Keeper (First Ordinance #2)(45)

"I have asked the ships' technicians to do a test on the child's remains sent to Avii Castle," Justis announced. "I believe we will know soon whether Lirin, Elabeth and Camryn's daughter, died here or lives, still."

"Either way, do you think Quin has something to do with holding the poison at bay here in Lironis? If she goes to Vhrist or elsewhere, will that also hold true?" Berel asked. He had his tab-vid set on the meeting table, recording the debate for his father.

That's when the call came. "Son?" High President Charkisul began.

"Father, what is it?" Berel asked.

"I also have a confession to make. Tell those people to leave Fyris behind. We've already done DNA testing on Quin, and the tests were not inconclusive as we said. At the time, I only thought to save her life and spare her pain—from those who could do harm. Quin has no connection to anyone on this planet."

*

Quin

Something was different—I could feel it. Since it concerned me, however, I had no idea what it might be. Forcing those thoughts away, as worrying as they were, I went back to healing the sick.

*

"My question is this—does this change how you feel about her?" Kaldill demanded. He and Daragar asked for a few moments with Justis when the meeting broke for the midday meal.

Kaldill knew the attendees would break into groups—he'd already seen Rath, Omina, Amlis and Rodrik leave together.

"No. At least—no." Justis scrubbed his face with a hand before turning back to Kaldill and the Larentii who stood behind him. "I know not what my brother will think, however."

"At least he'll know she's not the half-blood he thought she was," Kaldill muttered and turned away. "You heard the High President's words—he's made her a citizen of Kondar. She is welcome there if not with the Avii she resembles."

"I worried that she'd leave with you," Justis sighed.

"She is welcome to go anywhere with me, and welcome to stay wherever I am. She feels responsible for helping Siriaa, or have you not realized it, yet? I'm not sure you could pry her away unless there is no hope left at all. Yes, I can take her away for short trips, but I cannot and will not interfere with her choices."

"I will send a message to my brother when the results come back from the tests on the remains. I know not what his reaction may be to the fact that Quin does not belong to us in any way."

"Why do you say that?" Daragar spoke for the first time. "Perhaps you should consider that she may belong to all." He disappeared with a disgusted sniff.

*

Quin

Midday had arrived, bringing Dena with a sandwich. She offered to sit with me while I ate, but I hugged her and told her I needed time alone.

With a nod, she watched me walk out of the healer's quarters, and before anyone else could touch me, I lifted my wings and flew upward, toward a high turret.

If I were lucky, I could eat while I walked down steps to Justis' old quarters, retrieve the metal box and fly it to the research building with few noticing. It would involve sneaking through the royal wing to do it, but I felt I could—everyone should be eating elsewhere.

The upper levels of the palace were almost deserted—I could hear a maid and a servant coupling in one room as I passed by. When I thought the rest of my journey through wide, stone halls would be uneventful, I heard voices coming from Omina's suite.

Stopping short, I held my breath as I listened, making sure they hadn't heard my footsteps. They hadn't—because they were talking too loudly to hear them. When I stopped, however, it ensured that I'd hear them clearly enough.

"We don't know who or what Quin is," Amlis snapped. "What difference does it make? She's saving lives. Tell me those people wouldn't be dead or nearly so that she's helped."

"I'm not sure I want her here—not after what I heard," Omina's voice was cold.

"All you heard, Mother, was that she bears no connection to anyone on Siriaa."

"We thought she was half Avii, at least," Omina huffed. "Even that's not true. She could be a monster, for all we know, and turn on us."

"A monster? That's ludicrous," Rodrik's voice intervened. "I've seen nothing of the kind from her."

"Go tell the people in the courtyard that you don't know what she is, then," Omina shouted.

"Mother, there are servants everywhere. By now, they may already know what you've been shouting since we've come to your quarters. Is that what you want? She saved your life, for Liron's sake. Have you forgotten that?"

"That's another thing," Omina snapped. "Who on this planet holds that kind of power? Nobody. Why didn't I see this before?"

I'd heard enough. Wiping tears away, I ran as softly as I could for the nearest window and flew away from the castle.

*

"Lord Justis?" A castle servant tugged on his arm. He'd been deep in conversation with Ardis and hadn't noticed the man's approach.

"Yes?"

"We've moved everything out of your quarters—and out of Finder—er—Quin's quarters. Except the box beneath her bed."

"There's a box there?" Justis offered the man his complete attention.