The Guardian King

Chapter Twenty-four

~ Ember

*

For the third time over the past week I woke slightly disoriented. The last two times I’d woken in my bed with no memory of getting there, I’d convinced myself it was the result of exhaustion. But this time, I was certain I’d fallen asleep in the king’s office. Someone had put me to bed. Sensing dawn’s approach, I opened my eyes. After a soothing stretch of my arms and legs in the massive bed, I took a long deep breath. In the air I detected the faint scent of cedar wood and leather. “Phoenix,” I whispered to myself.

*

Of course it was the guardian king who’d brought me to my room. I’d passed out in HIS office after all. What I didn’t understand was why he didn’t wake me or how he even managed to relocate me without doing so. If he’d also been responsible for the past two times I’d woken in my bed after falling asleep elsewhere, that meant he’d been coming and going from the castle all week. I grew agitated at the thought of him avoiding me.

*

When the light began to filter through the white sheer curtains, I flipped the blankets off and shifted my feet to the floor. The moment I stood I noticed a lack of soreness. In the bathroom, I flipped on the light and examined my arms in the mirror. They were perfectly unscathed. I lifted my top to view my rib cage, failing to find any amount of discoloration. The injuries I’d sustained from sparring with Sadie had vanished.

*

I didn’t need to wonder how my wounds evaporated overnight. Phyneas was the answer, I just knew it. “Ugh,” I groaned aloud in frustration. Why couldn’t these boys leave me alone? Good intentions or no, I deserved the right to keep my bruises if I wished. They had been highly motivating the past couple days and had even earned me a smidge of respect from Sadie. I hadn’t a care or desire for the king’s ex to like me, but I couldn’t deny obtaining a bit of her respect felt oddly satisfying.

*

I considered Phyneas a kindred spirit. He was the one I felt closest to in the guardian world, the one I trusted most. And he jeopardized that trust by healing me without permission. After I brushed my teeth with more force than necessary, I dressed for my usual morning walk.

*

A half hour amongst the fresh air and dewy grass reduced my anger to a low simmer. Though I remained miffed at Phyneas for his breech of trust, I came to the conclusion the guardian king most likely put him up to it. I returned to my rooms contemplating what I would say to Phyn when I saw him.

*

I went straight to the closet and perused through my wardrobe unsure of what to wear. My trainers had insisted I take a day off to let my mind and body rest. And because I’d been forcefully encouraged to set aside my responsibilities for the day, I insisted my ladies do the same. Freya and Winnie had been so gracious and caring. I wanted them to know how much I appreciated them. It was surprising how much assurance it took on my part just to get them to agree to relax for a day. But it meant I was on my own in choosing my attire for the first time since moving into the castle.

*

I chose to continue dressing the part of a guardian and selected a dressy maroon tunic with gold embroidery on the long sleeves. Chocolate leggings and matching wedge booties completed my look and I evaluated my appearance in the floor-length mirror, hoping I’d done my ladies proud. I threw my hair up in its typical style, applied a light layer of makeup, and left my suite in search of breakfast.

*

Gemma and Phyneas were sitting at the table when I entered the large dining room. Gemma’s presence came as no surprise, seeing as she lived on castle grounds. Phyneas, however, had an apartment in the city and rarely showed up for breakfast. “Morning, Emmie,” Phyneas greeted me. As I took my usual place at the table I intentionally looked past him, to my cousin, and said, “Good morning, Gemma.”

“Is that how it’s going to be now?” Phyneas asked. “You’re just not going to speak to me anymore?”

“Why should I? Clearly you don’t care to listen to what I say.”

“What are you two tiffing about ?” Gemma wanted to know.

“Phyneas is guilty of healing without consent,” I stated.

“Oh, I see.”

“Nic made me do it, Emmie,” he said in defense.

“Then you should have woken me up and told me you were under orders, instead of doing it in my sleep like a weirdo. I would have understood.”

“She’s got a point, Phyn,” Gemma backed me up.

“Stay out of it, Gem,” he spat at her before turning back to me with deeply apologetic eyes, like a puppy caught chewing on my favorite pair of shoes. “I’m really sorry.”

*

My anger relented. He was difficult to stay mad at. “Just be up front with me, Phyneas,” I said. “Otherwise, how can I trust you?”

“You’re right,” he admitted. “How can I make it up to you?”

“You could spar with me honestly, like Sadie does.”

“I’m a lot stronger than the crocodile, Em.”

“Fine. How about simply not treating me like a child? I get that I am a novice, but you don’t have to go so easy on me. And if I get injured leave it be.”

“I will until the king commands me otherwise.”

“Great, how about we go a few rounds after breakfast?”

*

“Actually,” Gemma said sliding her finished plate away, “you and I have a task elsewhere.”

“We do?”

“Yes. I thought we should talk to Aunt Beth today about your your parents’ history. Maybe she can give us a clue as to why your dad’s file is gone.”

“That’s a great idea.”

“Hurry up and eat, ‘cause we’re leaving right away.”

*

After I’d eaten my fill, I learned Phyneas’ purpose for being there, when he created the portal that would take us to the inn. The scent of fresh baked pastries and strong coffee filled my nostrils as we landed inside Isaac’s office. “Is Aunt Beth expecting us?” I asked as we walked down the hallway towards the kitchen where my aunt always seemed to be. “No,” Gemma answered, “I thought it would be a nice surprise.”

*

We followed the home’s signature smell and rounded the corner stepping foot into the cozy kitchen. An unfamiliar couple sat at the small table in front of the back windows, enjoying their breakfast, while Aunt Beth busily transferred scones from a hot pan onto a plate. When she noticed us, she dropped the tongs with a clink and her face lit up. “Ember!” she exclaimed, hurrying around the island towards me. She wrapped me in a hug that automatically brought a smile to my face.

*

“Um, hello?” Gemma said. “Remember me, Aunt Beth?”

“Don’t be silly, hon,” Aunt Beth said as she released me and hugged Gemma too. “You’re not the one I worry about.” She looked over her shoulder at her guests to make sure they were still happily eating, before she turned back to us and said, “Let’s go into the dining room.”

*

As we sat at the large table, Aunt Beth reminded me of my mother the way she dove straight into questions about my life over the past couple weeks. “How’s your training going, Ember? Have you realized your dominate abilities yet? The king better be behaving himself.”

“I hardly ever see him to be honest.”

“Unfortunately, Aunt Beth, we don’t have a lot of time for visiting,” Gemma said. “We’re on a mission.”

“What kind of mission?”

“We need to ask you about my dad,” I told her. Immediately, a wave of dysphoria rolled off Aunt Beth as she stated, “You want to know about his death.” I reached across the table for her hand and said, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t think it would be so difficult for you to talk about.”

“Ember, you accessed your empath ability,” Gemma noted. “I’m so proud of you!”

*

“Are you having difficulties with your abilities, Ember?” Aunt Beth asked in concern.

“Let’s just say things are more complicated than I anticipated.”

“I think it’s a mental block,” Gemma said.

“Then perhaps learning about your dad is more important than we realized.” Aunt Beth stood from the table and added, “I’ll get us some coffee. Coffee helps every situation.”

*

Once Aunt Beth returned with hot mugs of Italian roast, she didn’t beat around the bush, but dove right into the unpleasant past. “Your mom and I were the best of friends as far back as I can remember. When we were old enough to join the academy, that’s when she took a liking to my brother. It wasn’t until we’d all graduated that he took a liking to her in return.” Aunt Beth paused, took a long drink from her mug before she continued, “Your dad was a powerful class four guardian. Immediately after graduating he joined the faction of seekers as an active guardian.”

“What constitutes an active guardian?” I wanted to know.

“Any guardian in the field. Hunters, some healers, shields, and seekers.”

“What is a seeker?”

“They’re investigators,” Gemma answered.

“Truth was one of Jonas’ strongest abilities,” Aunt Beth continued. “He was a natural born seeker. But your mom never liked him being an active guardian. Lisa was a worrier.”

“Tell me about it,” I muttered. “I had to wait until I was eighteen before she let me get my driver’s license.”

*

Gemma kept the conversation on point in asking, “He wasn’t an active seeker when he died though, was he?”

“No,” Beth answered. “Jonas had two dominant abilities. Aside from truth, he possessed a powerful compulsion ability which caught the eye of King Soren. He was known for being a collector of sorts. He sought out guardians with powerful or unique abilities and enticed them to work for his inner circle. But wasn’t that in Jonas’ file?”

“Actually, that’s the main reason we’re here,” Gemma explained. “Someone erased Jonas’ file from the royal archives.”

“I didn’t know that was even possible.”

“It shouldn’t be.”

*

Aunt Beth fiddled with her fingers nervously, unsettled by the direction our conversation had taken. “What is it?” Gemma asked.

“The fire that took Jonas’ life was ruled an accident. It was the middle of January. Every house in the city had a fire going in their fireplace. And the house they bought when they got married was an old fixer-upper they’d been in the process of remodeling. The official report stated that some materials caught fire and quickly spread to the rest of the house.”

“But you don’t believe that’s what happened?” I asked. She bit her lip in hesitation, before saying, “I don’t know. If it were just my gut, that’d be one thing. But… Lisa felt the same. I believe it was a factor in why she left.”

*

When she grew quiet and a wave of uncertainty rolled off her. Gemma also felt our aunt’s reluctance to voice her doubts. “Tell us, Aunt Beth,” my cousin urged. To which she nodded and said, “I only know what I experienced from my perspective. Lisa refused to speak of that night.”

*

Sorrow bubbled beneath the surface as I watched my aunt struggle to find words. After a big breath she continued, “Lisa was about six months pregnant with you, Ember. I remember her being exceptionally emotional the days leading up to the accident. Something about Jonas’ work upset her. She’d been sensing stress from him, but he refused to talk about it, claiming he didn’t want her getting worked up in her condition. That was my brother; always the protector. But what he didn’t realize… by keeping Lisa in the dark, she was already very stressed.” Aunt Beth paused her story and took a drink from her mug.

*

“The night your dad died…” she went on, “I’d talked on the phone with Lisa for a while. She was upset because for the third night in a row he was working late and wouldn’t tell her why. He came home during our conversation. When I didn’t hear from Lisa again before I went to sleep, I’d hoped that meant they resolved their argument. I didn’t find out about the fire until the next morning. She’d been taken to the medical facility for healing and Jonas was… gone.”

*

Gemma spoke the words I couldn’t. “What makes you believe it may have been intentional?” A large tear rolled down my aunt’s cheek and I could taste grief. Her voice cracked as she said, “Apart from gut instinct… amongst the remnants of their house were charred suitcases, yet they had no plans to take a trip. I believe Jonas knew they were in danger and hoped to flee before it reached them … only he was too late.”

*

Tears fell from my own eyes as I absorbed Beth’s account of my dad’s death. Thankfully, my cousin remained focused on the purpose of our visit. “Do you know what his role in Soren’s administration was?” she asked. “Perhaps he discovered someone amongst the inner circle committing treason?”

“Maybe. Jonas had been very tight-lipped about his role. I can’t even say who his immediate boss was.”

“So we don’t have anywhere to go from here,” I expressed.

“Now wait, I do remember he stayed close to one of his trainers after graduating the academy. Oh, what was his name…. Belaby. Yes, Master Belaby. He trained Jonas on his endurance ability. He was a tremendous mentor to your dad. There’s a good chance Jonas confided in him.”

“It’s a fair lead,” Gemma said. “Thanks, Aunt Beth.”

“Are you alright, Ember?”

“I’m okay. It’s just… harder than I expected.” She took my hand in both of hers and said, “I wish I could make it better, sweetheart.”

“I know and thank you.”

***

Gemma texted Phyneas to retrieved us from the inn. As we stood in Isaac’s office, waiting for our portal, my cousin looked at me with compassionate eyes and said, “You okay?”

“I’m not really sure. All I can say is that I feel… raw. It’s confusing, being upset over the death of someone I never met.”

“He was your dad.”

“But I think I’m more upset over Aunt Beth’s reaction to his memory. I hate that we came here and ruined her day.”

“Most of the grief she feels is on your behalf, Ember.”

“That only makes it worse.”

“It’ll be okay.”

“Will it? We upset her for no reason. We’re no closer to learning why my dad’s file was removed from the archives. Even worse, I have a million more questions I didn’t have before on what happened to him.”

“We have a lead.”

“Half a lead at best.”

“Is it a human trait to be so pessimistic?”

“I’m not human… though I don’t really feel like much of a guardian either. I don’t know what I am.”

*

Gemma moved to my side and wrapped her arms around me. “You are Ember Ellison,” she stated as though it were something to be proud of. “You have a bright and exciting future ahead of you. You’re kind, powerful, and strong. And, best of all, you’re not only my cousin, but my friend. So, focus on the good, okay?” I smiled, thinking of what my mom used to say, as I quietly finished the saying, “And let the bad be.” My mother may have been a worrier by nature, but it was clear by her favorite saying, she didn’t want that life for me. She’d wanted me to be braver than her.

***

Back at the palace, Gemma, Phyneas, and I were a quiet trio as we walked through the foyer. Gemma strayed off in the direction of her office to compile notes on what we’d learned that day for the sake of updating the guardian king. However, I wasn’t convinced he cared about my parents’ past.

*

I started to make my way upstairs towards my suite, where I hoped to decompress after the emotional morning, but became aware of Phyneas on my heels. “Is there something you wanted to say?” I asked. I was no longer upset with him, but I wasn’t in a particularly friendly mood either. “I’m really sorry I healed you against your will,” he said sincerely.

“You’ve already said that.”

“I felt it worth repeating. You still seem mad at me and I hate it.”

“I’m not, Pup,” I told him with a weak smile. “Honestly, it’s just been a rough morning.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“I’m all talked out.”

“Then I have a better idea.”

“You do?”

“Let’s spend the rest of your free day binging our favorite movies.” My eyebrows raised in surprise at his pleasant suggestion.

*

I smiled softly at Phyneas and said, “A movie actually sounds wonderfully normal.”

“I’ll even let you pick first,” he offered.

“You’d better, you owe me. Let me just run upstairs and change. Movie day calls for comfy clothes.”

“Okay, meet me in the recreation room whenever you’re ready.”

“Um.. where’s that?” He chuckled and replied, “Never mind. Meet me at the base of the stairs.”

*

The idea of spending the day with Phyneas, doing something so human, eased the distress of learning about my dad’s death. I walked through the castle corridors feeling surprisingly more at home there than I had at the inn. The sense of belonging I experienced, since discovering my guardian heritage, seemed to be strongest within the regal halls of the Jewel of Ilia. I would certainly miss the place when my time as the king’s companion came to an end.

*

My room was quiet when I entered, though I couldn’t shake the foreboding feeling that ran through me. Everything looked in perfect order as I moved from the main room through the curtains I hadn’t bothered to tie back that morning as Freya usually did. I pinpointed the source of my uneasiness to the scent in the air. The subtle hint of cedar wood and leather I’d detected that morning had been replaced by the faint smell of cigar smoke and musk. It was the unfamiliarity of it that had me on edge. Someone had been in my room while I’d been away. Ambrosia had warned me to keep my door locked. I mentally kicked myself for not taking her more seriously.

*

Nothing appeared to be out of place until I ventured into my bathroom. Taped to my vanity mirror was another note, written in red ink this time:

~ This is your last chance to heed my warning. Leave… or endure dire consequences. ~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~