Keeper's Knowledge (Balancer's Soul cycle) (42 page)

They emerged from their room a few minutes later wearing the same thing as last night, but they both put on their shoes and J
ack slid on a blue shirt.
Jack
was
holding
Haunt and Jillian’s dagger hanging from her hip.
They weren
’
t taking any chances
after what occurred
. They a
ll walked together down the hall. Liz was still sitting at the front desk, but she
seemed
half asleep until she spotted
them
.
He
smiled and said “Good morning, Liz. Were there any other problems since we last saw you?” She shook her head with a smile. “The rooms will be empty until we get back later tonight.”

They
started to leave until she said
“Connor, how’s your shoulder?” He
rolled up
the
right sleeve and pulled the chainmail
aside
to r
eveal
the now
flawless shoulder. “Amazing,
you heal almost as fast as we can.”
He
smiled and she returned it
in kindness
. “Do not worry, both of your rooms will be repaired and cleaned when you all return.”

Kara walked up in her wolf form. “Thank you. What can we do to help?”

Liz shook her head. “No
,
this is my responsibility as the
manager
for this cabin. You are all good people and have treated me with more respect than I’ve gotten in
nearly
two hundred years.
Medial jobs don’t get much respect or honor, but it is a job.
Just have a good time and I will as well.”

They
waved goodbye and made
their
way down to level three.

It was about thirty minutes until the others would join
them
so
they
waited
like
they
did
the day before
. Every now and then
Connor
would catch others looking in
their
direction and pointing for others
to understand
.
Hr
knew that the entire m
eeting would be buzzing about them
sooner than
he ever
expected.

So much for being inconspicuous...
I
t’s like high school all over again.

He
looked to
his
right. “Jillian? What were you two talking about when we got back
to the cabin
?”

“You heard us? We were only whispering.” She shook her head slowly and sighed. “Whatever
..
. We were talking about how you handled yourself last night. We both agreed that if it was anyone else
besides you,
you would be asked more questions
by the Guard
,
about the events that transpired last night
. The actions from the one who attacked
you in Firon’s presence
made all the proof unnecessary. Also we decided to stick around you a little more closely. We believe that you scared off any more attempts, but we will have to guide you…better.”

“I need as much help as I can get.”

About twenty minutes later three
large
,
familiar shapes
began
descending
down the spiral
stair
w
ell
. Once they spotted
the group
,
Veronica’s
gait
increased
almost into a run
. She walked straight up to
them with worry evident in her large
eyes.
“Firon
just
told me about what happened during the night. Did the Changer really bite you, Connor?”
S
he adjusted her egg in her arm as she knelt
down to get a closer look at him
.

He
dropped down to the ground
without making any disturbance
and placed a hand on her snout and rubbed. “Yes it is true, my friend. Do not fear for my health because I am already completely healed.”
Connor
rolled
his
sleeve up again to show her
the pristine
shoulder and she smelled it.
H
er hot and humid breath roll
ed
over
him giving evidence she wasn’t being coldblooded at the moment
.

Firon said
“How have you healed so quickly? I smelled a lot of blood on you.”
Connor
explained how
he
can also regenerate quickly and asked what he did with the three
transgressors
.
“I brought them to the Elder Changer on call and explained their crimes
while also giving evidence by relaying what I saw with my mind
. It was quick and they were taken to a
holding
cell
until they could be transferred to our special immortal jail
. They will be given only the food that they will need to survive. Once their weight diminishes that is. They will not be able to transform during their imprisonment
term
.”

He
had to ask “Firon, why
did you take them to the Changer Elders?”

Firon’s
yellow eyes looked at
Connor
like it should be obvious, but he answered
the
question
since he didn’t sense a
sarcastic
tone
.
“Whenever there is a law that has been broken
, especially here during a meeting
,
the accused has to face their species Elder. It has always been this way so that there isn’t any favoritism or persecution from the other Elders of different species. If you were to break a rule, I would take you to the Balancer
E
lders…I think.”

Clarein grabbed his shoulder.
“What do you mean
,
you think?”
S
he looked up into his eyes and her tone confused.

He scratched the back of his
scaly
head
absently
.
“He
could
be different. I’m sure the other Guards would agree
with me
,
if they knew what we do
.”

Connor
whistled to get their attention and it worked little too well because everyone in the room quieted down
and turned towards the group
.
Apparently
his
presence and actions were a little too exaggerated.
Connor
spoke so only those closest could hear. “I’m not going to
intentionally
get into dilemma
that would force your hand.” He
looked around. “This talk isn’t needed so how
about we eat and discuss more pleasant
matters.” Sarah caught
his
drift and dropped down with a playful smile. She took
his
left hand and linked
their
fingers together.
They then
started walking towards the short cafeteria line.

While waiting
in line
,
Connor
looked up. “Firon, what time did you get to go back to sleep? I hope it wasn’t too long after
late
meeting.”

Firon
shook his hand down at
the remarkable little creature
.
“Not to worry, Connor. I was able to get back to sleep about an hour after I disposed of the instigators. I slept quite pleasantly.”

During the end of
the
breakfast meal a
rich
voice
,
on the other side of the table
asked
loudly
“Mother
,
is that you?”

Jillian turn her head
completely
around to look behind her. Jillian became
nearly
as excited as her
tone of
voice. “AMBER!” Jillian and Jack spun
i
n their seat
s and dropped down. Connor
couldn’t see anything so
he quickly
finished the last of
his
water and sat it on
the
tray.
F
our sets of feet shuffling on the floor
moved around the bench and approached
and
he
also heard
the sounds of
small and qui
ck kisses
being given
. “Oh my dear daughter,
how
I have missed you ever so much. How has your life been these past two decades?
I know we’ve spoken, but it isn’t the same.
”
Jillian
stopped for a moment. “Oh wait a second, there is someone you just
have
to meet.”

Connor
turned to look at Sarah as a soft smile
touch
ed
her lips.
From that expression he knew this meeting would be much more pleasant than the one with Ryan and Laura.
S
he held
his
hand and a second later
they
saw Jack coming around the table followed by Jillian
,
dragging som
eone along with her left hand. He
then saw
his
new sister-in-law for the first time. She had a similar shape
of
her body as Sarah, but
she
was about
three inches taller
. Her hair hung loosely
and brushed
the tops of her shoulders and he
r hair color
shone the color of
light
brown.
Amber’s
calm
eyes were a greenish blue
and he
judged her to be about four hundred and fifty
. The
structure
of her f
eatures
was
closely similar to Sarah’s, but she had freckles on her cheekbones
, giving her the appearance of looking much younger
.
Just like her grandmother.
Her fingernails were painted in a light red
,
as were her toenails. She was wearing a gray t-shirt and short shorts. Her feet were only covered by brown sandals.
Around her neck was a thick metal necklace and on her arms were wrapped chains from her wrist all the way to her elbows.
Connor
remember
ed
being told that she was a rare Metal Balancer.
Amber looked up and spoke in a higher voice than Sarah’s saying “Little sister? Is that you up there?”

Sarah spun and dropped to the ground without
her husband. He
looked at the other members of
the
group
,
quietly watching the little family reunion.
He
turned back as Sarah hugged her
elder
sister. “It is so very good to see you
once
again
,
Amber.” She grabbed her long hair and tossed it behind her shoulder. “You are looking well.”

Connor
decided to join in after Jack smiled up at
him
.
He
dropped down behind Sarah. She didn’t flinch
, but Amber took a cautious step back
after the suddenness of his soundless arrival
. “Sir, if you do not mind I am trying to say hello to my sister and family.” Her voice and tone were polite
, but fearful
.

Sarah stepped back into
his chest and he
knew she was smiling. In her soft and velvety voice she said “Amber. I would like for you to meet my mate, Connor.”

Amber’s hand came up to her lips
as her cheeks reddened in embarrassment
. “Oh forgive me. I did not know… Wait… Sarah, did
you just say he is your mate?” W
ithout looking up
at him Sarah
nodded. “This is wonderful. I am so happy that you have found your love… Finally
…
I was afraid you would have taken a vow of celibacy
after all this time
.” Amber had a trace of humor in her voice. She walked up to
them
and held out her hand. “It is a treat to meet my sister
’
s new mate
. I’m Amber.”