Guardian

by Amanda McLaren

  I rolled my eyes. “Fay, my job is to fight monsters who can take human form. If I wasn’t a little paranoid, something would be wrong with me.”

  “Monster?” Sanquility asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “There are exceptions to every rule. Either way, we’re leaving.”

  Fay giggled. “Yes mother.”

  “Shut your mouth.” I gave her a playful swipe to the face, which she swiftly avoided. “Or I’ll ground you!”

  Sanquility clears her throat. “Children, shall we depart?” Her voice is just a little too formal and stuffy. Her eyes sparkled with mischief.

  We all headed toward the temple laughing.

  Fay paused at the sight of Lyrea talking to the priest. I stopped dead; it sent a feeling straight to the pit of my stomach. Sanquility swallowed hard.

  This isn’t good. It isn’t good at all.

  Another woman was speaking with the priest as well. She was tall and beautiful, but I instantly didn’t like her. Al’re gave a low growl, lowering his head level with his shoulders as his hocks rose as his eyes locked on them. I absently patted his head in praise for his distrust and protective nature. The other puppies hid behind Fay, clearly wary of the stranger and already finding comfort in their master.

  “I don’t like this.” I grumbled instantly. “Lyrea shouldn’t be talking to the priest. Do you know that other woman, Fay?”

  I found myself resisting grabbing my sister’s hand – if only because the stranger wore priestess robes.

  //She feels…familiar somehow. //

  “Okay, now I really don’t like it.”

  Fay shook her head. “I don’t know, but the priest knows a lot of people I don’t. She’s higher ranking than me. I could try to find out what’s going on, but he probably wouldn’t tell me. Especially if it has something to do with you, because you’re my sister.” She gave a quiet sigh. “We’ll find out soon enough. For now, I’m tired. Do you mind if I go study?”

  “Yes.” San surprised the both of us. We stared blankly at her.

  The wolf Azhi flushed bright red. “Sorry, Fay. I just…don’t like strangers.”

  She snickered. “You two are perfect for one another then. Seriously, though. There’s a lot to learn and I’ve skipped studying all day.”

  I gave her a hug. “I’ll be sleeping in my old room across from yours in case you need me.”

  Fay cocked an eyebrow. “What, am I five again?”

  “Fay. I mean it.” I told her sternly, giving her a ‘don’t try me’ look. “I don’t trust for a damn good reason. Something isn’t right around here.”

  The priest spotted the three of us just as she headed up the steps toward the sleeping quarters. He let her by and approached without his company.

  “Did you need something?”

  “Yes. Sleep.”

  He gave Anshumali a swift glance. I was surprised he wasn’t more affronted by the three dogs I’d brought inside. “With that?”

  “She’s kind of my soul-bound, priest.”

  “Azhi have no place in this temple.”

  San rolled her eyes. “You allow them in all the time. Veeri’s a Templar here. We trained under the Fallen in the same unit.”

  “She happens to have repented.” He retorted meaningfully with anger dripping from his words like venom.

  “She’s kind of my soul-bound, priest.” I snapped angrily as worry nagged at my chest.

  I thought we were over this. He didn’t suspend me, but will he?

  The black wolf took a step closer to him, getting in his face. Her anger swam through me, making me feel dizzy with it. “I was going to, but I kept your best Templar alive instead.”

  I stepped between them before she could rip his throat out. “Since we’re bound soul to soul, my right to sleep here extends to her. We’re going up to my room to sleep in my bed.”

  I seized her hand before it could escalate further, dragging her rather forcefully up the stairs. When we reached my door, however, I froze in place to stare at it. Sanquility went to open the door, but I pushed her hand away with a shake of my head.

  “What’s wrong?” Sanquility asked with a cocked head. “Do you want to go to the inn instead?”

  “No. It’s nothing.” I cleared my throat but my voice was still hoarse. “Let’s just get this over with.”

  As I forced myself to slowly open the door, my mouth went dry. It was exactly as I’d left it – exactly how I remembered it. A cot was piled with rough furs that had long lost their luster and scent. To the left was a desk scared by a rusty blade that lay next to a chest full of clothing that no longer fit. Somehow the scent of blood still touched the room.

  For a moment, I felt the pain of the past, hearing myself screaming – screaming for it to stop. My mind pictured the tiny child I’d been, begging in tears that horrible man to stop the pain. I angrily brushed away the tears that refused to stay away as Sanquility quietly closed and relocked the door. I felt my tongue thick in my mouth as I approached the desk and traced the runes and drawings.

  Sanquility looked them over and swallowed hard. When she spoke, her voice was hardly audible. “Stop the pain?”

  “Leave it alone.” I tried to sound angry, but failed entirely.

  “Okay, okay. I’ll leave it alone.” She said very softly.

  Slowly, I reached down and withdrew the four-inch steel blade from the chest. Though rusty from its owner’s blood, it was still sharp after all those years.

  “This room – it haunts you.” Sanquility whispered.

  “I get it, I’m weak.” I growled at her, sheathing the dagger and belting it. I could remove the rust later.

  The Azhi’s frustration and shock rushed through me. To my disbelief, she grabbed me hard by the wrists and met my eyes. “The weak don’t bring down the Twin Wolves in combat – together or alone. The weak don’t make sure their family is so well cared for all they know are the gods and kindness. So stop all this constant whining about being weak, Kariken. I’m tired of hearing it.”

  I jerked myself free of her. “Sanquility, the strong don’t cry in their beds at night. They don’t wake up screaming from shadows and memories, and they certainly don’t walk into a harmless room and start crying or feel sick to their stomachs.”

  Sanquility’s back stiffened. “Kariken, everybody fears something; everybody has pain. It isn’t pain that makes you weak; it’s submitting to it. Letting the pain wash you into darkness and despair makes you weak.”

  I plopped onto the bed. Before I could reply, she went on. “Xia the Crimson blade is one of the most feared warriors in this land. It’s said you relentlessly kill for the taste of coin and blood. Your comrades do it for their faith in the gods you have no belief in. I feel your lust for blood and battle every time you pick up a weapon.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with getting involved in a fight.” I snapped out defensively.

  She sighed. “If you ever return home, Kari, keep that to yourself.”

  “Why?”

  “What do you mean why? You said it yourself; they’re a strong people, but peaceful. They use their amazing battle skills to defend themselves.”

  I shot up on my feet to get in her face. “What in the Seven’s name do you think I’m doing out there? Spilling blood to get my rocks off?! You’re just like everybody else! I’m out there to feed my little sister and me – to protect her from creatures that could swallow our damn world whole in corruption and evil!!! Creatures like you!”

  For a moment she was pale. She didn’t say a word. Then Sanquility gave a long, shaky sigh. “I’m sorry, Kari, I assumed.” She whispered at last. I could see the hurt in her eyes – and for a brief moment, was satisfied.

  Then all the satisfaction left me, bleeding out with all my strength. I plopped back onto the bed, shaking my head. Sanquility cautiously sat next to me. The only reason I didn’t slug her was because of the overwhelming feeling of sudden emptiness.

  “Why don’t we get some rest? The
day is done. We can take care of tomorrow after the sun rises.”

  “Can we train?”

  Sanquility looked me over thoughtfully. “Why do you want to be stronger, Kari? You’re already so powerful. There’s not much more your body can do, that your mind can learn.”

  I shook my head. “Sanquility, if I don’t, I’ll leave Fay all alone.”

  She ran her long, slender fingers over my cheek to my chin. “If you must learn, Kariken, then I will teach you. But that’s tomorrow.”

  I let her lay me down slowly. To my surprise, she wrapped her arms around me. It gradually brought a strange feeling of safety and peace, allowing me to slip off into a deep sleep.

  Xia’s Aurora List

  White – Purity. This is the color of healing magic and people of pure hearts.

  Light Blue – A young soul of powerful growing magic. Usually it is ice or water magic.

  Dark Blue – Ancient souls of powerful water or ice magic and great knowledge.

  Spring Green – A soul close to the earth, but very young. It signifies kindness, nurturing and a need to protect the innocent as well as earth magic.

  Dark Green – Powerful, ancient earth magic and a strong connection to the roots of the earth. People with this aurora are born leaders with courage and loyalty.

  Yellow – Like the sun on fire, it represents powerful energies raging within. Yellow is dangerous, because it means the soul is young and unpredictable – and often unaware of their latent fire magic.

  Silver – Silver is the mix of white and gray. It is a blend of naïveté and purity. The magic is most likely holy magic. This color is usually seen on the very young in training dealing with magic.

  Red – When the color is mixed with white, blue or green, red represents passion, controlled fire magic and healing or scarred emotional wounds.

  Gray – Gray is the color of neutrality. Children and animals are born completely gray. The colors mixed within will tell you more about the person than the gray.

  Orange – Orange is a mix of red and yellow. This means there is a powerful but wild and potentially uncontrolled flux of fire magic is blended with emotional wounds, youth and a violent nature.

  Brown – Brown is a blend of black and green. This is natural magic and kindness that was corrupted beyond saving. The powerful, loyal person uses a blend of black and earth magic, often to raise the dead, poison the living and control animals against their will. Usually there is a little red tainted in, for the pain of what drove them to this vile point.

  Red – When blended or partnered with a vile color such as black, this red represents anger, injustice and a blood-lust from emotional wounds that never quite healed. It is corruption of something that could have been a powerful force of good. They often use fire magic, but it isn’t unseen for people with violent red auroras to use blood magic.

  Black – Decay. Unholy magic. The blacker a soul the more pain and evil there is.

  The Seven Gods

  Lisken the Raven: God of Twilight & Magic, created the priestess

  Xien the Stag: God of Agriculture, Seasons & Nature, created the Warrior of Nature

  Alatek the Wolf: Goddess of Love, Brotherhood & Family, created the Warrior of Brotherhood

  Azure & Azen the twin dragons: God and Goddess of Time & Fate, created the mage

  Shen the Bear: God of War & Patron-ism, created their leader (warrior of war)

  Balic the Cat: Goddess of Fertility, Luck & Chance, created the Betrayer

  Maya-den the two-headed Snake: Goddess of Life & Death, created the warriors of life and death