“I agree.”
He nodded. “In striving to uphold our vows, as well as maintain balance and harmony, there are times when it’s necessary we move certain members within the Network. Unfortunately, anytime there is an organization with a governing body like ours – there is potential for abuse of power.”
“I understand what you’re saying. I also know that if our Network is going to stay unified, you need to address those who are abusing their power,” I said, twisting my pinky ring round and round on my finger.
He rubbed his chin. “I completely agree. That’s why I will be working diligently, with those I trust, to identify the perpetrators. But I must tell you,” he paused and shook his head, “removing someone from the Council is basically unheard of. Only in rare cases, when a Senior member is found guilty of actually harming or intending to harm another member, are they terminated from their position. In your case, I don’t believe anyone wants to hurt you. In fact, I’d say it’s the opposite; they want to keep you safe, keep an eye on you –”
“More like control me,” I interjected, crossing my arms. All on its own, my foot started tapping incessantly against the floor.
“Maybe so,” he said with resignation. “But once the conspirators are identified, they will be reprimanded, but more than likely they will remain on the Council.”
“Figures,” I said, releasing a long, frustrated breath. Then I remembered my manners and the fact that he’d always been on my side. I grabbed his arm and smiled, “Let’s hope that will be enough to set them straight. If they were off my case and focused on more important matters, I could live my life.”
His lips curved into a gentle smile, and then his expression turned thoughtful. “One more thing. While I did not necessarily agree with the decision to move Jason Walker out of Bellingham, I did feel it would be in his best interest. At least for a while. After all, he admitted pursuing a relationship with you even though he knew it was a violation.”
I dropped my head and stared at the rug.
In a soft voice, he said, “Lexi, I know we can’t help who we fall in love with. I will do what I can to make things right for you, but for now, this might be what’s best.”
My head shot up, and I looked at him openmouthed.
“Your secret is safe with me, dear. I know true love when I see it. I have the same kind of love with my wife.” A dreamy glaze glossed over his eyes. After a moment, he released a happy sigh, looked at me, and said, “You will find a way. True love always does.” He gritted his teeth and frowned. “In the meantime, I’ll be on damage control with this Senior Council. And my granddaughter…well, she needs to be reined in.”
“What do you mean?”
Busying himself, he placed some of the individual coin cases back in their velvet bags. “She is like a wild stallion, all spirit with an eye for freedom. But she has no sense of where she’s going or who she might trample in the process.” His jaw squared. “She’s always wanted an invitation to join one of the Circles in California.” He raised a brow, “It’s going to be interesting to see if she gets one now.”
I fidgeted with my earring. “From San Diego, you mean?”
He nodded but continued staring out the window like he was deep in thought. “I’m afraid we really must go now or we’ll be late. You run on ahead. And Lexi,” he said, turning back toward me, “if you ever need help with anything – you call me.”
“I will. And thank you so much for your support.” I gave him a big hug and then hurried toward the door.
“Oh, one last thing,” he called out.
I twirled around. “What’s that?”
“Today, if you’re up for the challenge – I think you should take it. There is no doubt in my mind you will succeed.”
I frowned in confusion. “Huh?”
“Go now. You’ll know what I’m talking about soon enough.”
“Oh, okay. Thank you!” I said, still baffled as I hastened into the empty hallway. Oh well, I thought; he said I’d figure it out, so I guess I would.
Once outside, I realized I must be running really late, because the courtyard was a virtual ghost town. I finally spotted a few people hurrying into the forest on the east side of the grounds, obviously on their way to, believe it or not, the huge outdoor amphitheater where the awards ceremony was being held. I hadn’t seen it yet but had heard it was nestled in the woods and could seat more than five hundred people. I sprinted after them.
“Where are you?” Ash invaded my mind. “Everyone’s asking about you, and Jason looks anxious.”
“No worries. I’ll be there soon. Ahanu was showing me his coin collection and time got away from us. Did the ceremony start yet?”
“Not yet. But you’re gonna miss the pre-ceremony entertainment if you don’t hurry.”
“Got it,” I said, wondering what he meant. No one had mentioned anything to me about a show before the awards.
Rays of light streaked through the sparsely treed woodlands as I ran along the dirt path. Any protection from the sun’s rays was a godsend. I was already golden brown and had noticed an obscene amount of moles and freckles popping up all over my body – only made me appreciate the pleasant, mild Bellingham summers that much more. Luckily, I’d saved my ultra-lightweight running shorts and tank for today, because the heat was already sweltering, and it was still early morning. Eventually, the trees thinned out and the noise of the crowd echoed through the timber. A Mumford & Sons song played from speakers strategically positioned amongst the trees. I heard cheering in the distance and figured the show must have started.
Normally, I loved being part of a large crowd in a football stadium or at a concerts. Mix a little music in with screaming fans all sharing the same emotional experience and you got an addictive electric synergy – a perfect mix for feeling young and carefree. Except right now, I wasn’t feeling carefree. My emotions were dark and heavy. Celebrating and honoring people for their victories was the last thing I cared to do. I had more important issues, like devoting my time and energy into finding a way Jason and I could be together. One thing was for certain, I’d matured a lot since being on my own and hopelessness was not an option. Now, I lived for today and believed in tomorrow. But anger was still very motivating, inciting an I-want-to-win attitude.
All at once, the terrain began inclining, and I reached the amphitheater soon after. Cradled in a semi-circle against a natural slope at the edge of the forest, stone benches and swaths of perfectly manicured grass alternated in a tiered fashion. Guardians jam-packed every bench and stretch of grass. I noticed that, rather than clear-cutting the entire terrain, the landscaper had left several tall, slender pine trees scattered throughout the seating area, enhancing the natural setting. The trees had been limbed several feet up, so they wouldn’t interfere with the walkways or benches, but the uppermost branches still provided a nice canopy and allowed patches of shade for the gathering spectators.
As if someone had flipped a switch, everyone jumped to their feet and started hollering. I diverted my gaze to the open-air stage, expecting to be wowed by an amazing performance of some kind but found it empty. Beyond the stage, yellow fields stretched for miles then merged with rolling hills. While picturesque, the fields were also empty of any activity. Since I was on the top-tier of the amphitheater and everyone in front of me was standing, my view of anything to the left or right of the stage was obstructed. I maneuvered my way to the edge of the amphitheater and finally spotted what had captured everyone’s attention.
To the far left of the stage was a strange wooden structure about 75 feet long with moving parts. On each end, a set of stairs led up to a platform, but between the two platforms, stretched a series of shifting and rotating objects. Some looked like moving walls. They shot up and down from the base of the platform like fast-moving pistons. Hanging from the upper rafters, other objects swung back and forth like pendulums. I spotted something bright red on the platform and realized it was a shirt. Someone was attempting to maneuv
er through the moving obstacle course.
Sizing up the contraption with interest, I side-stepped people and made my way toward the bottom of the amphitheater for a better look. Once at ground level, I paused and watched wide-eyed as the red-shirted guy narrowly avoided being smacked by a large rotating paddle. Not long after, though, he met a wicked demise. Dodging in between what looked like mini-wrecking balls, he got smacked in the face and went crashing to the ground – a good ten feet below. I cringed and moaned with the rest of the crowd.
“Give it up for Jaydon from Anchorage,” a man’s voice boomed over the loudspeakers. “What a valiant effort.” Everyone started applauding and hollering, but I was still shuddering. From what I could see, Jaydon’s face looked mangled, and I suspected he had a broken cheekbone. I was about to offer assistance, but he rose and the announcer said, “All right, Jaydon’s off to find himself an Amethyst. Please welcome our next challenger, Sarah from Nashville.”
Everyone started clapping, and I heard someone say, “Hey, Lexi. How’s it going?”
I turned and smiled when I saw it was Christina, whom I’d met while dining with the Denver Circle. She was another die-hard Bronco fan like myself, so we’d instantly hit it off. “Good.” I lied. “How ‘bout you?”
“Awesome.” She pointed at the structure. “What do you think of the gauntlet?” She tugged on one of her braids. A total towhead, she had the palest skin and lightest blue eyes I’d ever seen.
“Outrageous. What’s the deal?”
Her eyes widened. “Haven’t you heard about it?” She spoke loudly, because the noise level had risen. Sarah from Nashville had just navigated through a series of spikes jutting out of the platform floor.
I shook my head. “Nope. I know nothing.”
“Oh, wow! Well, it’s dangerous and fun but totally impossible. They bring it out every year at the end of the games. Anyone can participate, but each Circle can only send one person to represent them.”
“Is there a prize when you make it through, or something?” I asked curiously.
Christina laughed loudly. “Well, the prizes are amazing, but no one has ever won any of them.” She must have noticed my confused expression, because she clarified, “Um…no one has ever made it through the entire gauntlet.”
“Really?” I asked, instantly throwing my hands over my mouth as Sarah from Nashville was smacked across the side and shoved off the platform by the paddle thing that Jaydon had evaded minutes before.
“Oh! That was harsh,” Christina said, making a face and shaking her head. “Yeah. It’s funny, really. The Senior Council made the prizes so incredible, that there’s always a line of people willing to give the gauntlet a try.” She laughed. “And while it provides great entertainment, everyone knows it’s impossible. See how it’s broken down into sections? All with different challenges?” She gestured vaguely, and I nodded. “Well, those last two sections have never been beaten. Actually, most people don’t make it past the halfway point. Anyone who signs up knows they’re gonna get thrashed.” She giggled.
I scrutinized the end of the gauntlet, noting a series of fast-swinging, closely-placed oil drums. It would be difficult to make it through there without getting annihilated, which is probably why no one ever had. The final segment, absent of obstacles, looked less challenging, until I noted the moving floorboards. Designed like an elongated chessboard, square sections of the floor randomly opened and closed. After watching for a minute, I realized there was no set pattern for the trapdoors. Luck would be a bigger factor than skill.
That’s when it hit me. An epic idea. What if you knew, or could sense, when the oil drums were about to hit you or knew beforehand when the floors would open beneath you? Then could you make it all the way through? I remembered Ahanu’s parting words. He’d said something about if I was up for the challenge, he thought I would succeed. Was he talking about the gauntlet? Could I do it?
Excitedly, I grabbed Christina by the shoulder. “What are the prizes for beating the gauntlet?”
With her mouth ajar and her eyes blinking rapidly, she said, “Wow! You’re Essence is…crazy…over the top...”
She wavered a little bit, and I steadied her. “Thanks. Now tell me exactly what the winner gets.”
“Well, there’s two things. First, you know how you can’t just join any Circle? Most of the time you have to apply and hope you get accepted?”
“Yeah,” I said excitedly.
“So, the first prize is that you can choose any Circle you want to live in, and if you’re linked you’re partner goes with you. Even if the Circle you choose is overcrowded and isn’t currently accepting new members, it doesn’t matter. They still have to take you. Then again, who wouldn’t want someone who’d defeated the gauntlet?”
A smile crossed my lips and my brain went into overdrive as I thought about the possibilities if I were to win. Worst case scenario, Jason and Madison move to Bangor, and even though I’d already persuaded the Senior Council I should stay in Bellingham, I’d have a trump card. I could move Ash and I to Bangor, as well. No one would see that one coming, except maybe Carlos. And boy, would it turn some heads and ignite a few tempers. But hey, what could they do about it?
“And the second prize?” I asked, tapping my fingers together.
“This is gonna sound wild, I know. But that person automatically becomes a member of the Senior Council. They can attend the conferences, call for meetings, and vote just like everyone else.” She blew out a breath and shook her head. “Being a Council member is huge, because you have a voice that will be heard. You can express your ideas and opinions as well as those of the Circle you belong to. And you could potentially affect the outcome of an important issue.” She crinkled her nose. “Now, you see why people attempt the gauntlet?”
I nodded and stared off into the distance. “Power. And a voice.”
“Uh, Lexi. You have a funny faraway look in your eyes. You’re not seriously considering it?” She scooted closer and peered in my face. “Are you?”
Suddenly, it all became clear. I had a unique combination of abilities. My Flair allowed me to defend myself against anything or anyone that was about to threaten me. I should be able to anticipate the movements of the obstacles on the gauntlet and adjust my response accordingly, thus avoid being knocked off. I rubbed my arms excitedly and stared at the gauntlet with new vision. Oh yes! I could feel it in my blood. I was made to run the gauntlet. And beat it!
Besides that, the Senior Council needed a person who could represent the younger generation of Guardians. Someone who could bring new ideas and who promoted fairness. Someone who was different but whose differences sparked curiosity and maybe a little respect, but not fear.
I could do that. Not to mention, I needed representation in a big way. Who better to help format a special set of Dentelle guidelines than me – the only Dentelle? There was no one else.
It was time I stepped up to the plate. Accepted who I was and took a leading role. I had the communication skills and confidence to stand up for what I believed in. Now, I just needed to commit myself.
“Lexi? Earth to Lexi. Are you going to run the gauntlet?”
“Absolutely,” I said excitedly, grabbing Christina’s arm. “And beat it, too! Thanks for all the information, but I gotta go. I’ll catch up with you later.”
Before she could respond, I was on my way. I asked Ash to find out who, if anyone, was representing Bellingham in the challenge, and when I found out it was Trevon, I sought him out. Before long, he and I had switched places, and I was in line with plans to defy the odds. Adrenaline kicked my heart into overdrive, and I could feel the increased blood flow to my muscles. I jogged in place and then stretched. I felt good. Better than I had all week. Even more pumped up than during the archery finals.
“Lexi?”
“Yeah, Ash?”
“You got this?”
“Easy.” I laughed. “I can feel it.”
“I just found out what the winner tak
es home… So, you thinking we might be moving to Bangor?”
“Could happen. Don’t want to mess up this passionate thing you’ve got going with Madison.”
Laughter. “Yeah, I’ve got some work to do there. Been hearing the words ‘that was a big mistake’ every time I try and approach her today.”
“You’ll bring her around. I have no doubts,” I said, tying my shoes in double-knots, not wanting to take any chances on a stupid mistake.
“You just win this so I can bring her around. Oh, and Jason says this was a brilliant idea and can’t believe none of us thought of it. Also, we’ll all be waiting for you when you come out the other side of the gauntlet.”
“See ya there.”
When it was finally my turn, there was some confusion as to whether or not Trevon could bow out and I could take his place. So I waited patiently while they sorted through logistics. But as soon as I caught a glimpse of Carlos and Mr. Wright hurrying toward the stage, I decided I wasn’t waiting for anyone’s permission. Knowing those two, they’d find a multitude of reasons why I couldn’t participate. Bolting up the stairs to the platform, I glimpsed their red faces and noted Carlos madly waving his hands about.
Perfect! I thought. They are freaking out! That could only mean one thing – they also believed I could do it. That unexpected and unintended vote of confidence was like adding a cherry along with my grandma’s homemade bourbon caramel sauce on top of a sundae. Ava Rose and I lived for cherries! She didn’t know about the caramel sauce, but I lived for it, too!
I stepped up to the first section, which was a series of sliding metal sheets. Some rose from the floor, some slipped along a track side to side, and the rest dropped from above. The metal scraping sounds were loud. They reminded me of when my mom sharpened her kitchen knives on the whetstone. Only this was more like a whole room full of swords being sharpened at once. After a moment, I realized they moved in a looping pattern, so I wouldn’t even need to rely on my Flair. I counted, watched, and waited. When I was sure of the pattern, I launched myself over the first slide, like I was jumping over a hurdle. From there I dodged left and right, ducked under a few metal sheets and vaulted over a couple more. I breathed a sigh of relief when I scrambled between the final two sheets. One down several more to go.
Dentelle #3 Guardian series Page 15
