Page 36 of The Knight
“I do not order you to do anything. I am giving you an option, a choice.” He walked closer to me and turned to look out the window. “You heard her melody. You know what my daughter, Emma—what she is. You know that her powerful melody—makes her a beacon. Who knows who has already heard her when she was born—and from what worlds or realms?”
Her melody was so loud at her birth that I wouldn't be surprised if all of Terra heard it—and even beyond.
“Her soulisremarkable,” I said with a smile, looking down the hall to the closed door where the little baby slept along with her mother.
“I am asking, Ryker, if you would mark her.”
“Mark her?” I questioned. My body was frozen, and I wasn't sure if I had heard him correctly. He unshielded his melody, and I could hear that he was in earnest.
“Yes, then no one will be able to claim her and make her theirs.”
“Youwantmeto markyourdaughter?”
“You have the choice. I would never take that away from you. I would never ask it of you if I didn't believe that someday it could also benefit you just as much as it would keep her safe. I need her safe, Ryker. Tarick is still alive, and if he ever finds me, if he ever kills me, I need to know that Emma will be safe, that she will be taken care of.”
“I will do anything and everything for Emma. You have to know that,” I said, standing up and moving around in the dark living room.
“I do. Of course, I do, Ryker,” Lamont added, walking over to the couch and sitting down. “Still, you do understand that a marking would completely protect her.”
“I understand,” I nodded. Of course, I understood that markings were completed often on Terra, but they weren’t ever done between a guardian knight and an heir. We were never to cross that line, that boundary. I knew that my relationship with Lamont had already crossed the line. We were brothers, not servant and master. Although I tried to be his servant, he wouldn't always let me.
“I will not force you, Ryker. I am merely asking. I know how Ana’s death broke you; I know she took a piece of you with her when she moved on to the Ancient Lands. I feel the hurt in your soul. I would do anything to help heal that for you, for you to know happiness again. Being here in this realm, this is your second chance. It is a new life, a new chance for you, just as much as it is for me. I also know that you would be good to her. You would be devoted.”
“I am not worthy of your daughter, Lamont. It is that simple,” I said, turning to him and pausing in my pacing.
“You know, you are the only one who thinks that.”
This was common on Terra, but not here on Earth. I had not thought of this suggestion, it was a complete shock. I knew he was thinking of me. It was a great honor. I was sure that I couldn't ever love anyone again like I loved Ana. I also knew that I was broken a bit from it all, but there he was trying to heal me. I also knew that it was true: if we marked, and if we both kept our souls properly shielded, it would keep Emma safe. That was my job—to keep the heirs safe. I would do whatever it took to do that. If that meant to mark her, I would.
“It would be an honor to protect another heir, even in this way, Lamont.” I bowed, and he pushed my shoulder.
“Stop bowing. It’s exhausting,” he smirked at me, and I read his soul. He was beyond happy, beyond grateful that I would do it. He hoped for my happiness just as he hoped for hisdaughter’s. I couldn't promise love, but I would keep her safe. I would make sure of it.
“I am more indebted to you than ever before. How will I ever be able to repay you?” he asked with tears in his eyes. “She is more precious to me than anything.”
“You have repaid me. Your friendship is more than enough.” We walked into the bedroom, and he cradled Emma in his arms.
It happened so fast. One moment I was just a knight, the next–marking someone. Her soul and my soul combined for just a moment, and then as I moved away from her, I could hear my melody inside of hers, right before Lamont shielded her soul once again.
“It is done,” he said with a smile. He turned to Ara and held her hand. She was beaming.
“We know you will keep her safe, and we thank you, Ryker. You are the noblest of knights, and the dearest of friends—our family,” Ara added.
“My brother,” Lamont smiled, his eyes watering as he placed a hand on my shoulder. I looked at Lamont and then down at Emma, at her sleeping form. Her melody and mine were combined. She was my mission, the most important one I would ever have near me. I would do anything and everything to keep her safe. That was my new purpose, new reason for living; keeping Emma safe.
“Until my last breath, I will keep her safe,” I vowed.
The fog of memories mingled with the familiar beeping sounds. I tried to divide the two—tried to be free of the memories, to stay awake, to find out if, indeed, Emma was safe. I needed her to be safe. I cursed myself for being weak and falling at the hand of the corruptor's blade, for being so wounded that I couldn't pull herfrom that cave to safety. I cursed at myself because she had come to that place, looking for me. She was too much like her father. She cared about me too much. I couldn't survive if I lost her. I could not live, could not accept more air into my lungs if Emma were to no longer exist. My soul, my body couldn't handle that much shame.
Then I heard it, a faint familiar sound, taking away the darkness, the thoughts of worry, and the despair that unfurled around me. The melody was the most beautiful thing that I had ever heard, there was a part of her melody that reminded me of Lamont’s. But her melody mourned; it was tortured. I felt a warmth on my palm and a piercing in my soul and heart—from our connection.
I opened my eyes, blinking once, twice, three times—faster and faster as the room came into focus. I looked to my side and saw her there, whole and safe. Tears were on her cheeks, and her face looked pained, but she was alive. She was there, and most importantly, she was safe. She turned to me, and her vibrant green eyes seemed to glow even in that darkened room. Her melody swirled around me, and I felt her every feeling for me. It was peace, joy, but mostly, it was all her—all Emma.
“Emma, you are safe,” I whispered.
“Of course, I’m here, Ry.” Her voice was the most breathtaking sound in the universe. I smiled, or attempted to, at least. “I‘m so glad you’re safe.”
She wiped her tears.
