Page 3 of Guiding Reason
“We still have the protectors,” Orrey said, squeezing Col’s hand back. Out of the corner of his eye, Col saw what watching the exchange did to Hyran. His nostril’s flared and his brow furrowed. Col pulled his hand free.
“They don’t know what to do. They are protectors.”
“Exactly. They’ll manage. And they have help. Look, how about you rest for the night, and then in the morning, you’ll have more energy to tackle everything. There is nothing for you to do right now anyway, so take the rest.”
Col narrowed his eyes at Orrey. “Did Senny make you say that?”
“Well—”
“Tell him…I can’t think of anything. I should have something. Make up something that sounds like I said it and tell him that.”
Col settled back against the pillows. He was so tired, but he was also thirsty now, and maybe even hungry. Not that he was going to eat, but if someone had offered to get something from Hasterian’s…
“I’ll do that. Taros is going to stay here for now, and then we’ll take shifts, okay?” Orrey was saying.
Col hummed. “We’ve been spending too much time in the clinic lately.”
Hyran cleared his throat. “Orrey, I will stay with my Conduit, of course. I know you found him alone, but that was just so I could fetch a few things for him. For his comfort. I’ll watch over him.”
Col could only observe as Orrey slid off the bed and stood, back straight. He shouldn’t have looked impressive in his ruined clothes and borrowed jacket, but in that moment, even the last vestiges of doubt Col had about Orrey were washed away.He can lead them if I can’t anymore. If I’m forced to stay here. They’ll be fine. He’ll make sure of it.
“Of course, Hyran. But we aren’t just a team, we are family, which Col likes to remind me of. One of us will be here as well. It will make the watch less lonely for you.”
Hyran was tense. Col could see and feel it radiate off him, and if he could, so could Orrey. Still, Orrey ignored it, walked past Hyran and toward the door.
“Thank you, Orrey,” Hyran said. “I’m glad that Coldis has you.”
“He has us all,” Orrey said and left them alone.
When Orrey was gone, Hyran stood there, eyes locking with Col’s.
“I got you a few things,” he began, but by that point, Col’s eyes had started to feel weighted, and keeping focus was too hard.
“Yes, show me in a moment. Just a moment.”
Col was going to take a short break, and he wasn’t going to spend the night in the clinic either. He’d sort that out. In a moment.
2
ORREY
OpenLog/entry
My team saved this city. I should be elated—I am—but the Op-AI is no more. Not all of my team returned. Conduit Coldis is in the clinic. I informed his office AI.
The others are bruised, except for Guardian Taros, who only stopped by the suite briefly to get a change of clothes for himself and Guardian Vin. Guardian Karmine allowed one of the hospitality guides to spend the night. The other is dead. There are so many dead.
Conduit Yamara, a former (?) League Conduit, has joined our team, that’s what Guardian Vin said. I have asked Butler Bot 20 about Conduit Yamara and his preferences, given that helived in that butler bot’s suite before today, but Butler Bot 20 has not responded. We all miss the Op-AI. I understand.
Guardian Senlas and Conduit Orrey are a light. All of them deserve my utmost care, and I can only hope that Conduit Coldis will be fine and return home soon.
(From Butler Bot 35’s personal log.)
Let’s imagine the situation. I go out there and ask a Hound to undo the imprinting, something that every regular knows is a thing to be happy about. Then I would go back, no longer imprinted, something that we all know isn’t a thing that can happen. What then, little brother? How would that help?
Orrey leaned against the wall just outside Col’s room. He couldn’t help the words from spinning around in his mind and pulling their circle of dread tighter and tighter around his thoughts. He could tell Senlas was there before he even looked up to smile at his Guardian.
“Well?” Senlas asked. He’d only grudgingly waited outside, but of course his power had never been far. It was an almost gleaming thread in Orrey’s mind, brighter than these long clinic hallways.
