The Crystal Keepers, An Overseers Novel
Page 48
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Loki’s eyes opened after a brief nap. With her head still resting on the back of the chair, she examined the light around her mother and nothing had changed. Then she realized that someone was beside her. She turned her head and saw Kado sitting in another chair.
He smiled. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“I’m sure you don’t feel like eating but I brought you some food.” On his lap rested a plate with slices of bread spread with jam and some sausage. “You didn’t eat anything last night. You don’t want to make yourself weak.”
Loki raised her head and sat up further in the chair. “Actually, I am a little hungry.” She reached over and took the plate from his hand. “Thank you.”
They sat in silence as Loki nibbled on the food. She appreciated Kado’s company.
Kado didn’t know what to say to Loki. He wanted to offer her some comfort. He could only imagine what it was like to lose a parent. He had lost both of his parents although he was too young to remember. Somewhere in his subconscious, though, there had to be a memory of it and some understanding of what it was like. Or, so he believed. He hoped that someday it would surface and he could recall what it was like to have parents.
They heard the sound of a man clearing his voice behind them and both turned simultaneously.
“Good morning,” smiled Morten. He looked at the fragments in the light and his expression briefly showed the gravity of his observation. Then he gazed at Kado. “Kado, would you excuse us for awhile?”
Kado stood. “Sure.” He turned back to Loki. “See you later.”
“Bye.”
Morten took the vacant chair next to Loki. He studied Gwynn again as he pondered his words. “I heard what Adele said to you last night. She was right. Your mother had her mind made up and there was nothing that any of us could have said to her to change what she did.” He stared into her eyes. “Even you.”
“Did you know what she was going to do?”
Morten looked at the floor. “Yes. I knew. Oh, not because she told me but I read it in her thoughts.”
“But, why…” Loki wasn’t sure whether to finish her question.
“Why didn’t I stop her?”
Loki glanced sideways at him but didn’t speak.
“Loki, I’m going to tell you the same thing that I tell every Overseer. Experience is a greater teacher than anything I could ever say. Your mother knew that. Getting the journal has been on her mind since before you and your siblings were even a thought. It’s true that, in time, we will see how her destroying the journal has helped the situation but for now I want you to realize that she made the decision to go. She is responsible for that action and she would tell you the same, if she could. You need to accept that.”
He let his words sink in for a bit before he turned to gaze into her eyes again.
She nodded to acknowledge his explanation.
He stood and stepped closer to the bed to study the healing fragments. Then he took Gwynn’s hand in his, felt for her pulse and then gently returned her hand to the bed.
With his back to Loki, he said, “There is nothing more that I can do for her.”
Loki remained silent at first. Then she quietly replied, “I know.”
FIFTY ONE
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Tannis, Guardians of Light
Northland
“Why did you leave your post?” asked Tannis.
James was buttoning up his shirt. He had apparently changed shirts after returning to his room. By the look on his face, Tannis thought he was confused.
“I…uh…there was a schedule change. I was relieved.”
“By whom?”
James stammered for a moment. “Have I done something wrong?”
“I just need to know who replaced you at the gate.”
“Anton. He said there had been a last minute schedule change and that he was assigned to finish out the afternoon at the gate. Am I in trouble?”
“No. You’re fine. Do me a favor and don’t tell anyone we spoke. Ok?”
James nodded.
Tannis walked away and heard James close the bedroom door. His head spun with questions as he made his way to Noya’s room but then he changed his mind and decided to look at the schedule first. He trotted across the compound, entered the clerk’s building and found the roster for sentry assignment. James’s name was still there but Anton’s name had been added, with a note that he would start mid-afternoon.
Tannis walked out of the clerk’s building and scanned the compound, as he let his thoughts try to sort this out. If Anton was scheduled to start mid-afternoon, then he should still be there but as far as Tannis knew, no one was at the gate. He decided to double check before he spoke with Noya. He might be met with criticism if he didn’t get his facts straight.
As he approached the gate, someone was there.
“Hey brother,” Anton said. “Are you heading out?”
Tannis stopped and studied him. “No. How long have you been here?”
“Oh, about half an hour. Why?” asked Anton.
“No one was here when I came through about twenty minutes ago.”
“Yeah. I went back to our room to grab a book.” He held a book out in his hand. “Figured I might as well have something to do while I’m here.” Anton smiled sheepishly.
Tannis was skeptical and didn’t know what to believe. He glanced at Anton’s hair. It was dark, just like the person he observed walking toward the building but there were a lot of Guardians with dark hair. He vaguely recalled seeing a light-colored shirt but Anton’s shirt was brown.
“Hey, you look confused,” Anton said. “Is something wrong?”
“No. Nothing.” Tannis turned and walked away.