Shadowed

by Connie Suttle

  Marcus sent Sali back to his room immediately and then followed Aedan as he walked out of the house. "I don't know, Aedan," Marcus sighed. "The boy was likely distracted, so I can't say for sure that he remembers with any certainty. It was a good thought, though. I hope those two agents can track this one down and prove he had nothing to do with any of this." Thunder rumbled overhead and a few drops fell on both their heads as Marcus gazed up at a heavily overcast sky. Lightning briefly lit heavy clouds to the west.

  "Rain moving in," Aedan observed, sniffing the air. The community was still shy around thunderstorms since the tornado the previous year. He and Nathan would be patrolling Cloud Chief in a storm.

  "I've got an extra slicker if you need it," Marcus offered.

  "I can get home for mine before it gets too wet," Aedan replied. "Thank you for the offer, though."

  "No trouble. Call if you need any help—I think I can send out a wolf or two."

  "Shouldn't need it, but we'll let you know." Aedan nodded at the Cloud Chief Packmaster and disappeared in a blur.

  "Wish I could move that fast," Marcus sighed and walked inside his home.

  * * *

  "Dad, do you think we might see a tornado?" Edward stood at the front door of their mobile home, watching as the rain began to fall amid thunder and lightning.

  "Son, I hope we don't; this house will fold up like a wet cardboard box," Steven Pendley replied. "And we'd better be in a storm shelter if that happens."

  "Can we go look at the storm shelter? We haven't seen it yet," Edward bounced on his toes in excitement.

  "How heavy is the rain?" Steven asked.

  "It's making puddles in the field outside."

  "Then let's wait. I hope we won't need to get in it tonight. Come away from the door, son. That lightning is getting closer."

  "Dad, I know that Director Jennings said we'd probably move away at the end of summer, but what do you think our chances would be of staying here?" Edward closed the front door reluctantly—he'd enjoyed watching the lightning and the rain, unobstructed by rows of houses or city blocks filled with tall buildings. The Oklahoma prairie was a new and welcome experience for him. He had no care for shopping or the need to be surrounded by crowds of people. The quiet appealed to him very much.

  He also wanted to get to know Ashe and Sali better—they shared a friendship that he envied. If he could become good friends with them, who knew what the future might hold? In all his life, Edward had no close friendships. He knew his father was trying to protect him, but pointed ears didn't seem to be a concern to the citizens of Cloud Chief. In fact, Luanne had told him that one of the residents became a white buffalo. Edward wanted to see someone who could turn into a buffalo. And Sali's wolf? That was amazing.

  "I don't know that they'd allow it—this is a hidden refuge for these people," Steven replied. "Want cocoa?" Edward's father pulled a box of instant out of the pantry.

  * * *

  "My Queen, I would not have offered this to our previous monarch," Diamond lifted the sleeve of his silk shirt, revealing the single, square gold talisman beneath. It shone brightly in the torchlight surrounding Friesianna, marked with runes denoting power in an ancient language none remembered.

  Friesianna's crown was grasped in her left hand as she reached out for Diamond's talisman with her right. The Bright crown held power over the talismans and all four medallions could be called forth if there was great need. Diamond failed to see six children as great need, but his Queen asked, therefore he answered. His brothers Emerald, Sapphire and Ruby waited behind him, ready to offer up their talismans as well. Hilbah stood nearby, a triumphant gleam in his eyes as he watched the first of four gold power charms peel away from Diamond's flesh and float toward Friesianna's hand. The Call would go out within days.

  * * *

  "Wildrif is worth his weight in gold," Obediah Tanner chuckled, causing the scar running from the old werewolf's left eye down to his chin to pucker. Gray peppered Obediah's thick brown hair and he sported a rather large and bushy moustache that hid most of his mouth. Smoking a cigar and having a glass of whiskey, Obediah grinned at Lester, his second-in-command.

  Obediah wasn't an officially recognized Packmaster, so Lester had to settle for being an unofficial Second. The Grand Master considered Obediah an outlaw; he just hadn't been able to pin any wrongdoing on the old wolf. All thanks to Wildrif, who was something of a clairvoyant. Wildrif always knew when someone was coming for a surprise inspection of Tanner's Wild Game Preserve, located near Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle. Obediah was able to hide any contraband and the rare, endangered or exotic animals used to lure wealthy hunters to his land; Wildrif warned him days in advance in order to give his employer plenty of time to conceal everything.

  "How much this time?" Lester raised a glass of whiskey to his boss.

  "Three hundred thousand. I think we could get more if we turn those kids over," Obediah grinned. "A lot more."

  "Are we still getting information regularly?"

  "Yeah. Josiah won't say who his spy is, and I really don't care as long as we keep getting what we need on that community. Wildrif has trouble seeing past their boundary, but he sure knows what the Bright Ones are up to. No idea where the Dark Ones get the money to pay, but we don't care about that, do we?" Obediah sipped his whiskey.

  "Nope. Boss, that's the easiest money we've ever made. No animals or contraband to smuggle, no politicians to pay to keep quiet—it's all information and simple to get."

  "I thought about giving Wildrif a raise, but that might get his hopes up," Obediah continued, rattling ice cubes in his glass.

  "Boss, I wouldn't have taken him on, looking the way he does," Lester pointed out. "Wildrif scares some of the others, what with two different colored eyes and all."

  "He refuses to get haircuts, and that makes him look even wilder," Obediah agreed. "But he knows what he's talking about. Every time."

  "At least he keeps himself clean—when you first got him, he smelled terrible."

  "Kept in a cage somewhere down south," Obediah blew smoke rings in the air. "Don't know how he managed to get himself locked up like that. Unless he knew he'd end up here."

  "Could be. You treat him good, boss."

  "Yeah. Go offer to bring him a steak—he's earned it."

  * * *

  Ashe could hear rain drumming on the roof from two floors down. He'd checked the weather reports—just a thunderstorm with no tornadic activity reported. Blowing out a relieved sigh, Ashe sent an instant message to Sali. His father hadn't forbidden email or instant messaging, after all. Likely hadn't thought about it—Aedan refused to use it, preferring his old cell phone. Ashe had only attempted to persuade his father to buy one of the newer, smart phones once.

  Dude, I got two weeks, too. Sali's reply came swiftly—Marcus hadn't cut off Sali's electronic communication, either. Man, this sucks, Sali added.

  Yeah, Ashe dutifully replied. They'd gone off the reservation; now they paid the price. I'll send an email to Wynn and ask her to let Edward and the others know we can't see them for two weeks.

  Better you than me, dude. Sali never spoke civilly with Wynn or Dori, in any form of communication. Attempts at such met with cold and calculated insults and unmerciful teasing.

  Can't we all just get along? Ashe mused through his keystrokes. It was an oft-moaned response to Sali's war with both girls.

  Dude, Armageddon will happen before that does, Sali sniped back.

  You may eat those words someday.

  Not likely.

  You eat everything else.

  Hey, that's just mean. And not true. I don't eat beets.

  I stand corrected.

  Then stop implying that I eat everything.

  I wasn't implying, I was inferring. I was arriving at a conclusion based on the evidence at hand.

  I owe you a kick.

  In two weeks, dude. Unless you want Billings to catch us.

  Detention on top of grounding? No, than
ks.

  * * *

  "The Call will go out in a few days. I want you to track those children when they leave the protected area to seek out the Bright race," Baltis instructed his Destroyers. Rend, Slash, Grind and Crush bowed before their King.

  "What is your will in this?" Rend, eldest of the four asked.

  "Kill them. We have no use for them—I hear they have not developed any talent as yet." Baltis examined his nails. Perhaps he would have a servant take care of them—they looked a bit ragged.

  "We will have to drain power from our talismans to relocate—it will take four jumps from here," Rend informed Baltis.

  "Then go tomorrow. That will give them time to recharge." The Destroyers wore the gold duplicates of the Bright talismans—all bearing the ancient text that none now recalled or were able to read. It gave the Destroyers extra power to relocate, hopping from one place to another. Four hundred miles was the maximum any Destroyer could jump at one time. The talismans enabled them to make additional, difficult relocations. Most Elemaiya capable of the feat could only perform one or two relocations before taking a rest. Baltis' crown helped him relocate farther and faster, but he used it only if his life were in danger.

  "It will be as you say, my King," Rend bowed low and disappeared, Slash, Grind and Crush following closely behind.

  * * *

  Dude, I have to get in bed, Mom will be knocking on the door anytime, Ashe was still messaging Sali and it was after ten.

  Me, too. See you at school. Sali shut down his computer before his mother caught him communicating with Ashe.

  Ashe sighed and turned off his own machine, pushing his chair back and stretching a little before rising. "I was hoping you'd stop soon, I've been waiting for more than one of your Earth hours," someone said behind him, making Ashe whirl around in terror. A very tall boy with sky-blue skin, wheat-colored hair and bright blue eyes sat on the end of Ashe's bed, smiling.

  Chapter 9

  "What the?" Ashe was about to turn to mist and flee.

  "No, do not run away, I must speak with you," the blue being held out a hand in a calming gesture. "I have the room shielded; we may speak without fear of discovery."

  "But," Ashe began to wonder if he'd fallen asleep and was now dreaming. Tugging on his short, slightly curly brown hair, Ashe stared at his visitor.

  "I am of the Larentii race and am younger than you, although I am taller—my race is very tall. My name is Renegar. I ask that you remember it from this point forward—if I use it more than once my father will know. He has employed Nexus Echo while I am studying other worlds."

  "But," Ashe repeated. He had an alien in his bedroom? How did that happen? And did he call himself Renegar? How had he gotten past the shields surrounding Cloud Chief?

  "I asked Uncle for an unusual race to study. He handed over information on the Elemaiya," Renegar smiled, revealing white, even teeth that contrasted sharply with his blue skin. Renegar's face was evenly proportioned; his nose was perfect and his blue eyes twinkled with something akin to mischief.

  "But," Ashe said a third time.

  "You wonder how old I am and why I am here," Renegar went on. "I am nine years old and six inches taller than you, using your measurements, of course, and the Elemaiya are on a path toward destruction. That is why my uncle sent me in their direction—he says to study them at this time because they may not survive past the next six hundred years. Not as they are now, anyway."

  "But that doesn't explain why you're in my bedroom," Ashe muttered, sitting down at his desk again.

  "You should not fear for your safety; we Larentii are benign and are forbidden by law to interfere," Renegar said. "I will not stay long now, but I may come back to visit occasionally—while the Bright children remain within your village. You are a puzzle to me, Ashe Evans," Renegar added. "An unreadable one."

  "What does that mean?" Ashe demanded helplessly.

  "We Larentii know a great many things, even at such early stages of our lives," Renegar stood, showing Ashe that he was taller than Ashe's father. "We young ones know much of what was, but we must study what is and what is likely to be. Hence, my curiosity over the Elemaiya. I hope you do not mind if I fold in once in a while."

  "Fold? How do you speak English?" Ashe eyed Renegar suspiciously.

  "Folding space. And I speak most languages. Yours is a rather simple one. I hope that does not offend. Good night. Is that the proper term?" Renegar smiled again and disappeared, leaving Ashe to use a few swear words that he saved for special occasions.

  * * *

  Employing Sali's habit of venting frustration by kicking dirt clods along the road on his way to school, Ashe shrugged away a nearly sleepless night. Over and over, he pondered the appearance (and disappearance) of the one who called himself Renegar. Ashe had almost convinced himself that the nine-year-old alien existed only in his imagination when Renegar and Sali joined him at nearly the same moment. Sali had walked through the field behind his home; Renegar appeared from nothing. Ashe had been so preoccupied he hadn't seen Sali wander to his side, and Renegar's sudden appearance startled him and made him jump.

  "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you—you've got that I'm on another planet look," Sali said right away. Renegar smiled. Ashe stared from Sali to Renegar, realizing quickly that Sali didn't see the tall, blue-skinned Larentii youth at all.

  "He cannot hear me either, as the others will not. You are the only one, Ashe Evans. I have decided to observe you at a normal school day."

  Sali would think him crazy if he talked to empty air, so Ashe resorted to mindspeech. Everyone else could hear it, why not an alien? It won't be a normal day if you're following me around, Ashe grumped mentally. And who says you can just hang around anyway? I've got enough problems as it is.

  Excellent, you have mindspeech. This is more exciting than anticipated, Renegar replied gleefully. You may use my name in mindspeech; Nexus Echo will not activate unless it is spoken.

  Goody for us, Ashe wasn't excited in the least.

  Is that slang? Oh, how marvelous!

  Dude, pace yourself. It's not that special, Ashe replied. And just what is Nexus Echo anyway?

  Nexus Echo is an invisible net, cast by one powerful enough, Renegar replied. It will ripple if certain words are used, alerting the caster. I do not wish my father to appear if I use my name in the same location twice. And you cannot use it either, or I will not be allowed to return and will face punishment. In addition, I will be prevented from leaving the Larentii homeworld for a specified period of time.

  "Dude, where the hell are you?" Sali waved a hand vigorously in Ashe's face.

  "Don't know," Ashe muttered. "Never heard of the place before." Renegar grinned while Ashe kicked another dirt clod and continued toward school.

  The day was terrible. Chad and Jeremy discovered Ashe and Sali's punishment and gloated over it outside Ashe's locker while Renegar looked on, silently observing. None of the other students saw the tall, blue youth, but they flowed unconsciously around him like water anyway. Ashe shook his head at what must surely be a mystifying ability to shield and pretended to ignore Chad and Jeremy while a flush crept into his face. Renegar sent mindspeech after Ashe handed in a test for science class, telling Ashe what he should have added to a poorly answered question.

  Thanks for the update, Ashe hissed mentally, employing as much cerebral sarcasm as he could muster.

  Ah, I see you do not desire corrections, Renegar's mental voice floated back.

  What was your first clue? Ashe jerked his backpack off the floor as soon as the bell rang.

  Sali wasn't happy either when they walked toward home—he'd gotten the brunt of Chad and Jeremy's taunts at lunch—Ashe had stayed behind in Math, doing homework and reading through his English textbook, pointedly ignoring Renegar and skipping the midday meal. "Gotta go," Sali lifted a hand in a half-wave and cut across the field that led to his home.

  "Yeah," Ashe muttered miserably and watched his friend walk away.

>   "What is grounded?" Renegar asked aloud as soon as Sali was away.

  "Punishment," Ashe sighed and hefted his backpack to a more comfortable position.

  "For which infraction?" Renegar's bright-blue eyes held curiosity and a bit of concern.

  "For misting into Cordell and buying snacks for the other kids," Ashe replied. "Why don't you just know that? You knew the other things I was thinking last night."

  "Those were standard reactive questions," Renegar smiled. "I can't read you as I can the others. If you recall, I named you unreadable."

  "You said that," Ashe acknowledged. "I still don't know what that means."

  "Larentii are adept at reading others' thoughts and actions; yours are unknown to me. That is why I returned today—to learn more if I could."

  "How did you know to come looking for me, then?" Ashe stopped in the center of the gravel road and stared up at the tall, nine-year-old Larentii.

  "I pulled the information from one of the half-Elemaiyan children—Edward, I believe his name is," Renegar said. "He thinks you are—in his words—cool. Although I failed at first to understand why he would employ such a term unless you were, indeed, cold."

  "And now you understand it to be slang." Ashe started walking again.

  "I was able to receive your approximate location from that one, and decided to pay a visit. As you see, you have become quite the subject matter for this lesson in the condition of dying races."

  "Glad to be of service," Ashe muttered, his voice thick with sarcasm.

  "What do you know of these children?" Renegar steered away from Ashe's remark.

  "Not much. Philip and Elizabeth aren't easy to get along with. Edward I like—he could be a friend, I think. Luanne, well, she has something the others don't. They all seem calmer around her, even Philip, who's a little hyper and Elizabeth, who's smug and superior."