The Channel (The Gifted Book 2) (16 page)

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Gaibel broke the silence in the room. "We need to get a message to King Argeon about the false warriors."

Daen nodded. "We discussed that very need with Kaurl at dinner. He's on his way to tell King Craen as we speak, and I have already given word to the guard station in town. They're sending word to the other stations, but they're going to want official orders."

Gaibel crossed the room to the table by the window and wrote messages on tiny strips of paper she pulled from her bag. She rolled and sealed each one with a drop of wax and her royal commander seal. She repeated the process four more times.

Daen extended his hand for the messages. "I'll go. The men in the lobby might follow you." He looked at the number of messages. "One for the king, the others I assume to the quadrant guard stations."

"What if they follow you?" Gaibel asked.

Rhea raised her hand. "I'll go with him."

Daen shook his head but grinned. "Are you suggesting I can't handle a couple of spies?"

Rhea put on her innocent face. "Um ... No. But I'd feel better if you had some backup, and what better backup than surprise energy balls from an invisible person." She formed an energy ball in both hands without having to think about it. "I'll stun them if they try to grab you."

Of course, that was after she finished being stunned herself at how all she had to do was think energy balls, and they appeared. She remembered Daen's comment that people practiced for years before being able to use their gift once it was revealed. She wondered if she should be concerned at how quickly her abilities came to her. Then again, she was the Libraim's channel.

Daen placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled. "I accept your offer."

Relieved, Rhea extinguished the balls of energy.

"What about Sentran and Queen Jauline?" Randell looked concerned.

"We don't know for certain the queen isn't behind the attacks," Taulin interjected. "I think we need to make sure before we share what we know." He looked at Gaibel to see if she agreed.

Gaibel nodded.

Rhea pulled on her coat, her sword was still strapped to her hip. "You ready?"

"Yep." Daen reached for the door, and Rhea disappeared.

A few gasps filled the room from those who had not witnessed her act before.

Randell, however, laughed. "That's so cool."

Taulin looked puzzled. "Cool? I don't understand."

"It's an expression. I'll explain when they leave."

~~~

"Okay, spill. Why the need to come with me?" Daen asked once they rounded the corner to take the stairs.

Rhea cringed inwardly.
Was it written on her face? Should she tell him that she'd been secretly hoping she wasn't a channel because she wasn't sure she was ready for the responsibility?
When she'd seen the mark, the room had started to close in on her. No. She would not say any of that. "I just needed some fresh air."

Daen raised his brow as he considered her answer. He knew there was more, but if she didn't want to talk, he wasn't going to push.

They reached the lobby and had to stop talking. The two spies were right where they said they would be. Daen crossed the lobby with invisible Rhea on his heels. As he got closer to the door, his back turned to the spies, the larger of the two stood slowly as if to follow.

Rhea tensed but stayed calm. She was ready if he tried anything, but he didn't. He just stood there and watched as Daen stepped out onto the front porch, purposefully holding the door open a little longer than he needed, ensuring Rhea made it out safely.

As they walked to the message center, Rhea kept looking over her shoulder, watching to see if the spies were going to follow. She saw someone stand in front of the window of the inn and look out as they crossed the road. It was dark, and with the light from the lobby at his back, she couldn't be sure who it was but guessed it was the one that had stood as they left.

The message center was a short walk from the inn, next to where they stabled the horses.

"I'll stay out here," Rhea whispered as they approached the door.

"Okay." Daen nodded and stepped inside.

It was a cool night; the air felt damp as if it might rain. Rhea made a mental note to herself:
Invisibility veil probably won't keep me dry.
The street was fairly deserted, but that wasn't a surprise given the late hour. There were a few people standing outside what looked like a tavern connected to the end of the inn.

The door behind her opened, and Daen stepped out. "Our messages weren't the only birds sent tonight. I'll fill you in upstairs."

Rhea started towards the inn.

"Wait." Daen whispered. "Do you still need some time before we go back?"

Rhea was tempted. She was beginning to feel better just being out in the night air.

"Come on. Let's walk for a few minutes." Daen turned away from the inn and headed back towards the guard station. He spoke softly in English so they wouldn't be overheard. "You've had quite a day. How are you holding up?"

Rhea didn't know how to answer. The numbness she felt after the last attack had already come and gone. Now she was wrestling with everything else. "It's funny. The day's events seem to fade away when I'm with you and the others. But at the same time, back there in the room," she hesitated but decided to confess, "I felt I needed ... space."

Not knowing what finally drove her to needing space, he decided to share something personal with in hopes she'd open up more. "I remember the first time I had to defend myself." Daen continued to walk as he thought back to that day. "There was a band of thieves causing problems on the roads in and out of the Libraim territory. Our mission was to capture and hand them over to the authorities of the closest realm."

She looked up at his profile and saw a sadness to which she could relate. "What happened?"

He cleared his throat. "We walked right into an ambush. My partner got injured, badly. I guess you could say I lost it." Again, silence.

It was as if she could read his mind. "How many?"

"There were four total, two didn't make it. Their deaths haunt me to this day, as do the deaths of those I have been forced to kill since then." He took a few more steps. "Taulin's right. You can't forget, but you can find a place for them, a place where you can lean on them, let them help you the next time you're faced with a life or death situation."

"I feel like I've been created to be this killing machine. Until a few minutes ago, in the room, I still held on to the idea that you were wrong, that I wasn't this ... channel. But you were right. That's when the room got small. I felt like I became this object for everyone to ooh and ah over."

Daen laughed quietly to himself. "I won't try to say I understand, because I can't. But I can say I'm here for you. Just give me a sign and we can go on a walk and talk ... or not."

"Thanks. That makes me feel better. We should probably get back before they start to worry."

They turned around and strolled back to the inn. As they approached, the figure Rhea had seen was still in the window but moved quickly out of view. When they entered the inn, the spies were in the same seats as when they left.

~~~

The door shut, leaving Taulin and Randell alone with Gaibel and Lanne. Taulin crossed to the window that overlooked the main road to watch Daen deliver the messages.

Randell tried to casually compare Lanne and Gaibel. Daen was right, they could be sisters.

Gaibel caught Randell's eye. "I understand we're cousins."

Randell nodded. "Apparently my great-grandmother Raisal, had a brother named Denach. He's your grandfather, right?"

The woman nodded.

"Is he still around?" Randell knew Luxatrans lived a very long time compared to people in his world, but that didn't necessarily mean he was still alive.

Gaibel nodded. "He lives near the western shore. He loves the sea." Gaibel's thoughts wandered for a moment. "I wonder if Terrwyn likes the sea."

"I noticed you call her Terrwyn."

"That's the name I gave her."

"Then how ...?"

"Her adoptive parents could not read the card I sent with her so they chose a name," said Lanne.

"They aren't returning." Taulin stayed at the window, but to the side, out of view from anyone watching from the road. He'd learned a long time ago not to invite trouble by standing like a target.

Gaibel stood and approached the window with Lanne close behind. "What do you mean they aren't returning?" She looked out onto the road below and watched Daen turn away from the inn.

Randell joined them, looking over Gaibel's shoulder. "Ah. I wouldn't worry. They're probably just talking."

Gaibel's eyes were wide with concern. "How can you be so sure?"

"Look how slow he's walking. Did you wonder why Rhea wanted to go with him?"

"What do you mean?" Gaibel asked.

"Rhea's been through a lot today. She's killed four men, two in a sword fight and two more using her gift. Then, she comes here and meets her mother in real life. That's usually enough to cause high emotions, but it doesn't end there. Her fears have been confirmed. She now knows what she is, and from what Daen explained before we came here, she's carrying a huge weight on her shoulders. And," he laughed to himself, "she learned she was Luxatran only a few days ago. I'm surprised she's not sitting in a corner babbling like an idiot."

Taulin whipped around to face Randell. "What did you say?"

"What?" Randell wasn't sure what was unclear.

"She didn't know she was Luxatran?"

Randell cringed inwardly. "Yeah. Don't bring it up. Maybe I've said too much."

Gaibel watched Daen's slow pace, his head turning occasionally to his left. Randell was right, they were talking. She couldn't help feel a pang of jealousy. The idea that Rhea would turn to Daen for support when her own mother was there for her, it bothered her. She tried to make herself understand that her daughter had been through a lot with Daen and Randell and had learned to trust them, but it still hurt.

Randell turned from the window, as did Gaibel and Lanne.

Gaibel didn't want to watch anymore.

Lanne, who'd often felt like a mother to Rhea, liked that Rhea was comfortable with the man she loved. There was a sense of rightness about it, but she could see it bothered Gaibel so she didn't say anything.

Taulin, after hearing Randell summarize Rhea's day, was taken aback. The woman who saved his life, who didn't really need his help against the false warriors, was amazing—her strength, her character seemed to take his breath away.

He'd wondered about the pull he felt towards her the first time he laid eyes on her in the tavern.
Was that some kind of sign or just her nature?
He wagered he may never know.

~~~

As they walked down the hall towards the two guards on duty, Rhea was impressed with their vigilance, but at the same time, she felt sorry for them.
How can they just stand there, not moving?

Room 12 was locked, so Daen knocked. Gaibel let them in. "I assume all went well." She didn't mention the walk.

Daen dropped his cloak from his shoulders. "I was telling Rhea, our messages aren't the only ones to go out. One was sent to Cauhill. The clerk at the message center didn't recognize the man who sent it."

"Where's Cauhill?" Randell asked.

"Close to the border of Taulomi, in the Sentran realm, south of here."

Rhea removed her coat. "I wonder if it was sent by one of the spies."

Daen nodded and he wrapped his arm around Lanne. "It's possible, but unless we put the message clerk in front of the spies to identify them, we won't know for sure."

"At least we sent word of the false warriors," said Gaibel. "Guard stations will be on the lookout, and King Argeon will know it's not Laundan."

Rhea looked towards the closed door, remembering the two guards in the hall. "Can I ask something?"

"Sure." Gaibel nodded.

She pointed to the door. "They've been standing out there a while. Shouldn't we give them a chair or something?"

Taulin and Gaibel glanced at each other, understandably, as the guards were their responsibility. Neither looked like they wanted to admit their guard might need a break.

Rhea suspected ego and pride were going to take their toll on the two outside the door so she made a suggestion. "What if they took turns guarding the door? One could take a break in one of our rooms, get some rest, and then relieve the other."

Gaibel nodded slightly and looked at Taulin. "Your guard came in with Daulr, I suspect. He's probably ready for a break given his long ride from Laundan. Beth can take the first shift."

Taulin hesitated but then conceded before stepping out to give Bandon the key to his room. Gaibel followed him to explain the arrangement to Beth.

The lull in the discussion was a welcome relief. Randell moved to the head of the bed upon which he'd been sitting and leaned back, resting his head on the wall.

Just looking at him made Rhea realize how tired she was, how tired she assumed they all were.

Daen pulled Lanne closer to his side as she rested her head on his shoulder.

When Gaibel and Taulin came back into the room, Rhea made another suggestion. "Let's call it a night."

Lanne's head popped up, and with the voice of confidence that Rhea was used to hearing, she quickly pointed out that they weren't finished. "But what about the men in the lobby? We still have much to discuss."

Gaibel slowly took a deep breath and looked at those in the room, Randell's words still fresh in her thoughts. "Terrwyn's right. It's been a long day. We need rest to keep a clear mind. We'll make plans in the morning." She turned to Taulin. "If that is acceptable to you?" She was trying to acknowledge his rank. Although he wasn't in Laundan, he was still a prince and a commanding warrior, and he was due some courtesy.

Taulin bowed his head slightly. "I'm comfortable with that decision." He appreciated the effort Gaibel made to show him the respect his brothers would expect, but in all honesty, he didn't need it. He liked it when people didn't know, or simply chose to ignore, what he was.