Ancient Guardians The Legacy of the Key (36 page)

“They are Guardians;
they were here today to assist in your training. I needed a couple of other men
to add to the chaos while you were being attacked.”

Levi was a
completely different man from earlier, his expression was more pleasant.

He looked down at
her. “Let us get you cleaned up and attended to so you’ll be able to walk in
the morning. We have a special drink for recovery; it will keep the soreness
away from your muscles.”

 Reece laughed. “I
didn’t even think about that.”

As they left the
building, Reece noticed the skies had darkened. She looked up at Levi, amazed,
“How long have we been training?”

He grinned. “You
were able to withstand all of that for twelve hours.”

 “What? Wow!”

“But,” he said, “I
need you to understand what you really accomplished today.”

“Okay?”

He smiled. “It is
for your protection that I say this to you, so please do not take this the
wrong way. You did exceedingly well for someone who has spent only one day in
training. This training was to help you stay calm in the event you are overpowered,
and I cannot get to you in time. The men who were helping with this exercise
were given limits, and told what Samuel and I needed to achieve. You did
impress me, but you cannot take on a skilled Ciatron guard, and hope to defeat
him.” He stopped just before ascending the steps up to the Palace, and turned
to face her. He reached down, and caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.
“Do you understand?”

“Levi, I’m not
going to do anything crazy. I saw the way you fought those guys in the park
that day you saved me, and I watched how quickly you move. I know if I
practiced every day for the rest of my life, I wouldn’t come close to that. I’m
not going to try and be your sidekick tomorrow, I promise.”

He laughed. “Thank
you, love. I don’t need anything else to worry about.”

“Well, quit
worrying. I’m not that crazy. What I am, is starving; I really need to get
cleaned up.”

His eyes sparkled
and he bent to kiss her. “Let’s get you to your room, and I will return in an
hour to escort you to dinner.”

Chapter
26

Dinner that night seemed to be another test of Reece’s
abilities; although, this time, the test was how long she could manage to stay
awake. She did extremely well up until the point that she was seated at the
table, and everyone began talking. Reece struggled to respond to the
conversation. Levi looked at her more than once with concern, but when he saw
her cover up a yawn, his face relaxed and he grinned.
Glad I’m amusing him,
Reece
thought. She couldn’t blame him, though; she knew she must have looked like a
half-conscious zombie. If she closed her eyes, she’d probably wake up with her
face in her plate.

After dinner, Reece
said her goodnights, and then placed her arm in Levi’s, and he escorted her to
her room.

“I feel as though I
should carry you to your room, as I did the other night.” He chuckled.

Reece mumbled a
response. She couldn’t remember ever being this tired. After he left, she
collapsed into bed after quickly slipping into her long, silky night gown.

The next afternoon,
Reece was making final preparations for her return to Earth. Levi had secretly
retrieved a comfortable pair of jeans and a warm hooded sweatshirt from her
apartment for their return. Jasmeen handed her the outfit, and arched her
eyebrow with reproach.

Reece laughed, and
embraced her. “Oh, Jasmeen, don’t worry; if everything goes as planned, I’ll be
back and in an extravagant gown sooner than you think!”

 Jasmeen returned
the hug. “You’re right, and I’d be worried, but I know you’re in excellent
care.”

Reece had just
finished changing into her jeans and sweatshirt when Allestaine and Elizabeth
arrived to escort her outside to where the men were waiting. She quickly pulled
her shoes on, and went to her sitting room. Allestaine and Elizabeth looked as
beautiful as always—a pictorial reminder of the life Reece could not wait to
return to, if she would return at all.
Will we be successful?
She felt
her nerves beginning to take over, and fear setting in from everything they
were about to face. Reece exhaled and hoped Allestaine did not see the anxiety
that she was currently battling.

Allestaine smiled
sympathetically, and she embraced Reece. “Let us not be so distressed. You will
return to us safe and sound. Our brave men will not allow anything to happen to
you, Reece.”

She withdrew and
placed her hands on Reece’s shoulders. She stared directly into her eyes as she
spoke confidently. “There are no goodbyes today.” She smiled brightly. “You
must know that my husband and son will take care of you. I have no doubt of
that. All our love goes with you.”

Reece could say
nothing; she nodded in return.

“Reece, my mother
is correct. You must trust that Levi and my father would never let anything
happen to you, or you would not be returning to Earth with them.” Elizabeth
softly added. She walked over and embraced Reece, “You will be back with all of
us before you know it.”

Reece smiled at
Elizabeth, seeing the strength and confidence in her eyes, she felt somewhat
relieved. Therefore, she drew her strength from Allestaine and Elizabeth as
they walked down the halls and out to the courtyard.

When they stepped
outside, Reece caught her breath at the size of the crowd. Family and servants,
some of whom Reece had never seen before, stood waiting; among them were
Nathanial and Madeleine. Nathanial was to remain at the Palace to stand in
Navarre’s place, serving as a symbol of strength until their Emperor returned.

Beyond family and
servants, there were close to thirty men with horses; some mounted, and some
still bidding their loved ones goodbye. The horses were dressed as if for a
parade, in red blankets embroidered with gold arrows on them. She touched her
bracelet, which bore the same arrow in the patterns. The horses also had
matching fabrics that covered their faces, with three red billowy feathers that
stood out from the top of the horses’ heads. It was a magnificent sight to
behold.

All the men were
dressed in black. She searched for Levi, and found him talking with Navarre and
Samuel. Like the others, he wore all black, the same attire she had seen in the
picture in Navarre’s office. He wore the tall black boots, the leather gloves,
and the red-lined cloak, with as comfortable an air as he had worn a business
suit on Earth. He looked tall and imposing, and then he looked over at her and
smiled.

Levi and Navarre
walked toward Lady Allestaine and Reece. Navarre’s clothes were identical, but
with silver arrows instead of gold. Braided ribbons of silver draped down along
one shoulder, matching the silver lining and trim of his cape.

 For the first
time, Reece wished that Jasmeen would have dressed her for whatever occasion
this was. She felt completely ridiculous standing there in jeans.

Levi approached his
mother, and she kissed his cheek. “I’m proud of you. Do well.”

Reece followed Levi
out through the lined-up horses. “Levi,” she whispered, “I feel like an idiot.
Why is everyone, including the horses, more dressed up than I am?”

He looked at her
and grinned. “Of all the questions you could ask... But, indeed, you look like
quite the little Earth dweller now, don’t you?” He unfastened his cloak, and
took it off to wrap it around her. “It will keep you warm on the journey.”

The importance of
this departure began to sink in. “Levi?” She asked as he was checking Areion’s
girth. “What’s with all the dress up? Are we having a parade?”

 He smoothed the
blanket and turned to her. “It’s a gesture. The people of Pemdas are sending
their Emperor away in the hope that he will return home with their husbands and
sons. We’re in a bad way, Reece. My father is leading the last of the Guardian’s
army out to free the captives, avenge the dead, and restore hope. All
this”—Areion lowered his head to nuzzle him, and Levi flicked the plumes on his
headstall—”brings confidence to the people.”

Reece hadn’t
considered the significance of the Emperor’s departure for the Pemdai; the
emotions from the crowd were palpable. Their way of life was hanging in the
balance, and although pride, confidence, and steadfastness emanated from them,
it was obvious that there was some apprehension about this mission.

He picked up
Areion’s front hoof, checked it carefully, and then reached for the hind one.
As he walked around Areion, hand on the horse’s hindquarters, the stallion
stamped the inspected hoof. Levi chuckled. “Areion feels the same as you,” he
said, reaching down for the other hind hoof. “The first part of this ride will
be trying for him. He’s not much for show, and he’s not patient.” Levi bent
over the fourth hoof. “I expect he’ll battle me until we’re past the crowds and
are able to speed up.”

“So, it’s going to
be a bumpy ride, then?”

He shook his head
and laughed. “That’s one way to put it. You’ll be riding astride, sitting
behind me this time. You’ll need to hold on tight to me, my love. I would put
you on with another rider, but we are going through a different vortex than the
others.”

Reece laughed.
“Liar. You would not.”

“No, you’re right,
I would not.” He smiled, as the men began to mount their horses.

Navarre approached
them. “Levi. Reece. We’ll see you both in Scotland.” He shook his son’s hand,
and then, to Reece’s surprise, gently embraced her. “Be safe, stay close to
Levi, and we will await your arrival.” He turned, and mounted his horse.

Areion grunted and began
raising his legs one by one, appearing to dance in place. Levi exhaled and
spoke deeply to his stallion. “Areion, settle. If you plan on going with them,
you might allow us upon your back.” The horse restrained himself for Levi and
Reece to mount him.

Immediately upon
settling herself in behind Levi, Reece felt the tension in the massive horse.
They hadn’t moved and already it felt as if they were trotting down the road.
Levi directed Areion toward Navarre’s horse while the rest of the riders lined
up in pairs behind them. Navarre’s horse stepped out at a gentle canter, and
Levi tightened his hold on Areion. He was correct in assuming that Areion would
be miserable. He shook his head and whinnied in protest. Reece noticed that the
rest of the horses were in step; Areion seemed to be the only one who was
marching to the beat of his own drum.

Reece was surprised
by how uncomfortable the ride was compared to riding him previously. Areion
constantly tried to go faster. When refused permission, he threw his head up
and whinnied. “Calm down, you’re making a fool of yourself,” Levi grumbled as
they approached the village below the Palace.

Navarre looked at
them with an amused expression. “Hang in there, old man, it’s almost over.”

Levi shook his
head, and Reece held tighter. The horse stopped fighting for more speed;
instead, he forced all of his energy into the ground in protest, exaggerating
his movements boldly. He stamped hard onto the ground with his hooves, while
bringing them up just as aggressively. Fearful of being jolted off, Reece
focused on the waving villagers, and tried not to laugh at the insults Levi was
now throwing at Areion.

After they passed
the village, Navarre turned his horse toward them. He reached over and shook
his son’s hand. “Son, we’ll see you in Scotland. Give Harrison our best, and
remind him of the plans Samuel has for him.”

With that, he,
Samuel, and the other riders, spun their horses and headed off toward the hills
in the horizon. Areion began dancing in place again as Levi turned back toward
Reece and managed an awkward kiss. “Hold on to me tight, love. We are taking a
shorter, yet more demanding, route. Are you ready?”

Areion was fighting
the reins again. “I don’t think it matters either way; let’s just get this
horse moving before he hurts himself.”

Levi laughed and
loosened the reins, heading Areion away from the main road toward an open
meadow. Areion responded joyfully to the loosened reins, finding his stride and
his speed. Reece enjoyed this part him, feeling his power and craving to
dominate the ground beneath him. She laughed inwardly as they approached a
mountain range, knowing they would be heading up it. She prepared herself,
holding tighter to Levi’s waist.

Areion’s
hindquarters gathered under Reece, and he seemed to leap up the mountainside.
Reece marveled at the energy and strength the horse possessed. At the top, he
found a new burst of speed. The next thing she knew, they were in the air, with
the gray mist beneath them. She turned back one last time to see the beautiful
land she hoped to one day return to. When the mist swallowed the mountain, she
turned forward, just as Areion’s hooves found the other side of the chasm. They
were now riding through the forest of the trees with red leaves.

In front of her,
she saw the gates, and for the first time since understanding about her return,
she felt nervous. Levi dismounted, lifted Reece off, and led Areion to the left
of a large stone structure, behind where Reece remembered them parking the
cars.