Page 50 of Captured on Film
“Andor?” And louder, “Andor!”
Before Caleb could draw another breath, he was yankedagainst a familiar wall of grumbling, growling fur. All of his lessons in OldAmaranthine escaped him. So much for impressing the First of Bears with his studies.But he could be glad. Soaringly, daringly glad.
With a mutter, Andor hooked a claw around the pendant Calebhad been given. It was a personal ward, intended to mask his presence fromfigments and Amaranthine alike. Andor dragged it over Caleb’s head, eyed thestone with obvious disdain, and chucked it over his shoulder.
Caleb leaned to the side to follow its arc and heard thesoft thud as it landed in the grass. Because everything else was suddenly as asstill as a forest when an apex predator was on the prowl.
Nessie trotted over, tail wagging, to retrieve the pendantfrom the lawn.
But then Andor was dropping a different necklace overCaleb’s head. One that incorporated two crystals. “I know you,” he murmured tothe clear one with its blushing heart. “But … your ring?”
Andor lifted his hand. He still wore a ring, but the stonewas different—pale blue with a decided twinkle. A match in color to the smallerstone on his necklace.
“That’s an impressive upgrade.” With an admiring look, Hesperadded, “It’sverywell done. He’s had it tuned to you.”
“What’s that mean?” asked Josheb.
Hesper was talking, so she must have been answering, butCaleb didn’t catch anything she said. Because another voice was nearer, fillingthe place where songs belonged.
“Andor has been fretful. This will give him some peace.”
“Eri?” he whispered.
“Here I am. Here I will always be.”
Caleb often knew that Eri was close. Sometimes he even pickedout their voice in the nightly chorus. But lullabies and dreams weren’t enough.How much he missed the one who’d promised to be his home.
Searching Andor’s face, Caleb touched the pendant. “You’llhave to explain.”
“The pink is for our sake. Touch the stone. Unlock thesky.”Eri did try to make their meaning more clear.“If I sing with thisstone in mind, my voice will reach you.”
“We can talk?”
“Call, and I will answer.”
Including Andor in his smile, Caleb asked, “And the blue?”
“Tuned to the stone in Andor’s ring. He wishes you toknow that he can find you, no matter what path you have taken.”
A tracer of sorts? Andor’s expression was hard to interpret,but his posture was tense. Even rigid.
“This gives you peace?” Caleb checked.
Andor grumbled something and looked away.
“Call, and he will find you. Lost or injured or lonesome,he will reach you with all speed.”
“That’s a big promise.”
“We call it a pact.”
Caleb understood enough to ask, “What’s my share? There hasto be balance.”
Eri’s laughter was effervescent as star wine.“Andor washalf sure you would flee and certain you would refuse.”
Closing his hand around the pendant, Caleb said, “I live upto my name every once in a while.”
Andor offered a satisfied grunt
