“Oh no,” said Kaevin. “If one dies, the other dies as well. But soulmates don’t have to hold hands all the time. They only have to touch each other once a day, I think, to prevent separation sickness. Only, after you’ve been separated, you must be in contact to recover. And it’s easier and faster if you... you’re supposed to be married.”
“So why did you decide to be soulmates?” asked Wesley. “It doesn’t seem like a great idea.”
“We didn’t. At least I didn’t,” Alora protested.
“I didn’t choose it either. It simply happens. But...” His gaze was tender. “But I think it’s great.”
“You do?” asked Alora. “Why would a guy like you want to be soulmates with me?” Her insides contracted at the thought that he liked her. He was so cute. She felt his warm fingers squeeze hers.
“I’ve never met another girl I’d rather be with.”
“Don’t get sappy,” Beth complained. “I might throw up.”
“Oh no,” Alora gasped as her face turned ashen. “How long has Uncle Charles been gone?”
“We passed him going out when we drove in,” said Wesley. “He’s been gone about an hour.”
“What’s an hour?” asked Kaevin.
“Never mind, Kaevin. We’ll have to explain stuff later. Right now, we’ve got to make a plan. How am I going to explain you to my uncle?”
“He could be a friend from school who came with Wesley,” Beth suggested.
“But his clothes are weird,” Wesley protested.
“We could say he’s in costume. Practicing for the school play,” said Beth.
“Okay, and how are we going to explain the hand-holding thing?” said Alora.
“Why can’t we simply tell your uncle the truth?” asked Kaevin.
“Okay,” Beth said, “let’s hear it. What are you going to say?”
“I’m Kaevin BarGraely of Laegenshire, next cla
n leader of Stone Clan. Alora will be the next bearer of the Stone Clan. We are now soulmates, and we can’t be separated for more than a day.”
Beth looked at him with a flat expression. “Nope. That’ll never work. Let’s come up with something slightly believable.”
*****
Vindrake paced in his council room. “We must find her. I can’t believe Wendelle hid the child from me. How could Wendelle have the power to hide my own child from my detection? All these years, I could not even sense her presence!” He spun around to glare at his shaman. “You! You were supposed to have Wendelle warded. She shouldn’t have been able to leave at all, much less leave with the child and install wards to prevent my detection.”
“But my wards worked,” he protested. “When she forced her way through, it resulted in her death. She couldn’t possibly have safely transported the child. We know she sacrificed the child in her escape.”
“Then how do you explain the fact my fifteen-year-old daughter attempted to transport me to her? So powerful was her call I saw her with my own eyes and spoke with her, despite the protective wards you installed yourself.”
“Perhaps...” Beads of sweat broke out on the shaman’s forehead. “Perhaps you were mistaken. Perhaps the girl who contacted you—”
Vindrake’s rage grew. “You are suggesting my judgment is not sound? You think I cannot recognize my own daughter?”
“No, Sire. I only think perhaps there is another plausible explanation. I will strengthen your wards. We can install iron shields on the walls.”
“Will that help me locate my daughter, who should never have been taken from me fifteen years ago? A daughter who should now be serving as the most powerful bearer in history at the age of fifteen years? A bearer serving Water Clan, when all the other clans are weakened by the absence of an active bearer? Will your wards put back into my hands the victory that should already be mine?”
“No, Sire... Ahhkkk!” The shaman’s eyes bulged and his face turned red. He tugged at his throat in an attempt to remove the invisible hands that choked him as Vindrake squeezed his fist, extended toward the unfortunate shaman. When he collapsed to the floor, Vindrake opened his hand and waved toward the door.
“Take him out of my sight,” he said to no one in particular. The shaken council members leapt to do his bidding, probably anxious to leave the council room lest his fury be directed their way. “And bring shaman Abaddon to me.”