She wasn’t wrong. Miles had changed a lot in the past couple of months. I’d seen him taking a lot more responsibility across the boards. He wasn’t shirking his schoolwork, his track practice or his role as a Realm Keeper in Midrealm. I was glad. I’d had a whole lot of respect for Miles before this had all started. And now he was launching himself into it with a will. He was back to the Miles I knew and liked.
“I don’t know,” he mused. “Do you think I’ve changed?”
Luckily I didn’t have to answer him, as Calvin chose that moment to sit down next to us.
“Hey guys,” Calvin said cheerily. “What’s the haps?”
“The haps is that no one says ‘what’s the haps’ any more,” Miles said.
Calvin grinned. “That’s because I’m retro. Seriously, what’s going on? What’s on tomorrow’s agenda?”
“Seriously, Calvin?” I growled. “We held council for, like, three hours yesterday. Didn’t you pay attention at all?”
Calvin pointed an accusing finger. “That’s exactly it. Three hours. Do you know what three hours does to a mind like mine? I’m above such mundane things. I’m a man of action. Like a secret agent. Or a caber tosser.” He made a foreign gesture with his arm.
“A what now?” asked Miles.
“Caber tosser,” explained Calvin. “They toss cabers. Big ol’ logs. It’s a Scottish thing. The red hair.” He pointed at his wild orange curls.
Miles blinked. “I think you’re speaking English, but there’s no way to be sure.”
“Greystone has been training troops,” I said. “He said they’re going to help hunt down the rest of the tombs of the Six. That is, if Terrence hasn’t already found them first.”
“You know, that’s been bothering me,” Miles said. “Why didn’t Terrence find the tombs of the Six before he launched an all-out war? I mean, he could have done everything in secret before the first shot was fired. No one would have had any idea.”
I shrugged. “Maybe that was the plan, and then something changed that forced his hand. Or maybe he just got power-hungry. Like Hitler. He was taking over all of Europe a country at a time, just because everyone was so terrified of him that they gave him whatever he asked for. And then he declared war, because he thought he was invincible. That’s when he lost.”
Miles shook his head. “That’s not exactly comforting, you know. The thought that we’re fighting a magical version of Hitler with wizard powers makes things worse, not better.”
I shrugged and took another bite of my lunch. “But hey, Hitler died in the end.”
I looked up and froze as I saw Kurt sitting at the next table. His eyes were on mine as I looked up. Had he been looking at me?
As soon as we locked gazes, he smiled a bit and waved. I waved back, suddenly blushing furiously.
Thoughts of Kurt had faded into the background of my mind over the last several weeks, but he still had the power to turn my stomach into a mass of roiling butterflies. I just wished he hadn’t cut his hair. It looked so much better when it was longer.
Then a cold pit formed in my stomach. Kurt’s hair had never been long. I was thinking of Darren. Darren was the one with the long hair.
I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose again. I had no idea where my mind was most of these days. Now I was starting to mix up people from Midrealm and True Earth.
Not good, Sarah. Very not good.
“You okay, cuz?” asked Calvin, suddenly sounding concerned.
I opened my eyes and flashed my best smile. “Of course,” I said. “Just thinking. Greystone’s been grilling me on the maps of Midrealm. It looks like we’re going to be striking out northeast. Or, wait. Northwest. Whichever direction is further inland, away from the ocean.”
“Northwest,” Calvin confirmed. “It would be northeast on Earth.”
Miles shook his head. “I’m just glad you guys can keep track of that stuff. It hurts my head.”
Raven appeared, blocking my line of sight to Kurt. I breathed a slight sigh of relief. It was hard to concentrate when I saw him stealing little glances at me every few seconds.
“What’s the haps?” asked Raven, plopping down her tray.
Miles looked at me helplessly. “Seriously, what is it with these people today?”
Blade showed up next, without a tray. He plopped down in between Calvin and Raven and quickly ran a hand through his dark hair, letting out a whoosh of breath and rubbing at his eyes.
“Hey man,” he said, turning to Calvin. “I’m not going to be able to give you a ride home today. Got some stuff to take care of on the way back to your place. You cool taking the bus?”
“Oh, sure,” Calvin nodded. “These days nobody wants to mess around with me. I think they’re all scared you’re going to kick the tar out of them.”
Blade smirked and punched his shoulder. Calvin hid a sudden wince behind a smile.
“You’re still staying at his house?” I asked, looking at Blade suspiciously.
Blade nodded and avoided my eyes. “Yeah. My house is being bug bombed.”
“It’s been, like, a week,” I pressed. “Is that normal?”
Blade finally looked at me, his eyes cold and hard. “Don’t know. Never had my house bug bombed before. Why don’t you do some research and write a paper about it or something?”
I was about to retort with something snappy, but just then Calvin caught my eye. His eyes were wide, and I saw him shake his head imperceptibly.
An uncomfortable moment passed.
“Okay, whatever,” I said, dismissing it. “We were talking about the plan. Greystone thinks he may have a lead to the northwest, so that’s where we’re going to go looking for the next tomb. I don’t know the name of the city yet, Greystone’s trying to pinpoint it exactly. It’s in another kingdom, so we’re going to have to travel light and stealthy again.”
“No problem,” Raven said confidently. “They had no idea what we were doing last time we went to Faya.”
“It might not be that easy this time,” I said seriously. “That was a spur-of-the-moment decision that we got lucky on. This time, Chaos will probably be keeping a watch along the whole barrier. To avoid them, we’re going to try leaving via Stanchion.”
“About time,” Calvin said. “I’ve been hearing about that place over and over again since we first arrived in Midrealm. It’ll be good to finally see it.”
I rolled my eyes. “Sure, Calvin. This is all just so you can go sightseeing.”
“Hey, guys.”
Tess moved so quietly, I hadn’t heard her approach. Her quiet voice behind me made my heart skip a beat, and I took a deep breath to force myself to relax.
“Scoot over,” Blade said, shoving hard at Calvin’s shoulder. Calvin practically fell off the back of the bench as he was propelled forcefully into Miles’ side. Miles grunted in protest. Tess sat down in between Blade and Calvin. She made a good attempt to cover her face with her hair, but I saw a small smile as she found a seat beside Blade.
“I want to make sure of one thing before we do this,” I said seriously, trying to bring the conversation back around to the subject at hand. “This is going to be dangerous. We got lucky in Faya. We almost got caught, but we got away with some quick thinking on Greystone’s part.”
“Some quick thinking and a whole lot of being a jerk,” Blade grumbled. He’d eventually gotten over his furious anger at Greystone, but it still burned like a scar. And I knew that the others were still a little shocked at the sight of Blade socking the old wizard clean in the jaw.
“Regardless, we’re about to go out beyond the barrier again,” I said. “I want to make sure everyone is ready for this. If you’re not comfortable, if you’re scared, I completely understand. No one’s going to think less of you if you want to stay behind.”
I tried to keep my eyes off of Miles as I said it. He was taking a lot more responsibility in Midrealm, but responsibility had its limits. He didn’t move while I spoke, just stared right at m
e. I couldn’t tell if the look on his face was resolution or anger.
Calvin shook his head. “Come on, Sarah,” he said, snorting. “No one’s going to stay behind. We know what we’re getting into.”
I looked around one last time. “I’m just putting it out there. It’s something to think about. Anybody want to speak up? Do it now, or forever hold your peace.”
Only silence greeted me.
“Okay,” I said with a nod. “Then we’re doing this. Three days. Three days, and we’re off to find the tombs.”
“The wonderful tombs of Oz,” said Tess quietly.
No one laughed.
I went to bed an hour early that night, waking up in the Runehold to find Cara outside my room already. She bowed as I came out of my room.
“I came early,” I said with a smile. “I thought I’d catch you sleeping.”
“I do not sleep much these days, my Lady,” said Cara.
I shook my head. “That’s a shame. You should have Greystone give you one of the sleeping potions.”
“I will consider it,” Cara said. I got the feeling she wouldn’t. “Shall we head to the practice rooms?”
“Probably,” I said, letting it go. “Greystone will probably want to see me. Again. He’s trying to put me through as much training as he can before we go.”
“I have not seen the Watcher yet this morning. I do not believe he is in the Runehold. Would my Lady perhaps prefer to meditate? Or continue your sword training? I will spar with you, if that is your wish.”
I sighed, hesitating. As boring as his lectures were, I’d been looking forward to working with Greystone again. I was getting better and better at earth and stone, and now it was just a matter of practicing to build up my “muscles.”
“I don’t know,” I said, dejected. “Let’s head down to the great hall and I’ll think about it. Do you suppose there’s any food ready yet?”
Cara nodded immediately. “Of course. The servants are instructed to fix new meals every hour in the event that one of you should awaken earlier or later than is customary.”
I gawked. “Cara, that’s completely unnecessary. Can you imagine how much food they’re wasting?”
Cara shrugged. “Our stores are plentiful, for now. Such service is a small price to pay for the Realm Keepers.”
I shook my head. “No. I don’t care how much we can ‘afford’ it. It’s wasteful. Please, have them stop as soon as possible. They can fix a meal at the normal time, and if we wake up early or late, we’ll deal with it.”
Cara gave a slow nod, the one I’d grown accustomed to when I gave her an order that she didn’t particularly understand or care for. “As you wish, my Lady.”
I nodded. Then, struck by a sudden idea, I changed the topic. “Why don’t we get some food and then eat on the battlements?”
Cara’s head cocked ever so slightly. “I’m sorry, my Lady?”
I shook my head. “Stop ‘my Lady’ing’ me,” I complained. “I’m serious. Let’s grab a plate of food, since they’ve already prepared it, and eat on the battlements overlooking the city. Come on, it will be fun.”
The look on Cara’s face told me exactly how excited she was by the prospect of anything that resembled “fun.” Still, I was a Realm Keeper, and she was my personal bodyguard. There wasn’t a whole lot she could do other than nod once again and say, “As you wish, my Lady.”
I smiled and led the way down the hallway to the staircase. We passed Darren, standing guard outside of Calvin’s room. He looked up brightly as we approached and bowed, flashing a grin that was so much like Kurt’s it hurt my head.
“Good morning, my Lady,” he said happily. “Captain Gaskill,” he said, with a deferential nod at Cara.
I blushed despite myself and brushed path him with a murmured hello. Once we were safely within the stairwell, I turned to Cara, speaking low. “It’s funny. You guys are always so polite and ceremonial with us. Kneeling and bowing and all the rest of it. But with each other, or with other people, it’s lucky if you give a nod. Why is that, exactly?”
Cara looked at me astounded, as though the answer was perfectly obvious. “The Realm Keepers are chosen by Destiny herself. You are the only hope Midrealm has of surviving the onslaught of Chaos. It is the highest honor there is. All others, whether they be Runegard, peasant or King, choose their station in life and aspire to fulfill it. But they are not chosen. They are only hoping that they can fulfill the role they desire.”
We emerged from the stairwell into the great hall. “But doesn’t Destiny determine your role, as well? Isn’t it your fate to be a Runegard?”
If anything, Cara’s expression became even more perplexed. “Fate is an illusion clung to by those who have no hope. There is no fate. Everyone makes their own choices in life, save the Realm Keepers.”
“Wait, so we’re the only ones with a destiny?”
“The only ones chosen by Destiny,” Cara said, beginning to sound exasperated.
I shook my head. “I guess I don’t understand. Either destiny is a thing, and everyone has one, or it isn’t. At least on True Earth, everyone believes one or the other — destiny exists, or it doesn’t.”
Cara shook her head. “If the people of True Earth do not believe in Destiny, then you have strayed very far from the truth of the world.”
That kind of put an end to our conversation. Servants in the great hall rushed to provide us with plates of food, and together we walked to the stairway that would take us to the battlements.
We emerged into the bright sunshine of late morning. I had to squint for a minute to let my eyes adjust. Once they had, I walked to the nearest gap in the battlements and plopped myself down. The gaps were wide, providing plenty of space for Cara to sit beside me.
“So how long have you been in the Runegard?” I asked, hoping to steer the conversation to more clear-cut facts, rather than philosophy.
“Five years,” she said. “I completed my training quite early.”
“How early?” I asked, taking a big bite of bacon. “How old are you now?”
“Nineteen,” said Cara.
I choked on the bacon, coughing and spluttering as I nearly fell off my seat onto the wall. Cara leapt up, alarmed, and started to pound on my back.
“I’m fine!” I choked out. “Fine!”
She backed off. I took a deep breath to clear the rest of the food from my windpipe and sat back down.
“Are you well, my Lady?” Cara asked, concerned.
“I’m fine,” I wheezed. “You’re only nineteen? God, that means you’re only two years older than I am.”
“You are seventeen?” Cara asked doubtfully.
“That’s right,” I said. “Though my birthday’s only a month and a half away.”
Cara still looked at me with my brow furrowed.
“What?” I asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
“I apologize, my Lady,” said Cara, suddenly seeming to realize she was staring. She turned away quickly. “It is only that you seem so much younger.”
“Well, you seem so much older!” I said. “I thought you were, like, late twenties. Maybe thirty. You’re so serious all the time. Heck, I thought maybe you had a family. Though I guess, if you had, you probably would have talked about them.”
Her face darkened before my eyes, and the same solemn mask she wore so often — too often — settled back in. “I had a family,” she said quietly. “My brothers. My father. They are gone now.”
My cheeks burned. “Oh, gosh, I’m so sorry, Cara. I didn’t know. I meant…I meant a husband. Children, or something. I didn’t mean to bring up a sore subject.”
She waved my words off. “You did not know. You could not have. There is no need to apologize.”
The air settled to silence. Each of us took a few tentative bites of our breakfast, but suddenly my mouth felt dry and my appetite was gone.
“What happened to them?” I asked timidly. “If you don’t mind my asking.”
&nbs
p; Cara shrugged. “They are gone. Speaking of it will make no difference. My father was Brian Gaskill, a general in the King’s army. My brothers were officers in his army. All of them marched to the Battle of the Circle. All of them died there. I did not even find out they were there until afterward. They perished before I arrived.”
“Before you…?” I asked.
She nodded. “I arrived late to the battle. I was recovering from injuries in the healing wards of Morrowdust, and Greystone kept his plans secret from me. He meant to keep me safe behind this city’s walls while he fought to save you.” She shook her head. “But as soon as I found out, I mustered every Runegard in the city to join the fight.”
“Injured?” I asked, aghast. “You marched all the way — ”
She nodded. “It is my duty. I am the Captain of the Runegard. It was not right for the Watcher — ”
Fury built in her voice and she suddenly stopped, turning her face away. I wondered if I would see tears if I could see her face.
“How did you become Captain?” I asked. “It’s just…you’re in charge, and you’re so young.”
Cara shrugged, still turned away. “I was selected by my predecessor. It is the way of things. I was his right hand. When he died, I took his place. Now, Barius is my right hand until I die or he does.”
I wanted to ask what happened to her predecessor, but I was terrified that it might be another sore subject. I was slowly beginning to realize how many subjects of that nature Cara must have to make her so serious all the time.
“Well, I think you’re great at what you do,” I said. “I don’t think anyone could be better at your job than you are. And I hope you’re here to protect us for a long, long time.”
Finally Cara turned to look back at me. If she had let a few tears fall, they were gone now. And I saw a faint glimmer of happiness on her face. No, not happiness — not a smile, not a light in her eyes. It was more like a soft glow that struggled to break free from her skin. Something like hope.
“I, too, hope I have the honor of protecting you. As long as it doesn’t end up with me dying old and in bed.” She snorted, a small smirk on her lips. “After all I have done, that would be an inglorious end.”
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