I wasn’t sure what to say. I didn’t know how to answer his question. I didn’t have any authority. All I knew was that I had to convince them to save the Water Keepers from getting shut down.
“The Keeper Program does more good than you could ever imagine,” I finally said. “It’s a crucial element of our connection to Earth. Maybe none of you can understand that because things are so easy here in Banya, but the people on Earth are constantly suffering, and for all that our Scouts take from them without them even knowing, paying them back through the Healing Water is the least we can do.”
I took a deep breath and stared out at the sea of people in front of me. “Here in Banya you can’t understand why helping people on Earth is so special. People on Ambrosia don’t die young except on the rarest occasions, and you don’t know what it’s like to watch your loved ones suffer with long-term illnesses or disease. But the people of Earth know. They suffer more than you could ever imagine. You can’t possibly understand what a huge comfort it is for the people on Earth when our Water Keepers heal the people they love.”
Birch finally interjected. “If you’re not an agent, as you said, then, how is it that you have such strong feelings toward the Keeper Program and helping the people of Earth?”
I could only think of one logical answer to his question. The reason I felt so strongly about helping the people of Earth was because I was one of them. I was from Earth. But, was I ready to tell the people of Ambrosia that? Was I ready to deal with the consequences that would come with making that choice?
I stared from Birch to the massive crowd before me then back to Birch again, trying to decide what to do.
Suddenly, the trembling nerves disappeared as the vision I just barely had of Jane Carpenter Fairbanks played back through my mind. “When the time comes you will know,” she had said. “Listen to your heart. Follow the light within.”
Something rang true in the depths of my soul. This was the time Jane was referring to. I could feel it. I wasn’t meant to hide myself in the shadows. I didn’t know why or how, but I knew in this moment that I had a destiny to fulfill. I was meant to let my light shine for all the world of Ambrosia to see.
I looked at Birch again, this time with a new sense of confidence. My voice didn’t waver as I finally replied. “The reason I care so much about the people of Earth is because I was born there. I grew up and lived there for seventeen years.”
A hum of murmuring swept through the crowd.
Birch’s confidence and poise was visibly shaken. “You’re saying... you’re a citizen of Earth? But, how is that possible?”
Birch sent an anxious glance at the guard at the edge of the stage, as if he was ready for him to come take me away, but the guard couldn’t respond. My own two guards were now with him on the stage, all of them in the middle of a heated argument.
“I grew up on Earth,” I explained quickly into the microphone. “But I recently took an oath in front of the Ambassadors Council and I’m now a citizen of Ambrosia, just like each of you.”
The next thing I knew, Birch was striding toward me.
I gripped the sides of the podium, trying to say as much as I could before he pulled me away. “A Keeper healed my mother who was dying from a terrible disease,” I said urgently. “And another Keeper healed me as well, when I was in a car accident and suffered a severe brain injury.”
Birch put his arm around my shoulder, pushing me tactfully to the side. He straightened the microphone and plastered a huge, fake-looking smile on his face. “Well, folks, I’m afraid it looks like we’re out of time. We’d like to thank all the commenters for sharing their thoughts, and we thank the audience for joining us for this special event. Please have a good night.”
When he was finished speaking, Birch pulled my shoulder further, trying to usher me off the stage. I didn’t feel finished, though. I felt it deep within. There was something more I needed to say.
The guards stopped arguing and all started toward us. I had to do something fast. I might never get a chance like this again.
I shoved my elbow into Birch’s side and rushed away from him to grab the microphone. “My name is Sadie Fairbanks,” I announced boldly. “I’m the daughter of Hamlin Fairbanks, your past Ambassador. He met my mother on Earth.”
Just before they reached me, the guards stopped abruptly, as if the name was enough to paralyze their feet.
I gripped the microphone tighter. “I am the direct descendant of Jane and William Fairbanks... the very people who discovered Ambrosia, and I demand to be heard.”
The crowd went silent. Birch Parker’s face went white.
“I will not back down,” I declared. “My ancestors created the Keeper program, and I believe they were inspired to lead Ambrosia on this path as a way to give back to Earth for all that Ambrosia takes.”
Just before the guards grabbed my arms to tear me away, I stared out across the crowd and held up my chin. “My name is Sadie James Fairbanks,” I proclaimed, “and I am here to defend the Water Keepers.”
33. ORION GETS REPRIMANDED
“Your failure to get to Voss first is inexcusable,” Cypress muttered. “You make great promises but then you do not deliver. If your mother were here she would be disgraced by your very presence.”
Orion closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I’ve interrogated Voss thoroughly, father. His mental stability is completely gone. He can hardly form complete sentences, let alone make any sort of intelligent plans against us.”
“Voss’s current state of insanity certainly works in our favor, but this came to us by sheer luck, not by any competent action on your part.” Cypress held up a shaky hand in frustration. “How could you not know that the girl could locate people with her mind? I told you she was hiding something. All that time you were studying her, and you learned almost nothing. Meanwhile, the Aurora grows stronger by the minute.”
“We’ve learned she has weaknesses too,” Orion insisted. “Her powers have limitations. She can only sustain them for a short period of time before her body gives out. And we’ve learned that she does not heal instantly when brought through the Threshold border to Banya.”
“These weaknesses pale in comparison to her strengths,” Cypress argued. “And now, the Believers know she is here. If they get hold of the girl, who knows what path they will lead her to follow.”
Orion folded his arms. “I’m hearing a lot of complaints, but I’ve yet to hear any solutions. If you have any constructive ideas on how to stop Sadie from leading our world to utter destruction, I’m all ears.”
Before Cypress could respond, the bedroom door flew open, and Birch Parker stormed through the opening.
“The members of the CAED are livid,” Birch snarled. “How could you let this happen? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
Orion held up one hand. “I understand you’re upset—”
“Upset?” Birch cut in. “You better believe I’m upset! You assured us that Hamlin’s daughter was hours away with her parents. I had no idea who I was speaking to up there on that stage. First it took you seventeen years to even discover that Hamlin Fairbanks had a daughter, when you’ve been working with him side by side for decades, and now she’s giving speeches in front of all Ambrosia as an advocate for the Keepers? The Believers are going to have a field day with this one.”
“We tried to warn you that she was a greater threat,” Orion accused. “You were the ones who chose not to take our warnings seriously.”
Birch shook his head with frustration. “What was she even doing there at the rally in the first place? Do you understand what kind of predicament you put me in? Maybe if you had actually stayed for the entire event instead of taking off right after your speech, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
“Well, if you had actually listened to us in the first place and taken the time to learn who the girl was, you would have been able to figure it out up there on your own. You should have been prepared to stop her long before she had a chan
ce to reveal her identity.”
“It never should have happened in the first place,” Birch argued. “I was put on the spot in front of a massive audience. You know I have a cover to maintain. She shouldn’t have even been allowed on site at the event. You were supposed to send her away until she started classes at the Academy.”
Orion cleared his throat. “The matter was out of my hands. The Council decided against sending her to her parents long-term. I have just as much of a cover to maintain as you do.”
“Your sway with the Ambassadors Council has become weak,” Birch accused.
“Well, if I recall,” Orion said coldly, “it was two members of the CAED that were supposed to be watching Sadie at the time. It was they who allowed her to attend the event, not me. They directly disobeyed orders.”
Birch grumbled. “That’s beside the point. You continue to fail to live up to your promises at every turn. I’m beginning to wonder if you hold any value to the CAED at all.”
Orion’s eyes narrowed. “I’m only weeks away from winning this election. You know what I can do once I become Ambassador.”
“If you even win,” Birch complained. “After the stunt that girl pulled tonight, you’ll be lucky to get even a third of the votes.”
“I’ve got the situation under control,” Orion insisted. “The people want to see changes made. And the Council has already agreed to restrict Sadie to campus from here forward. They want her out of the spotlight just as much as we do.”
Orion’s father finally interjected, his voice raspy. “We should take this opportunity to slander the girl’s name. Her father is known to be in prison for his scandalous behavior. She’s the daughter of a traitor.”
“My people are already on it,” Birch replied. “But it won’t be enough. The CAED members are discussing more extreme actions. If this girl, Hamlin’s daughter, gains any real support among the people, she could devastate all that we’ve been working to accomplish. We have to do everything in our power to stop her, no matter what it takes.”
***End of Book 4***
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Flood Rising (The Water Keepers, Book 4) Page 29