Graely clapped his hands, calling for attention, and the room quieted. “I would like to thank the visitors to Laegenshire for their help in fighting the fire. I am Graely BarManasae, Stone Clan leader. Some of you are friends I recognize, but I see some I know must simply be travelers who’ve come for the fair, and yet you’ve worked to help us in our time of need. Your efforts and kindness are especially appreciated. For that reason, as Stone Clan leader, it is only fitting that I pay for your night’s lodging at the inn.”
There was a hearty round of agreement and some clapping at his announcement. Alora gazed at the unfamiliar faces, wondering which ones were visitors and which were citizens.
“As long as the rest of you are assembled here, I’d like to address some of the rumors circulating throughout Stone Clan concerning our new bearer.” He caught Alora’s eyes. “That is, if you have no objection, Alora?”
She felt her face turning red as the crowd gasped and craned their necks to catch a glimpse of her. She nodded at Graely, but tugged her sweater cap downward to cover more of her face.
“First of all, we have not been keeping your bearer hidden from you. We’ve only discovered her existence recently. But she is, indeed, one of our own—the daughter of Wendelle, granddaughter of Raelene. Even having only fifteen years, she was of great service in our recent battle against Vindrake.”
Alora tugged on Kaevin’s arm. “I feel it again... that evil. It’s stronger now.” She inspected the nearby strangers. “Who’s that guy with his collar turned up and his hat pulled down?”
“That’s Benaede BarDevestae. He’s a cousin to Jireo.”
She searched for the source of her discomfort as Graely continued his explanation.
“Another rumor is that she resides in Water Clan with Vindrake—that she grew up there. But in fact, she never lived with Vindrake. She grew up far from here, and the decision has not yet been made as to when she will come here to live.”
Alora’s stomach roiled as the sense of evil grew more pervasive. She whispered in Kaevin’s ear, “Do you feel anything?”
Kaevin nodded, craning his neck to inspect the crowd.
“You may also have heard Alora and my son Kaevin are to be married. I can attest this is also untrue. My son of seventeen years will not be marrying this child having only fifteen years.” He chuckled as if the idea were absurd, and the crowd joined in his merriment. Alora might have been offended had her heart not been racing and her gut churning.
*****
A tall man with thinning gray hair and a scraggly beard stood in the corner of the council room, concentrating on Graely’s discourse. As he listened, his smoldering anger grew stronger. Alora! Her name was Alora! She’d lied to him. And how was she able to do so without his detection? Of course Abaddon’s stone hadn’t bound her gift, since he’d spoken the wrong name. He unconsciously clenched his fist, imagining her choking under his power. But the very potion masking him also bound his gifts. Still, he could capture her. His physical strength remained along with a knife, and an iron belt protecting him from transport. He only had to wait for the right opportunity.
“And now,” said Graely, “I must kindly ask you to afford the council some privacy for further discussion.”
The tall man cursed as he was shuffled outside with the rest of the crowd. When he reached the corner of the building, he bent over, pretending to adjust his boot. He noted the four Stone Clan warriors standing watch outside the door, before slipping around the side of the building into a dark corner. He moved to crouch beneath a small window, careful to keep his darkly clothed back toward the front of the building while listening to the ensuing discussion.
*****
Kaevin watched Alora closely, her tense breathing and pale face telling him she still sensed evil close by. He couldn’t decide if his own sense of foreboding was simply a reaction to hers or a gifted warning. Either way, his racing heart refused to allow him to concentrate on the proceedings. As Raelene rose to speak he halfway listened, while scanning for danger with his gift.
“We haven’t found any concrete evidence, but Nordamen and I have been doing extensive research in our archives,” said Raelene. “It’s highly probable more than distance separates our communities. It’s likely we live in different realms. But that would mean Wendelle found a way to travel to a different realm while Vindrake held her captive in Water Clan. There may be some open passageway Vindrake has yet to discover. This is our biggest fear—that Vindrake’s evil might spread even further. Even threatening your peaceful home in Montana.” She let her gaze fall on Charles and Brian.
Kaevin finally caught his father’s eyes and waved him over. “Father, something’s wrong. There’s someone evil here. Alora can feel it. And I—I sense something as well.”
“Glare it! I’ve been ignoring my own warnings. I assumed it was merely the fire that was causing my tension, but I can sense it still.” His eyes darted around the room, and he gripped their arms, bending to speak between them in a low voice. “I can’t see anything amiss inside. It must be outside or coming toward us. Alora, you must go back to Montana at once, with Kaevin.”
“But, I can’t leave the others here.”
He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut, upending his hair with his fingers. “You’re right, of course. Take Brian and also Jireo, since he’s injured and cannot fight. Come back for your father and Raelene.”
“Raelene!” he called out, interrupting her speech. “We have a situation!”
Kaevin pulled Alora over to grasp arms with Brian and Jireo, and she transported without hesitation.
“What’s happening?” Jireo demanded, as Alora pulled Kaevin against her for a desperate kiss. He hugged her tight with his arms, but pulled his mouth away to answer.
“We don’t know. But Alora senses evil, and we’re following my father’s orders. We’ll be right back. We’re going after Charles and Raelene.” He kissed her again, his heart racing as they prepared to transport back to Laegenshire. How he wished he could leave her safe in Montana. How he hated being forced to place her in danger once again. Some day, he would find a way to protect her.
*****
Vindrake heard the council members break out in excited chatter and strained to understand their words. Daring to raise his head high enough to peer through the window, he saw Alora and Graely’s son disappear with two others. He allowed himself a moment of pride she could transport with three extra people. His daughter was powerful, as befitted the daughter of Master Vindrake. But his pride quickly dissolved into anger and bitterness. Already, she had chosen to fight against him, her own father, and serve Graely BarManasae. He could never allow that to happen. Her betrayal was a slap in the face, and she deserved to die for it. Still, he might be able to persuade her to his side.
With the knowledge of their soulmate bond, he only needed to capture one to get both. He had to work fast. He pulled the bags of fire powder out of his pocket and, quickly pouring them together, tossed them though the window. Chaos and screams erupted with the flames and smoke that filled the room. The door burst open and people ran from the building. The bell rang out to call the townspeople to fight yet another fire.