Chapter

32

Susan

The music in the tower washed over me. Awe left my emotions ricocheting in strange directions. It occurred to me that Kieran would need to compose a Song to record the events of the day, and I stifled a giggle at the thought. Maybe I’d point that out to him after the gathering.

My laughter slipped away as I thought back to the heartbreaking picture of Kieran’s wiry figure walking out to face the entire army of Hazor. Alone. I knew very well that the One sometimes called His Restorers to sacrifice, but I had wanted Him to find another way. Kieran often triggered a maternal mix of compassion and worry in me, although I could well imagine the mockery on his face if I ever admitted that to him.

When Mark and I had followed Tristan and Kendra up a stone stair to the walkway on the top of Lyric’s outer wall, I hadn’t wanted to watch, but couldn’t turn away. I felt the searing burn of the syncbeam and the merciless thrust of the sword that nearly killed Kieran. Kendra swayed, but gripped the low marble battlement and shrugged off Tristan’s efforts to pull her away. Nolan felt each blow, as well. I kept my arm around his shoulders. I didn’t want him to see this, but nothing would persuade him to leave. All through the long duel as Zarek and Kieran fought, we watched. We prayed.

When Kieran had his sword to Zarek’s neck, I squeezed my eyes shut. It was Mark’s gasp that snapped them open again.

“What’s he doing?” I asked Mark when Kieran tossed his sword away.

“He’s offering himself again. If he killed Zarek, the armies would ride forward in revenge.” When the king had given Kieran his hand, tears ran down my face.

Now I joined in the next hymn as the songkeepers led worship, letting relief rest on me along with the mist that filled the lofty space in the tower. Then in another swerve of emotion, I grinned again. Kieran was going to teach the Verses. That would be interesting. Hazor would never be the same.

When the hymn ended, my gratitude ebbed, and I was forced back to earth—to the problem that consumed my thoughts. I had been able to push it aside when we were all facing death. But we had survived. Now we had to figure out what was wrong with Jake.

Yesterday in Cameron’s office, I had been so thrilled at the first glimpse of my son I hadn’t even noticed his strange aloofness. After Kieran left, Jake pulled away from Mark and me to stand near Cameron.

“Are you all right?” I had asked him, noticing how small he looked in the guardian tunic and trousers, and how much he needed a haircut. “We got to Braide Wood, but you’d disappeared. We’ve been so worried.”

Jake shrugged. “Cameron sent someone to bring me here. He’s been great.”

I had stared at Cameron in shock, but he ignored me and smiled at Jake. “We’ve had some wonderful discussions. He’s told me a great deal about your world. He’ll make a fine guardian.”

Jake’s chest swelled with pride. Mark and I exchanged a worried look. “Jake, you can tell us all about it later,” Mark said. “Let’s go home now.”

Our son simply shook his head. “I’m not going.”

That’s when the growing lump of cold congealed in my stomach.

He turned his attention to Cameron. “I have to get back to the guardian tower.” Cameron nodded and Jake hurried out, ignoring us. It happened so quickly we didn’t have time to react. When we realized his intent, Mark and I ran out into the hall. “Jake, wait!”

He was already at the end of the corridor. His steps slowed for a fraction of a second, but then he strode ahead and bounded down the stairs out of sight. He never looked back. With all the terrible possibilities I had prepared myself for, nothing in my imagination had come close to the sight of him walking away.

One of the elder songkeepers recited some Verses in benediction. My hand found Mark’s, and he gave me a reassuring squeeze. Then he put his mouth close enough to my ear to tickle. “Did you wish you were up there singing?” he asked.

I jabbed my elbow into his ribs. He chuckled, and I turned to look at his face. We’d had several rough days. Yet Mark had a sparkle in his eyes that was brighter than I had seen in a long time. Part of him was thriving from being with his people again.

I shifted uneasily and tightened my grip on his hand. “I wonder if Jon and Anne are still having fun at my mom’s.”

It took him a moment to jump thought trains with me. “I’m sure they’ve only had time for one more hand of Go Fish.”

“Poker.”

“What?”

“She was teaching them poker. She told me when I called them. They got bored with Go Fish,” I said. “And what about Karen? Do you think she’s still at Amanda’s? What if the whole night has gone by and she comes home and can’t find us?”

Mark studied me. “What’s bringing this on?”

“I just didn’t want you to forget about them.”

He dropped my hands and stepped back. “What?”

“Well, you’ve hardly talked about them; and you don’t seem very upset about Jake; and you seem to be enjoying yourself here. . . .” My voice rose in volume as the noise of people leaving grew around us.

Mark’s eyes widened. Then he grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the closest archway. Once we were outside, he tugged me over to an empty spot near the tower wall. “Susan, I don’t know what you’ve got spinning around in that brain of yours, but just because I don’t talk about our kids constantly doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten them.” He let go of me and ran a hand through his hair. “We’ve been a little busy, you know?”

I looked down, chewing my lower lip, but didn’t answer.

“And I’m worried sick about Jake. But what did you expect me to do? Grab a sword and kill Cameron?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I just get the feeling that maybe . . .”

“What?” He growled his frustration.

My fears surged forward and found words. “That you want to stay here, too.”

He stumbled a step closer to the marble wall and put his hand against it as if he needed support. He closed his eyes, and his lips moved silently. I realized he was counting to ten. He took a deep shuddering breath. “When . . . Why . . . What made you start worrying about that?”

“I don’t know.” I floundered to remember the little signals that had made me uneasy, but his unusual level of aggravation distracted me. Mark always took things in stride. He was always so calm it drove me crazy. Not today.

“You can’t accuse me of something like that and not explain why.” The tendon along his jaw jumped.

“All right. You were so happy to see Jorgen . . .” I said.

“He was like a father to me, of course I—”

“. . . and then when we went off to Hazor, you acted like it was some fun adventure . . .”

“You were the one who was singing hiking songs!”

“. . . and you asked me if I wanted to be the Restorer again, and that’s when I thought you wished we could stay, and . . . and after Jake . . . when he said he wouldn’t go back, we went back to your rooms, and you didn’t do anything . . . and I . . .” Tears ran down my face, and I couldn’t string any more words together. Mark looked blurry through my flooded eyes, but I saw the struggle of competing emotions on his face.

Exasperation seemed to be winning, but he pulled me into a tight hug anyway. “Susan, I made my choice a long time ago. When we get home, I’ll tell you about the exact moment I knew I wouldn’t come back to the clans.”

“Popcorn by the fireplace?” I sniffed.

“Yes.” His chest vibrated under my cheek. “The whole story.” Then he held me back enough to look down at my face. “I belong with you and the children. And Jake belongs with us. For now.”

I stiffened, and Mark hurried to continue. “He starts college this fall, and he’ll be out on his own soon. We’re going to need to let go of him.”

“But not to Cameron and the guardians!”

“You’re right. I don’t think he’s supposed to be here.” Mark rubbed his hands along my shoulders. “So let’s go get him, all right?”

I gave him a watery smile and nodded.

He stepped closer. As his lips found mine, my whole body sighed with reassurance. He wasn’t wishing he had stayed here.

His hands dug into my hair as his kiss deepened. He wasn’t sorry he had married me.

My arms went around his waist. Everything was going to be all right. My skin glowed with the same warmth it did after a day of basking on a beach.

Then someone cleared his throat.

Mark and I pulled apart.

“Are you ready to go talk to Jake?” Kieran’s tone was carefully bland. “I could come back later.”

Mark grinned and threw an arm around my shoulder. “Let’s go.”

We crossed the large square and approached the guardian training tower. As we neared the door, Kieran hesitated. “Maybe it would be best if you talked to the guards and brought Jake out.” He jabbed his boot against a crack in the pavement. “Some of the Lyric guardians might not be happy to see me.”

“For crying out loud,” I said. “You just saved the whole city.”

He shrugged and led us through the entrance, but his hand strayed to his sword.

The tower was almost empty, as most of the guardians were still stationed on high alert around the city. The head guardian was out with his men, but we found the captain of the first-years. Because of the invasion threat, training had been cancelled for the day. Most of the first-years had been at the gathering in the worship tower and were now enjoying their afternoon off. The captain told us Jake had stayed behind, and he directed us to a practice hall.

We stood in the door for a moment, watching him step through complex patterns with a blunt training sword. I had no idea how to approach him. Our son looked like a stranger.

“You’ve improved,” Kieran said, striding into the room.

Jake turned and glared at him. “What do you want?” The sullen tone was so unlike Jake that even Kieran seemed startled, and he barely knew our son. Then Jake noticed Mark and me standing in the doorway. His face took on harder edges. He moved a step back, lifting his sword in an unconscious defense.

Kieran watched him closely. “I came to see how you are.” Kieran smiled and tried to be disarming. Standing in torn, burnt clothes, his hands still stained with blood, I didn’t think he was doing a great job.

I stepped forward, but Mark held my arm. “Give him a minute,” Mark whispered. “He’s the Restorer.”

“I’m fine.” Jake’s voice was cold. “You can go now.” He turned away and went back to his pattern.

Kieran watched him through a series of movements. “Wait. Keep your swing lower on that cross.”

“He’s giving him lessons?” I hissed to Mark. “How’s that going to help?”

“Shh. Give him a chance.” He pulled me farther toward the corner of the room, where we could watch, but be less noticeable to Jake. “Something is really strange.”

He didn’t need to tell me that.

“Here, I’ll show you.” Kieran stepped closer and pantomimed the stroke through the air. Jake swung his sword again. “That’s better, but keep the edge forward, and it’s still a little too high.” Jake tried it several more times, and some of his bristling animosity eased.

“So you weren’t worried about the attack from Hazor?” Kieran slipped the question in between his coaching comments.

Jake stretched. “Nah. Cameron told me he had a plan and everything would be fine.”

Kieran stiffened for a second, probably remembering Cameron’s plan had involved turning the Restorer over to the Kahlareans. Then he eased back into casual conversation.

“Not bad. Try that same pass from the left. Good.” He gradually moved until he was directly in front of Jake, still watching him intently.

Jake tested a pattern of sword movements again, but Kieran studied his eyes.

Suddenly Kieran swayed on his feet.

“Something’s wrong,” I said.

Mark ran forward with me close behind. Kieran’s face paled, and he stumbled back a few steps. Mark reached him in time to put an arm around him and brace him. Jake turned away, ignoring them both and resuming some slow-motion drills.

Mark helped Kieran stagger over to the door and sink onto a bench.

“Sorry.” Kieran seemed to be struggling to breathe.

“Is it your injuries? Are you not healing?” I asked.

He shook his head and took another few breaths. “I’m fine. I saw something. I don’t know what it is, but I felt like I recognized it.” He closed his eyes. Then he shot up and looked at us. “It was Kendra. It was like the thing that had her. I didn’t know what it was back then when she was trapped.”

“Rhusican poison?” A wave of horror left me lightheaded. “The Rhusicans were all banished.”

Kieran cocked an eyebrow. “Right. And no one uses venblades because they’re illegal, and the Council would never consider an alliance with the Kahlareans, and Cameron has the best interests of Lyric in mind.”

I didn’t appreciate his sarcasm, but this wasn’t the time to get into an argument. “So heal him. Hurry.”

“I don’t know how.” He met my gaze with pain and weariness. “Whatever that was . . . it hit me hard.”

Frustration throbbed through my temples. He’d face a whole army, but balk at helping Jake? “You have to. When I was the Restorer . . .”

Mark rested a hand on my arm. “Kieran’s gifts are different,” he said quietly.

Kieran shot Mark a grateful look. “You have to get him home, fast. The poison . . . the control . . . it goes deep. I don’t think I can do anything.” His focus traveled to me. “I’m sorry.”

“You’ve got to try. How are we supposed to get him to the portal?”

From his seat on the bench, Kieran gave a heavy nod. “Jake,” he called. “Could you come here?”

Jake turned and gave us a wary look, but he sauntered toward Kieran anyway, probably hoping for more sword-fighting tips.

Kieran met his eyes and spoke firmly. “‘We wait in the darkness for the One who brings light. The Deliverer will come, and with His coming all darkness will be defeated.’”

Jake lowered his sword, confused.

Kieran’s face tensed in concentration or pain. “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” He struggled to force the words out. I suddenly recognized them. They were from our world. Our verses. When had he learned them? “Jake, what comes next?” Kieran leaned forward, compelling him. “Remember? You told us that verse at Payton and Tara’s house.”

“‘The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.’” Jake’s voice was quiet and his eyes unfocused, but for a split second his face was familiar again. He was still there. Then his eyes went blank.

Kieran collapsed against the wall. “That’s all I can do right now. You’ve got to get him home.”

Jake as a pliable zombie wasn’t much better than Jake the adamant fan of Cameron. “Wait. He’s not—”

“Hurry.” Kieran’s rough command propelled us into action.

Mark put an arm around Jake. “Come on, son. This way.” We walked slowly, not wanting to jar him from the trance-like state he was in.

I glanced back at Kieran.

He gave us a quick nod, still recovering from something that had shaken him even worse than his encounter with Zarek. “Go with the One,” he said. He glanced at Jake. “Once he’s home, use your verses.”

“Thank you,” I said.

But he had closed his eyes, and I wasn’t sure he heard me.

Concerned about the long walk through the city with so many people milling around today, Mark guided Jake to the main entry facing south. I breathed easier when we were outside the walls. The walk along the eastern wall to the north side seemed to take forever, but there was something soothing in the squish of wet moss and the even scallops of the wall as we passed one after another of the curved sections of white marble.

When the grove was in sight, my pulse started racing.

“Almost there,” Mark said quietly. Jake stared ahead, still moving wherever Mark guided him. I thought I heard something and turned to look behind us. A shape moved into an indent of the wall. I was about to call out to Mark when I realized it was just an illusion. My eyes must be tired from the effect of the ripples in the wall. My head began to ache. I rubbed my temples and forgot what I was looking for behind us. We reached the safety of the trees. Gazing off into the distance, I no longer saw any sign that Hazor’s vast army had stretched out across the plains just hours ago.

Mark led us into the grove. We had to slip between two narrow trees to reach the place the portal was hidden. The three stones on this side had been buried in position, but Mark had never forgotten the one central place that the Lyric eldest songkeeper had led him to when he was eighteen and fleeing for his life. Tiny hairs on my arms lifted as I felt a tingling electrical pull. Mark was about to coax Jake to the right spot, when our son stiffened. He looked at us both in confusion and pulled away from Mark, stumbling out of our reach. We ran after him and stopped him several yards away.

“It’s okay,” I crooned. We both wrapped our arms around him and held him. “We’re almost home.” Then I looked back toward the portal. Something moved in the trees, and I suddenly remembered that I had seen shapes following us. Or had I? My head throbbed in confusion.

“Mark . . .” I forgot what I needed to tell him. He was still soothing Jake, and I battled the cloud in my mind. Focus. One important goal. We need to get Jake home.

I squinted into the trees.

A woman stepped out, no longer bothering to stay hidden. She had auburn curls and vivid green eyes that seemed to twirl.

“Medea!” The name choked out of me.

“What?” Mark pulled his gaze from Jake’s face to look at me. I lifted a shaking hand and pointed at the Rhusican who had once poisoned my mind to its deepest core.

There was intense satisfaction in her face—the same look she had worn when she thrust a dagger into my heart. Terror paralyzed me, but the nightmare moved forward. Now Cameron walked out from between the narrow trees to stand beside her. His lip curled in a smirk.

Mark saw them and sprang forward with a shout of rage. Medea lifted one hand, and Jake shrieked. He grabbed his head and doubled over, stumbling farther from me. Mark jolted to a stop and looked back at us.

“No!” I screamed.

Medea and Cameron turned and stepped through the portal. I heard a crackling hum, and they vanished.

Jake collapsed to his knees, his body limp, as if the strings holding him up had been snipped. Mark bounded back to us and scooped up our son as if he were four years old again.

“Hurry!” he said.

I ran toward the portal but pulled to a stop when I felt the skin-prickling buzz of energy.

“Go!” Mark shouted.

I looked at him in panic. What if they were waiting for us as we stepped through? What if they moved the stones on the other side? What would that mean? Where would we find ourselves?

He read my fear. “We have to get home,” he said, catching up to me. So with Mark beside me, and Jake in his arms, I stepped through.