Page 12 of A Touch of Stars and Stones
“Only one. It’s rare to find anyone, but I’ve never made the full journey back as I had you to look after.”
“I’m nearly twenty. You could have left me for a few days.”
“You were much younger when it happened before. Kalan knows other Watchers, too. He saw them safe.”
“Kalan?” He lived near Nestagarth and visited a couple of times a year for as long as I can remember, at least. I always thought he was kind and maybe had a soft spot for Lyle. I always felt happy when he visited, especially after he left me the leaf brooch.
“He’s from Kirrasia. Like me. And a friend.”
“Are all your friends from there?” I say bluntly.
“No. But some are, and they have their roles. Like offering protection to villages, or watching over crops and farmland, being stationed at the port—” As she carries on explaining the world she’s kept from me, my anger rumbles, every word more fuel to its fire until it burns too hot and ignites.
“I don’t understand. I don’t understand any of this!” I want her to hear me and feel the pain she’s caused by keeping this from me.
She freezes and looks over at me. “I’m sorry.” She pushes her horse on and puts more distance between us. Nettle doesn’t seem bothered and continues to walk on.
Is that it? I’m sorry?My jaw aches as I clench my jaw shut to keep from screaming for answers that aren’t just more unearthed lies. But the distance between us only grows.
Fine.
If this is how she wants to play it, feeding me scraps, then I’ll just wait. But a rush of fear sweeps through me like a cold wind, chilling me to the bone. It’s unfamiliar, alien, and I know it’s notmyfear I’m sensing, but Lyle’s. It’s so heavy, so far-reaching that it’s almost paralysing.
And just as quickly, it leaves me, and I gasp as it releases me.
I watch her ride on and wonder how she’s still sitting upright on her horse if she’s carrying all that fear. And worse, what is she so afraid of?
The sun makes shy appearances throughout the day, peeking out through clouds and showing me glimpses of the vibrant green of the hills in the distance—the colour of their namesake, rich and deep.
When the sun shines, it’s beautiful, and I feel a glimmer of hope infuse me with warmth. And then I remember all the things that Lyle has told me, and my hope withers away.
Lost in my head, I don’t notice that she’s waiting for me up ahead. As I get closer, she turns and aligns her horse next to mine once again, but doesn’t stop the steady trek onwards.
“Beyond the Jade is Kirrasia. I am Kirrian, a Watcher of The Court. The Court is our city, where The Chamber members reside. All Kirrians undergo training to control and master their power and how to grow and nurture it. And, maybe, you’ll be invited to join as a member of The Chamber or find anotherrole within Court.” A smile twitches at the corner of her mouth, although her eyes are sorrowful.
“Lyle, why? Why have you kept this hidden from me?” It’s the question that screams the loudest in my head.
“Because if you didn’t have Aslendrix’s gifts, then it would forever be kept from you. The Chamber decree that, above all, we are to be kept a secret from the rest of the world.”
“But you live in that world. Our world.”
World. I didn’t know much beyond our small part of it, but somehow, that was okay until now.
Now, everything has changed.
The possibilities of what was past the Southern Shore Sea didn’t seem important, not compared to a whole other realm she was naming.
“Kirrians straddle the two worlds to ensure the protection and survival of all.” Her words are flat as if she’s reading the words from a script.
“And what would happen if you weren’t a Watcher? If you weren’t looking for signs in me? If I turn Nettle around and refuse to go to this Court with you. What then?”
I want to push her and punish her for all the revelations streaming from her mouth, so I attack her with my words.
“Your power would overwhelm you. Likely turn you mad and drive you crazy.” She lifts the necklace from around her neck and shows me the small blue stone that’s always sitting in the hollow of her throat. “I received this during my Transference ceremony. It harnesses my natural ability and power from the source of all Kirrasia’s power, the moon.”
“I’ve never seen you without that necklace.” I don’t want wonder to ring in my voice, but it does.
“You won’t. It keeps us safe from ourselves. Every Kirrian has a stone worn in a piece of jewellery that connects them with their harnessed power. That is their gift from the Transference. Theirpower from the moon, our Goddess Aslendrix, and from their Advocate.”
