Keeper: First Ordinance, Book 2 (34 page)

"Fascinating," Amlis pulled a finger across the
screen to examine more images. "Do you think we might trade with them
eventually?"

"That is our hope," Tory replied. "If you can
increase your herds and flocks, that would be a very good export, as well as
grains—their continent isn't the best for growing such. Some have turned to
manufacturing glass and metals, so there is certainly the possibility of a
thriving trade."

"I have none who understand glassmaking, and few prepared
to produce metal in any quantity," Amlis agreed. "Trade for those
things would be most welcome. My question is this—will they welcome us? You say
they are shape changers. Are they dangerous?"

"That's a question for Sali—Salidar," Tory grinned.
"He's werewolf."

"The blademaster?"

"Yes. Dragon, Crane and Dragon's sons are only marginally
better. Sali is quite talented. I learned bladework from him and the one who
taught him."

"I didn't realize he was anything except what I am,"
Amlis shook his head in wonder.

"That's the way they prefer it, keeping their other sides
hidden, just as I do," Tory said. "You shouldn't worry about your
safety. They are just as concerned for their children as the people of New Fyris
will be about theirs."

"I understand," Amlis sighed. "We will begin
with trade and perhaps friendship will follow."

"Exactly what my mother wants to hear," Tory
grinned.

* * *

Avii Castle

Quin

"You were created by a god," Daragar said, lifting
my face so his eyes would meet mine. "That makes you more special than
those about you, and also makes you no less worthy than any other sentient
being."

"But," I said, attempting to pull away. He'd found
me, moping on the Library terrace the following morning.

"No. Do not say that word," Daragar instructed, holding
onto my chin with careful fingers. "Where you are concerned, that word
does not exist. You love and are loved. To those who created all races, that is
what matters most."

"I still can't help feeling that I'm only here to serve
someone else's purpose."

"Quin—at least you have a purpose, and I believe your
choices are yours and no others. Besides, many have been chosen instruments of
the gods in the past, and those are still talked of and admired by many. They
merely came into their lives in a more mundane manner."

"You have other Larentii to point to," I said,
blinking at him. "There are no others like me. Nefrigar says so."

"Had Liron not died, perhaps you would have been the
first of many," he smiled. "Nefrigar and I have calculated the
timeline. Liron's death occurred shortly after he left the stasis box in
Ulrin's hands."

"Do you think he knew?" I asked. "That his
death was coming?"

"Perhaps. I have also given it some thought, but as we
have insufficient information, we can only make logical guesses. I ask that you
do not allow this to upset you in any way."

"I understand you speak the truth, but I can't help the
way I feel," I said. "I'll deal with it—I've dealt with everything
else so far."

"I know, but that doesn't make it any less painful to me
to know that you suffer."

I understood his meaning all too well. I was able to heal
anyone else—just not myself. If Liron still lived, I had a long list of
questions and complaints for him. Perhaps it was just as well that he'd died—he
would grow tired of me in very little time.

"Justis asked me to move back into his suite," I
said, rustling my feathers and changing the subject.

"Did you give him an answer?"

"I said I'd think about it."

"What do you really think?" Daragar smiled.

"I think I like seeing his wings every morning and
night," I said. "He lets them down and I see him when he is relaxed.
Once he walks out the door, he is Commander Justis, who is stern and
uncompromising."

"See, we all have our assignments," Daragar said,
reaching out to ruffle my hair. "Whether they are assignments from a king
or a god, it matters not."

"It depends on the king—and the god," I retorted,
causing Daragar to laugh. "I want to check with Berel on the debates. Want
to come?" I slid off the bench and stood.

"I have an assignment with Nefrigar," he said.
"I go, and so shall you."

I watched him disappear before turning away to find Berel, who
was likely in his bedroom watching the debates carefully and communicating with
his father.

* * *

Larentii Archives

"You were wise to ask for a reproduction of the Avii
Queen's book before Elabeth died," Daragar said.

Nefrigar nodded in agreement before handing the large,
leather-bound book to Daragar. "As was noted before, some of it is in a
language I have not seen and likely written by Liron himself. It is my guess
that only Quin might decipher it, and as she is in such a fragile state, I will
not hand it to her yet."

"You worry that she may find other things to trouble
her," Daragar sighed. "That is also my fear. She knows not that this
copy exists."

"It is my wish that you and I sit with her when she reads
it," Nefrigar said. "That way we can provide support if it is
needed."

"I agree," Daragar replied.

* * *

Avii Castle

Quin

The rest of my day was spent with Berel, while scant time was
taken away for meals and such. We watched the debates flounder—each side
passionate about their stance but neither able to convince the other.

"Is this how it always is?" I asked Berel as we
shared a cup of tea while sitting at a Library table between midday and the
evening meal. His tab-vid was set on the table so both of us could watch the
feed easily.

"Much of the time," he nodded.

"I feel uncomfortable about this—that they're wasting
time we do not have," I said.

"I think so, too, but this is the law in action,"
Berel responded.

"I feel the urgency in my feathers," I sighed.
"Every part of me feels afraid for the people of Kondar and Yokaru."

"You have a unique perspective on the situation.
These," he gestured toward the images of the debate, "only have what
they've been told and what evidence we can produce. Many things can be
manipulated, including the truth. Some enjoy making lies of the truth, no
matter how persuasive the facts are."

"Because they have their own agenda and the truth
interferes with it?" I suggested.

"In some cases. You cannot judge all by the same
measure," Berel said. "Each has his own experiences and acts
accordingly. Yes, some are self-serving. I cannot say that about all—each, in
their own way, makes an attempt to serve the people of their Sector first and
Kondar second."

"You're right," I inclined my head. "You have
more experience at this than I."

"Your experience is tempered by the service of a very bad
monarch, who named himself King after he murdered his brother."

"True. I will try to be less cynical in the future."
My words made Berel laugh.

* * *

"How go the debates?" Kaldill asked when he arrived
in the Library for dinner. He'd been absent most of the day, making a trip to
Wyyld II for a conversation with Ildevar.

"Much the same as the day before," Berel smiled as
he answered Kaldill's question. "Quin, however, has adopted a more
tolerant attitude toward politicians."

"Don't tell Queen Lissa that," Kaldill laughed.
"She grumbles before every Council meeting on Le-Ath Veronis."

"How is she? Queen Lissa, I mean?" I asked.

"Fine," Kaldill said. "You could send
mindspeech and ask her yourself, you know. She would love to hear from
you."

"Perhaps I will," I said, accepting a plate of food
from a Yellow Wing. Dena, Ardis and Justis walked in together—Dena's feathers
were ruffled and damp, letting me know that she and Ardis had romped and bathed
before coming to the Library to eat.

I didn't begrudge her that happiness; Ardis made her quite
happy indeed.

"Did you sort out Kondar today?" Justis teased as he
took the chair opposite Berel.

"I wish we could," Berel responded. "Quin is
getting jumpy over the debates. She keeps saying they're taking too long."

I didn't say anything; I was happy to see that Justis and Berel
had arrived at an amicable truce and were talking to one another.

"Difficult to get anything done quickly with that many
people—Jurris has enough trouble with the handful of Avii on his Council."

"I beg your pardon. Two of those Avii are at the table,"
Gurnil pointed out with a grin. "Three if you count yourself."

"Hardly a quorum," Justis bit back a laugh.

"You're in a good mood," I said.

"Oh, it's nothing. Except that I heard you like my
wings." I watched his mouth curve into a wonderful smile. Somehow, he'd
discovered what I'd shared with Daragar earlier in the day. Dena had the grace
to turn pink and look guilty.

"I would have told you so myself," I said with
feigned haughtiness. "If you'd asked."

If I could, I'd pull you onto my lap and share my food with
you
, he sent. I'll admit, the mental image was a tempting one.

Someday
, I replied.

Good enough
.

* * *

That evening, I sat with Berel on his bed, watching the last
of the debates before they ended for the evening in Kondar. Absently he stroked
my primary feathers, smoothing them and tracing the patterns of gold, silver
and copper.

I understood that his body was waking as he became an adult,
but I think we both knew our time wasn't yet. It was enough to know that we
cared for each other.

"Another day gone," he sighed, taking his hand away
from my feathers and turning his tab-vid off. "We can pick this up again
tomorrow, after breakfast."

"All right," I agreed and slid off his bed.

"Quin?" Berel said as I reached the door.

"What is it?" I turned toward him.

"You don't think less of me because I'm young, do
you?"

"I'm young, too, according to Kaldill," I offered a
shaky smile. "Age matters not to me."

"Good. I hope—well, we can discuss that later," he
ducked his head and nodded.

"Good-night," I said and walked out the door,
closing it softly behind me.

* * *

Called to a meeting on Le-Ath Veronis
, Kaldill's note
read. He'd left it on my bed so I'd be sure to see it.
Don't wait up—K
.

His initial was written in a beautiful, formal script, which
transformed itself from one shape to another while I watched. Sometimes it was
decorated with leaves, other times with flowers or birds. I'd never seen such,
realizing quickly that Kaldill employed a bit of his extensive power merely to
entertain me.

Carefully placing the note next to my black feather on the
nightstand, I went about readying myself for bed.

No, the uneasy feeling hadn't gone away, but I'd resigned
myself to the fact that I had no power to change anything past what I'd already
done. Siriaa's fate was out of my hands, now, although I was prepared to do my
best to protect what I could.

* * *

Vogeffa I

"Lord Cayetes, the ship will be in range early tomorrow.
Would you like a vid-feed so you may see the destruction?" Vardil's
assistant puttered about the bedroom, straightening things and preparing the
bed for his ailing master.

"Yes. Have the kitchens prepare my breakfast to coincide
with the event," Vardil heaved himself onto the bed and allowed his
assistant to cover him with soft blankets.

"I will see it done, my Lord."

* * *

Avii Castle

Quin

Kaldill hadn't returned when I woke early after a restless
night. Knowing that an attempt to go back to sleep would be useless, I rose,
bathed and dressed before taking flight to the Library terrace.

No others had arrived yet, so I took my favorite bench and
watched the sea as the sun broke through clouds and gleamed across the water's surface.
Somewhere, on Fyris' western edge, I imagined that the view might be the same
from the spires.

That's when the Orb appeared.

Come
, it commanded. I hesitated while questions ran
through my brain.

Hurry
, it said. Standing, I began to walk as it floated
away. By the time I reached the Library's interior, I was nearly at a run.

Dena, who'd just appeared, wore an expression of surprise as I
passed her swiftly, following the path the Orb chose. When I reached the steps
leading downward into the belly of the castle, I could hear Dena's steps
hurrying behind us. The Orb quickened its pace, as did I.

Behind me, I could hear Dena's footsteps become a run as she
followed. A growing sensation of dread enveloped me the farther down into the
castle we went—I followed the Orb, Dena followed me.

Precious time passed as I raced after the glowing ball, while
terror squeezed my heart, making it difficult to breathe. By the time we
reached the lower levels, I could hear a roaring in my ears.

Perhaps it was foresight—I do not know. Regardless, the Orb
led me onward, and I would have followed it except for Dena's shriek.

"No, Quin! That's the gate!"

The fear in her voice forced me to slide to a stop and turn
toward her. "What?" The air around us felt thick, making it difficult
for my voice to travel the short distance to my friend.

"The gate," her voice sounded slow. Labored.

That's when time stopped—for the briefest of moments.
Suddenly, with a clarity that I'd never experienced, I understood exactly what
was happening. That when time resumed, Siriaa and all its people would be
blasted into the atoms Berel sometimes mentioned.

There was no time to formulate a plan. No time to determine
what would be the best decision.
Queen Lissa
, I mentally shouted her
name.
They're firing at Siriaa
. I sent the image my mind had produced
bare moments earlier.