The Secret of the Keepers

by Elizabeth Isaacs

  “What’s the tip made of? Is that a jewel?”

  “They are made from amber. It is one of the strongest stones known to us. If it pierces the skin of the Dokkalfar, it petrifies them where they stand.”

  I turned to the other side of the field. A row of warriors stood a fair distance apart, whips in hand.

  “And what are those made from?”

  “The whips are actually branches of the willow trees.”

  “The ones by the spiders’ respite?”

  He smiled. “Those aren’t the only willows in the land, my lady. We have a grove of trees just east of here. The willows are gifted in quite a few areas. The animals chew its bark to help relieve pain, but it’s the wood underneath that makes them a great weapon.” A guard brought his hand up and in one fluid motion lashed the branch around the trunk of a nearby tree, rending the air with a sharp crack.

  “If that were a Dokkalfar, he would drop where he stands, not from the lash of the whip, but from the energy of the warrior. Willow branches are natural conductors.”

  As soon as the guard noticed us, the training stopped.

  The warriors turned to Gavin and bowed. Elias nodded, and most of the warriors darted to the woods to scout the terrain, but the parents of the children walked to the oaks to stand alongside Malachi and the rest of the clan.

  Gavin smiled, his eyes blanked. The Elite Guard startled, glancing at one another before surrounding us in a semi-circle. Humor sparked in Malachi’s tired eyes as he leaned against a great oak tree.

  Everyone’s eyes remained downcast, but only one warrior dared to meet my gaze. He stood tall, proud. His black glossy hair was a bit longer than the rest of the guard, his skin tan as clover honey. His eyes were solid like the Queen’s, but they held swirls of light blues and greens, reminding me of turquoise.

  Gavin rested his hand on my back, and we took a step toward him. “Nora, I’d like you to meet Weylin.”

  I smiled and held out my hand. His big palm covered mine in a warm embrace. His touch reminded me of Tark. Strong, with calluses, like he’d worked too long in hard labor.

  “It’s a privilege, my Princess.” His voice was a deep bass, carrying a fierce kindness that was contradictory to his physique in every way. His eyes assessed me in a thorough sweep. When they found mine again, they glittered as if he was enjoying a private joke. Gavin chuckled at whatever he said, making me blush.

  “Weylin is one of the strongest in the guard and was the first to accept energy,” Gavin explained. “Even without a mate. Everyone wants to know his secret.”

  “Let’s just say I hate to lose, as the Prince can attest.” Weylin grinned, a dimple sunk into his left cheek. “You see, Princess, I’ve bested him on many occasions.”

  “Only once,” Gavin’s emotions weren’t heated, but they had a sharp edge to them, one I hadn’t felt before. “Shall we try it again?” His challenge playfully hung in the air.

  “With her as your source? Not for all the power in the mountain.” Weylin looked at me again with that stark familiarity that made me a little uncomfortable—like he was challenging me in some way. He bowed, his eyes never leaving mine. I met them boldly, refusing to give him the upper hand.

  “One thing you should know,” subtle amusement tempered Gavin’s voice. “My Princess is not easily intimidated.”

  Weylin’s eyes glittered. “I see that, Sire, an admirable quality to say the least.”

  Weylin glanced at Rena, who didn’t seem to be appreciating the banter as much as the Prince. The fellowship between Gavin and Weylin seemed to be rooted in time, and for the umpteenth time, I wished I had the opportunity to grow up here and share in their memories.

  “I’d like to stay and chat.” Weylin interrupted my thoughts. “But the upper guard awaits instructions. They’re not sure what to do as I have left them in the woods searching for an old woman and black demons.” He smirked as Gavin chuckled. His gaze turned back to me. “My lady, it has been a pleasure. I look forward to meeting you on these fields one day.”

  There was that subtle challenge in his tone again. The rest of the guard watched with interest, curious as to what I would do.

  “I’m sure you do,” I challenged back, refusing to let him see how much that thought scared me. Weylin grinned, glancing at Gavin once more before he took off for the trees.

  I took a deep breath and turned back to the guard. “Who are the parents of Siana?”

  Two of the guard stepped forward. I held out my hand. The male completely balked, but the female clasped my hand, releasing it as soon as possible.

  She briefly glanced at my face before looking down. “I am Wyn, and this is Jacob.”

  “I enjoyed meeting Siana. If you ever need a sitter, I’d love to volunteer.”

  The guard seemed stunned. Rena’s laughter pealed off the trees. The Alfar viewed the family as one of the greatest gifts. To need time away from their child was a strange thought indeed.

  “We would be honored, my lady,” Wyn said with a shy smile. They bowed and backed away.

  Two warriors stood next to Elias. They grew extremely uncomfortable. I’d seen that timbre before.

  “Are you Daniel’s parents?”

  “Yes, my lady,” the man muttered.

  “He’s one courageous boy. Now I know where he gets it from.”

  The man’s eyes stayed down, but the woman looked at me for the first time.

  “Thank you, Princess Nora. You honor us with your kind words.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “I am Ruth, and this is my mate, Micah.”

  “Micah?” My voice rose, his head jerked up, and I blushed. “I’ve heard so much about you. It’s nice to finally put a name with a face.”

  His cheeks roughened with red as he glanced away.

  I knew it would take time for everyone to get used to me. But I was determined—one day they would treat me like everyone else.

  “I look forward to getting to know you all.”

  Chapter 14

  Rune’s Tale

  SPRING GAVE WAY TO summer, and I got to know the children of the guard, the teachers, and a few families chosen by the Queen. I was pleased that, so far, all the parents had learned to accept energy. Strengthening the kingdom would take several years to complete, and so Gavin declared we meet only three times a week in the garden.

  Elias and Elaine now worked long hours in the cave of knowledge. And even though Tark had been able to see past the barrier for a while, he vowed to wait until Rena could join him before venturing there.

  In honor of our Sunday afternoon tradition in Appalachia, the guard dined with us every seventh day, and I finally got to know some of the kinsmen. Weylin often sat with the clan asking constant questions about Earth. Gavin eventually confided that Weylin was supposed to be part of the original mission to Earth. Malachi thought his unusual eyes would draw too much attention, and so he was forced to stay behind. Wyn and Jacob, who were loving parents, doted on Siana. Micah, Ruth, and Daniel never quite grew accustomed to the idea of speaking freely. Micah was second in command, and so I found it fitting that his reserved nature was so much like Elias. Even though most of the adults were never truly at ease, the children embraced the new freedom of sound. Squeals and laughter chimed in the dining hall as children chased each other through the maze of tables.

  My life had taken on a hectic pace. Early mornings held lessons with the Queen. Malachi, Gavin, and I spent the bulk of the day exploring the mountain. The evenings were taken with various studies in the cave of knowledge. It was often well past midnight before Gavin and I made our way home, but I still insisted we spend time reading Lera’s journal. Even though we were busy, Gavin made sure we found time for each other, often surprising me with a private dinner in our bedroom. At first, I was worried that the clan thought we were being rude, but Rena assured me that they understood we needed time alone as new mates often did. Rune’s music lilted nightly in our suite, keeping my energy as strong as
when we were at the spiders’ respite. As soon as the morning light hit the windowpane, the process would start all over again.

  Lately, we’d been concentrating on finishing the sculpture. Heeding Rune’s advice, I ignored the spot on the southern plain, but I couldn’t help feeling relieved when Malachi ordered the top scaffolding removed and the castle’s wall once again blocked the view.

  “Princess Nora!” Siana squealed, running past Rune at the front gate, her arms outstretched, her face beaming.

  “Hey there, beautiful.” I stopped working just in time to catch Siana as she leaped into my arms. “Did you have a good day at school? Where’s your mom?”

  She giggled and pointed over her shoulder without looking back. “She’s back there. She said I could come see you.”

  I shifted her to one hip. Siana had come to see me at least twice a week since I mentioned I enjoyed her company.

  “I’m so glad you stopped by. Do you want to see what I’ve been working on?”

  Her brown hair enthusiastically waved as she bounced her head up and down. We made our way around the statue to the back quarter where I had been shaping the underside of an upturned hoof.

  “Have you ever seen the bottom of a unicorn’s foot?” She asked as pudgy fingers felt the rough texture.

  “Honestly, I haven’t.”

  “Then how do you know it looks like this?” She looked up, crinkling her nose.

  My smile widened. “Well ... I thought since I haven’t seen one and the Prince hasn’t seen one, then probably no one else has either, and so no one would know if I had it wrong. Should I call a unicorn over and ask him if I can see?”

  Her face lit up with the possibility. “Could you?”

  “I’ll ask the Prince.”

  “Good afternoon, my lady.” Wyn came from behind.

  Siana groaned.

  I patted her glossy, brown hair and put her feet back on the ground. “Thank you for letting Siana visit. She always brightens my day.”

  Wyn’s bow deepened before she looked at the marble hoof. “Your work is masterful.” She softly complimented.

  “It was a group effort. Do you like sculpting?”

  Wyn shook her head. “No, Princess. I am gifted in horticulture. It was only after Jacob and I married that I became a warrior.” Turmoil swirled around her; she seemed cautious, yet determined.

  “Siana,” I bent down to meet her gaze, “would you go ask the Prince if there are any unicorns close by?”

  Siana jumped up and down before running toward the front gates. I waited until she was out of hearing range.

  “What is it, Wyn?”

  “I feel I should tell you something, but I fear you’ll think badly of me.”

  I linked her arm with mine, and we headed away from the sculptures.

  “That’s not possible.” I smiled.

  “It concerns the past.”

  I motioned for her to have a seat on the low wall of the butterfly garden. “I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.”

  “Mia was my closest friend,” she blurted out.

  I startled at the subject. No one ever brought it up, and I suspected the Queen had declared Mia’s name be stricken from every record.

  “And why would I think less of you because of that?”

  Wyn kept her eyes fixed on her daughter. “Mia came to me right after the Prince banned her from the castle. I had no idea what she was planning, but I knew she was no longer in her right mind.” She took a deep breath and turned to face me. “Mia asked to meet by the gates. She was calm, but I could feel the energy draining from me as soon as I saw her. I knew there was something wrong.” Wyn rung her hands together in her lap, her voice became desperate. “She asked about the details of the reception. Not knowing why she was asking, I gave her information. I’m afraid I may have helped her.” Her deep blue eyes met mine. “She almost killed you.”

  I put my arm around her shoulder. “It must have been difficult seeing your best friend make decisions you never thought she was capable of making.” I watched her with concern. “Wyn, surely you know that if you hadn’t met Mia that day, she still would have found a way to get the information she needed.”

  She started to say something, but Siana came bounding around the statues.

  “Prince Gavin says the unicorns are away for a while, but when they come back we can look at a foot!” Her voice rose to a squeal, and I laughed at her mother’s expression.

  I waved as Wyn and Siana walked past the castle’s gates. Rune’s stance had not changed, and Siana waved at him, but he didn’t acknowledge her at all, which was odd. Rune adored Siana as much as I did.

  Gavin put his arm around me. “Rena has something she would like for you to see.”

  “What is it?”

  “I’ve been sworn to secrecy.” Rune followed a few paces behind as Gavin led me back into the castle.

  “We aren’t supposed to keep secrets, remember?”

  He grinned. “It won’t be a secret for long, and I don’t want to spoil the surprise.” I tried to trick him into telling me, but he kept quiet all the way to Malachi’s. He opened the door. The room was empty.

  “If you’ll be excusin’ me,” Rune grumbled. “I’ll be headin’ t’ the mountain.”

  “Rune, what’s wrong?”

  He kept his gaze on the floor. “’Tis nothin’ fer you to be worryin’ her pretty head about, Lass. I’m jus’ needin’ a bit of time in the blue, tis all.”

  I patted his shoulder as he passed by. He headed toward the back of the room, and I turned to Gavin.

  “All right. Now, where is it?”

  Gavin shook his head. “I’m not telling. You’ll have to find it yourself.” His tone turned playful, and I leaned into him. My thoughts heated, and I stood on my toes and kissed his jaw.

  “I bet I could make you tell me,” I whispered, allowing my hands to run possessively across his chest and over his shoulders, finally placing my palms over his heart. His eyes warmed as he leaned down, his breath tickling my ear.

  “Careful, love,” he mumbled with a grin, “everyone’s watching.”

  I whipped around. “Where?”

  And then I noticed a small frame jumping up and down behind a sheet of blue.

  “Rena!” I shouted, running through the energy protecting the mountain.

  Elias and Elaine stood a few feet back, smiling at my reaction. I grabbed Rena, spinning her around.

  “You’ve learned to accept!’

  Her joy rang the walls white as she found her footing. Tark chuckled coming up behind her. I laughed hugging him too, and Gavin joined us standing next to Elias.

  “It was easy, really. It hadn’t occurred to me until this morning that I hadn’t released the energy of joy in this space. Apparently, the emotion holds quite a bit of power, and the mountain let me in.” She beamed as a giggle bubbled up.

  “I believe I’ve stated the same sentiment numerous times, daughter of Rill.” Malachi chided as he started toward a tunnel. He led us through an impromptu tour of the caves, skirting around the energy field. “This is the stalagmite maze.” Thick bases stood as wide as Sycamore trees, and I tipped my head back, marveling at the sheer space above. It reminded me of being in the forest, but the canopy consisted of sharp spikes instead of branches and leaves.

  “Just beyond the maze are the northern plains. We’ll take that path another day.”

  I stopped, my mind distracted. “Can you get to the tunnels that are behind the waterfall from here? And how long would it take?”

  Malachi chuckled. “I’ve never been there, but yes, I’m confident we could find our way.”

  We came to a place where the walls dipped into a series of small alcoves. Haunting music lilted through the air. A lone figure sat huddled in the corner, his elbows resting on his knees that were pulled to his chest.

  I took a step closer. “Rune?”

  The music stopped. He set his flute next to a portrait. The wrinkled paper had a
ged to a tea stain brown, making its sketch hard to see.

  Rune looked up, his eyes held a fierce longing that sent shivers down my spine.

  “Why are you all by yourself?”

  “I figured I’d be givin’ ya some time with yer clan.” He motioned his head toward Rena, his eyes stayed fixed on the floor. “Once I saw the happy one finally was findin’ her way to the mountain, that is.”

  “You are a part of this clan too. You’re always welcome, you know.”

  His rock eyes flashed with resentment. “I’m understandin’ you’d be feelin’ that way. But the others, they’re not so trustin’ now are they?”

  Everyone became uncomfortable. I motioned to sit next to him, silently asking if it was all right. He grumbled but scooted over a bit.

  “What is this place?” I looked up at the alcove, noting the smoothness of the domed covering.

  Rune shrugged. “I’ve no idea what others’ll be usin’ it for, but the music’ll be soundin’ better here.” He pulled the flute to his lips and played a melody. The tone reverberated off the walls, making a rich, full timbre.

  “You’re right. It does sound nice.”

  His body relaxed a bit as he set his flute aside. I reached over and started to pick up the sketch, but Rune snatched it away before I could touch it.

  “I’d rather ya not be seein’ my thoughts when I made this if yer not mindin’.”

  I blushed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”

  “I figured.” He grinned. “That’d be awkward, it would.”

  “May I see?”

  Warily, he showed me the portrait. The smaller Urisk features and soft expression were decidedly feminine, and her eyes held a mysterious quality. Even though by Alfar standards it was elemental in design, the adoration etched in every line was unmistakable.

  “Who is she?”

  He took the paper, gently folded it into a small square, and placed back under the cloth.

  “That’d be a long story, and one I’m not sure I’m up to tellin’.”

  “I’d still like to know.”

  He seemed to think over something before he exhaled on a long sigh. “I’d planned on tellin’ ya someday.” He jerked his head toward Elias. “And it might be helpin’ the serious one over there to trust a bit more if he’d be hearin’ it.” He fidgeted with his flute while Rena, Tark and Gavin sat on one side of the alcove, and Elias, Elaine, and Malachi the other. Rune waited until everyone was settled.