Keeper (First Ordinance #2)(86)

"Do you think he knew?" I asked. "That his death was coming?"

"Perhaps. I have also given it some thought, but as we have insufficient information, we can only make logical guesses. I ask that you do not allow this to upset you in any way."

"I understand you speak the truth, but I can't help the way I feel," I said. "I'll deal with it—I've dealt with everything else so far."

"I know, but that doesn't make it any less painful to me to know that you suffer."

I understood his meaning all too well. I was able to heal anyone else—just not myself. If Liron still lived, I had a long list of questions and complaints for him. Perhaps it was just as well that he'd died—he would grow tired of me in very little time.

"Justis asked me to move back into his suite," I said, rustling my feathers and changing the subject.

"Did you give him an answer?"

"I said I'd think about it."

"What do you really think?" Daragar smiled.

"I think I like seeing his wings every morning and night," I said. "He lets them down and I see him when he is relaxed. Once he walks out the door, he is Commander Justis, who is stern and uncompromising."

"See, we all have our assignments," Daragar said, reaching out to ruffle my hair. "Whether they are assignments from a king or a god, it matters not."

"It depends on the king—and the god," I retorted, causing Daragar to laugh. "I want to check with Berel on the debates. Want to come?" I slid off the bench and stood.

"I have an assignment with Nefrigar," he said. "I go, and so shall you."

I watched him disappear before turning away to find Berel, who was likely in his bedroom watching the debates carefully and communicating with his father.

*

Larentii Archives

"You were wise to ask for a reproduction of the Avii Queen's book before Elabeth died," Daragar said.

Nefrigar nodded in agreement before handing the large, leather-bound book to Daragar. "As was noted before, some of it is in a language I have not seen and likely written by Liron himself. It is my guess that only Quin might decipher it, and as she is in such a fragile state, I will not hand it to her yet."

"You worry that she may find other things to trouble her," Daragar sighed. "That is also my fear. She knows not that this copy exists."

"It is my wish that you and I sit with her when she reads it," Nefrigar said. "That way we can provide support if it is needed."

"I agree," Daragar replied.

*

Avii Castle

Quin

The rest of my day was spent with Berel, while scant time was taken away for meals and such. We watched the debates flounder—each side passionate about their stance but neither able to convince the other.

"Is this how it always is?" I asked Berel as we shared a cup of tea while sitting at a Library table between midday and the evening meal. His tab-vid was set on the table so both of us could watch the feed easily.

"Much of the time," he nodded.

"I feel uncomfortable about this—that they're wasting time we do not have," I said.

"I think so, too, but this is the law in action," Berel responded.

"I feel the urgency in my feathers," I sighed. "Every part of me feels afraid for the people of Kondar and Yokaru."

"You have a unique perspective on the situation. These," he gestured toward the images of the debate, "only have what they've been told and what evidence we can produce. Many things can be manipulated, including the truth. Some enjoy making lies of the truth, no matter how persuasive the facts are."

"Because they have their own agenda and the truth interferes with it?" I suggested.

"In some cases. You cannot judge all by the same measure," Berel said. "Each has his own experiences and acts accordingly. Yes, some are self-serving. I cannot say that about all—each, in their own way, makes an attempt to serve the people of their Sector first and Kondar second."

"You're right," I inclined my head. "You have more experience at this than I."

"Your experience is tempered by the service of a very bad monarch, who named himself King after he murdered his brother."

"True. I will try to be less cynical in the future." My words made Berel laugh.

*

"How go the debates?" Kaldill asked when he arrived in the Library for dinner. He'd been absent most of the day, making a trip to Wyyld II for a conversation with Ildevar.

"Much the same as the day before," Berel smiled as he answered Kaldill's question. "Quin, however, has adopted a more tolerant attitude toward politicians."

"Don't tell Queen Lissa that," Kaldill laughed. "She grumbles before every Council meeting on Le-Ath Veronis."

"How is she? Queen Lissa, I mean?" I asked.

"Fine," Kaldill said. "You could send mindspeech and ask her yourself, you know. She would love to hear from you."

"Perhaps I will," I said, accepting a plate of food from a Yellow Wing. Dena, Ardis and Justis walked in together—Dena's feathers were ruffled and damp, letting me know that she and Ardis had romped and bathed before coming to the Library to eat.