The Fourteenth Key (The Chronicles of Terah Book 3) (17 page)

“From the little bit I’ve been around him, I’d say yes, especially if you told him to keep his mouth shut.”

“Could you talk to him tonight and see if he’d be willing to go?”

Marcus nodded.

“If he agrees, tell him he’ll only be gone one day. One of us, probably you, will pick him up before the auction and then bring him back afterwards. He’ll go as an army representative looking for recruits. All he’ll have to do is let Karl know if he spots anyone from Syrando.”

Marcus frowned. “Karl isn’t going to buy them, is he?”

Kevin shook his head. “We’ve got someone else who’s going to do that, but be sure he understands that he can’t ever let anyone know about this. If word gets out that we’ll pay to get our people back, we’d turn everyone who lives in Camden into a potential hostage.”

Marcus nodded and then asked, “Are you taking Theresa home tomorrow?”

Kevin nodded. “I think it’s time for all of us to go home. I don’t see much else we can do here.”

“Do you want me to tell her?”

“I’ve already told her. But I haven’t mentioned it to the guards. Will you tell them to be ready to go tomorrow morning?” When Marcus nodded, Kevin stood up. “Well, if there’s nothing else, think I’ll go back to Kyle’s and play with the dogs.”

“Dogs?”

Kevin grinned. “Turns out I have an uncle who trains dogs, and I’ve got an open invitation to come play with them any time I like. First real perk I’ve found on this job.”

Marcus frowned. “Perk?”

“Benefit, advantage, bonus, privilege …”

Marcus smiled and nodded. “Got it. Have fun.”

Chapter 13

Brena Steps In

Kevin was more relaxed when he got home from Kyle’s than he’d been in a long while, but as soon as he got in bed, thoughts of the confrontation with Janine the next morning chased any hope of sleep away. After tossing and turning for hours, he got dressed and went outside to run through his magic routine. He was still so tense after his workout that he wanted to go through it again, but he didn’t have enough time.

When he got back to his room, Chris was sitting on the couch sipping a cup of coffee.

“You saw?” Kevin asked as he picked up the other cup and took a sip.

Chris nodded. “Worried about today?”

“It showed, huh?”

Again Chris nodded. “Want me to come with you?”

Kevin shook his head. “She’d think we were ganging up on her, which would make her even more stubborn than normal.”

“Well, you know, Brena’s in charge of the sisters. If she tells Janine to do something, doesn’t she have to do it?”

“I would think so, but I don’t know that much about the sisters. I’m not sure anyone outside the Sisterhood does.”

For the next few minutes, they drank their coffee and ate the pastries Chris had scrounged up in the kitchen. Then Kevin said, “Wonder where Alek is? He usually checks on me by this time to be sure I’m up.”

Just as those words left Kevin’s mouth, there was a knock on the door. Kevin laughed as he called out, “Come in.”

Alek opened the door and stuck his head in. “Just wanted to be sure you were up. Still heading out to Glenarbour around 5:00?”

Kevin shook his head and stood up. “Slight change in plans. We’ve got to go by Timera Valley first and pick up Sister Brena. I’m coming down now.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll be in your office when you’re ready,” Alek said as he pulled the door to.

“Good luck,” Chris said as he stood up and picked up the tray.

~ ~ ~ ~

Ten minutes later, Kevin and Alek were in Brena’s kitchen waiting for her to finish her morning tea.

“Are you sure I can’t get you something to eat?” she asked.

“No, thank you,” Kevin answered, wishing Brena would hurry up.

“Well, then,” Brena said as she picked up her cup, “I guess we might as well go.”

“Do you know Janine?” Kevin asked. “Personally?”

“No, but we’ve corresponded several times over the years. Why?”

“I’m not sure she’ll believe you’re you. Is there anything that identifies you as the head of the Sisterhood?”

Brena thought for a moment. “Not that I know of. I wasn’t given anything special when I took over.” She fingered her pendant for a moment. “This is the same pendant I was given when I trained. I never considered the possibility I might have to prove who I am. Interesting idea.”

Kevin sighed. “Interesting isn’t the word I’d use in this case. If Janine doesn’t believe you, how will we get her to leave Glenarbour?”

“I know enough about her that she should believe I’m who I say I am, but that may not be enough to get her to go home.”

“Did you come up with a backup plan?”

“Not yet. Hope I don’t need one.” Brena put her hand on Kevin’s arm. “Does traveling through the energy field mess you up as much the third time as it does the first couple of times?”

“You tell me,” Kevin said as he turned the key, and a minute later, they were standing between the shed and the hedge in Glenarbour.

“Not as bad as when we went to Glenco,” Brena said between deep breaths, “but still not my favorite way to travel.”

As Brena was speaking, Janine stepped around the corner of the shed and glared at Kevin. “You’re late. And who is this? I thought these meetings were meant to be secret. And where are your two men? They were supposed to be here by 5:30.”

“They’re right here,” Caezar said as he and Ramen followed Janine into the space behind the shed.

Brena smiled at the two ex-soldiers. “I’m not sure I’d have recognized you if I’d met you on the street. You look good all cleaned up.”

Ramen bowed towards Brena. “Thank you, ma’am.”

Janine humphed and glared at Brena. “Who are you?” Before Brena could answer, Janine turned to Kevin. “I don’t know why you brought another sister here. We have more than enough already. This chapel’s only big enough for one, and now we have two. Another one will just get in the way. You can take her back to wherever she came from.” Then she turned back to Brena. “No offense, Sister, but you’re not needed here.”

“Well, I hope not,” Brena said. “I have enough to do in Timera Valley.”

“Timera Valley?” Janine asked. “Just who are you?”

“Sister Brena.”

Janine frowned. “I’m not sure I believe you.”

Brena sighed. “It never crossed my mind that you might not believe me, but Myron called it. All right. Let me see. First, you trained with Roslyn in southwestern Nandelia. What was the name of that village?” Brena thought for a moment and then nodded. “Caruthers. That’s it. And then, shortly after I sent you your pendant, a young boy drowned in a flash flood. There were some accusations flying around about his death. Caused quite an uproar. In the end, Roslyn suggested you needed your own chapel.”

Janine’s mouth dropped open, but she didn’t say anything, so Brena continued. “Next I assigned you to a chapel in Blackout Point. That sister had retired, but the chapel aide was still there and doing the best she could to take care of the town. Things went relatively smoothly for a while, but then there was a problem over your handling of a three-year-old orphan. Seems several people around town disagreed with your approach to orphans, especially the young ones. Got a few letters about it, including one from the chapel aide who suggested you might be needed somewhere else. So I moved you to Ashmont, where you seem to have found a good fit. At least I haven’t had any letters of complaint yet.” Brena paused and looked at Janine.

Janine shrugged. “Anyone who worked at the chapel in Timera Valley would have access to our records, but let’s say you really are Sister Brena. What are you doing here?”

“I came to thank you for your efforts here, and for the loyalty you’ve shown to your patients. That’s one area where you excel. You do take your responsibility to your charges seriously. But now it’s time for you to go back to Ashmont and see to the ones there.”

“I can’t leave Glenarbour!” Janine said. “We haven’t rescued the captives yet. They haven’t even shown up.”

“And they probably won’t,” Kevin said. “Marcus questioned everyone he could find between Syrando and the Kivee, and then up and down the Kivee for miles. He knows which boat the slavers were using and it was last seen headed towards the Agrenon Bay. We have soldiers waiting near the mouth of the river for them to show up.”

Janine chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. “Did anyone see the captives on board that boat?”

Kevin shook his head. “No. But the slavers wouldn’t have had them on deck that close to home.”

“That may be, but if they weren’t seen on that boat, you don’t know they’re on it. They could be anywhere, including on their way here.” Janine turned to Brena. “I can’t leave yet, Sister Brena. Sorry.”

“We know there’s a possibility the captives could show up here,” Kevin said. “We have plans to take care of any who do.”

“Who’ll identify them if I’m not here to do it?”

“We have it taken care of, Sister, but I’m not going into details.”

Janine shook her head. “I’m sorry, but that’s not good enough. I’m staying here.”

“I’m sorry to hear you say that,” Brena said. “We need to pick Theresa up this morning. I’ve got to send her to another chapel. I’m sorry you won’t be returning to Ashmont but at least Alma’s there.”

“What do you mean, I won’t be returning? That’s my chapel, my home.”

“Was your chapel, until you turned it down.”

“I haven’t turned it down, Sister. What are you talking about?”

“I need a permanent sister in Ashmont today, not in a couple of weeks. Things need to get back to normal around there. If you can’t fill that need, I’ll find another sister who can.” Brena turned from Janine to Kevin. “I need to get back to Timera Valley so I can check my books. There are a couple of young sisters who are ready for their own chapels and I want to look over the notes from their training sisters. I’m sure I can find a good match. Would you be willing to pick her up and take her to Ashmont? I’d like to have someone in place by this evening.”

“Sure,” Kevin said as he held out his arm. “We can go now if you’re ready.”

“Wait!” Janine grabbed Brena’s arm. “Just wait a minute.” Then she turned to Kevin. “You really do have a plan in place to rescue any of the people from Syrando who end up here?”

Kevin nodded.

Janine chewed on her bottom lip again. Then she looked at Brena. “All right. I’ll trust that Myron has things under control. I’ll return to Ashmont.”

Brena smiled. “I’m glad you made that decision. And I’m sure the people of Ashmont will be pleased. Now go get your stuff together. We need to get Theresa on her way.”

Janine nodded, turned, and jogged towards the back door of the chapel.

No one said a word until they heard the chapel door shut. Then Caezar broke into a grin, put his hand on Brena’s shoulder, and said, “Well played.”

Kevin laughed. “I agree. Very well done, Brena. Guess you found your Plan B.”

Brena closed her eyes for a moment and then smiled. “I have to admit, I was making it up as I went, but at least it worked.”

“What would you have done if she’d insisted on staying here?” Ramen asked.

“I’m not sure, but I would have assigned her chapel to someone else. I can’t let a sister ignore what I say.” Brena frowned. “I’ve never had a sister argue with me before. I need to think about that before it happens again, but as far as she’s concerned, I would probably have ended up taking her pendant back.”

“How?” Kevin asked. “You can’t exactly fight her for it.”

“Guess that’s something else I need to think about. But I’ll leave that for another day. Today’s battle seems to be over.”

Kevin nodded as he turned to Caezar and Ramen. “I’d like for you to stay here until after the auction. We’re not at all sure the captives were on that boat. Everyone Marcus talked to said there was no way that boat was carrying more than five or six people. We have the auction covered, but I’d like for you to keep listening. See if you can find out anything about any slavers working in the area.”

Both Caezar and Ramen nodded.

“If you hear anything that might help, send me a message and I’ll meet you the next morning right here.”

“At 6:00 next time?” Ramen asked.

Kevin nodded. “And if I don’t hear from you, I’ll meet you here Tuesday morning after the auction at 6:00 to take you home.”

“Does Sister Kaja know we’re meeting behind her shed?” Caezar asked.

“Not that I know of,” Kevin answered. He looked over at Brena. “Should we let her know?”

Brena glanced towards the chapel. “I’m sure she’s awake by now. I’ll step inside and tell her not to worry about early morning movement behind her shed for the next couple of weeks. She’s a good one. She won’t ask questions. And she’ll believe I’m who I say I am. And while I’m in there, I’ll check on Janine. Wouldn’t want her to change her mind.”

Chapter 14

Meanwhile, At Willow Canyon

It was nearly 9:00 by the time Kevin got everyone back where they belonged. After he dropped Alek off at the office, he left for his practice session with Glendymere. Half an hour later, Glendymere called a halt to the sparring.

“Bring Chris with you Sunday.”

“Why?”

“Rhianna needs to talk to him.”

“Why?”

“She’s having some of the same problems Chris did.”

“What kind of problems?”

“Impatience, frustration, irritability, things like that.”

“Why’s Rhianna getting frustrated?”

“She’s not. Landis is, just like you did, and Rhianna’s bearing the brunt of it, like Chris did.”

Kevin’s mouth dropped open. “Was I that bad?”

Glendymere nodded.
“But Chris handled it and he can give Rhianna some pointers. Anyway, ask him to talk to her. He’ll understand what she’s dealing with.”

Kevin nodded.

“They can talk while we’re at the canyon lands. Then, when we get back, you can work with Rhianna. You’ll need to think about where you’re going to start and have a clear picture in your head of what you’re going to do. You’ll need to break everything down into steps. Start with the wind. Think about how you join with it and then control it. Then later, move on to storms. It’ll come naturally for her, and working with her will give you some experience breaking things down before you start working with Landis, which will be a lot harder.”