Tiva Boon: Royal Guardian

by Jenn Nixon

  Some time passed, but she did not move from the sill. All the sky was lit by the moon and stars—a sight she normally enjoyed. As much as she wanted, she felt no happiness. Though she was tired, she forced herself to stay awake until her father came.

  She opened her eyes feeling a warm hand on her shoulder. “Father, what news?” Tiva asked before turning.

  “The king is sure your identity has not been compromised. None of the Parliament or Province Keepers knows of this mission, only those involved know you are here.”

  “I told Remock and Bintu, and my friends…”

  He chuckled, “There is no need for worry, their families are aware.”

  “Then if I am safe, and there is no threat of a trap, am I to meet Pethor?”

  “Not at this time, Tiva. Meaning this as no offense, Pethor is unlikely to offer you more information than we have gathered. If he is blind to you being a guardian, he will merely see you as a child.”

  “I understand, Father, so then what are my orders for tomorrow?” she said.

  “You will meet Solun and tell him that you wish to consult with your parents. He has many young in his group. We assume the parents are faction supporters and are allowing their children into this youth group. He should not have an issue with the request. Gain a way to contact him, if you can. However, if you must supply a comm signal to him, I have a special frequency for you to give him.” He handed her a small card with a number. “Memorize it and give it if needed.”

  “And if he has issue with me consulting?”

  “Then give him his pamphlet and politely decline. Either way, he will have his answer.”

  “Understood.”

  “Harer is pleased with you, Tiva. You should feel good about the job you did.”

  “I do, Father, but I still worry.”

  “I know, it is unfortunate, but such is the life we lead.”

  She nodded and looked at him, saddened. It was not a matter of her age or comprehension; it was part of her duty. Getting further involved would compromise the entire mission, and they needed more time. Kevler left her room, and she curled up under the covers. Knowing her day was full, she forced herself into a restless sleep.

  *

  Partly dreaming and partly awake, Tiva leapt from under the covers with her sword in hand, prepared to strike.

  “Tiva!”

  She stopped.

  Her sword was inches from her father’s chest. She looked at him, full of shock. “Father? I…was dreaming, forgive me,” she said, lowering her sword to the side.

  “It must have been an intense dream. I tried twice to wake you from the hall,” he said, taking a step back.

  “A winpu chased me.” She turned back to her sleep couch and placed her sword on the blanket. “In my dream I was preparing to take it down, and then I felt something on my shoulder. Perhaps I shouldn’t sleep with my weapon so close, I didn’t realize I picked it up.”

  “All is well, dearest one. I woke you for a reason.”

  “Oh?”

  “The king needs me, I am departing soon.”

  “Am I coming with you?”

  “You still need to meet with Solun, so I will leave the hover in your charge. When you are through, return to the palace and report to the king.”

  “Very well.”

  “Do not sound so glum, Tiva. This mission may weigh heavily on you, but the problems here are beyond us. It is for the king to decide the future of Hentor and its people.”

  “I know, Father. King Delos is an honest man; he will do only what is needed and keep safe the innocent. I just cannot help how I feel.”

  “Only the passing of time can heal the wounds that torture our minds and hearts, though you will carry them with you always. In the end, it will make you stronger, for you will see the true struggle of life from many sides and learn to appreciate it all.” Kevler leaned in to kiss her forehead. “Do not burden your mind today, you must focus on your meeting with Solun. I will see you this evening, be well, dearest one.”

  “And you, Father.” She saluted him. He smiled warmly and rubbed his thumb over her markings.

  Tiva dressed and gathered her belongings after her father departed. This would be her last day in Hentor. Her mission had ended. Dismayed, she carried her satchel to the kitchen area and prepared herself to say farewell to her new friends. Defor and Dal, as usual, were sitting at the table eating morning meal. Silently she took a seat and sipped the fresh juice Dal had waiting. Sadness filled the room; tensions were high as well.

  Taking in the sight of the kitchen area one last time, Tiva finished her plate, and rose from her chair. “I am heading to town then I must report back to the palace. I thank you, whole-heartedly, for your hospitality and for the sage advice you’ve bestowed upon me, Dal. And sparring with you was an honor for me, Defor. I will miss you both.”

  “We’ll miss you as well, Tiva. I hope our paths will cross soon. There is little else we can do here, so maybe your father will bring us the good news with orders to go home.”

  “I will pray to the spirits for your speedy return.” Tiva saluted.

  “Well wishes, Guardian Boon, keep safe.” Defor smiled.

  Tiva bowed slightly, then gathered her things and left.

  Hiding her weapon in the hover, she kept her satchel on the passenger seat. If Solun saw, he would see she was ready to leave. It would help with her story if he asked.

  She sat in the driver’s seat for a while, contemplating what she was going to say to him. She wished she could warn him about his chosen path. Though she was not completely convinced that his cause was just, she was unsure if it was an iniquitous plot. If the intelligence gathered brought to light a treachery against Solun, she hoped he had the wit to see it before he succumbed to the will of the deceiver.

  Soon, though, she would be home. She’d see her friends and family, visit her tree, and take comfort in her own bed. The mission was short, her mother would be happy for the early return, but before returning home, she needed to face the young man who had already taught her more than he could possibly realize.

  Tiva drove into Buali and secured the hover in the docking deck. She had time before Solun arrived, so she decided to stroll through the square once more. Admiring the wares of the selling carts, she used some of her left over funds to purchase trinkets for her family. After a few hours, she rested for a drink then made her way toward the playing field.

  Bumo was retelling her rescue to a group of young children. He mentioned Tiva’s quick reaction and attempt to thwart the attack herself, and did not portray her as a helpless maiden.

  “She was quick and nimble, but the men would have overpowered her had we not shown up. Solun scared them with one stare of his fiery gaze, and the thieves fled without a fight.” Bumo finished, and smiled as Tiva approached. “And here she is…Tiva Vren.”

  The children all turned to see her. She smiled and bowed, many of them giggled and whispered to one another.

  “I was telling them of your encounter on the road.”

  “Yes, if it were not for you and the others, I might have been robbed, hurt, or worse,” Tiva stated. “Listen to your captains, they will ensure your safety.”

  The children nodded and then Bumo dismissed them. They ran off, and Bumo laughed at their haste. “Seems my stories are not as entertaining as I had hoped.”

  “I’m sure they are fine, children have short attention spans and lack discipline.” Tiva shrugged. “Have you seen Solun?”

  “He should arrive soon, Tiva, have you made your decision?” he said.

  His question caught her by surprise, unaware Solun had shared the news with the others. Considering Bumo was a trusted friend and captain, she should have made the connection.

  “I have. May I wait for him in the meeting room?”

  “I will escort you, please come,” Bumo said and led the way. Once settled inside, he offered her a drink then left her to wait.

  She utilized the time alone in th
e meeting room to do a last minute sweep. First, she viewed the hangings on the wall. Most of the data listed gathering and recruitment places, names of people already in the youth group, and a few maps of Buali and Hentor Province. An image of Pethor hung in the middle, Tiva memorized his face. Scattered on the table was more names of people and places, nothing indicating an agenda or reason behind the faction.

  Tiva sighed, defeated by the lack of details. As she was making her way back to her seat to wait, she noticed a small scrap of parchment lying under the table. She picked it up. Before she had the chance to look at it, the doors opened in the distance. She shoved the parchment in her belt, and quickly returned to her seat. She sipped at her drink, and when Solun appeared in the doorway, she smiled and stood up.

  “Blessed morning, Tiva.” He grinned and met her half way.

  “Greetings, Solun,” she said.

  “I hope you have come with a decision and I hope it is a good one.”

  “I have made a decision, but it may not be the one you wanted.”

  Solun frowned slightly, then waved his hand, “I am getting ahead of myself, please speak of your choice, Tiva.”

  “I have said before, Solun, that your passion for this cause has struck me. I do long to be part of something meaningful and just, however I am still young and my life path is still ahead of me. With your blessing, I wish to speak to my family, for with their support, I may yet become the leader you believe I can be,” she said carefully.

  Solun remained silent for a moment then a smirk crossed his lips.

  “This is wondrous news, Tiva!” He clapped his hands together. “Involving your family is not frowned upon, but encouraged, and I understand you wanting their approval.”

  “Then tell me what I need to do, Solun.”

  “I have a pamphlet you may give to your parents, it tells of our struggle. Once you have their permission to join us, you can contact me and we will schedule a meeting. It may take some time as I am to begin traveling to other provinces to hold meetings, but I should be in your province in a few months time.”

  “Should I try to get other people our age to come to this meeting?”

  “That is the goal, as many as you can gather.”

  “It should be easy enough. How many meetings are you conducting, Solun?” she said, trying not to sound overly excited. This was news worthy of the king, and though she did not expect to collect more information, Solun seemed to loosen his tongue.

  “I’m not sure. I will be touring many of the provinces to conduct meetings on Pethor’s behalf. And I wager you can sense my excitement.”

  Tiva smiled. “Yes, I can. Is this a new task appointed to you?”

  “It is. Pethor and I spoke at length last night, my recruiting has gone well in Hentor, and he feels my skills will help bring other provinces’ youth to our cause.”

  “And what of the adults, are they not worthy to join Pethor’s cause?”

  “I am not involved with that, my focus is the youth.” Solun walked to a chest, opened it, and pulled out a small box. He handed it to Tiva and smiled crookedly at her. “This kit contains a pamphlet and other resources you will need to help recruit the youth of Whettland. Inside you will find more information to help you understand the truth behind our struggle. This can be a very prosperous time, Tiva. With your help and that of others, Pethor’s vision of a unified Abennelp will be realized.”

  “Thank you, Solun,” she said and took the box.

  “No, thank the spirits for you.” He smiled. Reaching in his tunic, he pulled out a card and handed it to her. “Here is my private comm frequency. I know you will need some time to return home and get settled, but I hope to hear from you as soon as you are ready for a meeting.”

  “I will call as soon as possible,” she said, taking the card. “Well wishes to you, Solun. Keep well, and remain strong.”

  Solun gently took her hand in his and kissed the underside of her wrist. He looked deep into her eyes and smiled. “I look forward to our paths crossing again, lovely Tiva.” He touched her cheek softly. “Keep well, and stay beautiful.”

  As quick as he had entered, Solun gathered his things and vanished from the room. Tiva stood there, perplexed, but fully satisfied with the way she handled herself. She gathered more information by accepting his cause than she had in the last three days. She sat in the empty room and read the pamphlets he gave her. Most of it, Solun had told her already, but there was some intriguing information she was sure the king would want to know.

  Gathering the box, she returned to the field, said farewell to Bumo and Unil, and finally reached the hover.

  One final look at the town square of Buali then she drove off, leaving the youth and people of Hentor to a fate she could no longer control.

  Tiva arrived at the edge of Degort Outer just as the suns were setting. She guided the hover through the capital, and into the marketplace. The bustle of the day had subsided, and many of the merchants were closing their shops. Her heart raced when she saw the palace in the distance. She was home. Anxious to see everyone again, she sped down the road.

  Finally slowing the hover as she neared the palace gates, Tiva noticed Tespor talking with the new gatekeepers, Skky Finto the youngest daughter, and Nex Jelev, Jex’s younger brother. When she emerged from the hover, she felt Tespor’s spirits rise.

  “Spirited greetings, Tiva!”

  “And to you, Tespor,” she said. “Training the new gatekeepers?”

  “No, just keeping them company before shift change.” He grinned. “How did your mission fare?”

  “Interesting, my friend. I will tell you all about it soon. First I must report to the king.”

  He motioned the gatekeepers to let her pass. “I will visit you when you have settled, there is much to say on both our parts, I am sure.”

  “Has something happened?”

  “Things are not as quiet as we would like. I am sure King Delos will update you after your report.”

  She nodded, jumped back into the hover, and sped to the docking deck. After changing into her uniform, Tiva gathered the box Solun had given her, secured her sword on her belt, and ran through the courtyard and to the guardian entrance as fast as her legs could carry her. Litru and Zaynus guarded the entrance, as usual, and opened the door as she neared.

  “Thank you!” she said from halfway down the hall. She felt uneasy flying past them without talking, but they did not stop her, so they were aware she was reporting from a mission. She slowed down to catch her breath before entering the Great Hall. She didn’t expect the king to be there waiting for her, and wasn’t surprised to find it empty. Her aunts Jinka and Lilla were guarding the entrance to the king’s private chamber, and both smiled warmly at her as she approached.

  “Welcome home, Tiva,” Jinka said.

  “We have not seen you since your Remembrance, how do you fare?” Lilla said.

  “I am well, occupied by duty much like everyone else in our family.” She smiled. “I seek council with King Delos. Is he present?”

  “I’m afraid not,” Jinka said. “He is with the guardians in the summit room.”

  Just as Tiva was about to ask for more information, her PCD beeped. “Guardian Boon,” Tiva said softly, stepping away from the others.

  “Tiva, make haste to the summit room, the king wishes to hear your report.” Her father’s voice filled the air.

  “Understood,” she said and replaced the device back in her belt. She glanced back to her aunts. “I must go, I hope to see you both soon.” She turned and started on her way.

  “Tiva wait!” Lilla called out. She approached her with a small scrap of parchment in her hand. “You dropped this.”

  She took the scrap and smiled. “Thank you, Aunt Lilla.”

  “Go, do not tarry…” Lilla shooed her away.

  Once in the lift, Tiva opened the scrap of paper. She had forgotten all about slipping it in her belt. It seemed to be only a partial message, a time and date indicating the fi
rst day of the warming. It could mean anything, or nothing. She added it to the box from Solun, and waited impatiently to reach her destination.

  The lift stopped, she stepped off and felt the wave of emotions slap her mind. Rae guarded the entrance to the summit room. It seemed many of the guardians, including most of her family had been recalled while she was away. Rae saluted her, keeping a professional demeanor as Tiva approached.

  Something was happening.

  Rae opened the door, and Tiva saluted. Swallowing back the lump in her throat, she entered the room and all heads turned to her. The room was full, mostly of men. Normally she wouldn’t feel intimidated, but with the seriousness of what she felt, the anxiety rose within her. She stopped short, saluted them, and stood stiffly, waiting for someone to speak.

  “Greetings, Guardian Boon.” King Delos rose from his seat. “Sit, we are almost through.”

  Tiva bowed and found an empty seat at the far edge of the long wooden table. All twenty of the elite level one guardians were present as well as some of the level two guardians, including her mother and Zenid. The youngest aside from her in the room was her cousin Rux. She kept her focus on the king, and suppressed every emotion flowing through her.

  “The legionnaires in the Obadan province have confirmed secret meetings of this faction, and Province Keeper Chal’I of Cenii has found evidence of this group as well. She is one of the few keepers we know to be loyal. We are not certain of the fates of your Province Keepers, Guardians Boon and Finto, though I think they would be sorely misguided if they sided with this faction knowing your families own the land,” King Delos said. “We have much work to do, this faction is stretching their grasp around the people, and I’ll not have anyone deceived while I rule these lands. Each of you will have a new assignment as soon as I am through reviewing all the information collected. I have no doubt that our troubles are just beginning. We have enjoyed many cycles of peace, but as we all know, we cannot please everyone no matter how hard we try. Trouble is always near the tips of our fingers; we must clutch it, and eradicate it by whatever means, and soon. Time is of the essence.