on the other side of his chair. She had long, beautiful legs that seemed to go on forever, her body sculpted and toned. She was in fantastic shape, likely from the quests she took. He especially enjoyed her from this angle, how her eyes sparkled when she laughed. Desmond was always so serious, and it was rare in the past few days that he had a conversation without sighing. This was a welcome change from the gloom and doom that seemed to follow him. “Devon learns about you in his classes. The first time he saw you across the hangar, he actually pointed and yelped.”
“That's surreal,” Nathaniel said. “Most days, I can hardly figure out that I'm the adult in the room.”
“I know that feeling,” Laura admitted quickly. “Devon asks me questions about mathematics I've long forgotten, and I look around for another Maestro. But then I realized I'm supposed to be the one who is helping him. It's so odd, especially now that he's older.”
“How long have you been training him?” Nathaniel asked.
“Since he was six,” she answered. “So eight years, I guess?”
“Wow,” Nathaniel said. “That's young. He'll be ready to take the tests soon.”
“Shall we check on them?” Laura changed the topic quickly, standing up. “It will be nice to stretch the legs.”
“Sure,” Nathaniel answered, standing up as well. He was a bit puzzled by her reaction, but he didn't want to draw attention to it. Maybe Devon was having trouble reaching the level the tests required. At fourteen, Nathaniel was nowhere near ready. But then, he hadn't become Desmond's Tiro until one year prior, so that made perfect sense. For Nathaniel, fourteen was just the beginning. He had to struggle to remember that, for others, it was almost the end. “Where's yours?”
“I don't know. He wanders.” Laura grinned. “Do you want me to come with you first? Does yours wander?”
“No,” Nathaniel was firm on that as they walked down the hall. “She's usually pretty close to our sides. But then, we usually want to be in arm's reach, just in case.”
“Makes sense,” Laura said as they rounded the corner to Sienna's room. She was about to tell him another joke when they entered the room. It was empty.
“What the…?” Nathaniel asked, spinning in a slow circle. She wasn't anywhere, including the window ledge or the bathroom.
“Would they have taken her for tests?” Laura asked at his confusion.
“No, they would have told me,” Nathaniel answered. “Every test has to be approved by Desmond and me. Where is she?”
“Devon should be here,” Laura pointed to a long row of chairs in the room across the hall where others were receiving IV treatments. But a quick scan with her eyes showed her that he wasn't there either.
‘Sienna,’ Nathaniel wasted no time closing his eyes and reaching out with his bond. She should be able to hear him almost anywhere and answer within seconds. She had been bonded to him since the early days, when her Basic was weak and that was their only way of communication.
There was no answer.
‘Sienna!’ he cried out in his mind again. Maybe she just wasn't listening. But there was nothing.
His eyes flew open, wild as he tried to think.
Just then, Tara walked into the room, a clipboard in her hand.
“Where is she?” Nathaniel blurted out.
Tara stopped dead, looking confused. “What?” she asked.
“Sienna,” Nathaniel repeated, as if she was an idiot. “What did you do, Tara?”
“What in the galaxy are you talking about?” Tara asked. “I didn't do anything to her.”
“You didn't sneak her off to a test without my permission?” Nathaniel's eyes narrowed. “Because I know you've been dying to learn more about the acridid gene, like she's some sort of farm animal on an experimental table.”
“If I wanted to do that,” Tara answered, “I could find better subjects at a much better stage in their lives. How dare you accuse me of such a thing? Why would you think I would risk my medical license to do that?”
“I wouldn't put it past you.”
“Whoa, whoa!” Laura put her arm out between the two of them. “Slow down, you two. Devon's missing, too.”
“Devon's missing, too?” This alarmed Tara. As much as she didn't get along with Nathaniel, she ran a tight ship. Her patients didn't normally wander off.
“Hold on.” Laura closed her eyes, trying to reach out. She was finding it hard to focus with so much anger in the air, and it took her half a second longer than normal. ‘Devon.’
‘Laura,’ came back his cheeky thoughts.
‘You causing trouble?’ She was casual about it, as she always was. Devon never kept secrets from her, and this time was no exception. ‘We're looking for you.’
‘Ice cream,’ he answered. ‘Just in the cafeteria. I was hungry.’
‘Any chance Sienna was hungry, too? Nathaniel's Tiro?’
‘Yep,’ came Devon's reply, and Laura's eyes flew open.
“It's okay,” she said as the world came back into focus. “They are just in cafeteria.”
“What?” Nathaniel answered, outraged. “Why would they just walk away?”
“Because they are kids, Nathaniel,” Laura shrugged. “Shall we retrieve them, Tara?”
“Just make sure they don't fall on the way back,” Tara said, glaring at Nathaniel. “Apologize.”
“This time,” Nathaniel answered. “I'm sorry.”
He was already shaking his head as they walked down to the cafeteria. He wasn't exactly running, but his heart was hammering in his chest.
“Why the hell would she do that?” he asked mostly himself. “She never
does things like that. She's never more than four feet from us.”
“She has to grow up some time,” Laura replied. “Besides, it's not like they are breaking curfew or snorting illegal substances. They went to the cafeteria for ice cream.”
“She can't have ice cream,” Nathaniel muttered as they entered the cafeteria. Sure enough, sitting at one of the side tables, drawing attention to themselves with IV poles and Sienna's hospital gown, she and Devon had ice cream between them. She wasn't eating any of it, but her hands were on her chin and she was watching Devon with a look that Nathaniel knew well. It was the same look that he gave Eliza pretty much all the time.
“Ahem,” Nathaniel said behind her, and she jumped about three feet in the air.
“Hey,” Devon looked up at Nathaniel. “What's up?”
“Seriously?” Nathaniel raised his eyebrow. Sienna leaned back against his legs, looking up at him. “What are you doing?”
“Hungry?” she tried, and he gestured at the table.
“I see that,” he said. “You can't just wander off like that, all right? Whose idea was this?”
Laura met Devon's eyes across the table. She did not seem anywhere as enraged as Nathaniel was. Devon shrugged.
“Is it okay?”
“For me, it's fine,” she replied. “But you really shouldn't just take off with someone ease's Tiro, Devon.”
“Sorry, I thought everything was all right,” Devon answered. “Next time, we'll tell you.”
“I don't think there's going to be a next time,” Nathaniel answered as he reached out to help Sienna. “Is that clear?”
She said nothing, silent and probably a little embarrassed. She was clearly unstable on her feet now, the short excursion not doing her any good.
“Yeah, back to the med bay,” Nathaniel said, casting a glance at Laura.
“I'll just stay until Devon is done,” she said, sinking into the seat Sienna had vacated. “Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about,” Nathaniel replied, not blaming her. She smiled at him, and he managed to smile back as they headed off.
When they were gone, she turned back to Devon. He smirked.
“What?” he asked with a grin. “I'm pretty sure I've been going to get my own food when I was in the med bay since I was eight.”
“I know that,” she replied. “And I'm fine with you running off. But clearly, there are stricter rules for other people.”
“She wanted to go,” he said. “It's not like I dragged her.”
“I hope not,” she replied. “That girl is fragile, so don't do that.”
“Mmm,” Devon answered. “She's pretty neat though.”
“Oh?” Laura raised an eyebrow. “I see.”
“What,” Devon chuckled, and Laura shook her head.
“Just be careful,” she said. “How are you feeling?”
“I'm all right,” he answered, glancing up at his IV pole. “Obviously, I really wanted ice cream, otherwise I wouldn't be out in public with this.”
“Side effect,” Laura answered with a grin. “Ice cream craving was on the list.”
“I'm sure it was,” Devon said as he took the last bite. “I think she's figured it out, by the way. Ninety-nine percent of people don't know what Hydroxon is for.”
“She would,” Laura answered. “She lives her life in the medical system. Did you want her to know the gory details?”
“I don't know,” he answered, contemplating it. “Maybe I'm all right with it.”
“That's your choice,” Laura met his eyes. “I would never tell anyone if you didn't want me to.”
“I know,” Devon smiled. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” Laura said as she punched his arm. “Let's go, eh?”
“Yep.” He finished and stood up, following her back to the med bay. As Maestros went, he was pretty lucky.
Chapter 6
“Where have you been?” Eliza asked when Nathaniel finally logged on a week later. Normally, they talked every night, or every second night. But for the past week, he had virtually been out of contact.
“Ah, I'm sorry, Eliza,” he answered. “It's been a crazy week.”
“It must be if you don't answer my calls or my messages,” she replied. She was wearing her crown, indicating to Nathaniel that she had just come from throne duty, which wasn't normal. Normally, she waited until she was dressed down and alone before she spoke to him. “Is Sienna all right?”
“Much better,” he replied. “She was released a few days ago, and I think it's under control.”
“That's good, because I need you.”
“Sorry?” He leaned forward. It was very rare that Eliza ever admitted any sort of need. “What's the matter?”
“I don't quite need you to rush out here on a quest,” she answered. “But there's been some odd things happening. Possibly magically.”
“What do you mean, ‘odd?’” he asked, his brow furrowed. He realized now that she looked a little bit frightened, which she normally never did. Eliza was always calm, cool, and collected.
“Do you remember my cousin Ladd?”
Nathaniel choked. “Your cousin Ladd, who we had to execute because he tried to kill you? And who kidnapped you twice in a row before you got the job done? Yeah, he vaguely rings a bell.”
“Right,” she paused. “You're going to think I'm crazy, but there have been sightings of him.”
“No,” Nathaniel answered. “You made sure he's dead.”
“I did,” she answered. “There was no doubt that he was dead. But people keep telling me they see him, they hear his voice in their ear. Is that possible? Some way between the living and the dead?”
“Uh…” Nathaniel bit his lip. “You mean, with magic?”
“I pretty much mean with anything at this point,” she said, leaning in.
“I need to look into it,” he answered. “I've never heard of it before, but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened. I mean, we only theorized that magic could resurrect before Sienna brought you back. And even now, she's the only one who can do things like that, as far as I'm concerned.”
“So, look into it,” she answered, and he noticed the desperation in her voice. “If there is something going on, I can't just let it go. I have to be sure.”
“Eliza, calm down,” he wished he was with her right now, able to wrap his arms around her and kiss the top of her head. Normally, he didn't mind the distance. But it was moments like this that he cursed it. He wanted so badly to comfort her, to stroke her hair. But Eliza was no ordinary woman; she was queen. “Is there any other information you can give me?”
“Nothing,” she said. “I just need to make sure that I'm not going crazy.”
“Have you heard him?” Nathaniel was almost afraid to ask.
She gave the slightest nod. “But I could have been dreaming,” she said.
“Increase your guard detail,” he said at once. “Take every precaution.”
“You think this is possible?” she asked.
“I don't know, but I'm not taking any chances.” He searched his mind. “A friend of mine – Laura – spent some time on the very outer rim with her Tiro. She was telling me about some beings out there who almost seemed to drift in and out of time and space. She's a diplomat, so working with beings who didn't recognize time presented challenges. I'll ask her if she's ever heard of anything like this.”
“Ask the whole planet,” Eliza answered. “So long as I'm not going crazy or seeing ghosts.”
“Please call me if anything else happens,” he replied. “Anything at all. I was distracted before, but I'll answer, I promise.”
“I will,” she said. They stared into each other's eyes for a long moment, wanting to say more. But now did not seem the time for sappy romance or love stories. His heart was racing as he got up, disconnecting the video call. He wanted her to be safe, of course, and he wanted her to feel protected.
But this couldn't be possible.
A vague, sinking feelin
g entered his mind. The first time that Eliza had told him Ladd was dead by her hand had been a lie. She had kept him alive because he was the last heir to the throne, and an heirless throne was worse than a threatened one. She had lied to his face, and it had almost gotten her killed. Actually, it would have gotten her killed had Sienna been unable to save her.
She wouldn't do that again, would she?
Nathaniel shook the thought from his mind as he exited his room. It was past six p.m., and he was exhausted, but he stopped in Sienna's room.
She was curled up on her bed, typing on her tablet. It brought a smile to his face just to see her sitting there, breathing, looking up at him. He was reminded too often that she might not be there the next day.
“Hi,” he said. “I have to pop into the East Wing to see Laura for a few minutes. Do you want to come? If not, I think Desmond is just in the library.”
“Laura?” she put down her tablet. “Yes.”
He raised an eyebrow. She normally wanted to come with him, but once the sun set, she was content to just be still and quiet.
“Slowly, then,” he said as she got up. “Are you almost done with your homework?”
“Homework?” she answered. I was bidding for missions.”
“I'm sorry?” he looked at her like she had grown a third eye. “You literally just got out of the med bay.”
“I was bidding for missions that were weeks away,” she tried.
“No,” he said. “You'll leave the bidding to Desmond and me, who will decide when you are well.”
“I was only bidding on support missions,” she answered, and he raised an eyebrow.
“Really?” That surprised him. Support missions were for teams of Maestros and Tiros. One was to lead while the other hung back on the planet, usually idle. Sienna never wanted to do those missions; she was shy, but she also wanted excitement. He was surprised she even knew how to get into that tab. “How come?”
“Oh, no reason,” she answered as they walked. He could tell she still wasn't quite stable, but she was improving.
“This wouldn't have anything to do with Laura's Tiro, would it?” Nathaniel asked.
“You aren't asking Laura something just because she's pretty, are you?” Sienna answered, and he choked. Her responses were never that witty or that quick.
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