Hander waved his hand in the air. “I’s will pass the word along and inform them what has taken place. What are you’s really getting at?”
Bastian took a deep breath. “When we arrived at Tolen’s house, my ward killed a Divinator.”
A collective gasp passed through the elders. “But they’s hasn’t been seen since the dark days.” A red-bearded elder spoke from Bastian’s left.
“No. Not since Daemon was in this realm.” Bastian said softly.
Hander leaned back. “You’s are thinking he is back?”
Bastian shook his head. “I do not know, but the evidence is worrisome.” He spread his hands on the table and started ticking things off the mental list he had been compiling since Tolen’s shard landed in his hand. “Kreydawn and their Suppressors have been in this realm forever, but are usually easily outwitted, but the Suppressor in Nevada was different. Whatever Dark captain was controlling that Suppressor was smarter than usual. I think it is the same captain who had Divinators watching Tolen.”
The elders surveyed him with wide eyes as he continued.
“Not long after we took Tolen from Green River I noticed something else. Something that only deepens my suspicions. The DéHool have been released.”
Hander laughed in disbelief. “This is not true. We’s would have felt it!”
Bastian shook his head. “Whoever let them out is shielding their presence very well. I have only been able to feel glimpses of their power, but I would know it anywhere.”
Hander went back to stroking his beard, his dark eyes bright. He turned to the others and they began whispering again. Bastian leaned back in his seat to wait. It was a full ten minutes before they addressed him again.
“You’s are suggesting that Daemon, highest captain in the Dark—second only to Darsapean, the ruler of the Dark himself—is back and up to’s something.” Hander leaned toward Bastian, while the others stayed back in their chairs, their faces troubled and suspicious.
Bastian raised his hands in front of him. “If he is not in this realm, he is somehow managing to exercise a lot of power from within the Shadow Realm. Either possibility should be a cause for concern.”
“And what’s is it you be wanting us to do about it?” Redbeard asked.
Bastian met the eyes of the elders one by one. “Get word out, not only to the Guardians, but to every Hidden colony you can, to start preparing.”
Hander twisted his beard nervously. “Preparing for what?”
“War.”
o o o
Tolen had been awake for the last fifteen minutes, sitting on the tiny bed, knees drawn up to his chest, tapping his fingers in a restless rhythm on the bedspread, trying to decide what to do. The little women were gone and the curtains were still closed around Macy’s bed. He wanted to know how she was doing, but he didn’t want to disturb her rest. He wanted to learn what had happened while he’d slept, and he was anxious to talk to someone who could help him find out about his mother and Dane, but he was miles underground and if he took a wrong turn, he presumed he’d end up lost down here forever.
He’d slept for fourteen hours according to his watch. It was 10:00 a.m. He’d been on the run for two days. His mother had been missing for more than twenty-four hours. He had to talk to someone, anyone. He couldn’t keep waiting.
He stood up and was about to leave the infirmary, despite the possibility of getting lost, when Helga walked through the door. She noticed he was awake, gave a clap of glee, turned, and left.
He moved to follow her, but she reappeared seconds later carrying a tray of food and a water jug.
“You are hungry, yes?” Her dark eyes were kind.
Tolen’s stomach rumbled. “Yes, but—”
“No, but. Sit. Eat.” She smiled as she pushed him back toward the bed, placed the tray carefully on his lap and sat the jug on the bedside table.
“Thank you.” He looked at the tray and picked up a piece of what looked like black bread. “I was wondering—”
“Eat.” Helga pointed to the plate and waited with her finger raised. Maybe if he started eating she’d let him ask her some questions.
He bit off a chunk of bread. It was grainy and tasteless, but his empty stomach didn’t care one bit. He took a swallow from the jug of water. “Um, are Bastian and Macy awake?”
She sighed and pointed to the plate again. “Macy is healing. The Watcher in council.”
Tolen swallowed a spoonful of stew. It was unlike anything he’d ever had before, but not terrible, sort of like flavorless, thick, chicken noodle soup. “So, I um . . . I was wondering . . . do you-do you know Dane?”
Her gaze fell to her lap. “Dane was good friend.”
Tolen’s stomach dropped. “Was?”
She raised her head and met his gaze with fierce eyes. He’d offended her with his question. “I say no more. You eat, now. No talk.”
Tolen felt an additional pang of guilt for upsetting the kind woman and went back to eating his meal in silence.
Helga waited until he ate every last crumb of bread and drank every drop of soggy stew. She took the tray and turned to leave.
“Wait. Can I talk to someone in charge?” Asking her had been a bad idea, but surely he could talk to someone.
“No.”
“Hander!” Tolen remembered the little man who’d led him here. He’d seemed important. “Can I talk to Hander?”
“No.” She repeated. “Sleep. Heal.” She tilted her head, gave him a searching look, and left quickly the way she’d come.
Tolen jumped up, determined to try to follow, but when he stepped out of the same door she’d left, he found himself in a small antechamber with four golden hallways, each leading in different directions. He had no idea which direction Helga would have gone. He scratched his head, then turned and trudged back to the infirmary. He dropped back onto his bed, leaned against the wall, and rubbed his eyes with his fists. He didn’t like being alone with his thoughts, which were torturing. How long would he be stuck in this room? What would he have to do to get someone to help him? Or even talk to him? He stretched his arms above his head, popping his joints.
He jumped off the beds and did a few sit-ups, trying to wake up his body. His broken hand burned a little and his muscles were stiff and sore. Other than that, he had no proof of all that had happened in the Lava Beds. It felt like a dream—or rather a nightmare—the things he’d been able to do without even knowing how or why. He knew it wasn’t his subconscious taking over. He hadn’t necessarily been in control, but the power he felt hadn’t scared him the way it did when his subconscious took over. This had seemed more like instinct. As if somewhere buried deep inside, he already knew how to do everything. He simply needed to remember.
He stood up and started to jog in place. Five minutes later, Bastian walked into the infirmary. He peeked in at Macy before making his way to Tolen’s side.
Tolen cleared his throat, feeling awkward and unsure how to act. So much had happened since their last conversation. Even though he’d decided he didn’t hate Bastian, he still didn’t necessarily like him. It was uncomfortable talking to someone you didn’t like. “How is she?”
Bastian smiled, but his eyes were wary. He looked exhausted. “She is much better today. How are you?”
Tolen shrugged. “My body feels weak and rubbery, but I’m wide awake.”
“That is normal. It takes your physical body longer to regenerate after such an experience than it does your life force. Give it time. Do not push too hard. You need to let your body rest.”
Tolen sat back on the beds and took a long drink of water. He could feel the truth of the Watcher’s words, but he didn’t like it. His eyes wandered to Macy’s side of the room. He wanted to see for himself that she was okay. All the anger he’d felt toward her when they’d entered the Lava Beds had completely evaporated. “She’s
not like I thought she was when I first met her.”
Bastian sat down on a low stool beside the bed, rested his elbows on his knees, and dropped his chin onto his clasped hands. “No, she is much more than a snotty teenager.” He chuckled once then added seriously. “You saved her life.”
Tolen put the jug on the table, keeping his eyes off the Watcher’s face. It was easier to talk to him that way. “How bad was she? I couldn’t really tell as I healed her.”
“You will be able to recognize more with practice.” Bastian took a slow breath. “Most of Macy’s ribs were shattered by the Phantom tree; her left arm and leg were broken in several places. She had some internal bleeding as well, from where the ribs had pierced her lungs. If you had not healed her, she would have been dead by the time we reached the door.” Bastian’s voice broke. “I owe you so much.”
Tolen shook his head and glanced at Bastian. “You don’t owe me anything.” He didn’t like to see the Watcher weak. It made him feel pity he didn’t want to feel.
Bastian’s strange eyes raked over Tolen’s face. “You are much more than I expected you to be as well, especially given your circumstances.”
Tolen sighed. “Am I supposed to know what you mean by that?”
Bastian shrugged a shoulder. “I suppose not.”
Tolen stared back at Macy’s curtains. “How did I do it? How did I heal her?”
“You have your mother’s gift of healing, Tolen. Your gifts are part of you, even if you do not recognize them. You were right in your thoughts earlier. You do know your gifts; you just have to be taught to recognize them, and how to use them. The words I have taught you, the word you remembered out there with the Phantom, they are all part of our world, part of you. You were able to call on them in your time of need.”
“Why did the Phantom disappear when I pulled it out of the tree?”
“Phantoms are made up of darkness itself. Where the light is, darkness cannot be. ‘Radi’non’ means ‘light come forth’. The sun heard you, sent a ray of its light to you in one quick burst, and killed the Phantom.”
Tolen tugged on the bottom of his shirt. “Where the light is, darkness cannot be.” A shiver ran along his shoulders.
“Yes.”
“It’s deeper than that, isn’t it?”
Bastian leaned back against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. He looked so tired. Tolen wondered if he’d slept at all since they’d got here.
“So much deeper. Light is knowledge and truth. It is love and compassion. It is what bonds families and gives a person something worth fighting for, worth dying for. Dark is the exact opposite. It is hatred and cruelty, malice and anger. It is revenge and bloodlust, greed and selfishness.”
An uncomfortable sensation moved into Tolen’s stomach. The Dark embodied all those feelings he had toward the Watcher in this moment. Hatred, anger, and selfish need. He cleared his throat and pushed the guilt away. This was different. He was justified in his anger; anyone could see that.
Bastian’s countenance fell and Tolen remembered he would know his thoughts. He squirmed, but Bastian went on as if he’d heard nothing and Tolen turned his focus to the Watcher’s next words. “The Light shows you its goodness and invites you to follow, whereas Dark enslaves, chains you to it, and then uses you for its own selfish means.”
Tolen leaned forward. “You talk like they’re people.”
“They are.”
“Huh?”
“Light and Dark are forces that have existed before the earth, before this universe. Light creates. Dark is drawn toward creations who have turned their hearts to evil and destroys them. You see, their strength comes from the people who choose one over the other. In recent years, the Dark has become more devious in its tactics; it is gaining strength at an alarming rate. So many people have fallen into the Dark’s foul clutches without even realizing it. As more people become slaves to the Dark, our work as followers and defenders of the Light becomes more and more difficult. It will not be long before a full scale war will be upon us.”
“Another war?”
“We are already at war, Tolen. It is just that the war up until now has taken place outside the knowledge or awareness of humans.”
Tolen thought about the Shadows, the Raksasha, and the Phantoms, just a small number of creatures of darkness. Yes, they were definitely already at war. “I’m finally starting to understand why my mother was always afraid of thunder storms, and hated night.” He swallowed back the memory. “Is it always like this for the Chosen? Are you constantly running from, or fighting the Dark?”
Bastian looked uncomfortable. “It is usually not to such an extreme degree, no.”
Tolen lifted his eyebrow. “Will you ever tell me whatever it is you’re hiding from me?”
“Yes, Tolen. When I believe you are ready to know, I will tell you.”
Bastian held Tolen’s gaze and something passed silently between them.
Bastian knew Tolen wouldn’t forgive him, and didn’t like him, but he also knew how desperate Tolen was for answers. Tolen realized that even though Bastian was here and determined to be Tolen’s Watcher, he too had misgivings about his new ward. He didn’t believe Tolen ready to hear the whole truth. But he did know things, things the Doogar wouldn’t be able to answer. If Tolen could prove himself to him, Bastian would eventually tell him everything.
They were at an impasse. One of them would have to give in and Tolen knew who it would need to be if he wanted to get what he was after.
Bastian did too. He took a deep breath and settled lower on the stool. He didn’t look smug or relieved at his minor victory. Only determined. “Ask your questions, Tolen.”
“But will you answer honestly?”
The Watcher nodded. “I may choose not to answer, but I will not lie. If I feel you are not ready to hear something I will tell you why. I do not believe in secrets. I believe in timing.” He gave Tolen a long look. “You will also have a chance to talk to a Doogar leader, but they will not give you audience just yet. Doogar are a very traditional people and you must wait until they have finished their preparations.”
“Preparations?”
“For our stay.”
“How long will I be here?”
“Until Macy finishes healing and you learn to shield yourself from the Dark.”
Tolen met the Watcher’s eyes and his blue eye burned again. He rubbed it with his fist. “And you’re going to teach me to do that?”
Bastian nodded.
“And you’ll answer my questions . . . as much as you choose to anyway?” He added with slight irritation.
He nodded again.
“And I will get to talk to a Doogar leader?”
Bastian ran his fingers through his beard. “Yes, but Tolen, I am aware of your plan and there is one thing you should know before you ask them to help you find your mother and Dane.”
Tolen’s heart pounded with unease.
“Dane’s connection with the earth has been lost.” His voice was grave.
“What does that mean?” Tolen felt he knew exactly what it meant, but he wanted Bastian to confirm it, or by some slim chance, deny it.
“The Télora are connected to one another through their connection to the earth. The other Télora here cannot feel him anymore. Handrak—or Hank as you call him—has also been to the canyon, studied the evidence himself, and sent word here. I am sorry, Tolen. He is gone.”
It felt like someone kicked him in the stomach. He gazed at the floor as a loud buzzing started in his ears. “My mom?” He looked up at Bastian to see his expression.
The Watcher’s eyes were guarded, but it was clear he was telling the truth when he answered softly. “They are uncertain. They have never been able to sense her, unless she initiated the connection, but her chances are not good. As I said, Handrak studied the evidence and
he does not believe they took her captive.”
Tolen’s hands trembled and he squeezed them in his lap. “But that doesn’t mean they didn’t.”
“No. It does not.”
“So there’s still a chance.”
Bastian sighed. “A very slim one. Yes.” He leveled his gaze on Tolen’s eyes. “But, I beg you Tolen, wait to put your plan into action. Ask the Doogar what you will, but give me a chance to train you and help you get stronger. If you go after the Dark too soon, they will defeat you.” It was not said coldly, but Tolen still bristled.
“Fine. Tell me about my dad.”
Chapter Sixteen
Watchers
and Wards
Tolen looked at the Watcher’s face, fighting against the part of him that said he should let the man rest. Give him time to regenerate or whatever, but Tolen had to do something to feel like he was at least trying to help his parents, or the guilt would eat him alive. He swallowed and tried to soften the question. “Will you tell me about him?”
Bastian sat up a little taller on the stool and took a deep breath. “I will tell you what I know, or have been told in the legends.”
Tolen moved to the edge of the bed. His dad was a legend?
“Daedal Téloran was one of the most revered Protectors—that is the title given to the greatest warriors for the Light—of all time. He led the Radia Warriors in the victory against the Dark during the Radia Revolution. He was instrumental in the imprisonment of Darsapean, the leader of the Dark, and in the banishment of Daemon, Demon Master and High Captain, to the Shadow Realm.”
“Macy said the revolution took place over a thousand years ago. Are you saying my father is over a thousand years old?”
“Your father is two years my senior.”
A Chosen Life Page 18