Tales of the Fifth Guardian; Book Six: Thoran

By C. M. Johnson

The vision that terrified Kerrisha at the end of Ascension comes to pass as Brindon’s attacks on the Tower continue. What terrible truth does she know about William?

As Brindon’s attacks escalate Kerrisha begins to plan a mission that will take them over the ocean and deep into Europe and Thoran territory, visiting new complexes of both the Triad Clans and the Lost Clans. Medical officer seems a natural position for Kerreth to hold as part of the Mission Team but why is he so worried about Keri’s planned route?

As Julie’s first mission as Keri’s Tesha Dayou, a mission about negotiating and diplomacy seems a good one for the young Tesha Dayou and David as her Tesha to gain some experience but can spending so much time among the Lost Clans really come without a cost?

But, before they leave, a surprise comes that even Kerrisha does not see and Jonathan lends his voice to the narrative to help tell his story. He has always seemed so easy going but we have yet to meet his family. What terrible secret is hidden in his past?

An Otlantesha dictionary and pronunciation key follows the story.

CAUTION: Contains Mature Situations

• Language: English
• Publisher: C. M. Johnson
• Release date: Nov 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310549427

C. M. Johnson

C. M. Johnson is a former teacher in Tampa, Florida, where she lives with her husband who was medically retired from the U.S. navy in 1995 and enjoys writing in her spare time.

Book preview

Book Six: Thoran

By: C. M. Johnson

January, Year 2 of the Era of the Fifth Guardian

Kerrisha:

I was in the office with Kerreth, Jonathan, and Edwere; I was tired and too distracted to concentrate on my translations, Security schedules, or anything else I needed to work on and they knew it. Worse, I was feeling the stress of my latest vision and had been since I had awakened in terror only hours after the New Years’ Ball. It had taken the combined Calming Power of the three of them plus our twin Piintesha, or Royal Guards, William and Tomsant, to get me back to sleep that night and more than once since. I had shielded strongly when it had first come over me and every time since and even more whenever I had thought about the events of the vision for nearly three weeks now. The Power had given me my protectors to serve as confidantes as well, but I had not even shared any of the vision with my husband and Karth Tesha, or Healing Protector, Kerreth; he would want to warn William of what I had seen and I could not allow that…I wanted to warn them all of the coming battle. I had been worrying so much about the coming vision that the stress was beginning to show in me physically and that was never good; it meant I was in no condition to be effective as Second in Command of Security, in training, or in battle. Even some of the Councilmembers had noticed my apparent exhaustion at the weekly meeting last Thursday but, while they had eyed me curiously throughout the meeting, they had not said anything.

I realized I was simply staring at the journal I was translating for the Tower Archives so I took a break to review the journal entry I had written about the vision a few days earlier, after I had managed to get a few hours’ sleep:

Guardian Journal 2: Friday, January 15, Year 2:

Until today, I have not truly slept since the New Year’s Ball; I will close my eyes at night only to wake screaming in terror just an hour or two later. I have been able to nap occasionally in the daytime, when the exhaustion wins out, without the vision coming over me. For some reason this vision seems to be haunting me worse than any other vision I remember having before. I know that it is not the emotional stress of the vision that is plaguing and disturbing me, not like the vision where I kept seeing Kerreth fall after I threw all my power at him on Richard’s command; rather, I know it is William’s reaction to the events of the vision that has me so disturbed. William and Tomsant were with me when I was dealing with the vision of Kerreth, when they were first made Piintesha, and held me more than once to comfort me after I had awakened from it. William is not sure what to make of this vision; he only knows that every time I look at him I begin crying or stare sadly at him. Those clues were enough for him to realize that the vision that began tormenting me on New Year’s Eve is about him and that the outcome will not be good. He thought my reaction meant he was going to die and got brave enough to ask me two days ago. I was reading in the office, just to relax, since I had tried again and could not sleep, when he asked Kerreth if he could speak to me privately. As soon as the room was sealed he did not hesitate to blurt, Please, Lady Kerrisha, can you tell me if I will at least die honorably in battle at your defense and if it will be quick?

I had smiled as my eyes teared, gazed up at him, and said softly, You’re not the one who’s going to die. He immediately thought it would be Tomsant and I read that fear in him. I clasped his hand reassuringly, I can promise we’re not going to lose either of you, My Dear Piintesha; you’re meant to be with me as a team for quite some time.

He had nodded thoughtfully, knelt in front of me, gripped my hands tightly, and asked straight out, Then who is to die?

Ill from the stress and worry; I had already confirmed his fears, to some extent, and did so again, I can’t tell you that, William. You have to know that by now.

He nodded, But someone dies… He sighed heavily as he went back to his brother’s side to stand their watch and continue guarding our floor and family.

Kerreth had taken over sealing our bedroom after the first time I had the vision and most of my shield had been stripped away with my panic. Oscar has been sealing his floor, well, his ceiling, as well so he was no longer being awakened by my screams in the night. I thought I had hidden it but the only reason I am able to write this entry is because Kerreth finally realized how little sleep I have been getting and sedated me earlier today, with my permission and after he pointed out that the vision seems to come less often during the daytime. Thank the Power! I was finally able to fall asleep for a few desperately needed hours. Kerreth even held me in our bed while Edwere and Jonathan stayed awake and alert in the room the full time I slept; which is where the vision always starts, with me sleeping innocently in our bed when someone stealthily enters the room…

I do not know how long I was sitting silently with my opened Guardian Journal lying on my lap before, Keri? Kerreth had stood, leaned over the desk, and shaken my arm to draw me from my reverie as he spoke gently. I knew from the sadness in his eyes that he was feeling my stress, too. Why not go lay down? You’ve barely slept in almost three weeks and we can feel your headache. It’s not like you; we have Security Meetings all day tomorrow and you need to rest. He picked up my hand and patted the back of it as he pled, "I know you can’t share what you’ve seen, but…Treyla, please…I’m in the Emergency Room tonight and need to take a nap anyway. Why don’t you let me give you something for the pain and lie down with me?"

I looked from him to our Tesha, and hated how weak my voice sounded, Is it that bad?

They nodded their heads vigorously and Edwere’s eyes were filling, "It is, Riiahto, we are feeling the pain with you. His voice softened further, almost to a whisper, I do not know how you are staying so quiet; it is almost as bad as when the Memory Block was triggered just before it finally fell." Jonathan simply nodded in agreement with Edwere.

I was already barely holding myself in check and my eyes began to fill as I looked around the room at my men until my gaze settled on Kerreth as I nodded resignedly, I didn’t know it was leaking through the shields so badly. I’m sorry; I don’t mean to make all of you suffer with me. I tried to smile and was sure it looked as fake as it felt, "Let’s go to our room, Dorto; I’ll let you try giving me something for the pain. I shrugged, After all, it worked for a few hours the other day."

I knew I had failed to sound convincing when he smiled weakly at me as he walked around the desk, but I laid my head on his shoulder as he lifted me from the chair. It felt good to be held by him and he chuckled when he felt me rub my cheek against him as I snuggled into his strong arms. "Come on, Treyla, let’s get you some rest. He carried me through the apartment and into our room. David and Julie were in class, the girls were in their kindergarten class, and Livy was tending to the babies in the nursery, so no one was around to see him carrying me. He had started sending his Healing Power into me as soon as he had lifted me from the chair and, as a result, I was almost dozing, even with the pain of the headache, by the time we passed through the guys’ room. Edwere and Jonathan sat on either side of me on the bed, Jonathan clasped my right hand in both of his, Edwere held my left hand in his while gently stroking my hair with the other hand, and both began sending Calming Power into me. Kerreth stood at the desk with his medical kit open and prepared the shot. So…We know that you can’t share any specifics but do you know when the vision happens?"

No, that’s the strangest part of this vision; I’ve gotten no real timeline for it. He smiled down at me as he stood next to the bed and injected my arm with one of the few pain relievers that still worked on me. I took a deep breath as it spread through my body and my headache began to dissipate; I even relaxed enough for my eyelids to begin to droop by the time he cleaned the syringe, put his kit away, and came back to lay down with me.

Jonathan, you have to be in the Emergency Room with me tonight and Edwere, you’ve barely gotten much more sleep than Keri…Why don’t you both lay down, too? I heard them agree and leave the room to sleep in theirs as soon as Kerreth assured them we would be fine…He was not planning to sleep that deeply.

I realized something as the double doors clicked shut, You put something in the shot to make me sleep. You drugged me. Didn’t you!?

I’m sorry, Honey, but just enough to help you get to sleep, that’s all, not enough to keep you asleep. I swear. It was just enough to make you tired.

I was losing the battle to stay conscious as I sobbed against him, "But…Dorto, it happens when you drug me secretly."

I felt his shock and fear, "Oh! Treyla, I’m so sorry. You never said anything and it’s the same amount you let me give you the other day… He buried his face in my hair, sobbed with me for a moment, and in the last seconds before the drug took me I heard him whisper, I am so sorry, Honey…If I’d known, I…" The rest of his sentence was lost to me as the darkness won.

I woke on a bed in a dimly lit room and he was still holding me. I was puzzled and wondered, Why would Kerreth leave a light on? We don’t even use them. I looked around slightly as my eyes adjusted to being awake. When I reached out with my power to scan my surroundings I realized the truth instantly: I was not in our room and it was not Kerreth’s arm around my waist but I recognized both and knew I was safe…now. I clutched at the hand of the man holding me where it rested next to mine, shook it gently, and reached through my link to him as I pled quietly, Jonathan? Jonathan…Please, wake up. He gripped me tighter and hugged me to him as I fought not to cry; I was confused and desperate for answers – Jonathan was never injured in my vision. Why are we in one of the Tower’s hospital rooms and how long have we been here?

I felt the relief flooding through him as he hugged me even tighter; he was almost crying as he held me. Thank the Power, Lady Keri! We were beginning to worry. Now I was scared and began trembling as I repeated my earlier questions. Not we – you. Kerreth, Edwere, and I have been taking turns holding you since… I made a sound like a quiet whimper almost following him as I reached for him when he let go and rolled away. He froze when he felt my panic and returned to wrap his arms around me as he hugged me against him, Shh, it’s okay; I’m not going anywhere. I flinched painfully in the next instant when he yelled, Edwere! He felt the pain with me but did not understand it and called for my first Tesha again, almost screaming in his panic and forgetting that it was unnecessary.

Fortunately, Edwere felt my pain, recognized it, and heard Jonathan’s panic; he instantly teleported next to the bed and pressed my head against his chest to cover my ears as he ordered, Jonathan, stop yelling! It was, thankfully, only a harsh whisper, Her ears are more sensitive. It would almost be like yelling next to mine.

Edwere released my head as Jonathan’s eyes teared up and he reached to caress my shoulder, Lady Keri…I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Now, he was almost whispering.

It’s alright, Jonathan, you couldn’t have known. Now, would one of you please tell me how long I’ve been here? I was no longer wondering why I was in an Otland Tower hospital room; I remembered everything…Now.

I was still leaning against Edwere, he kissed my forehead, clasped my head to his chest again, and answered quietly, Five days and Kerreth said not to tell you anymore because... He stopped and, as he rubbed his cheek against my bandaged head, I could read in his mind that he thought he had failed.

I nodded against his chest and said, "It’s alright, Teshto, you’ll understand once I explain, both of you will because it was supposed to happen." I closed my eyes to concentrate, reach out, and send to my husband and Karth Tesha; he was not as far away as I expected, Kerreth?

His relief was immediately evident, "Keri? Oh, Treyla! Dayn de Chinto! I felt the link re-open but I wasn’t sure if you were awake or just back from the Power. I’m making my rounds now and I was just checking on…another patient. I’m on the way."

Jonathan continued where Edwere had left off, You had a bad head injury. Kerreth said you should try to remember what happened before we tell you anything. He’s made that point repeatedly.

I thought I sounded tired and perhaps a little disgusted, My vision…My vision happened. I know that, Jonathan, and Brindon escaped again, but I know how he’s doing it now. I’ll explain it to all of you... I stopped talking and looked at the door as I felt Kerreth coming down the hallway.

The door flew open as his power hit it and he strode across the room purposefully to gather me into his arms from Edwere’s. Suddenly, he was kissing me repeatedly and crying almost as hard as me. He caught my face between his hands, gazed into my eyes, sighed and apologized, Honey, I’m so sorry. If you’d said something sooner I wouldn’t have added anything to the pain reliever.

I caught his hand with mine and held it as I rubbed my cheek against it, smiled faintly as I took a deep breath to taste his wonderfully calming Power Signature, and answered him as steadily as possible, "I know. That’s why I couldn’t say anything. You would’ve changed the Timeline and I couldn’t allow that."

The color drained from his face as he stared at me; Jonathan reached to grab his arm and steady him as the weight of my responsibility as Contesha Dayou finally sank in. Suddenly, he slammed his fist into the bed next to me and yelled, "Kern!" As the Otlantesha word for Shit! echoed off the walls of the room, I jumped and shrieked as Edwere, only a foot away, cringed and resisted covering his own ears as he caught my arm and prepared to pull me away from Kerreth if he needed to. Kerreth shook his head when he saw my Tesha’s face, I’m sorry, Edwere; I didn’t mean to shout like that. He saw my widened eyes and hugged me, Honey? Are you okay? I’m sorry; I wasn’t trying to startle you. He held me at arms’ length when the Karth Tesha link spoke to him, Why does your head hurt? Is it because of the injury?

Edwere squeezed my arm reassuringly, No, her ears are almost as sensitive as mine now, Kerreth; about the level of…William and Tomsant. His voice dropped and his eyes filled at the mention of our twin guards, my Security Thirds, and his former Patrol Team members.

I patted his hand reassuringly, It’s okay, Edwere, I know he’s still asleep and I’ll be able to wake him in a little while. I turned back to my husband and quietly told him, Kerreth, you have to let Adrianna go. All three men stared in shock. "She’s already in the Power with her family. Dorto, you know as well as I do that her Healing Ability isn’t high enough; either injury alone and she would’ve been fine, but not the two together. You’re only keeping her consciousness tied to her body by pouring so much Healing Power into her. He was still gaping at me, stunned, while holding my right hand so I squeezed his fingers and smiled softly, She’s honored that you care so much, but she’s ready to be fully in the Power and wants you to let her go. She asked me to tell you."

I know she’s not healing that’s why I’ve got Riccan scheduled to evaluate her later today. But…I… He gave up, sighed loudly, and ran his hand through his hair. I did not blame him and neither did she; he was not just Karth Tesha Contesha Dayou, but Karth Tesha de Otlander, Healing Protector to the clan, so he naturally wanted to save everyone. What do you remember, Keri?

Can I get a drink first? My throat’s dry.

Is this okay? Jonathan handed me a glass of water.

Thanks, I drained it quickly and he chuckled as he refilled it. I held it as I spoke deliberately, almost automatically, I’m not upset, Kerreth, you were trying to help. I needed to sleep, already had a horrible headache from not sleeping, and wasn’t able to concentrate; I was putting us all in danger. You lay with me, held me, and napped until it was time for your shift in the Emergency Room. I remember you woke me enough to tell me Dr. Coleanders needed you to come down an hour early. A mission team was returning ahead of schedule because of a clash with another clan, so it was all hands on deck in the Emergency room and Edwere took your place with me. I had panicked and then slipped by telling you the vision would come to pass when you secretly drugged me. Edwere said he was there to protect me, but it only got him hurt. I hung my head and began sobbing quietly. Edwere hugged me as I continued, "I don’t know what woke me, but I knew someone was in the room. I heard a loud crack and then felt Edwere shudder and grow still. My head was pressed into the pillow face down, a needle was plunged into the base of my skull, and all my links were silenced with that injection. I tried to fight and was hit in the head as I rolled enough to see our attacker…It was Brindon. I was losing consciousness as I whispered to the computer, ‘Shto y Ko Freyfaytock Cooniis y Tok to’ to seal the thirtieth floor and keep me on it. I don’t know how long it was before I woke on the floor of the Meditation Room. I smiled at my men, Even half-conscious I could see how angry he was that my computer command had prevented his taking me from the Tower. He was staring at the wall with his jaw clenched and drinking from the bottle he had. Then I noticed that needles had been inserted in my arms and legs to drain my blood and the bags were already filling, so I concentrated to draw the blood back into my body and tried to fight." I was panting, took a deep breath, and sipped at the water; they were seeing my thoughts and memories.

Oh...You don’t need to go on…

Yes, I do, Kerreth. When he saw I was awake he decided to entertain himself. All three cried out and reached to hug me when I sobbed. He’s a sitting ruler and he violated me. He broke a Rule of Power, just like Roderick! I yelled and fought. Told him why it was wrong. I was almost wailing so I took a steadying breath, He tried to gag me, then choked me, and finally swung his mace at me, but I blocked the swing and it shattered my arm. I finally noticed the cast stretching from wrist to elbow on my right arm and looked at Kerreth mystified.

Your head was almost healed before your arm even started. Let me see it. He took my arm and his pupils widened as he activated his x-ray vision. It’s healed; I’ll remove the cast when you’re done.

I nodded and continued, Damien uses the detachable club in his sword grip to be less lethal. Brindon uses a spiked iron mace chained to a handle in addition to his sword to be more deadly; plus, he thrives on the lingering death it can cause, look at Adrianna. Anyway, when I fought and argued he began swinging wildly, his next swing landed on my head, but it didn’t knock me out and I kept fighting. I even landed some solid punches to his head and upper body…I may have even kneed him in the groin. I remember he howled right before he hit me again.

I stopped to take another drink as Kerreth hugged me, That’s my girl.

My eyes were filling, My head rolled to the side with that third strike, my links had been blocked by the injection, I was weakening from blood loss, and I knew from the vision that there was a battle in the reception area. I could barely see the Portal with the blood in my eyes.

Edwere gasped, I wondered what Robert meant when he said the Portal called to him!

I smiled and nodded, "I quit fighting, quit drawing the blood back into my body, and put my remaining strength and Power into the command, ‘Taununga Karn to!’ The Portal heard my cry for help and activated as Brindon hit me again, but I lost consciousness then and I don’t know how long it was before I heard Robert’s battle cry. I know that Brindon had removed the needles because, when Robert charged, he grabbed the bag with my stolen blood in it and ran through the wall."

But how? How did he get through the shield and seal on the floor?

Kerreth had moved to sit behind me and held me against him as I continued, Brindon manipulates shields like I do cloaks; he can pass through them because he works on a different plane, a different level of existence. I know how to adjust the shields, though. After Brindon ran, Robert knelt by my side. I smiled, He was afraid to move me and even more shocked I was conscious.

It’s no wonder! I cringed. "Sorry, but anyone who saw you after the battle was surprised we were still alive. He did so much damage to your head…Treyla, everybody said it should have counted as…" He sobbed and fell silent as he pulled me even closer. I could feel how upset he was; I knew it had been bad.

Say it, Kerreth.

"Honey, we should have died. You should’ve reacted as if it was a full decapitation. He hugged me tightly again, If I’d stayed here with you, instead of helping the others…As long as I continued to act as if everything was normal everybody seemed to believe you would recover. His chest rumbled as he began laughing quietly, Oscar and Roger have been my biggest supporters. Oscar even told the Council off when they tried to force me to name a successor until the kids are ready at the meeting two days after the battle…He stood next to me and said, ‘Yes, it is a serious injury for our Queen and Guardian, but she has always been an exceptionally strong healer and is Ascensioned. She just needs time and you need to let her Karth Tesha care for her and not demand he tell you when he will join her in the Power.’ When they started shouting questions he added, ‘I will not divulge her secrets but on the morning they woke after Ascension, they shared their current Healing Ability with Tesha Roger and myself and, as Tesha Dayou Otlander, I assure you she will wake.’ The Chairwoman adjourned the meeting soon after that and Oscar rode down here with me. Edwere hadn’t been Healed long and we were already taking turns holding you while you slept but he said one of us needed to be on the door at all times; in case the Council tried something else. Roger said to call him if we needed guards. So we started working in shifts that day; one of us holding you while keeping their link and power fully open to help you heal and Edwere or Jonathan on the door while I was in here or tending to patients. Now, continue with your story…Robert was shocked you were conscious and afraid to move you…"

Brindon had put so much strength into choking me that I had no real voice, it was barely a whisper, but Robert heard me when I told him to get me to Edwere out in the Reception Area. At their puzzled looks I added, I knew he was there from my vision.

Edwere squeezed my arm tenderly as he explained, As soon as I could move again, I had dressed and begun searching for you. Distance is not usually a problem but I could not reach or feel you through the link. His eyes filled, "I would have thought the worst if I had not realized we were still connected but the link was blocked. I could feel your pulse when I touched the mark from our Blood oath and I felt a faint trace of your Signature when I scanned for it, so I followed it out of the apartment. I saw William, Tomsant, Jake, Samuel, their four mentoring charges, Roger, and his Strike Team in full battle with a large group of Thorans and Thoran/Devon blendeds when I reached the Reception Area. I was trying to focus on your Signature and find you when I was struck from behind by a club of some kind. I must have looked concerned, because he met my eyes, caressed my arm, and smiled gently, The blow was between my shoulder blades, Riiahto; it knocked the wind out of me more than anything else, but I fell to my knees. Robert appeared only seconds later and gingerly laid you on the ground between us."

He’d wrapped his jacket around my head before teleporting me to you and then drew his sword and stood over us protectively while you secured my broken arm with your shirt. I smiled, You jumped when I began speaking. I remember saying, ‘It was Brindon, these are his men, and he got what he wanted.’ You asked me what that was and I said, ‘My blood. Tell Kerreth he gave me an injection at the base of my skull that’s blocking the links.’

I wanted to keep you awake so I asked why he wanted your blood. Robert answered, ‘The old legends, the ones known to the others of the ‘Lost Clans,’ speak of the Power of a Guardian’s blood. It is one of the reasons Richard first sought to control her because even as a child she appeared to be as strong as a Guardian, and…’ He stopped talking when a man appeared near us, Tomsant had reached us by then, and William was fighting to get close; I drew my gun from your hip as Robert sneered at the man and growled, ‘He is the one that did this.’ I assume that was Brindon?

Yes, and I remember Tomsant and Robert holding him at bay, but William was more in my direct line of view and I was watching him. What did Robert yell at him, Edwere?

I have never seen him so angry. He yelled, ‘It is not what you think, Thoran. Leave the young Guardian be; she is under the protection of the True Devon King. Go back to your castle, Metal Sucker. The legend is a superstition.’ Brindon called him a ‘Yellow Devon Lap Dog’ as he charged and Robert managed to slash his arm. Tomsant blocked Brindon’s strike at him.

Metal Sucker? Yellow Devon lap dog?

I took over the story, "Yes, Kerreth, there’s no love lost between the True Devon line and the Thorans; even after the Great Separation was foretold and it was obvious all Devon clan was working against the Triad Clans, the Thorans never trusted the Devons fully. The name calling goes back to the original Clan Wars when the True Line of Devon sided with the Triad Clans. Back to the battle; Brindon knew Robert and Tomsant would keep fighting to protect me so, when the Thoran William was fighting called for help, Brindon teleported behind William and hit him, hard. Jess was already fighting next to him and Adrianna teleported across the floor to help her protect him as he fell. I stopped; I had been seeing the battle play out in my mind and begun panting again. I gulped at the water before continuing, William fell to his knees and then onto the floor, but he wasn’t unconscious, he was watching, and Brindon knew it. William’s eyes met mine for a moment before he yelled at the women to protect me. Brindon leered as he swung his sword with his left hand and his mace with his right; he took Jess’ head and knocked Adrianna to her knees. She was barely conscious when he spun and sent his sword through her heart. I think I screamed."

You did, Lady Keri. You screamed ‘No’ and told him that he will pay.

David, Julie, Kenneth, and Julian arrived and seconds later another Security team reached the floor. Brindon teleported out and abandoned his men. I gulped at the air as I was overwhelmed by the same feeling of desperation I had felt during the battle and my eyes filled. I had to stop the bloodshed, we’d lost the women, William was down, and two of Roger’s men had fallen. I gathered what little Power of mine had rebuilt by then and cast the Stop Spell. Everyone froze and I was fading from Power use.

Do you remember anything else, Keri?

He was already surprised that I could recall so many details, that was evident with his quietly whispered question, Bits and pieces, even the vision was hazy at this point…I looked around, found Roger, and sent, ‘You can take them into custody now.’ He began giving orders to his Third, Thrayce Otlanshire, as he walked toward us. I heard him tell Thrayce to have the other team take the Thorans to the prison level and have his team take the wounded to the hospital. He also told him to have a cleanup crew sent up and have their Second, Jess, and their other team member moved to the morgue. He thanked Robert as I was trying to tell him to get through the Portal before I lost consciousness completely…What did he say to you, Edwere?

Robert told me, ‘Get Lady Kerrisha to Lord Kerreth and guard her well while she sleeps.’ You tapped Roger’s leg and tried to whisper when he knelt down; he told you to let the Sleep take you. Robert teleported into the office as you began to succumb to the Healing Sleep and yes, he made it through the Portal before it closed. He heard me wondering how he knew that. Its Signature is close enough to yours that, if I search for it, I can feel it. I felt it activate and close behind him.

I nodded, I think I was trying to give Roger some orders to pass on…

You were but, you were so weak, I was the only one who heard you. He had taken hold of my hand again at some point and now squeezed it gently, You wanted him to have Edenfoil and Evinfoil move Trishette to Jake so Tomsant would be able to stay with William and maybe help him until you woke. I held my gun to your hip so you could reabsorb it and then brought you down here to Kerreth. I told Jonathan to pass your orders on before I entered the Sleep myself.

When Edwere first appeared in front of me I didn’t know how he was standing, let alone teleporting. His head wound was still open, his left eye was swollen shut, and he collapsed as soon as I took you. When Jonathan caught him, he told him about the injection and your order for the Thirds and then entered his Healing Sleep. Since you help each other heal I ordered you put in here with the largest bed possible and had blood sent up for each of you while I bandaged both of you in the Emergency room. Edwere needed three units of blood and woke a little after dinnertime the next day. Kerreth grew quiet, I heard him swallow, and he rubbed my arms before hugging me again. His voice was strained when he finally spoke, Honey, you needed five units before you quit bleeding and eight total before there was any visible healing. William and Adrianna had been brought down by the time I got your first units started after you were moved in here, so I left Jonathan with you and Edwere to monitor the blood packs and went to work on them. Adrianna only had four units in storage and we’ve used it all. I even gave her one of yours…it helped some, not enough, but it stopped the bleeding. William only needed four of his units and, according to my readings, was completely healed over two days ago, but won’t wake up.

I know. He doesn’t want to wake and trapped himself in his mind. I sobbed quietly as my men held me and it was a few minutes before I was able to continue. He feels guilty…He’s never lost anyone protecting him before. William may be the spokesperson for them but it’s Tomsant who’s the stronger one emotionally and he’s lost people under him before. When they were with him, Roderick used to send Tomsant on missions and hold William at the Fortress to make sure Tomsant returned but at Devon Compound they ran patrols, had occasional guard duty, and Robert made sure to keep them together. Edwere was nodding; having been their Patrol Leader for much of their time at Devon Compound he was more familiar with their history than Kerreth or Jonathan. William thinks he’s failed. He believes I’m gone. I leaned into my husband’s arms and smiled up at him, That we’re both gone…He watched Brindon kill Jess and Adrianna and saw how wounded I was…He broadcast to Robert, Edwere, and me asking how bad it was; Robert sent us all an image of my injury. William thinks I was already going but fighting it. Kerreth held me tighter as I began sobbing harder again, "He was in the Power to heal, I saw him and tried to reassure him then but, when I reached for him…he…he left the Power and locked himself in his mind. He didn’t want to face me. I could feel the tears running down my cheeks when I looked up, That’s what upset me so much about the vision: I knew we’d lose Jess and Adrianna and I saw his reaction…He’s letting his grief and guilt destroy him. I sobbed and, as I put my head in my hands, Edwere hugged me so my next words were muffled by his shoulder, He’s willing himself to die. I pushed Edwere away as I sat up, pulled myself from Kerreth’s arms, and tried to scoot to the edge of the bed; all three immediately began trying to keep me on the bed. Help me up. I began pleading, I need to go to him! I can bring him out of it. Please! Let me go."

They saw how determined I was and knew not to argue. Kerreth nodded, Let me take the cast off; then we’ll take you to him. He drew his knife from the sheath at his waist and began to saw carefully, squeezing gently to crack it the rest of the way once he had cut halfway through the cast and continued to talk as he worked, But you’re not walking yet. You’ve been in the Healing Sleep for nearly five days and still need to recover from being asleep so long. While he was cutting off the cast Jonathan stepped out of the room, returned with a wheelchair, and locked the brakes as he parked it next to the bed. Edwere brushed the crumbled remains of the cast from my arm, lifted me off the bed, and set me in the wheelchair. Kerreth was sliding off the bed when I pulled the bandage off my head and smiled slyly. All three yelled, No! as I teleported out.

Tomsant jumped to his feet from his chair and stared incredulously before stammering, Lady Kerrisha!? He walked around the bed and bent to hug me, Thank the Power! He pushed back with his hands on my shoulders, squatted down, and stared, first at the wheelchair, then at me; his question was filled with trepidation, Are you…um…okay?"

I laughed as I leaned forward to hug him back, I’m fine. The chair was Kerreth’s idea because I was asleep so long, in fact, they’re on the way; they’re walking. I came ahead to wake your brother.

You can’t. He won’t wake up. He’s even sealed himself off from me. His eyes filled, My Lady, he’s never done that before! He was so upset that he dropped his head in my lap and his shoulders shook with his sobs as he finished.

I rubbed his back, raised his chin so he looked at me, and smiled nonchalantly, "I know. It’s what I kept seeing in the vision. He won’t even listen when you tell him I’m fine. I have to make him listen to me." I had aimed the Teleport so I could use the bed to pull myself out of the chair, climb on the bed, and kneel over the unconscious man. I was almost sitting on his legs when I was done.

How are you going to do that?

I shrugged as I answered casually, Order him using my Manipulator Ability. He knew I did not like to use it and gaped. I use it in special circumstances like this, but I need you to stay back and keep quiet. I felt the approach of Kerreth, Jonathan, and Edwere. Keep them back and quiet, too, I added as the door opened. I leaned over the man on the bed, placed a hand on either side of his face, opened my power, and stared at his closed eyes as I cast the spell, "Toro to William Devon. To Contesha Dayou y to Treyna yo Tay. Sto! I heard the men behind me gasp as the spell I had set in them in Mermshire only a few months earlier translated my words, Hear me, William Devon. I am Contesha Dayou and I command you to wake. Now! They gasped even louder when my power reached the deep recesses of his mind where he had trapped himself to escape his pain and his eyes flew open to stare at me in shock. I kissed him lightly, Dovoyo de to Piintesha. Sst Tokkah do yo Tay."

Tomsant stepped over to clasp his hand, She’s right. It’s time for you to wake, brother.

William still looked stunned but finally found his voice as I sat back, But…but…you can’t be here! He looked apprehensively around the room until his eyes landed on Kerreth and he asked in a quiet whisper, Are we all… he swallowed, in the Power?

Kerreth was shaking his head when I answered flippantly, "If the Power looks like a Tower hospital room then someone owes me an explanation. He stared at me as the other men in the room laughed. My dear Piintesha, you were in the Power to Heal about three days ago. I saw you and I tried to tell you then that I was fine, but you wouldn’t speak to me."

We were in the Power! I thought you were…that we were…I failed to protect you, My Lady.

I crossed my arms and accused, You ran from me and trapped yourself in your own mind.

Your vision…Every time you’ve looked at me lately, you’ve started crying.

I told you when you asked that you and Tomsant weren’t the ones we would lose.

"They should’ve protected you, not me. I’m Piintesha; I’m willing to go into the Power to save you and yours. They didn’t need to…Oh! He moaned, If I were a better swordsman…"

Shh… I placed my index finger on his lips, "You are Piintesha and an excellent swordsman. You were struck from behind while trying to reach me and I already had at least three men protecting me. Jess and Adrianna chose to protect you so you could come back to me. I know that, and not just from my Knowledge, but because I spoke to them while I Healed in the Power… I smiled, They’re both happy and proud to have died in service. It’s what they joined Security for, just like all of us."

But I saw your injury; Robert sent it to me. You should be in the Power with them.

Why?

Well…There was almost nothing left of your skull…your brain was crushed inside it; the injury is similar to others. It was the same as a…a…decapitation.

Yes, but I told you we were different, that it would take more than decapitation to destroy us. He stared at me, gawked actually, and I could read his disbelief. We gained regeneration at Ascension, you know that. I’ve had head injuries before…not quite as bad as this one but, I smiled, picked up his hand, and said softly, William, listen to me. I glanced over my shoulder, "The rest of you, too, listen carefully to what I’m about to say and it doesn’t leave this room… I looked back at William as I felt and heard their assent. I’ve said it before…‘ashes and decapitation’ and I meant it…Now that we’re Ascensioned, until we choose to go into the Power and as long as our bodies aren’t destroyed we’ll just need time to heal." Our men stared at