Yero’s eyes wandered as did the thoughts he voiced. “It is said that the nisse are much like us, yet unlike my people, they have found their ways to the other worlds and made themselves part of each of the other races. It is perhaps from their interactions with humankind that you know of paladins.”
“I know this as truth,” David answered, “for I have dealt with those harboring the last of the nisse on Earth. On my planet, they have created tales to fire my people’s imaginations and prepare us for one day when other species will walk with us. That, however, is a story for another time. Tell me now what you know, so I can better understand of what we speak and why you so revere your king.”
David smiled wryly at Yero’s look of genuine shock. “You know?”
“I have the aid of an angel and a very talkative dwarf. They are filling me in on a great deal of information about the current ruling class and our possible interactions.”
Yero nodded and regained his composure. “Paladins like my liege are virtuous knights, wholly devoted to God and His cause. They are given great gifts by the Holy Spirit, most notably prophecy and the miraculous power to bring light to darkness. It is this power above all that causes my people to seek them out and battle alongside them against our enemies that much fear the light.
“On my people’s home world there have only ever been two such knights. These warriors saved my people from utter destruction and brought them to a sanctuary created on the White Isle and our moon. They gave their lives to secure the White Isle against any incursion from our enemy.”
David pulled all the breakfast items out of the stove and from the various pans he had on the cooktop. He took a towel and wiped his hands. “You see this in Nic,” he asked.
“There has only been the one vision and his increased skills. With this time of transition for your family, it could be anything. However, the vision was specific to my people and their ills. I would like to continue to train and observe him.”
“This place changes people,” David said with a sad finality. “They are to become kings and queens. Is it your intention to take Nicodemus to the Eighth Kingdom to replace your current king?”
“I am not sure. His Highness the White Lord Severn is a paladin and has sat upon the throne of the Eighth Kingdom for many generations. My people would be best served by another paladin, though other strong warriors have also taken the Watchward Throne.”
“Do you just want to continue as we have been, then?” asked David.
“Yes; I just felt that recent developments called for more candor on my part.”
David continued to question Yero. “Does Lord Avrant know who you owe your allegiance to?”
“I was a gift sent here to serve by Lord Severn. He and Lord Avrant don’t see eye to eye on most issues. Lord Avrant has seen my usefulness, though, and does not question where my loyalties lie. In truth, unless something affects his lifestyle or puts pressure on him, Lord Avrant doesn’t concern himself with much.”
“However,” David interrupted, “when something piques his interest or upsets him, beware!”
Yero bowed and said, “As you have discovered. To that regard, I am also making myself available to you. I will help you defend your family. There are those within my command that are loyal to Hogan and myself more than the crown. I have made them available to General Kolk and the watch he has set upon you and yours. They are good men and will serve the true cause.”
“Thank you; I appreciate your coming to me and all the help you are providing.”
Yero waved David’s comment away. Then he spoke again. “I would offer you one more piece of news. The council has gotten wind of your quarrel with the king, and they may seek to attach themselves to you in hopes of gaining prestige in the transfer of power. There are few whom you can trust to guard your interests. Beware of their professed allegiance.”
“Thank you again,” replied David. “In cases like that, I am grateful for the Sword of Truth and the unfiltered guidance it affords me.”
Chapter 22
It was early into the third watch, and Deborah was pacing back and forth in the kitchen of Way House while Eve sat playing solitaire. After nearly thirty minutes, Eve tossed away her last card and stood. She crossed the kitchen and grabbed Deborah's shoulders, bringing her to a standstill.
“What are you upset about?” Eve asked, exasperation evident in her voice.
Deborah shook herself out of her own thoughts and stared at Eve. “What? Who says I’m upset?”
Eve rolled her eyes. “You only pace that actively when you're working over some argument in your mind. The boys may not notice, but I’ve shared a room with you too long not to be able to pick up on that particular tell.”
Deborah deflated and found a chair. She sighed heavily as Eve sat down beside her. “I hate that I feel like this. I want to realize Dad was right. I don’t want to be disappointed that he hasn’t been by to see any of us in three days. I suppose he could be busy; however, he always found time before.”
“I take it we are talking about Hogan?”
Deborah looked over at Eve, a hint of embarrassment playing on her fair face. “Is it that obvious?”
Eve chuckled, “Please, Deb; he’s gorgeous, and I’ve seen the interest you show him. You light him up as much as you light up when he talks to you alone. So did you kiss him again?”
“Eve!” Deborah gasped, as she blushed even more.
Eve giggled and pointed at Deborah’s face. “You did!”
Deborah shook her head and tried to control her blushing. After nearly a minute had passed, she spoke up. “No, we did not kiss again.” After a pause she continued softly, “We were interrupted.”
Deborah blushed so deeply she almost glowed. Eve erupted in a fit of laughter, and Deborah soon joined her. It took a few moments for the girls to regain control of themselves.
Eve was the first to speak. “Dad will go crazy, you have to know that.”
The peeved look from moments ago replaced any embarrassment or mirth on Deborah’s faces as she responded. “He has nothing to worry about. Like I said, Hogan has not been around for days. I don’t know if he ever will be again.”
Eve rolled her eyes and gave Deborah a spiteful look. “Stop being Drama Deb! You only just let him know his family was on the outs with God and we were going to take over. He’ll be back after he has time to process. If not, you’ll know he was a royal prig and not worth your time.”
“I really hate it when you call me that.”
“Stop being it then.”
“Ugh!” Deborah stood and moved away. “You’re going to cut somebody with the sharpness of your tongue one day.”
Eve stuck out her tongue and sassed back, “They’ll probably deserve it.”
After a few minutes of silence, Eve stood and embraced her sister from behind. “Give him some time. He’s completely in love with you. You’ll see.”
“You think so?” Deb whispered softly.
“Yeah,” was all Eve replied. “Just wait; he’ll come back here and profess he was a confused idiot and that the time he spent brooding only made his heart ache for you. You’ll get your real kiss, and all will be well.”
Though she tried hard to sound nonchalant while she spoke, Deborah heard some acerbic venom leak out in Eve’s tone. She was about to let it go, but then realized Eve hadn’t stopped hugging her tightly. She broke the embrace and turned to face Eve. Eve tried to hide her face, but Deborah saw the small tears welling in the corners of her eyes.
“Eve,” she began, but faltered.
Eve started to leave the kitchen, but Deborah gently grabbed her. Eve quickly wiped her eyes and tried to pull away. Deborah tightened her grip and turned Eve around.
“What?” Eve said exasperatedly.
“You tell me; it’s your turn. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Eve started to lie, but caught the ‘not buying it’ look Deb was so good at. “I’m happy for you. It’s great you’ll get all you wan
t. Everything will work out for you, as it always seems to.”
“That’s not. . .” Deborah stopped herself. She knew if she took Eve’s bait they would end up fighting about how different they were and how much Eve thought Deb was perfect and always got everything. It was an old fight, and Eve was trying to use it to derail opening up to her sister.
“Eve, please tell me what’s wrong.”
Eve sighed and shook her head, but before she could think of something mean to say or some way to distract her sister she began talking earnestly. “I kissed Jeremy Meyers. We were kind of going out.”
“No way!” Deb couldn’t help responding, the shock of the statement overwhelmed her. “Speaking of Dad flipping out! You aren’t even suppose to be dating until you’re sixteen.”
“Like he has anything to worry about! Like he’d be surprised I broke another rule.”
Deborah pulled her sister closer, and Eve clung to her. Before Deborah could think of something to say, Eve started to talk again. “Do you want to know how selfish I am? My birthday is a few months away, and all I can think about is if Dad will have a Promise Dinner with me like he did with you.”
“Eve, you’re not being. . .”
Eve pushed Deborah away violently. “Yes, I am! Here we are, cast into a strange twist on reality. We’re hunted, probably marked for death; Mother is lost out there somewhere; and all I can think about is Jeremy Meyers and some stupid promise ring.”
“Eve,” Deborah grappled for the right thing to say but floundered, unsure of how to answer her sister’s self-abasing remarks. Before she could recover, a small knock sounded at the back door. Both Deborah and Eve jumped. From a sheath strapped to her lower back, Eve pulled out a slim but sizable knife. Deborah looked at her sideways. She was trying to process the blade and the knock at the same time. When a second knock came, she put a hand over Eve’s hand that was holding the knife.
“I’m pretty sure assassins don’t knock.”
Then Hogan’s voice came from the other side of the door. “Deborah? It’s me, Hogan. Yero told me you had late watch tonight. Can I speak with you?”
Deborah moved to the door, giving her sister another sideways look. She opened the door only a crack and confirmed that it was indeed Hogan. She then opened the door further and he entered the room.
“Thank you,” Hogan said. “My cousin has the castle locked down. I’ve only been able to come and go in the line of duty.” Before continuing, he looked down sheepishly. “Of course, it took me a day and Yero hitting me upside the head to realize I should have tried to come sooner.”
Hogan looked up at Deborah, but out of the corner of his eye he noticed Eve, who was still clutching the knife. He blushed slightly, took a step back from Deborah, and did his best to face both the young ladies.
“Um, Lady Eve, it is a pleasure to see you tonight.”
Eve rolled her eyes, and in one swift motion she sheathed her knife. “Lady, please,” was her only response as she went back to the table and shuffled the cards. Hogan looked awkwardly back at Deborah. She did not give him any grace. Instead, she stood, arms crossed around her chest. Eve hid a smile at her sister’s impatient look. When Hogan didn’t immediately get back to the subject at hand, Eve spoke up in a mockingly formal tone.
“Master Hogan, you were just telling my sister what an idiot you have been.”
Hogan blushed even more deeply and turned his focus away from Eve. For her part, she smirked and thought he and her sister were a pair of blushing ninnies. She tried hard to ignore them further by looking at the cards in front of her. This didn’t work at all as she became confronted with her own thoughts about how, once again, things were working out for Deborah. As Hogan and Deborah became absorbed with each other once more, she slid quietly out of the room.
Hogan couldn’t bring himself to look directly at Deborah as he began speaking again. “I don’t know that I would say I was an idiot, exactly. I admit I may have acted or seemed insensitive to you when I found out about your family. Then there’s my family. . .” He stopped, realizing that he was starting to ramble. He took a deep breath before continuing.
“I was shocked at the news that my family was no longer to be the ruling body of the Crossroads. I’ve always been indifferent to them as rulers. They, that is, we have ruled for many years. It took some time alone to realize the truth that your being here represents. My family has drifted from the purpose of God. My cousin puts on the airs of church, yet I know several other members of my family don’t even acknowledge God. Honestly, the last time I consciously thought about or sought God outside of a church was before my mother died.”
Here Hogan paused and looked down at his hands. There was no sound in the room. Deborah waited with bated breath for Hogan’s next words, sensing there was more he wanted to say. Hogan himself was confounded. He was unsure how to proceed, yet knew he had more to communicate. He had to make Deborah understand him and the myriad of thoughts that had flowed through his head these last few days.
Hogan looked up and found Deborah’s eyes. He saw her waiting, but no longer with any haughtiness. Instead, he saw longing in her eyes. She wanted to hear his words; she needed to understand him. She was focused on him and him alone. It was a look that no one had given him in over a decade.
“I often find myself at a loss for what to say, or I choose to be quiet in the presence of people for fear of ridicule. I’m unsure of how to express myself, though I find within your eyes the confidence to try.
“The last time I felt the presence of God in my life was when my mother was still alive. My father had taken my mother and me upon a diplomatic errand to the Mountain Hall in the Tenth Kingdom. While there, we were invited to a banquet in the king’s throne room. Shortly after dinner, while the others were talking and reveling, I snuck out to the great balcony. The sun was setting, and the mountains glowed with its heat and light. The sea lay far below, the balcony and it was painted red by the setting sun. In the distance, out in the sea, upon the rolling red waves of the sea, a pod of ornacon were leaping out of the water and twisting about in the air. They were joined by a kettle of greater sea hawks that were diving in and out of the ocean surf. There at the edge of land and sky, of sky and sea, of sea and land, of day and night, danced two creatures of sublime grace.
“Upon turning back to the party, I heard music begin and saw the people beginning to dance. First I found my parents, and the joy they shared radiated all about them. Throughout the room there were other pairs dancing. The mixture of races present didn’t matter; all were blending as one people united in celebration.
“All of it combined, the dancing inside and out, was Him. I saw the hand of the Creator, and know His presence. I fell asleep there upon the balcony at peace, watching all of creation dancing in the sunset.”
Hogan paused and still Deborah waited. Her eyes were full of longing. As Hogan reached out and to take Deborah’s hands, her heart skipped a beat, as did his. Then the blood within their veins flowed hot, and the world outside the space around them dropped away. Hogan stepped forward and moved one hand behind Deborah’s back. She rested her freed hand upon his chest. When Hogan spoke again it was in a breathless, husky whisper.
“The joy and peace that moment gave me has helped me through the darkest times in my life. That moment died last night when I realized I had probably lost the chance to know you better and. . .”
He stopped talking and kissed her full upon the lips. She did not hesitate, and kissed him back. Neither of them were aware of a new presence in the room. They only had each other and thus didn’t notice the Beagle.
“Young man,” the angel spoke firmly. The words found their way through the dome of solace between the two young lovers. Hogan and Deborah broke their embrace reluctantly, and breathlessly turned toward the Beagle.
“Perhaps,” the Beagle said in a regal tone, “now that you have said your piece and the Lady Deborah has accepted your words, you should leave and return at a more approp
riate hour. I would recommend a time when her father, the skilled bearer of a powerful sword, would have time to talk with you about your intentions toward his daughter and the predicaments of such a relationship.”
No one moved. Half a minute ticked by. The Beagle spoke up once more. “If you prefer, I can wake him now. He’s only been off watch for a little over an hour, so I’m sure he would not mind having such a conversation with you right away.”
Hogan took a step backward, keeping his eyes on the Beagle. Yero had told him of the guardian angel that watched over the Koens, but seeing and hearing the dog talk was a shock. The words took a moment to process. When Hogan could finally speak, it was with a rare bit of confidence.
“I’m not certain now would be the best time. I’m sure a father finding his daughter with a man in the wee hours of the morning might inspire him to use the aforementioned skills.”
“See,” said the angel, “I knew you were a smart lad.”
Hogan bowed slightly to all in the room as he reached behind himself for the door handle. “Pardon the lateness; I got a little carried away. Yes, I think I shall be back tomorrow; daylight does seem better for a meeting.”
“Yero, your captain and ally, will give you an opportunity,” the angel stated with such authority that Hogan and Deborah did not doubt the truth of his statement.
Hogan turned to Deborah and smiled saying “Tomorrow then.” Then he went out the door. For a minute Deborah watched the door; then she heard Eve’s laughter. She turned to find her sister standing behind the Beagle. As she continued, to laugh she warned, “You are so busted!”
The New Guard (Crossroads Book 1) Page 20