Keepers of the Flame (13 page)

She
was just about ready to stand and make a circuit of the room, scrutinize the
woodwork, when the door burst open and a woman staggered in holding a sick
child.

Adrenaline
poured through Bri. Her hands tingled.

10

B
y midmorning,
Elizabeth’s mind was spinning…no, that was a trite and wrong image. Her mind
was so saturated with new ideas and experiences it was like a sodden sponge.
Her brain might have sunk to the bottom of her skull unable to hold one more
new thing.

She’d
been shown the healing rooms, and had watched when the medicas followed up on
the injuries from the battle the night before. The claw-slices and puncture
wounds on heavily scarred bodies had horrified her, empirical evidence that
these people fought
somethings
that tried their best to kill them. She
was told again that the Marshalls formed a healing circle after the battle and
handled most of the injuries. She garnered that though the “incursion” had been
large, only two people had died. Alexa and Bastien had saved the day.

Her
whole body tensed at the images forming in her mind, but she asked no
questions. Then a Chevalier woman limped in with strained muscles and a broken
arm from a too tough practice and Elizabeth helped heal her. That was—strange.
Nothing like linking with Bri, but Elizabeth couldn’t pinpoint why.

The
female knight and her partner in the skirmish had been charged a large sum for
the healing for being careless in a time of war, when the medicas needed to be
fresh for any battle aftermath the Marshalls couldn’t handle. Individuals and
pairs were patrolling and fighting in the north and might appear at any moment.

Then
they’d all trooped to the inside training hall in the lower courtyard of the
Castle to reiterate the policy to the rest of the fighters.

Alexa
Fitzwalter rescued her, shooing off the medicas surrounding Elizabeth with
flapping motions as if they were a flock of birds. “Give the woman a break!”

Elizabeth
shook her head. Had Alexa actually said that? She reran the words in her mind.
No. Something equally colloquial, but not those exact words.

Jerking
her head toward the security gate between the lower courtyard and Temple ward,
Alexa said, “Let’s get rid of the extra bed and wardrobe in your room. You
don’t object to living in my tower, do you?” She started off across the grassy
middle of the yard.

Elizabeth
kept pace. “Would my objection be listened to?”

Alexa
smiled. “Sure. You get to choose where to stay.”

“I’d
rather go.”

Face
losing expression, Alexa said, “Got that.”

“This
is not our fight. Our parents—”

“I’m
sorry,” Alexa said brusquely in English. “We understand, and we cut Marian some
slack, but since then the war against the Dark has heated up. It wants
something here in Lladrana and won’t hesitate to make this country a wasteland
to get it.”

“Could
you give—” Elizabeth started, but Alexa was shaking her head.

“I
think anything a big evil entity wanted badly enough to create monsters and
kill whatever got in its way is not something we should give that entity. Like
Hitler and the atomic bomb. What we have here in Lladrana starts with genocide,
since it’s only Lladrana being invaded now. But I reckon it will move to the
eradication of the human species.” Her smile was grim. “I’d rather not be an
individual in an endangered species. Not to mention that we can all hear the
planet, Amee, weep. This planet is much weaker than Earth, in energy—Song.”

Elizabeth
remained silent and nodded to the guards who held open the heavy gate door. She
stepped over the threshold curb. “I’ve never been a proponent in the sacrifice
of the individual for the greater good. Especially when the individuals don’t
want to be sacrificed. I would have thought as an attorney that you would have
agreed. You don’t seem to be the type to defend major corporations, but individuals.”

“I
took any case I could get,” Alexa said, heading toward the keep. Sadness passed
over her face. “I had a partner, as close as a sister, who died just before I
came.” She sighed. “I was grieving. We’d just set up business and were
scrambling for work.” They entered the keep and strode down corridors.

“That
reminds me,” Elizabeth said. “Our godfather is a judge in Denver.”

Alexa’s
expression changed to wariness as she stopped outside the door to the twins’
suite. “Let me guess, the honorable Trenton Philbert the Third.” She fingered
her baton sheath.

“You
know him.”

“Yeah.
Open the door.”

Elizabeth
set her hand on the knob, heard and felt a little “pop.” They went down the
narrow security passage to the dining room entrance. She pushed open the door.
Things looked slightly disarrayed. Of course, someone had come to get Bri’s
gear.

Alexa
went to the table and put her hand on the stack of three books. “All of us know
the judge.”

“What!”

Alexa’s
smile was ironic. “Denver isn’t as large as some of the eastern cities, but it
ain’t a small cow-town anymore.”

Elizabeth
blinked. “Calli was a rancher.”

“Ayes,
and ‘Bert’ had a spread right next to hers.” Alexa’s forehead creased. “The
Philberts had lived next to Calli’s family for a couple of generations.”

“Coincidence?”
Elizabeth said, then shook her head just as the smaller woman was doing.

“I
don’t think so,” Alexa said. Again she shrugged. “We’ll see if the last
Exotique knows him, too. A singer,” she murmured. “Probably gotta be a singer.
He big into the arts?”

“Of
course.”

“Of
course,” Alexa repeated.

“Though
his new wife is…unusual. Very involved in New Age studies.”

Alexa
stared at her thoughtfully, “The owner of the metaphysical store in Denver,
Queen of Cups.”

“Yes,
how did you know?”

Tapping
the books with her finger, Alexa said, “Marian met her.” Alexa’s mouth opened,
then her lips pressed together as if guarding secrets. “Read them. There may be
other connections among us. We need to know.”

“I
will.” Elizabeth scooped up her healthy back bag, slung it over her shoulder.
She didn’t want to think about connections. She went into the bedroom and
stopped in her tracks as she saw a long-haired white Persian cat batting one of
the foil paper chocolate wrappers around and pouncing on it.

“How
did he get in here?” Elizabeth said.

The
cat sat down and draped her tail around her paws.
I AM a she
.

Elizabeth
plunked onto the bed. A talking cat. She was going mad. Flying horses, talking
cats. She rubbed her eyes.

“This
is my companion. She is a magical shape-shifting being, come to help us defeat
the Dark.”

“Of
course she is,” Elizabeth said tiredly, but jolted at the sight of the
miniature greyhound cradled in Alexa’s arms. Futilely she scanned the room for
the cat.

I
am a dog now.

“So
I see.” Her shoulders slumped.

The
greyhound held out a dainty paw.

Sighing,
Elizabeth went over to take it, and Power
zinged
through her body,
removing weariness. She stepped back and released the small pads and claws. “I
shouldn’t be surprised.”

“Of
course you should be,” Alexa said. “You’re in a different dimension. I can
speak from experience that information and surprises come flying at
you—sometimes literally—the first few days.” Her lopsided smile charmed. She
continued, “I’m down to a surprise every couple of weeks. Marian’s still
getting surprised every other day or so, but she’s a scholar and a Circlet and
investigates stuff.” She bent down and picked up the wrapper and her scowl was
back, along with an accusatory stare. “Chocolate. You have more than the chocolate
cake. You have
candy
.” She held the scrap up to her nose and sniffed,
whimpered. “You had chocolate
last night
.”

Elizabeth
had. After she’d put Bri to bed, she’d eaten one, or rather had let it melt in
her mouth and slide down her throat, savoring every instant. She clamped her
bag close to her side. “Yes, I had one. After we healed—” she still wasn’t
comfortable with the word “—fifteen people.”

Alexa
blew out a breath. “Guess I can’t blame you.” She widened her eyes and tried to
look pitiful. It didn’t work. She was one of the strongest, most competent
people Elizabeth had ever met, including her mother and the staff at Denver
Major.

When
Elizabeth didn’t respond to the ploy, Alexa once again donned the manner of
extreme efficiency. Looking down at the dog in her arms, she said, “Is there
anything else in the extra wardrobe Elizabeth needs?”

Faucon’s
shirts
,
the dog said slyly. Elizabeth heard her. She ignored the comment and stared at
the greyhound. It had an aura. She was getting used to seeing light flare
around people, green most especially for the medicas. This aura was different,
radiating a glittering rainbow with golden patches that glowed every few
seconds.

The
greyhound launched herself from Alexa to Elizabeth and Elizabeth caught her.
She was light, as if she was more spirit than flesh. Her fur was soft. The dog
looked at her with deep brown eyes that drew her in, made her dizzy, had her
sinking into her balance.

You
and your twin are needed here. It will take both of you to find the answers
.

Elizabeth
blinked, but still heard the voice in her mind, thought she saw the dog’s
muzzle opening and closing as if she uttered words.
Stay. I am Sinafinal, a
fey-coo-cu. Call on me if you have need, but guard my name from others. Only
the Exotiques and their mates know our names.

“Our?”
Elizabeth managed.

There
was a short bark and another greyhound sat on the bed, tongue lolling and
wagging its tail.

My
mate,
said Sinafinal.

It
was male. Slightly larger, it was a dappled brown instead of grey like Sinafinal.
It held out a paw.

Cautious,
but fascinated, Elizabeth took the paw. Another surge of energy through her,
but something about this one felt almost familiar.

I
am Tuckerinal. I was once a hamster. I came with Marian from Earth and am her
companion.

“Um,
salutations.” Again she eased back from the magical being. Fey-coo-cu, magical
shape-shifting being. Former hamster. Right.

Hello
to you. Too messy here. Bed and wardrobe must go.

“I’ll
take care of it,” Alexa said, waved toward the bathroom and dining room beyond.

The
dog sniffed at Elizabeth’s bag.
Do you have nuts?

“No.”

Yes,
you do! Nuts, nuts, nuts!
He pawed at the bag, managed to tip her cell phone
out.

“No!”
Alexa lunged for the bed, but it was tall and wide. She hopped on, but not
before Tuckerinal’s quick paws snicked the case of Elizabeth’s cell open and
his tongue came out to scoop up the battery and memory chips.

“No!”
Elizabeth dropped Sinafinal, but it was too late. She was dazed by what she’d
just witnessed, a dog eating electronics.

Tuckerinal
burped and grinned at her.
More nuts?

“No,
Bri has the most toys.” She snapped her mouth shut.

Br-iii
. It was an
anticipatory lilt in her mind from him. He swiped a long pink tongue over his
muzzle.
Toys. Nuts.

“Uh-oh,”
Alexa said.

“No!”
Elizabeth scrabbled at the remnants of the phone, knowing it was useless, but
trying to put it together all the same. Tears spurted from her eyes and anger
and humiliation washed through her.

She
is doing that turning red thing,
Sinafinal said.

“Out!
All of you! How could you? That was my
camera
phone. It had
pictures
.”
She whirled to Alexa. “Photos of our father’s birthday party. Of our parents!
Get out. Now. I don’t want to see any of you.”

Tuckerinal
sat up. He wasn’t happy and grinning now.
I can show them
.
All. I can
repeat voice mail.
He opened his mouth.

“Hey,
sweetheart.” Cassidy’s deep tones rolled out. “Can’t tell you how much I want
you, how I’m lookin’ forward to after shift. Later.”

Elizabeth
moaned and curled onto the bed.

Alexa
was there. “I’m sorry. So sorry. You didn’t say you’d left a…a lover, too.”

“The…the…bas…tard…broke…off…our…engagement…two
weeks ago,” Elizabeth said between shuddering sobs.

“Oh,
gawd,” Alexa said in English. The bed dipped as she crawled closer. She sat by
Elizabeth and stroked her hair. “I’m so sorry.”

“I
love him. Loved him.” She cried more, couldn’t seem to stop. Hadn’t she cried
enough over the man? “He…saw. Me trying to…use my…my…gift.” It was all so
horrible. She could remember her despair that a young girl was dying, her desperate
hope that she could call down a miracle. Her failure.