The Guardians

Chapter 25

Aiden gaped and Lyra looked disturbed.

"How many?" Aiden asked.

"I'm not sure. Saren drew all the attention to himself when he claimed that Faeren was dead. Unfortunately, he was correct but he wasn't faring well last I saw him. He could have escaped at any time, but he refuses to leave the others. I'm afraid that he'll get himself killed. I've already lost one brother, I can't bear to lose the other one."

"We can't openly attack Arlan. You saw how well that worked for Sari."

"We'll have to sneak in," Lyra said.

"How?" Neve asked.

"Well, you have shadow abilities, yes?"

"Yes."

"I have a way to stealth us without being caught, but I can only hold it up for so long."

"Wait, 'hold it up'? What aren't you telling me?"

Lyra sighed and seemed reluctant to explain herself. "I'm a spellcaster," she said slowly. "I used a Wall of Stealth to keep the troops from noticing our escape."

"Can you hold it closer to us?"

"I'm sure I can."

"We should go as soon as possible."

"We can't be hasty with this, Neve," Aiden said. "If we screw up in any way, not only can we kill the others, we can get ourselves killed. Faeren wouldn't want that. In fact, I know he doesn't want that."

"We need to prepare," Lyra agreed. "And I can learn magic while we're here that can prove useful."

Neve nodded. They were right. Hastiness would only cause needless deaths. But she was glad to have a spellcaster on her side, even if Lyra didn't strike her as one. The woman didn't even use a staff. And she'd never met a spellcaster that channeled through a sword.

The elder was surprised to see one of the Guardians at his door.

"Excuse me if I am interrupting anything," she said. "I fear I am not familiar with your customs or ways."

She was young, although she was older than his son. He judged her to be in her twenties. A strand of her red-brown hair hung loose and she had it tucked behind her ear. Her dark green leather armor was lightly worn, making him believe that she'd acquired it recently. Her emerald eyes showed an experience that he was unaccustomed to seeing in a young woman's eyes. He could tell she'd been through much.

"You are interrupting nothing, Guardian." He motioned inside his hut. "Come and enjoy my family's hearth." She inclined her head and entered. "What brings you here?"

"I seek guidance and an answer to a question."

"The Great Mother guided you here for a reason. I am aware of your magical gifts. I have my own gifts, dear heart," he smiled when she blinked in surprise. "I have the gift of prophecy and sight. I saw your coming. The coming of one with greatness to her."

"How do you know whether I am great or not?"

"You are God Touched. The Champion. They speak of you often. You see, I can Dreamwalk. I have been in the company of the gods many times. The Great Mother has shown me many things. And she showed me your birth and your coming to my village. One who is scarred from her experiences but who is stronger because of them. My son tells me that you have a power he has never sensed before."

"The boy from the forest is your son." It wasn't a question, but an observation.

"I see he told you of his gift. He told me the Paladins retreated from you after you slipped into your old life. They obviously didn't know who you were."

She didn't move to deny that she was once a Paladin. "I didn't recognize them. They weren't in the Keep when I left. I think they may have been initiated after my departure."

"You seek to learn more spells?"

"I hoped you could teach me what you could. And answer questions I have."

"You have a strong grasp on the elements already, but you could use a bit more help with your healing talents."

"That I could."

"Sit with me and let me read what type of spells you have an affinity for. I may delve into your past to help me determine what to teach you."

The Guardian sat across from him, her face unreadable. Nearby his children watched, Will the most intent. He held both his hands out and she laid hers in them. His eyes unfocused and he began. He saw her using her magic to heal her companion. The ill-fated battle. The Guardian Trials. The skirmish against the Bloodletters. The near-suicide to remove a binding collar from herself. Her Paladin training. Then he hit a wall. There was a large part of her life she was blocking him from seeing. He pressed against the wall but it was solid. He went to the beginning of what she would allow him to see. The young girl, perhaps the same age as one of his daughters, weeping as she tried to pry the collar off of herself. He felt a pang of sorrow. She had more scars on her heart and soul than he had thought. He then went into the spells she knew, seeing that he would not be able to access anything before her eleventh year. It made him curious as to why she was blocking him and amazed at how powerful she was to be able to do so. She truly was the God Touched Champion.