Igniting Spirit (Gathering Water Book 3) (17 page)

I stood up. “What have you done to him?”

Richard ignored me. “This thing was following the orders of Kaylus’ spawn beside you. Do you doubt it?” His eyes were focused on my father.

“Richard, Ezra directed a contingent of nearby Clades to scout the area and watch for your arrival. I directed Alexander to do so as well, but I see that you didn’t find it necessary to capture any of my men.” Derek stood up beside me. “I have said it once already, Ezra — and every Clade in attendance here — are not up for discussion. You must understand by now how dangerous Kaylus truly is. Even if he is unable to unlock the portal right now, he is capable of damaging the world enough on his own. We need to come together and find him.”

“The Clades are a blight to our people! What Kaylus and his son are capable of is evidence they should all be wiped out before their taint spreads,” Richard said, and I half expected him to be foaming at the mouth. This guy just couldn’t see past his prejudice; couldn’t focus on anything other than the Clades at the moment. He made a gesture toward the soldiers holding the Clade and I knew they were going to do something permanent to their prisoner.

Like kill him.

Before the thought  even formed in my mind, I created a Shield over the captured Clade. Seconds passed, and when nothing happened Richard finally turned his attention to me.

“How dare you interfere!” Richard was standing now, too. He pushed power my way, but all it did was bounce off the Shield I’d just erected over all my peeps with enough wind to thoroughly muss Etta’s hair.

Etta turned and looked at him, not seeming to care that her short white locks were standing up and made her look like a cockatoo. “Richard, calm yourself!”

Richard took a deep breath. “Our laws are clear on what happens to Clade prisoners. This fiend will forfeit his life for his crimes.”

“How is being born a crime?” I asked.

I don’t think anyone heard me, because Ezra popped out of his seat and shouted. “Like hell he will!”

Etta ignored us both. “I am well aware of what our laws state, Richard. I was at the table when most of them were made. Under the current circumstances, I believe we can make an exception. It seems we might need to think on changing some of our laws.” The eldest Council member was still seated, but reached up and put a hand on Richard’s forearm, trying to calm him.

He looked down at her. “To break the law is to be Clade, Etta.” Richard Gathered his chair into nothing then marched the dozen feet to where the prisoner was held. “I am no traitor to our people!” he declared before he and his men started pummeling my shield protecting the Clade.

Etta finally stood, as did the rest of the party at our side of the table.

“Richard, you must stop this now,” Etta told him, after going to his side.

Everyone at my side of the table stood and watched, trusting my Shield would keep him safe. Without even a look between us, Ezra had the Loa bring more energy to fuel my Shield, and as long as I had a stockpile, Richard and his men could pound all they wanted, but they weren’t getting through my Shield. With Ezra’s help, I was stronger than them, and it looked like everyone except Etta and Richard grasped that.

Richard finally realized the futility of what he was doing, abruptly turned and used his Ethnos super speed and strength to run
through
the table and attack the Shield in front of Ezra. The table crumbled around him, rubble from it scattered on his crazed face.

“Richard, stop,” my father said.

“This abomination must be destroyed! He and his father, both. Kaylus should have been killed before he left his mother’s womb, and this one carries that evil!” Richard looked like something had snapped in his mind, and I wondered if his hatred of the Clades was such a big part of his identity that he was threatened by the idea of peace, or if he had more personal reasons to hate his estranged brethren. “All Clades carry that evil. We should destroy them all, before it’s too late!” He started using his hands against the Shield, beating it as ineffectively as a child hitting a wall.

Derek walked forward — I quickly  modified his Shield so he would still be protected — and placed a hand on Richard’s shoulder. His face showed a great deal more compassion than mine would have. “Old friend,” he said gently. “This is not the way. We must adapt, or lose another home.” His voice was low and calm, like he was talking to an injured dog trapped in a corner. Richard’s shoulders slumped, and he turned to look at my father. For an instant it looked like father had gotten through to him, but Richard’s eyes fell on me and a new resolve filled his eyes. He straightened his shoulders, and looked like another person; whatever madness that filled him was buried again beneath a marble exterior.

He looked at my father. “Until the time comes that our laws are changed, to be Clade is to carry a death warrant.” Richard started walking through the rubble of the table back to where his people were gathered. “My soldiers will join the hunt for Kaylus,” he said, turning back to address us. “As well as every other Clade in existence. Any they meet will be executed on sight.” His eyes met mine, again. “You won’t always be there to protect them, Epiklayra.” He spit out the title like a sour grape, then turned and began to walk away. His soldiers threw their Clade prisoner.

You’re not supposed to throw people. It’s
rude
.

I Shielded a wall in front of him, and walked a few steps forward also. Though, instead of walking over the remains of the table that Richard had destroyed, I Gathered the materials into my Well to create a path for myself until I stood next to Etta’s vacated seat.

“I don’t give a flip what the law says, Richard. You can’t threaten my people.” I wasn’t sure if confronting him was a good idea, but since neither my father, nor Alexander tried to stop me, I figured they were fine with me stealing the show for a minute.

Richard slowly turned around to face me. “I’ve only threatened the traitors to
your
people, Epiklayra.”

“My ‘people’ are the Ethnos, Richard. The only people I consider traitors are Kaylus and anyone else who hurts — or tries to hurt — the people I care about.”

“The Clades are not people, child. Look at Kaylus. Their blood is corrupt, a virus that will destroy us all if we let it.” Richard stepped closer and lowered his voice. “You half-breeds are the same. You should have been put down when you entered this world and sent your own mother out of it. Your survival is an insult to the Elfennol, and there is only one way I can see that will rectify that.”

“You will not threaten our Lady,” Lena said. She, Ian, Alexander, and Ezra  all moved to stand behind me. Everyone else was seated again, but it was somehow a supportive gesture towards me rather than dismissive.

Richard studied her and the others behind me, then called out. “Derek, it has dawned on me that your daughter and heir is more Clade than Elfennol. In fact, I seem to be under the impression that these
Elders
owe their allegiance to her.”

“My daughter takes her responsibility to the Ethnos very seriously, Richard. I am proud that she has chosen to protect so many.” Derek stood and made his way to our little group, followed by my uncle and grandfather. The others made room for my family to stand beside me.

“The Elfennol cannot have an Epiklayra who is Clade,” Richard told him.

“You’re right, of course. Della can no longer remain Epiklayra of the Elfennol,” my father responded. My jaw dropped, and I made myself stop feeling before the betrayal of his words stabbed through my heart.

Richard’s smile was altogether too pleased.

“You know, I think our family has had enough of Elfennol politics. I think it’s time to throw our lot in with the Clades,” Uncle Connor said as casually as if talking about the weather.

“Son, I believe that would be the wisest course of action,” my grandfather said, not bothering to lean forward and look at Connor.

“Lord Derek, Lord Richard, and Lady Etta, consider this an official resignation of support from the Neale family,” my uncle, the Dux Neale, said.

A rush of love for my uncle and grandfather surged through me. They would continue to stand by me, no matter what. There was silence while everyone waited for the other shoe to drop. Alexander nudged me in the back. I turned to look at him and he raised an eyebrow. I shrugged my shoulders and he nodded towards my Uncle with raised brows.

“Oh. I, uh, the Deare family also does that — no longer support the Elfennol.” The Deare and Neale families were equal leaders among the humans: generals rather than rulers. I wasn’t sure how much the Elfennol relied on human support, but at the very least it was a nice little slap in the face. I was officially the Duxa Deare, head of the Deare family, and in equal standing with my Uncle. Technically. I still considered him “the boss” since he actually knew what he was doing, being a real live grownup and everything.

I tried to avoid looking at my father, but I couldn’t keep myself from glancing over to gauge his reaction. It wasn’t what I expected. There was a small smile, a little sad, but a smile all the same gracing his mouth.

“I’m sure that isn’t necessary,” Etta said. She seemed like the type of woman who prided herself on self control, but I could see that these events were frazzling her considerably.

“You can’t do that. Your family owes their fidelity to us and our causes!” Richard was climbing back up the crazy tree again, judging by the tick in his jaw.

“We’ve sworn no oaths to you. We were your allies, not your servants,” Uncle Connor’s voice was filled with disgust.

“Fine. We lowered ourselves by —” Richard started to speak, but was immediately cut off.

“If you’ll remember, Richard, I
did
swear an oath when I joined the Council and became leader of the Leoht house.” My father still had that little smile on his face.

It took me longer than it should have to understand what he was saying, especially since he basically told me the day before. The Leoht House was bound to the Deare line. My human family pulling their support from the Elfennol had a funny little side effect.

It took the Leoht House with them.

Richard realized his meaning at the same time. “You speak of an evil so large that we must all band together, yet you are willing to fracture our people further?”

Etta seemed to have reclaimed her sense of order with this development and her spine straightened. “Richard, let it go. Instead of allowing the Council to discuss things in a civilized manner, you forced Lord Derek into a corner. If you had any sense left, you would have known what would happen if you pushed things.”

“It’s fine, Etta. Richard you’re quite mistaken. I’m letting my daughter unite us — all of us. Not only to fight Kaylus, but because it is time to move forward and leave old hurts in the past.” Derek placed a hand on my shoulder, and I lifted my chin and let his belief wash through me.

Etta reached for my father, and they clutched each other’s forearms. “I will meet with the families in my House on what we will do next. I am sorry things have turned out this way. If any among your people wish to remain among the Elfennol, the Strang House will make room for them.” She nodded her head in respect, then turned to leave with her two forgotten attendants trailing behind.

“You’ll regret this decision, Derek,” Richard told him before he and his contingent also left.

Journal,

My Testing is in just a few days. Despite being confident that I’m ready for it, I’m still getting nervous. What if I’m not as ready as I thought? What if they somehow find me lacking? What if Dad agrees with them about it? The anxiety from it all is so bad I started crying the other day with Ellis. All she asked is how I was doing under all the pressure, and I start blubbering like a child. I’m flipping exhausted from the stress, too. Just a few more days and it will all be over. I’m supposed to sit down and talk to Dad tomorrow about what to expect — how to act around the Elfennol, and who the Council members are. This is one lesson I don’t plan on skipping. When it comes to my abilities, I know I have what it takes. But dealing with our allies? I have to admit that my father knows more about them than I ever will. Even though I still live with him, we haven’t spent more than a few minutes alone together in months. Tomorrow will be awkward, but maybe it will be good for us. Maybe it will be that first step to bridging our relationship and we can be how we were before.

I miss being daddy’s little girl, but I’m not sure I would even know how to be her again.

I wish I could talk to Derek about all of this. I saw him again yesterday, but the hard words wouldn’t come out. I know our time together is probably limited, and I don’t want to use it all up talking about things like this. When I’m an old lady and I think about our romance, I don’t want to remember the angst of my life. I want to remember the way the light dances in his eyes when he laughs, and the taste of a shared ice cream.

*****

We all stood and watched them go, until I suddenly remembered that Richard had left his prisoner. Berating myself for forgetting about him, even if foronly a minute, I ran over to him just as he finally gained his feet. When I got within two feet of him, he looked at me and dropped immediately to his knees again.

“Are you okay?” I asked, though it was a stupid question — dude couldn’t even stand up!

“Please forgive me, my Lady. I betrayed your trust.” His head was bowed, and I realized he hadn’t fallen when I approached. He had nearly prostrated himself. No wonder Ezra was irritated earlier. It was very unsettling.

“What are you talking about? Please, stand up, you haven’t done anything wrong.”

He looked at me, then to Ezra who had just joined us and lowered himself even further to the ground. “I allowed myself to be captured, then betrayed your consort by confessing my orders to our enemies. Forgive me.”

I looked at Ezra, who just looked exasperated.

“Jonathan, did you get captured on purpose?” Ezra asked. I was glad he used his name, because I was starting to feel bad by calling him “the prisoner” or “the Clade” in my head.

Jonathan shook his head. “Of course not, sir.”

“Did you willfully divulge information to Richard or his soldiers?” Ezra asked again, and I finally caught on to what he was doing.

“No, sir. But they were able to persuade me —”

“Torture you, you mean,” Ezra interrupted.

He said nothing, but we knew it was true.

I knelt down beside him and placed a hand on either shoulder. “You have nothing to be sorry about. You did not betray me, or Ezra, by getting captured and forced into talking. I should apologize to you for not protecting you better. Now tell us what is wrong so we can help you.”

His light was still so dim, and when Ezra helped him stand, I could tell he was weak.

“They Gathered his Spirit, Della,” Ezra answered for him.

My mouth dropped. “But the Elfennol don’t…” I stopped. The Elfennol claimed they didn’t Spirit Gather, that it was what separated them from the Clades. But I wasn’t sure they considering breaking that taboo with a Clade as bad, and they clearly had done something to Jonathan. If Ezra said his Spirit had been Gathered, then I believed him.

“Would you like one of us to heal you, or would you prefer someone else to do it?” Ezra asked.

“I am sure you both have more important things to do with your energy,” Jonathon said.

“I think I’ll be offended if you don’t let one of us heal you.” I looked him dead in the face and raised one eyebrow, daring him to refuse the help.

“I meant no offense. I only thought it would be wiser if you preserve your own strength. There are others here who can revitalize my energy,” he refused again. I almost let it go at that. Of course there were other people around who could do it.

But I realized I didn’t actually know
how
to heal someone else, or feed them energy to heal themselves. I couldn’t make up my mind on whether it would be taking advantage of Jonathan to use him as a guinea pig or not.

By that time, Alexander had taken his usual place by my side, and took the matter out of my hands.

“Della, have you had the opportunity to give energy to another Ethnos yet?” he asked, bringing everyone’s attention my way.

“Uh, no. Actually I have not.”

“Jonathan, if you don’t mind, I believe you would be doing our Lady a service by allowing her to learn such a valuable ability in such a controlled environment. This way we may guide her through it, so that when the time comes and someone’s life may rely on her, she will already have the experience she needs to perform her responsibility as guardian.” Alexander made it seem like Jonathan would be doing me a favor by allowing me to heal him. But he was right. There was the ever-present memory from my Reading of Ezra’s lifeless body lying next to his father. I needed to know everything I could to prevent that from happening.

Jonathan bowed his head. “It would be my honor to be used in such a way.”

I saw a little twinkle of amusement in Alexander’s eyes. “We thank you for your service.” Then he turned to me. “Della, it is not the same as making Ambrose, or filling an object with your energy. Instead of putting a piece of yourself into him, you are briefly connecting to each other and letting your energy pour into his spirit. Do you understand?”

“Maybe?” Probably not.

“It’s like charging your phone. His battery is empty. You’re the outlet,” Ezra explained.

That made more sense. “Who’s the plug, if he’s the phone?”

Alexander ignored my bad joke.  “To do this you must unShield yourself, and allow your aura to connect to his.

I could feel my senses expand when I took my Spirit Shield down, and saw that Jonathan had done the same as his aura was less condensed around him. I tried to connect, but every time our aura’s touched, mine shied away.

“Concentrate, Della.” Alexander’s voice actually did
more
to break my concentration. I tried not to growl at him, then went back to the task at hand. Ezra put his hand on my shoulder, and our aura’s connected. I looked at him.

“I think it will be easier if I do it with you, so you can feel it too.” Ezra reached his own aura out, which pulled mine with it until I made the effort to match his movements instead of being dragged along. When we made the connection, I assumed that it would be similar to the joining that mine and Ezra’s auras did when we were together, but connecting to Jonathan felt like the equivalent of holding hands. Ezra and my auras connected with his in a very superficial way, woven together at the edge but not truly melded. Personal, but not intimate. As soon as that connection was made, however, I felt a small surge of power leaving me and the connection was lost. Jonathan was bent over with his head between his knees and Alexander started patting him reassuringly.

“Did we do it wrong?” I asked Ezra.

“No, it just happened a little faster than normal,” he said. “I think we might have overcharged him a bit.”

Jonathan finally stood upright, though he swayed a little until Alexander grabbed his shoulder.

“Perhaps a bit,” Alexander agreed in his typical dry tone. Most people wouldn’t catch that he was making fun of us, but I did and crossed my eyes at him.

“Maybe it would be best if you two refrained from experimenting together until another time,” my father said from behind us. I was usually a hard person to sneak up on, but I jumped when he spoke.

Probably because he had said almost the exact same thing the day before, and it didn’t occur to me that this was in violation of doing that. I wondered if Ezra had remembered.

“Other than a little dizzy, I feel absolutely wonderful. If you need more practice, I am at your disposal. Flesh wounds can be particularly tricky to heal, sometimes.” Jonathan didn’t quite slur his words, but he was altogether too cheerful. The rest of our group joined us, and Lena wrapped Jonathan’s arm over her shoulder and led him away.

“I think he just offered to give himself a flesh wound so you can heal him again.” Ezra looked at me, and I saw the trace of a dimple in his one cheek even though he wasn’t flat out smiling.

“So
we
can heal him again.” I narrowed my eyes. I was pretty certain he used the occasion as an excuse to experiment with our abilities when our auras were joined.

“Alexander, please gather our people. We have a lot to do, and need to inform everyone here as to our plans. Toby and Connor, will you do the same for the Dunamis here?” My father was still the leader, and didn’t seem at all affected by his new non-Elfennol status.

“We will call every Clade close enough to come, as well,” Ian said.

“Do we have a plan?” I asked. Ezra squeezed my arm, I guess to let me know he was going off with Ian.

“Bits of one. Our House will stand with us, but they need to be part of this discussion. The only time we’ve had this large of a split in the past happened when the Clades first left our ranks. I know it was the only thing to do — Etta was correct that Richard left me no choice. Our people will look to me, and you as their Epiklayra, to guide them through this transition. We must respect how much this decision affects them, yet show confidence that it was the only thing to do. Stay positive, so that they will do the same, yet not blindly so — we don’t want them to think we are unsympathetic or ignorant to the trials this path will have.” This wasn’t the first time my dad talked to me about what is expected of a leader, but this wasn’t a talk to keep in mind for the far-distant future. He wanted me to step into that leadership role now.

“Um, I was thinking more along the lines of actual things to do. I’m better at things.” Like find Kaylus. Or kill Kaylus. That type of thing.

My dad gave me one of those looks. A “dad” look that was all eyebrows and seemed to scream “welcome to the real world” without the snark of that statement.

“So, what will happen to everyone? Isn’t most of Eurybis part of the Leoht house? What about the people from the other cities? Do you keep the city, or…?”

“For now, our people must vacate all Elfennol cities. That includes Eurybis. I’m hoping it will be a temporary move. The base belongs solely to our House. Private property, I suppose you could say. Our family has shared it with the other Houses, but they no longer have any right to it. It is not large enough for all of our people, however. We will need to find another residence.”

“Um, I may have an idea. I need to speak with Ian and Lena before I say anything, though.”

“Of course. Take counsel with your Elders, and listen to the wisdom they have to offer. A good leader always takes into consideration the experience of others before making a decision that will affect her people.”

Oh, yeah. He wanted me to step into a leadership role
now
because I was already in one. Dang it.

I took a few steps backwards. “Yeah, of course. I’ll be right back.” I turned and jogged over to where Lena was. The now healed Jonathan was using all that excess energy to help build curved benches encircling a small space where I assumed my father would be addressing the Leoht, and everyone else about the immediate plans.

“Lena, do you have a minute? I need to talk to you and Ian about something.”

“Yes, of course my Lady. I believe Ian is with your consort, relaying information to our brothers in the area,” she answered, rubbing her hands down her front like she were straightening her dress. It didn’t have the same effect on the jeans she was wearing instead.

We were all going to talk about that “consort” thing pretty soon.

I sent a little energy into the ring on Ezra’s thumb, knowing he’d come find me — and hoping he’d bring Ian with him. A couple of minutes later, they both approached where I was standing with Lena.

Ezra raised his brows rather than ask what I needed. He wasn’t actually necessary for the conversation, but I still wanted him nearby so I inched his way just a fraction. He did the same until our arms were barely touching.

“Lena, Ian, my father just brought up something that’s a little concerning. His… my House doesn’t really have anywhere to go. Eurybis is an Elfennol city, and the Leoht House are no longer Elfennol. Dad said something about hoping it’s temporary, since there hasn’t been a split this big since… the original split, I guess. But as of now, they all need to vacate as soon as they can. There’s one place that some of them can go, the base that’s fairly close to here. It’s Leoht ‘private property’ that we’ve been sharing all this time for convenience. But it’s not nearly large enough to fit everyone. Eurybis is the largest city, and most of the population were Leoht. I have no clue how many of our House will actually split, or try to find a place among the other Houses, but…” I realized suddenly that I was rambling.