The Guardian King

Chapter Seven

~ Ember

“Ember,” An unfamiliar voice uttered my name. What happened? I urged myself to remember. One moment, I’d been with Gemma and Phyneas, getting my test results and the next, I’d blacked out. “Ember,” the voice repeated louder. I opened my eyes and immediately put a hand over my brow in an attempt to shield myself from the brightness accosting my senses. I blinked several times and came to find I hadn’t moved from the exam room. However, it was completely void of everything save myself and a figure in a long white gown. Details were hazy, due to the blinding light the apparition emitted. “Welcome home, blessed one,” it said. The tone elicited a calmness in me, banishing all traces of fear.

*

“Who are you?” I asked, surprised by the ethereal sound of my own voice.

“Who I am matters not,” the being replied. “Only my message is of importance. You have been lost for a very long time.”

“My mom-”

“I know young one. She should not have kept you from your destiny.”

“My destiny?”

“She received a message the day you were born. One she chose to reject, rather than embrace. I am here to rectify her greatest error. Because of your mother’s cowardice actions, you are plagued with much self-doubt. You must shed this, if you hope to assume your true place. Trust yourself. Trust that you belong amongst your fellow guardians. You deserve the gifts which have been bestowed upon you. That includes your destined companion. Never forget that.”

“Destined companion? … But wait-” In a flash of brighter light, the apparition vanished and I descended into blackness once again.

*

I vaguely remembered coming to, met with panicked looks from my new friends. I attempted to assure them I was alright, but exhaustion overpowered me. In my sleep, I returned to a familiar bed, surrounded by beeping machines. I knew immediately what it represented. The dream had become a part of me. The mesmerizing golden eyes of my guardian looked down at me with affection and soothed my soul. His dark hair dusted his shoulder tops and appeared incredibly soft. I ached to reach out and slide my fingers through his wavy locks, but my dream self had no control.

*

The velvety voice spoke the same words, “Rest, mon ange. Our time will come.” Desperation surged through me to make sense of why my mind would torture me with the alluring man who only existed within the confines of my subconsciousness. “I’ll be seeing you soon,” he assured me as always. My brain could be so cruel. I would never see this man. Not anywhere other than in my dreams. I basked in his longing gaze, before I let the vision fall away as it always did.

*

My consciousness began to surface. After a deep breath, I sensed I was back at the inn with no memory of returning there. A soft hand took hold of mine. “Beth?” I said instinctually as my eyes eased open.

“I’m here, sweetheart,” she answered. “How’re you feeling?”

“Tired and hungry.” She gently nudged the hair out of my face and said, “That’s understandable, seeing as it’s dinnertime.”

“It is? How long have I been asleep?” I propped myself up on my elbows as Beth replied, “Most of the day. Gemma was beside herself when Phyneas carried you through the portal.” Damn. My first time going through a portal and I hadn’t been awake to remember the experience.

*

My stomach suddenly let out an embarrassingly loud growl, causing Beth to say, “You poor thing. Let’s go downstairs. Isaac was just finishing the dinner preparations when I came upstairs to check on you.”

“I feel like I could eat everything in the kitchen.”

“Then that is exactly what you should do.” She helped me to my feet and paused for a moment to be sure I had my balance. I nodded in assurance, before we made our way downstairs to the dinning room.

*

Isaac placed the last steaming dish on the table as we walked into the room. “Hey Ember,” he said. “I was hoping you’d be joining us. How are you feeling?”

“Famished. Thank you.” A swell of concern caught me off guard. The emotion emanated from Isaac. More concern, laced with worry, came at me from behind when Beth put a hand on my shoulder and said, “Ember? Are you alright?”

“Um…” I struggled to answer as the emotions of three different people threatened to drown me. The suffocation of concern only grew, forcing me to brace myself with the back of the dining chair.

*

“Beth, maybe you should call Gemma,” Issac suggested.

“Here, Ember, sit down.” She put an arm around my waist for support as she helped me into the nearest chair, before hurrying into the kitchen. Vaguely aware of Isaac observing me, I drew deep breaths in through my nose, exhaling out my mouth, while I focused on the aroma of the food laid out across the table.

*

Beth returned with a teacup and saucer in hand. “Here, sweetheart,” she said, placing them in front of me. “Gemma says this will dampen your empath ability and calm your mind.”

“How did you know?” I inquired, referring to her astute understanding that I’d been caught off guard by one of my new abilities. “You have the same look on your face Gemma used to get when her abilities surfaced. Empathy must be strong in you, to overwhelm you like this. Drink your tea.”

“What’s in it?” I asked, inhaling a delightful scent of mint.

“Chamomile and spearmint with a single drop of vita latrare.”

“Vita what?”

“It’s a revitalizing solution, made of bark from the tree of life.”

“The one in Eden?” I replied with eyes wide.

“That’s right. Guardians are caretakers of the tree. The bark is harvested and used to create a concoction which helps us regain our strength when our ability energy is depleted.”

“That can happen?”

“Oh yes, if you expel too much energy using your abilities, you’ll get very weak. Strength returns after food and rest of course. But vita latrare will reenergize you almost instantly. We sometimes call it tonic, for short. You were given a concentrated version earlier today for your test.”

“I have so much to learn about guardians,” I commented, sipping the steamy brew from the teacup. With a soft smile, Beth added, “Gemma also said you should eat as soon as possible, so let’s start dinner.” With a nod from his wife, Isaac loaded up a plate of delicious food and placed it in front of me.

*

We ate in silence for the first half of dinner. The tea did it’s job and the feelings I’d been swimming in dropped to a manageable level. “Oh, I almost forgot,” Beth suddenly said, leaning over in her seat in order to reach her back pocket. She withdrew a small, white card and continued, “Phyneas left this in my care, to pass along when you woke up.” She slid the object across the table to me. “Ability Registration Card,” I read aloud, smiling as I read my name and abilities listed in crisp black ink.

Ember Ann Ellison - Ilia, Colorado: Class Five

Telekineses, Cloaking, Healing, Empathy, & Truth

*

“I hope you don’t mind that I read it,” Beth said.

“Not at all,” I answered, looking up at her. A sense of pride came from the evidence in my hands of my guardian blood. I set the card back down on the table and resumed eating. “Five abilities, Ember, that is damn impressive,” Isaac expressed in between bites. “The only class five guardian I’m aware of is the king.”

“Really? I didn’t realize it was that uncommon.”

“Most guardians are either third or fourth class.”

“But the king would have more abilities, wouldn’t he? I mean, being of royal descent and all?”

“Hierarchy works a bit differently in the guardian world,” Beth explained.

“How so?”

“King Phoenix’s right to rule isn’t due to his lineage. He claimed the throne by competing in The King Trials.”

*

“The King Trials?” I speared another bite of grilled zucchini and popped it into my mouth, while Isaac responded. “When it’s time for a new ruler, either due to the former king’s death or the end of his reign, the Council of Elders organizes The King Trials. It’s a full day of grueling challenges, designed to thoroughly test the mind, body, and soul.”

“Can anyone enter?” I wanted to know. With a nod, he answered, “Anyone between the ages of twenty and sixty.”

“Why such a range?”

“The idea is that a great ruler can come from anyone. Obviously our new monarch would have to be a legal adult, which for a guardian is twenty. With a king’s reign being one hundred years, the potential ruler would have to be young enough to rule a full century before they reached their declining years.” The long lifespan of guardians still came as a shock to me.

*

“The trials typically begin with over a hundred entires,” Isaac continued, “but only a quarter make it through the first half. And less than a handful make it to the summit in Eden, where they are then tested by God himself and either deemed worthy… or not.”

“How is one deemed worthy?” I asked with interest.

“The first participant who reaches the top wins the right to be judged first. They grip the hilt of The Hand of God, a sword originally wielded by our first king. The blade is engulfed in holy fire and impaled within the earth at the highest point in Eden, Spiritus Caeli.” I hung off of Issac’s every word as he educated me on how King Phoenix achieved his position.

*

“With the most esteemed members of guardian society as witnesses,” Isaac went on, “the potential king will either be blessed or be burned.” I shuddered slightly at the thought of being burned by holy fire.

“Was King Phoenix the first to touch the sword?” I asked.

“He was. At which point the fire immediately evaporated and the sword emitted a white light. From that point, he was bestowed with the king’s ring, signifying the loyalty of all guardians.”

“I just got chills,” I said, rubbing my arms. “I wish I could have been there.”

“It’s quite the sight to behold,” Beth confirmed, “and a very sacred moment in guardian history; to witness the appointment of a new ruler. Our average lifespan may be nearly two hundred years, but for some, it’s still a once in a lifetime event.”

*

We resumed eating in silence as my thoughts went into hyperdrive. The guardian world proved to be far more sanctified than I could have ever imagined. It was hard to believe such a strong and ancient culture existed right under the very noses of humans. Though a mere twelve hours prior I’d been unaware of my own people, everything I’d learned of guardians in that short time made complete sense to me. At my core I’d always known; I belonged to this world.

*

When I reached for the bread rolls, the basket slid across the surface of the table, straight into my outstretched hand. “Oh my gosh!” I exclaimed in surprise.

“Looks like your telekineses power is surfacing,” Isaac pointed out with a smile.

“So… I can move things with my mind now?” I wondered, reaching in to select a roll.

“Essentially yes, but it will take years for you to obtain complete control. In the meantime, be careful what you gesture to.” I stared at my hands in wonderment as I said, “I can’t wait to get started. Did Gemma mention before she left what the plans for me were? I don’t really know where I go from here. And I still need to get a job.”

“Ember, your body is currently undergoing major changes,” Beth replied. “You shouldn’t be looking for a job right now.”

“She’s right,” Isaac agreed. “You should focus on getting a modicum of control over your abilities first. Until then, consider this your home for as long as you need.”

*

Old habits are hard to break, especially in a single day. Despite the joy of making real connections for the first time in my life, relying on others did not come naturally to me. “I don’t want to be a burden.”

“I’ve had to worry about you from a distance for twenty-four years. Trust me when I say, your presence here is the farthest thing from a burden possible.” With a glance at Isaac, he nodded, confirming his wife’s claim.

*

At my aunt’s declaration, the fear of loneliness that took root the day my mom died, began to recede. Hope made its presence known by the genuine affection in my aunt’s eyes. With a small smile I relented, “Alright then.” Aunt Beth smiled in return, picked up her fork again and answered, “Now that’s settled, you can focus on your guardian heritage. Gemma said the king will decide soon how best to proceed with your training.”

*

“Speaking of your potential future,” Isaac began, pushing his empty plate away, “have you given any thought to what career path you might want to pursue?”

“Not since learning I’m not human,” I replied with a soft chuckle. Admitting I wasn’t human still seemed comical to me. “I don’t even know what my options are now.”

“You can do anything. And a great way to come up with ideas, is to consider what are you passionate about.”

“Nothing specific comes to mind. I like many things, but I wouldn’t say I am passionate about anything. Except food maybe. But only eating it, not preparing it.”

“Oh, come on, there’s more to you than that,” Beth encouraged.

“Well, I finished college with a bachelors in business. I sort of had this idea in the back of my mind, that I’d like to have my own business one day. Maybe a flower shop? I’ve always loved flowers. Sounds kind of silly when I say it out loud.”

“You’re talking to two guardians whose dream was to run an inn,” Beth pointed out, sparing a smile at her husband, who responded with a wink. “Nothing sounds silly to us.”

“Besides food and flowers, the only thing I’ve ever truly loved is when I spent a summer teaching ballroom dance to a bunch of kids. It was so much fun.” A broad smile spread across my face at the memory of that summer; the last summer my mom was alive.

*

“Your mom made you take ballroom dancing growing up, didn’t she?” Beth guessed. When I nodded she continued, “Lisa loved to dance.”

“I hated it at first,” I admitted, “but she promised if I stuck with it for at least a year, I could quit and she’d pay for horseback riding lessons. Which is what I’d most wanted to do at the time.”

“But you ended up loving dance instead?” Isaac surmised.

“Yes.”

“That’s good though,” he replied. “Dance teaches discipline, coordination, and balance. All of which will prove useful when you begin combat training.”

*

At Isaac’s words, I remembered the Latin phrase on The King’s Gate; Blessed be the protectors of man, sparking my curiosity. “What exactly is a guardian’s intended purpose?” I asked.

“What do you mean?” Isaac responded.

“Well, obviously guardians are considered protectors. And if combat training is a standard part of a young guardian’s upbringing, then what is our purpose on earth?”

*

Isaac and Beth exchanged glances. There was something they didn’t want to discuss in front of me. “Is it a secret?” I guessed. Having just finished eating, I stacked my utensils on the empty plate and slid it to the side. “No,” Isaac answered. “But perhaps it’s a conversation for another day. You’ve only learned the truth about yourself this morning, and you’ve already had a very full day. It’s probably best to leave things where they are for now.”

*

A specific part of an earlier conversation with Gemma lingered in my mind and I couldn’t stop myself from asking, “Does it have anything to do with the depraved?” Beth instantly dropped her fork with a clink. She also slid her plate away as she regained her composure and asked, “Gemma told you?”

“No, she mentioned in passing that our abilities only fully work on humans and something called the depraved. But when I asked, she also claimed I wasn’t ready.”

“She’s right, and she shouldn’t have even brought it up.”

*

“Are they like demons?” I inquired. Once again Isaac and Beth exchanged looks. “More or less,” Isaac finally answered.

“Isaac,” Beth said with a warning.

“She shouldn’t be kept in the dark, Beth.”

“She will learn all too soon. I’m only asking that she pace herself.”

*

“It’s alright,” I said interrupting their disagreement. Beth and Isaac had welcomed me into their home, into their lives, I couldn’t let them start an argument over me. “Aunt Beth is right. I do have a lot to learn about the guardian world. And it’s already been a really long day.” I scooted my chair back and stood, picking up my dirty dishes to drop off in the kitchen. “Thanks for dinner, and … well everything. I’m going to turn in early. See you in the morning.” They each said goodnight and I left the room.

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

Author’s Note:

Due to the celebration of mine and my son’s birthdays this week throwing me a bit off schedule, Chapter Eight won’t be published until next Wednesday, January 18th. :)

~ E. K. Michaels