Knock, knock, knock. Who could be at the door? I rolled off the bed and walked over to the door. Knock, knock… Pulling opened the door. Cedrick was standing there. "As you know, the Council has come to a conclusion," he began as he stepped inside. I closed the door and went to pull out a chair for him. "And…?" I asked, gesturing for him to have a seat. Cedrick took a seat, still wearing the Council robes. I knew he had just left the meeting. I dropped onto the edge of my bed.
"Well, they've decided that Somenaco will live in a tower close to Elena." He handed me the manila envelope. I peeled it open. Inside were assignment papers, relocation protocols, Somenaco's new work schedule. Before I could speak, Cedrick pulled a second envelope from behind him and held it out to me. My name was on it. "There's more. You've been assigned to the Judisch Council, so you can support Somenaco."He continued in an even tone. I could tell he was serious. I stared at the envelope, then let out a sigh. "Did you talk to my mother? Because she's not going to like this. I mean, I don't care. But Mother..." I exhaled slowly. "She'll definitely care." Cedrick raised his hand to his forehead, rubbing it like the weight was settling in deeper. "Something about this isn't right," he murmured. "I just can't put my finger on it."
I set the manila envelopes on the bed and stood up. Taking a long breath, I crossed my arms and walked over to the window to stare out. It's true, we've never had to deal with anything like this. Not in nearly four hundred years of life. Nor in all the time I've been working for the Council in the reports department. In fact, up until now my job has been mostly quiet. I mean, a fire here and a scorch mark there. But nothing like this. We've never had a Guardian, a human, killed by a dragon.
"Cedrick," I asked in a low voice, "who do you think was behind Deanna's death?" I didn't look back, but I heard him stand. His voice had changed. He drew in a long breath and replied in a slower, heavier voice. "That is what you and Somenaco will have to figure out." As if his voice could get any lower or heavier, he shook his head as though he couldn't believe what he was about to say.
"As for Elena, the Council is divided. If the mark appears, great. But what if it doesn't…" He trailed off. "If it doesn't," I finished, "then Somenaco's in limbo. And they'll leave him there." I wanted to know what would become of Somenaco. He was my friend before any of this. Before Guardian marks, before swords and symbols. Besides, Somenaco is so young.
"No one knows where the Sword of Knowledge is, Digone," Cedrick said, softer now. "Deanna, she hid it." He tossed his hand in the air. And for the first time, I saw real concern in his eyes. Not for Somenaco, but for the sword. Yeah, sure, he had taken Somenaco in as a student, tried to monitor him after Sigmon died, but there were always questions about how he died. And now Deanna. I drew a long breath and let it out slowly. The Council only ever cared about the swords. So many of them don't even know the Guardians' names.
I shook my head, anger rising slow and steady. "You need to find it, Digone," Cedrick finally said what I already knew he was going to say. I shifted my weight. He had to be joking. "And do what with it?" I snapped. "Somenaco and I can't touch it. What then? We just... know where it is? Wait for one of the other human Guardians to show up and claim it?" He stared at me, a blank expression on his face. No emotion.
I waited, looking out the window again. "And how exactly do we explain that to Elena?" I muttered. "Her grandmother likely told her to guard it with her life. Did the Council even think about that before sending us out?" I let the silence hang. Then, almost to myself, "She's not going to just give it up." I heard the door start to open behind me. I looked back. "Digone, I know you will figure that out. Report anything you think is important the moment it happens. Especially if you see the mark on her. We need to know right away." Cedrick's voice was flat with a final tone. "You have your orders. I expect you to follow them." And with that, he left.
I turned back to the envelope with my name on it. At least I'll know where they're making me live. Bellweather Flats, in Ashmere Sound. Well, at least he didn't dump me in the back of some council outpost like Trasmere Crossing. Bellweather Flats are decent. A step above "government housing but still wants to feel expensive." And thank the stars we wouldn't be sharing an apartment.
I already knew where Elena lived. Did the research myself. Lotus Apartment Towers, Tower One. Those are nice apartments. Most people who live there work either at the hospital or in law enforcement of some sort. It's fitting that she lives there, probably due to the discounted rent they offer. I pulled out my files for Deanna, first created when Sigmon died. This whole thing started there.
The farmhouse had been handed over to Deanna's daughter, Noella. Elena has a room there. So did Somenaco. Technically it was the guest room, but that was just a cover. No one was supposed to know he ever stayed there. And there was a cat, Keko.
Reading over the file, I paused for a moment. Where's the cat? It would probably help Somenaco to have Keko. It's not like Noella would miss Keko. She'll think the cat ran off. I closed the file, stood up, and rolled my shoulders.
Then, with a flick of my wrist, I whispered, "Velterra." A soft hum rippled through the air as the energy began to shimmer. A green ring of mist bloomed in front of me, swirling inside like smoke caught in slow motion. Faintly glowing runes danced along its edge, flickering in and out of sight. Leaves drifted through the portal's center, caught in a slow, spiraling current, turning and floating like they had been summoned from another season. Through the portal frame, I saw the farmhouse.
It was quiet. Just one window upstairs had a dim light. I stepped through the portal's magic like it was a door grown from the forest itself. Padding quietly up to the door, I opened it. I paused at the sound of soft snoring. The air in the farmhouse was still, thick with the kind of quiet that settles after grief. Dust drifted through the soft rays of light in slow-moving motes. The scent of dried herbs and old wood lingered like remnants of Deanna's life, still etched into the bones of the place. Turning slowly, I saw Noella sleeping on the couch under a quilt. I stepped forward, careful not to disturb anything.
Boxes were stacked along the wall. This wasn't Noella's home yet. It was a memory of her childhood, frozen mid-breath. I don't think Noella has fully moved in yet. The floor creaked beneath my feet, and I froze, listening for the sound of snoring. An airy Haaaaaassss… shoooooo drifted from the couch. I moved carefully, looking for Keko. I passed the kitchen. The dining table was clean, but there was a single teacup still turned upside-down in the drying rack. Washed, dried, untouched.
I moved down the hall toward the guest room. The one Somenaco used to stay in. A low, questioning meow broke the silence. I turned. Keko was perched halfway up the stairs, eyes like emerald coins catching what little light filtered in through the curtains. Her tail flicked once, deliberate, as if questioning why I was in her house. Just… judging my intentions. I crouched a little. "Well, there you are." She didn't move at first. Typical cat. I sat down on the first step. No sudden movements. I did not want to go chasing this cat through the house while Noella was sleeping. Keko descended the last few steps like a queen who had decided she would now acknowledge the court. "Don't you remember your old friend?" I whispered.
I held my hand out to her. She walked straight up to my hand and rubbed against it. Keko gave me a look like, "What took you so long?" I let out a slow breath. "I need you to help Somenaco." I picked her up and looked in her eyes. "You're going to help him more than I ever could," I said softly. She didn't answer. Just blinked once, slow and deliberate, and began to purr. Keko's way of acknowledgment.
I carried her to the side door and grabbed the carrier. There was a sudden gasp for air. I paused, waiting for the snoring to begin again. I glanced toward the couch. Noella had shifted in her sleep, pulling the quilt tighter around her shoulders. Don't wake up. Don't wake up. Please don't wake up. Then the soft, airy snoring started again. Haaaaaassss… shoooooo.
Nothing about this was authorized by Cedrick or the Council. There was no clearance form for emotional support cat extraction. Keko, of course, picked the quietest possible moment to purr loudly. It would be a miracle if Noella didn't wake up.
I stepped back outside and padded away from the house, carrier in hand. With a flick of my wrist, I whispered, "Velterra." A soft hum rippled through the air as the energy began to shimmer. "Let's go home," I murmured. As soon as the portal finished opening, I stepped through with Keko—the last piece of Deanna Somenaco hadn't lost.