Nothing happened for almost an hour. Carver explained, “There is resistance from some quarters, even with the Watcher’s confirmation.”
“Resistance,” Dillon said. “Imagine that.”
“They’re asking a senior Watcher to come and confirm. Her name is Insgar.”
Chenel, Baran, and Elenya all showed the same response to Carver’s news. Shock and awe.
Dillon asked, “Who exactly is Insgar?”
“A legend,” Elenya replied.
“The Watcher’s Academy is named for her,” Chenel said.
While they waited, they moved house. Sean didn’t want to risk alerting the aliens. Two swift forays, one by Dillon and the other by Baran, confirmed there was no hint of alien presence beyond the station’s confines. So they took over a café that occupied a small structure between the station and the thoroughfare. Sean’s only glimpse of Cyrius was of a twilight snowfall. A few lights flickered through the wintry mist. A brief taste of alien air. And he was inside, the shutters drawn, the world outside lost once more. But Elenya saw his disappointment and moved in close long enough to whisper, “Soon.”
Then they brought in the woman. She was the most ancient person Sean had ever met, a tiny stick of wrinkles and folds. The only things truly alive about Insgar were her gaze and her voice. She peered at them from a padded chair that moved without wheels, two attendants in tow. One wore a Guards’ uniform, the other was dressed in white. Everyone treated her with great deference, including Ambassador Anyon. But she ignored them with the silent impatience of someone who had no time for inconsequentials.
The old woman waved her attendants away, took a slow breath, shut her eyes, and went still. The café was home now to several dozen people, most of whom probably had no business being there. But Sean’s ability to command adults was as limited as ever. So he waited with the others, scarcely breathing.
Insgar opened her eyes, scanned the group, and asked in a voice made toneless by her years, “Where is the adept?”
Carver indicated Sean. “This one has shown the clearest evidence, Mistress. But there are indications that both twins move well beyond what we could class as normal abilities.”
She waved them closer. Sean wondered whether they should bow or something, but decided simply to stand as erect as he could manage. Insgar inspected them with eyes that glittered fiercely. “Gifted and handsome both. Where is your home world?”
“Earth, Mistress,” Sean replied. “An outpost planet.”
She gave a fractional nod. “Which one of you first discovered the aliens?”
Ambassador Anyon demanded, “So you confirm their presence?”
She glanced at him, the swift look enough to silence him. Sean liked her all the more for that act. When Insgar turned back, Sean replied, “It was my brother. Dillon.”
“Actually, it was both of us,” Dillon countered. “Sean is the one with ideas.”
“Not all of them,” Sean replied. “Not that time.”
She liked the exchange. How Sean could tell when there was no change to her expression, he had no idea. She spoke Serenese with a crisp cadence that belied her age. “Two adepts. Is it true what I hear, you can link your thoughts?”
“That move was definitely Sean’s,” Dillon replied.
Her eyes drifted over the silent throng, halting where Elenya stood next to Carey. “These are your mates?”
Sean hated how he was unable to stop his face from reddening. “We are trying to make it work.”
Insgar lifted one hand and motioned. Elenya and Carey stepped forward. Sean noticed they were holding hands. The simple act warmed him immensely.
Insgar asked, “You can transit?”
“I can, Mistress,” Elenya replied. “This one is from their home world.”
She inspected them a moment longer. “You are up to the task of caring for adepts?”
Elenya translated for Carey, who nodded. Elenya looked at Sean and replied, “I will try, Mistress.”
“You understand what I am saying, yes?”
For some reason, the question brought tears to Elenya’s eyes. “I do, Mistress.”
“Good. They need you both. More than any of these others will ever understand.”
Elenya translated again, and Carey turned and looked at Dillon, her gaze molten.
Insgar nodded her approval. “You have a plan?”
“Sean does,” Elenya replied. “He has been touched by the cloud of records.”
Sean added, “Dillon was too.”
Insgar said, “But you are the dominant one. The one who looks beyond the bend of time. Correct?”
Sean wanted to disagree, but Dillon said firmly, “Absolutely.”
Insgar turned to the Ambassador. “I want you to listen carefully.”
“Of course, Mistress. I am—”
“The adepts are correct. The aliens have changed tactics. They have made forays. Do as this one says. This world may yet survive.” She did not wait for a response but instead turned back to Sean. “When this is over and we have won, you will come and visit me. We will have much to discuss.”