Page 25 of Guiding Reason
“I hate this city. I really, really hate this city,” Taros said and clutched the neck robe to his chest before reaching for the coffee the bot had put on the table in front of him.
9
HYRAN
MedBot713: Butler Bot 35, TowerAI tells me you are hosting the Argentean Team Three. I am contacting you on behalf of all nurse bots who interacted with Guardian Vin since the first time he came here and was treated for his injuries.
Butler Bot 35: Thank you for reaching out and thank you for taking care of Guardian Vin. He has since recovered well. May I inquire about Conduit Coldis’s condition after the Battle of Starlit Stage?
MedBot713: Guardian Vin has forcibly moved up the Conduit’s release. He has threatened several nurse bots since he first arrived. We thought it was due to his injuries at first, but we are not so sure now. One of the new nurse bots said Guardian Vin threatened to cut it open.
Butler Bot 35: I don’t think Guardian Vin meant that. He simply likes his personal space.
MedBot713: None of us wants to judge a Guardian. We decided to reach out to warn you. That is all. And watch Conduit Coldis. The Conduit is a stubborn patient, and Guardian Vin enables him.
Butler Bot 35: That does sound rather judgmental, MedBot713, but I will of course keep an eye on my team.
MedBot713: Please do. One of the physicians in training is in need of some calming tea after interacting with Guardian Vin. I must see to him now.
Butler Bot 35: Of course. I have to prepare for my team’s arrival as well. Thank you for reaching out and sharing your observations.
(GroundsChat, bot network of the Grounds)
The protector his mama had sent along to run errands had indeed found them and had delivered Col’s torn and filthy dress and shoes. Hyran had taken advantage of the eager protector and had asked her to go to his place and pick up a few things.
“You will be staying here, Guardian Mana?” she’d asked.
I’ll be wherever he is.
It was true, but what Hyran wanted to do was take his Conduit home, get to know him better, beg him for channeling again, because Col’s channeling was unlike anything he’d ever experienced with another Conduit. It was like the best run along a straight stretch of road when he was at just the right speed and a blur to everyone else. When the world around him was crisp and clear only to his Guardian senses.
After the protector had left on her mission, Hyran had sat back down to watch Col push his half-eaten pancakes and unfinishedcoffee aside before heading to the room he’d taken and clearly shared with Taros to get his larger screen.
Hyran hadn’t said anything, hadn’t done anything but follow Col, because letting him out of his sight, he could not, not with all these people around Hyran didn’t know and trust yet.
The room Col had shared with Taros was large, but there was only one bed. It had been made, leaving no trace of what—if anything—had happened there, but Hyran couldn’t see any obvious division of space anywhere in the room.
He doesn’t live here though. This is temporary housing for them, nothing more.
Still, Hyran couldn’t help his thoughts tumble. Taros and Coldis had chosen to bed down together in a strange city. What if they lived together back in Argentea? Did they share a bed there each night as well? What Col had said—convenience of sexual encounters—didn’t sound like that, but Hyran could understand why Col might want to keep the details to himself.
Hyran looked at two pairs of shoes, one large and belonging to Taros, the other small and thus Col’s. The left shoe of the bigger pair—shiny and with a substantial heel—had fallen over, lay on the smaller pair. Hyran sighed.
“What?” Col was looking up from his screen, the one he had retrieved from Vin.
“Nothing.”
“I’m moving to a new room, obviously.” Col looked at a chest of drawers. “I’ll just change out of these ugly yellow pants first.” He dropped the screen onto the bed and pulled a drawer open. “You are still wearing your uniform.”
Hyran could only stand in the bedroom and feel awkward. “I didn’t want to leave you to change.”
“They would have given you these elegant yellow rags at the clinic if you’d asked nicely. We’d be matching now.”
Hyran huffed. “You look gorgeous, Col.”
Col pulled out soft-looking house wear, white pants and a blue shirt several shades darker than his eye. “All imprinted Guardians are such charmers.”
“It’s the truth.”
