The Air Singer (The Cantors) (6 page)

The Earth Singer, the only Cantor to survive, escaped across the known ocean with a few teachers and warriors swearing never to allow the leaders of mankind to ma
nipulate the Cantors for their own benefit again. This new order called itself The Cadence and dedicated themselves to the maintenance of the natural rhythm of the planet and the protection of the Cantors. Over the next thousands of years, warriors for the Cadence calling themselves paladins found and protected Cantors for each of the elements. Though wars ravaged mankind, the Cantors remained unbiased. The Spina however, raced against the Cadence to find the Cantors and destroy them before they became a threat. Tally was the latest Cantor discovered and both the Spina and the Cadence had found her. She was the Air Singer.

Tally dropped her bags on the floor under the booth
. Her skin began to numb as Roland pulled his energy back. As soon as she remembered where she was, she looked around the restaurant and saw that everyone was continuing the day as if nothing had just happened. Roland’s hand gave her arm a gentle squeeze and she looked up to meet his eyes. “How did you do that?”

“Paladin’s have
special gifts that can only be used to protect a singer. One of them is the ability to share knowledge or memories with you. It is an old power originally developed for use in battle when communication was difficult. I just thought after everything you had been through, it was the only way to make you believe me.”

“So what happens now?”

Roland slid his hand from Tally’s wrist and grasped her hand. Offering her a reassuring smile he answered, “We begin your training. We have a facility about four hours from here that can keep you safe while you learn how to hone your new powers. We can leave now if you like.”

“We?”

Roland smiled, “Well yeah, I think it would be easier for you to find if I tagged along.”

“No
, you said
we
have a facility. It’s not just you?”

Roland flagged the waitres
s and signaled that he wanted the bill. “No, it’s not just me. You will be under the care of the Cadence; specifically me, my friend Oliver and our teacher, Anna.”

The waitress dropped off the bill and Roland placed cash into the black vinyl folder
before getting up. He grabbed Tally’s overnight bag and offered a hand to help her up. “Shall we go?”

“I need to let Kate know that I’m leaving
. She will be beside herself with worry if I just disappear without calling her first.”

Roland started leading her to the door. “You can call her from the truck
. We have a long drive ahead of us.”

“What do you mean you’re leaving? I mean Roland’s hot and all
, but Tally you just met him.”

Tally couldn’t even begin to exp
lain to Kate everything that happened since she had last seen her. She decided to tell her just enough to explain why she was leaving. “Kate, I know you think this is sudden, but if you think about it, it’s the safest way. I can’t go back to work knowing that Sean could come back for me at any time. My apartment’s not safe anymore and I don’t want to put you in danger by staying at your place.”

“
When will I see you again?” Kate’s voice almost broke Tally’s resolve.

“Soon, I promise.” Without looking at Roland for confirmation, Tally committed to seeing her friend again with or without his help. “I need to go now and you need to make some phone calls for me.”

“Take care of yourself, and call me as soon as it’s safe.”

Tally’s
eyes clouded with tears. She closed them and turned toward the passenger window to say good-bye to her best friend. “I will. Kate, be safe and thank you for helping me with this. I love you.”

“Me too, girl
.”

And
with that Kate hung up.

Tally opened her eyes and let the passing desert become a blur as
she regained her composure. After about twenty minutes juniper trees appeared on the horizon. “Where exactly are we going?”

Roland turned the radio down, “We have a place just outside Pinetop
. Ever been?”

“Nope
. How far away are we?”

“W
e just entered the Miami area so we have about two hours.” Roland adjusted the radio volume, “We will be in Salt River Canyon soon. The views are breathtaking but we won’t be able to get a signal for the phone if you want to call anyone else.”

“Nope, Kate is the only one that needs to know
. Anyone else would automatically check with her anyways.”

“What about family?”

“Last time I heard from them, my parents were just leaving Melbourne, Australia on their way to New Zealand. They finally retired and decided to see the world for a few months. They call every month or so and don’t expect me to return a missed call. They won’t worry for a while.”

“S
iblings?”

Tally looked across Roland to see
the gray and red striped hills of earth terraced by decades of mining. Miami, Arizona was a town whose population was dominated by employees of the copper mine. “Nope, just me.”

“Were
n’t you lonely growing up?”

A smile formed on Tally’s face before she could
stop it. “It had its moments, but my parents made sure that I kept busy; softball, art classes, bowling. My favorite memory is when my dad and I would ride horses through the Superstition Mountains every other weekend. We became friends with the couple that owned the stable and were able to go out on our own after the first summer.”

Roland looked over to Tally,
confused at this new information. “You ride?”

“Is there a
reason that surprises you?”

“I just didn’t see you as the
equestrian type.”

Tally turned to watch Roland
drive and squinted her eyes, “So how did you see me?”

Roland laughed, “
Well, I didn’t see you riding off into the sunset on your own horse! The dust, the flies, the smell, it just didn’t seem to be something you would enjoy.”

“
Are you kidding me? It’s the only place that I can let everything go.”

Roland seemed even more confused
. Tally tried to explain, “Animals have no ill intent, no motives; just pure emotion without judgment, shame, or guilt. I can let my shields down and not be overwhelmed. Half the time the horse just mirrors whatever I am going through. If I am tense, the horse gets anxious. As soon as I remember to relax, the horse just falls into a nice easy gait and everything seems a million miles away for a little bit. It’s like a mini vacation for someone like me.” Tally let her head fall against the cushioned bolster. “So tell me about you.”

“Not much to tell that you didn’t get out of our little connection at
breakfast.”

Tally was still sorting through all of the knowledge that Roland had passed to her durin
g their psychic link. She learned that Roland was her paladin, her guardian and personal warrior. Her heart fell at this revelation. She was elated that she would be spending more time with him, but now suspected that what she thought was mutual attraction was nothing more than a means for Roland to bring her into the Cadence. She would have to deal with her unrequited feelings soon or this would be a difficult arrangement. “So have you always been a paladin?”

Roland kept his eye
s on the road while he answered, “The Cadence adopted me when I was five. Before that I was in the Cook County foster system in Chicago.”

Tally
sat flabbergasted, “They adopted you? How does a child become adopted by anything other than a mother or father?”

Laughing at her shock, Roland continued, “It’s not like I became the property of The Cadence Incorporated
. My mother and father were Cadence members but they gave me a home filled with love and happiness, just like any other family.”

Tally relaxed a bit, “So how did the Cadence know you would become a paladin?”

“They look for signs of psychic ability while you are growing up. If it comes naturally, they encourage its development and eventually train you to be a paladin. If a student does not exhibit the natural gift, than they are trained to be sentries.”

“What is a sentry?”
Tally sorted through her memory and did not remember sentries being a part of the story that Roland had shared with her in the diner.

“Sentries investigate natural disasters, weather patterns, and climate changes to determine if it is part of the normal order or if it was influenced by a
singer.” Roland glanced toward Tally, “Oliver is the sentry in Pinetop. You will be spending a lot of time with him and Anna once we get you settled in.”

“
Is Anna a sentry as well?”

Roland’s expression suddenly became somber, “She
was a paladin. Now she manages the operation of various facilities in the US. She will decide what direction your training should take.”

“If I am the Air Singer, shouldn’t my training center on that?”

A smile broke onto Roland’s face. “It will, but there are many other things to learn as well.”

“Like what?”

Roland turned the volume up on the radio. “We are about to enter the canyon. It’s a beautiful sight. Take this opportunity to enjoy the journey. All of your questions about training and the Cadence will be answered when we get to Pinetop.” He reached across the seat and patted Tally’s hand, “Trust me.”

Tally burst out laughing.
“Trust you? After everything that’s happened, you feel the need to ask that just now?” She tried to stifle herself. “Now I know I’m in trouble.”

Roland’s truck kicked up d
irt as it pulled up in front of an old antique shop just inside Pinetop town limits. Reclaimed wood had been stained dark and covered the outer wall and eaves. Faded license plates from various states across the country provided pops of color against the dark walls. An old sign behind a stack of old patio swings read Antique Mercantile and Trading Post. 

“Why are we stopping?
” Tally had never been fond of thrift or antique stores. The items there carried the energy of the previous owners and walking into a store was the psychic equivalent of walking into a room filled with hundreds of people’s dirty laundry. It was never pleasant and at times nauseating.

“We’re here.
” Roland parked the truck and shut off the engine.

Tally
didn’t hide her confusion. “This is the training facility?” The images created in her mind when she thought of the power of a group like the Cadence crumbled as she surveyed the old building. 

Roland smiled at her confusion. “Haven’t we learned anything about first impressions after the last week?” Hopping out of the truck he strode over to Tally’s door and opened it. “Not everything is as it seems.”

Tally stayed in the truck. “I don’t do well with antique stores. How about we invite Anna and Oliver to meet us somewhere else?” The energy from the store was already making her stomach spin. “Anywhere else.”

Roland reached across Tally and released her seatbelt. He grabbed her hand and Tally felt numb
. The nausea stopped and the energy emanating from the shop disappeared.

“How…”

“I’m your paladin.” Roland smiled as he pulled her out of the truck and shut the door with his free hand. “I’ve trained to protect you from all threats, including clairsentient overload.”

Tally was amazed at how
normal
she felt walking into the store. A gangly boy who looked about seventeen was dusting the glass case under the register. His dirty blonde hair was messy and hid his eyes. The polluted air tickled her nose and she exploded into a fit of sneezing that announced her and Roland’s presence in the store.

“Roland! You
’re back!” The young man exclaimed. Noticing Tally in tow, he introduced himself. “Hey, I’m Mike.” He shoved the dirty rag in his pocket and ran his hand through his hair pulling the bangs away revealing an honest if not naive face. “I’d offer to shake hands, but I wouldn’t want to get you dirty.”

Tally smiled at the young gentleman, “No problem.”

“This is Tally.” Roland introduced, “She will be helping Anna with the paperwork in the back office.”

Tally’
s head shot toward Roland. She began to protest he continued, “Is she here today?”

Mike smiled and thumbed
toward the back, “When isn’t she here?”

Roland
led Tally to the very back of the building. Shelves of glassware, china, and figurines filled the store. Baskets of different shapes and sizes hung from the ceiling. In the far corner behind racks of framed oil paintings, a small door opened to a windowless office. A steel desk reminding Tally of the ones used by teachers at her old high school stood in the middle of the room. File cabinets lined the far wall with wire trays filled with paper and receipts sitting at the top of each.

“If my training includes filing, I’d rather go deal with Sean and his buddy.” 

Roland closed the door behind them. Without a word, he took them to the back wall and opened the top drawer of the file cabinet. Still holding Tally’s hand, he reached underneath the open drawer. Tally heard a soft click. Suddenly the desk moved toward the office door blocking it from opening. Only hearing the slightest hum as the desk moved to its new location, Tally saw that it had been hiding a flight of stairs that disappeared into the earth.

“Now that is cool!” 

Chuckling under his breath, Roland guided her down the stairs. “I’m glad you approve.” About seven steps down, Roland stopped and flipped what looked like a simple light switch. Light illuminated the room at the bottom of the stairs and a hum from above announced that the desk was returning to its previous position hiding the passage.

Tally
continued following Roland down the stairs to see a library that reminded her of an old English manor. Walls of wood and stone were shelved with books from floor to ceiling. A plush burgundy rug covered the stone floor while oversized vanilla chairs flanked a table with open books and a reading lamp. “What is this place?”

“
She’s not very observant is she?” An unfamiliar feminine voice filled the room. Before Tally could turn to see who the voice belonged to, Roland ripped his hand from hers as if she were a hot ember. Instantly she sensed that two people had entered the room. Turning around she saw a tall, dignified woman in her fifties with black hair streaked with silver. Her face appeared tired, but her eyes sparkled with intelligence. Standing next to her was a young man around Roland’s age with chestnut hair worn long but pulled back to a ponytail at the nape of his neck. His expression warmed as he smiled at Tally.

“
You would think the books would be a dead giveaway.” The woman continued, “You have stepped foot in a library before?”

Tally stood incredulous to the woman’s
mockery. “Yes, but I’ve never had to go through a secret passage to enter. Tell me, do you require blood samples for a library card or will a urinalysis suffice?”

Roland and the other gentleman stood speechless waiting for the older woman’s response
. Anna was the strongest, most respected paladin in modern history. No one crossed her, not even the elder members of the Cadence. Tally just mouthed off at the woman who controlled how she lived for the unforeseeable future.

Anna stood unaffected by Tally’s comment until the corner of her mouth curved
revealing her amusement. “Air singers always are quick with a comeback. I will have to say that they are my favorite to banter with. Just as smart as Fire, but not quite as volatile.” Anna extended her arm toward the hall leading away from the library, “Join me for tea?”

Tally looked to Roland for guidance
. He smiled and started toward Anna. They both walked out of room. Tally followed until she reached the young man that had been at Anna’s side. “Don’t mind Anna. She tries to come off as a hard ass, but she cares about her students.” He offered to shake Tally’s hand, “I’m Oliver.”

Tally smiled and shook his hand
. “Tally.”

“I know.” Oliver
escorted her into a kitchen. It was clean, with concrete countertops, two ovens and a large stainless steel refrigerator. In the center, four covered chairs surrounded a table that appeared to be carved from a solid piece of wood. Anna placed a white china teapot in the center of the table. She turned to face the young men, “Could you please let Mike know that we will be closing the shop early today?” 

Realizing they
were being dismissed, Roland and Oliver began to head back to the library. Roland looked back with a reassuring smile before joining Oliver on the stairs. He hadn’t let her out of sight in the past two days and felt uneasy leaving her, even in the company of his mentor.

“She survived two Spina attacks, I think she can handle having tea with Anna.
” Oliver whispered over his shoulder.

Roland erased his concern for Tally from his expression.
“I know. She just feels vulnerable right now.” He caught up to Oliver at the top of the stairs. “I’m just helping her be at ease.”

“Uh-huh” Oliver laughed while he found the switch to move the desk back over the stairs. “You didn’t tell me she was so attractive.”

“I didn’t notice.” Roland busied himself with unlocking the door to the office.

“Really?
I figured the long blonde hair and those big brown eyes would have peaked your interest.” 

“
I was too busy doing my job. I’m her paladin, nothing more.” Roland walked out of the office toward the front of the store. “And her eyes are blue.”

Oliver
followed behind laughing, “Yeah, glad we got that straight.”

A feeling of abandonment came over Tally as she realized that Roland had never left her alone in the past two days until now. She stood at the entrance to the kitchen watching Anna retrieve two china cups and saucers from a cabinet. Anna placed the cups on the table in front of two adjacent chairs. “For someone with such a quick lip, you sure are timid.” She sat down and met Tally in the eye. “Take a seat. We need to talk.”

Tally walked over and took the seat next to Anna
. “So do you always make new students feel this welcome?”

A laugh escaped Anna’s mouth as she
placed a silver tea strainer over her cup. Tally watched as the green, brown and orange colors became trapped in the mesh. She took a matching strainer from the center of the table and filled Tally’s cup the same way. Aromas of orange and citrus rose from the clear brown liquid. “What did Roland tell you about me?”

Tally watched Anna set the teapot back on the table.
She took a sip of her tea and enjoyed the warm liquid in her throat. “He said that you used to be a paladin and that you will be in charge of my training.”

“A paladin never stops being a paladin
. I just decided on a quieter life and took the opportunity to manage some of the smaller facilities.” She brought her cup to her lips, “Pinetop is my favorite. A small town in the trees with plenty of water nearby, it doesn’t get nicer than this.”

“
How many facilities are there?”

“Oh, there are hundreds throughout the world
. The Cadence has been around for centuries and has made sure there are safe places to house and train singers as well as paladins within a few hundred miles of any significant city.”

Tally sat stunned at the size of the alliance she was now a part
of. Anna continued to sip at her tea. “Do you know why you’re here?”

“From what I gathered from Roland’s mind meld trick, I’m the
Air Singer.”

“Mind meld?” Anna’s smooth demeanor
was shaken. “He linked with you?”

“He had to!” Tally
defended her paladin, “I wouldn’t have believed him otherwise, and I sure as hell wouldn’t be here having a tea party with a perfect stranger.”

Anna re
gained her composure and moved on to the next subject. “I suppose with the Spina so close, it was a good decision. We just prefer that a singer have more training before linking with his or her paladin. It can be overwhelming if you are not prepared.” Anna took another sip of tea, her long slender fingers caressing the china. “How familiar are you with history?”

“
I studied just enough to graduate high school,” Tally was confused at Anna’s question. “Hollywood took over after that.”

“Okay, not the answer I was hoping for, but
I’ve learned to work with what I’m given.” Anna sat in thought for a moment then got up to retrieve a wooden box from one of the cabinets. “Do you know who Queen Elizabeth I is?”

“
Cate Blanchett played her in one of my favorite movies. Was she a Cantor?”

Anna took in a deep breath.
“No. A Cantor by the name of Zachary Woodward decided to intervene after England faced the Spanish Armada during her reign.” Anna reached into the wooden box and dropped a large coin on to the table. As the coin clattered to rest in front of Tally, she noticed that it was much larger than normal currency. The darkened silver allowed some of the finer details to emerge. A stormy ocean filled with ships surrounded by what appeared to be Latin and the year 1588.

“What is this?” Tally held the coin between her fingers.

“That is a replica of a medal Queen Elizabeth had struck to commemorate victory over the Spanish Armada. The inscription reads
Flavit Jehova et Dissipati Sunt.
”

Anna paused as if waiting for a reaction from Tally
. Tally let a few seconds pass to study the other side of the coin. Looking up, she saw Anna’s expectant look. “I didn’t take any foreign languages either, so I hope you weren’t expecting me to know what that means.”

“It means
Jehovah blew his wind and they were scattered.
During Queen Elizabeth’s rein, an unexpected victory over the Spanish navy was followed by an even more unexpected storm that destroyed an additional thirty five Spanish ships. Even King Phillip of Spain believed that the elements were against him. He is remembered saying that he had sent his navy to fight with men, not the weather.” Anna returned to her seat, “Zachary was an air singer like you.”

Tally looked at the coin again. “So Zachary was English I take it?”

“Yes, but what if he had been Spanish? If the Spanish had been able to invade England, the world would be a much different place today.”

“
Good thing the Cadence liked Queen Elizabeth.”

Anna leaned across the table, “The Cadence had nothing to do with it. Zachary
discovered his power and wielded it for his own gain.”

Tally leaned back in her chair, “So the Cadence wanted Spain to win?”