Page 137 of Gates of Rapture
So, this was to be an ascension ceremony attended by a Sixth ascender.That was a surprise.His appearance brought a knot to Grace’s stomach.Something was going on, something big.
He waved everyone forward.“The ladies are in the central rotunda, and we’ll have the ceremony in there.If you’ll come with me.”
James led the way.Casimir, as Leto’s Guardian of Ascension, was already present and stood near Endelle.The warriors who were bonded joined theirbrehs.Luken, Zach, and Santiago stuck together, the last bastion of bachelorhood in their small group.
Moving to stand near the terrace, James waved Grace and Leto forward.She stood off to Leto’s right, a foot back as was the usual position for those supporting the ascendate.
James took his place in front of the terrace.
In a typical ascension ceremony, the officiate would offer thoughts on service to the dimension, usually reading from a book.In this case, James began very differently as he addressed Leto outright.
“Your ascension, Leto, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, is very different from the usual process since you’ve not beencalledas an ascender.You’d normally be called by the appearance of dreams detailing the new world and longings for a different life.The only aspect that resembles a typical ascension is that you’ve developed the ability to morph like a Third Earth warrior.Would you agree that all of this is true?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
James drew a deep breath.“That’s because you’re not officially ascending to Third Earth.”
At that, Leto turned and met Grace’s gaze.She saw relief in his eyes.They had both been worried about what would happen if he actually did ascend to Third.
James smiled as Leto turned back to him.“There will be no disruption of yourbreh-hedden, you may trust me in this.Sixth wouldn’t have allowed it.But I digress.There is a specific purpose in your ascension.We need you to take over my role as the gatekeeper of Third Earth.My duties call me elsewhere, and I’m not allowed to make war in your dimension, to use force to protect the gate.And we feel it’s necessary for the securing of peace on Second Earth that a warrior be stationed at this critical gateway.”
This pronouncement brought a hum through the group.Grace had no idea what Leto would do as a gatekeeper or why it was necessary at all.
Endelle stepped forward.“I don’t understand, Shorty.I thought Alison would be opening the portal and we’d have access to Third Earth society, customs, even their wisdom and knowledge.”
“You should know by now that nothing in the ascended world is simple.One day I’m sure that the sharing of cultures will happen and that this will be true among all six dimensions.But right now we have to deal with a situation that Greaves has caused.It needs to be locked down before we can go further.”
“What situation with Greaves?”Endelle asked, her voice sharp.
“The commander created an invisible breach in the portal to Third that has allowed him to bring Third Earth death vampires through at willandwithout you or your warriors aware of what he’s been doing.”
Endelle frowned.“Somehow I thought Greaves had found a way to create those vampires himself, making his usual squads bigger and better.It never occurred to me that they really were from Third Earth.Not that I could have done anything about it had I known.”
“Exactly.Their origin would have changed nothing.But the real danger is simple: Greaves is ready to bring a hundred such vampires through the breach in the portal as soon as he engages you in what we believe will be the forthcoming battle over White Lake.Not even you could have fought a contingent of that size; they would have decimated your Warriors of the Blood.You would have lost the war that fast.”
This brought a number of heated expletives from all the warriors against Greaves and his machinations.
But it was Leto who asked the next logical question.“So are you saying that by opening the portal and sealing the breach, we end the possibility of Greaves sneaking these bastards through during a battle against him?”
“Precisely.The portal will once again be secured—but it will need to be guarded by a warrior.May I ask if you are willing to accept the assignment?”
“There is no question.Of course, I accept.But what will it entail?Will I reside on Third?”
“No, on Second, but the ascension that I initiate here today will give you a permanent mind-link with the portal.You will be alerted when anyone approaches, no matter which dimension, and because of the demand inherent in the mind-link, you will need to respond to each approach.Are you willing to engage in a mind-link of this sort?”
Grace felt the sudden tension in Leto’s thighs, back, and neck.She understood his reaction.He had served as a spy for a century, always at Greaves’s beck and call as well as James’s.Now he would be bound, or so it would seem, to the portal, with no real guarantee how easy or how pressing that duty would be.
But she also knew Leto’s character, the essential element of his warrior’s soul.Above all things, Leto was a man of duty, something he would always do and something she treasured about him.She was not surprised when the tension eased from the same parts of his body and he said, “I am willing.”
James smiled and even approached Leto to reach up and clap him on the shoulder.James couldn’t have been more than five-eight, so he had a ways to reach.“Good man,” he said quietly.“And I’ll always be there, Leto, to be of service to you.This isn’t a duty we would expect you to perform without our being available to you at will.”
“I’m grateful for that,” Leto said.
James stepped back to his original position and added, “There is an observation deck as well as living quarters at the portal, which you will have access to at any time.”His expression softened.“I confess that when certain political situations on Sixth Earth becameirritating,I would stay in the portal suite for weeks at a time, at least until my temper cooled.But you will see the situation for yourself before the morning is out.Or you can ask Casimir.He has been staying there while he served as your guardian.And of course Grace can accompany you whenever you wish as well.Does all of this sound acceptable to you?”
Leto nodded.
Grace released a deep breath.Leto could remain on Second Earth and as needed she could travel to the portal with him.She had been uneasy from the time that Casimir had shown up and made it clear he was serving as Leto’s guardian.
