"Don't be afraid." The deep voice still echoed inside her.
"I trust you, Remiel," she whispered as she crossed the footbridge.
Some strength had returned with her warm soak. She hurried up the hill to the house, tossed her dirty clothes inside the door and paused with her hand on the door knob.
Sileas.
Was it only the previous evening she had argued with her friend? Tears stung her eyes and threatened to spill over. She pinched the bridge of her nose and controlled her breathing. If she surrendered to the intensity of the emotions inside her, she was afraid it would swallow her whole. The weight of it would crush her chest and make it impossible to breathe.
She closed her door. An overwhelming compulsion to stay away from the Chapel nearly made her stay in the House. But her absence at breakfast would look suspicious, so she began to walk down the hill to Lael. When she passed the spot Remiel had appeared to her, she stopped. She'd dropped Sileas's pendant somewhere around here the night before.
Numerous stones and sticks littered the area but nothing more. She sighed. It could be anywhere. Aliah must have picked her up here... then carried her. She re-traced the steps she thought he had taken back to her front door.
A shiny object glinted near a few loose stones. She stooped down and parted the grass, moving the stones out of the way. It wasn't the pendant.
Lying partially concealed under a stone lay a thin silver key. She picked it up and held it. It was small enough to fit in her palm. She turned it over and a small, bright red gem glittered in the center of three interlocking rings. Identical to her birthmark. Written in delicate script were the words: "Out of the fire."
She closed her fingers around it then dropped it into her tunic pocket. It was the key Remiel had given to her. She stood up then continued walking down the hill.
What is the key for? She thrust her hand into her pocket, squeezed the key and sighed. He said she'd need it someday, but how would she know when that day would come?
CHAPTER 19
Aliah
He felt her before he saw her. He strode toward the Chapel steering clear of the people making their way in and went inside. His eyes scanned the rows of tables and benches. Where is she?
He spotted Ellersly sitting at their usual spot.
"Where is she?" Aliah whispered behind his hand to Ellersly as he sat down.
Ellersly turned to look at him through wide eyes then tipped his head to the left towards the front.
"Good. I'm going to go through with it but I need your help. Stop looking so nervous, just go with it." Aliah stood, then made his way to the back of the Chapel, bumping into a group of young children that just entered with their Community Mother. He kept his head down.
After some muffled chatter the room grew quiet. Maire walked to the front and addressed the group with a loud voice.
"Let us observe the Law of Gratitude for our meal today." She bowed her head and remained silent for two minutes, everyone did the same.
Aliah's stomach turned and he lost his appetite. If they only knew who they were really showing their gratitude to.
Maire raised her head. "Remember, your allegiance to our Gracious Leader. We've had an upsetting night but we must not forget that our Leader sees everything. His Watchers are his eyes and ears and every infraction will be reported and swiftly punished." Several children shifted in their seats, dutifully clasping their hands in their laps.
Maire's eyes found his and she scowled. Aliah shook his head. She always looked suspicious of him.
On the front row on the left side of the room Shai sat between two Mothers: a woman with white hair and dark skin the other a younger woman with short dark hair and olive skin.
The chapel door burst open and a small boy hustled to the front of the room. Pale-faced and wide-eyed he approached Maire.
"Edward! You've broken the Law of Punctuality. Expect punishment!" Her loud reprimand startled a few children seated near the front and they hunkered down on their benches.
Edward bowed his head and extended his hand toward Maire. He held a piece of paper which the Mother snatched and unfolded.
Sweat dripped down Aliah's back as he moved closer to the exit. If his plan succeeded he'd have only seconds to act quickly.
Maire's eyes scanned the paper then her dimpled hand flew to her throat. "Who gave this to you!" Spittle flew out of her mouth and Edward cringed. His answer muffled by whispers that began to echo around the room.
"Shai! Step forward!" Maire's face grew red, the veins in her neck bulging.
"What's going on?" Shai's voice sounded tense as she rose from her table to stand in front of the Mother.
Maire stood with her hands on her hips. "This!" Her jowls wobbled as she thrust the paper toward Shai. Shai took the paper and bent her head to read it.
The volume of Maire's voice rose. "You've committed an infraction. Your Reward has been removed. The Watchers have reported that they saw you take those children the other night. I knew it!" The room rumbled with chatter and the sound of shuffling feet. A few children started crying.
Maire held up a hand. "Quiet! Remain seated!" She snatched the paper back from Shai. "It says your punishment will not be served at the next Reading but will commence immediately. You've been exiled."
Murmurs rose from the crowd and several more children burst into tears. Shai stepped back. She looked terrified and confused.
Guilt gripped Aliah. He couldn't fail her now. He had to follow through with the plan. He swayed and pressed a palm to the wall to steady himself.
Someone spoke near him. "You okay? You don't look so good."
He looked down at his friend and nodded. "Ellersly, it's time. Cover me." Aliah ducked behind a group of children that were trying to get out the door. Murmurs and whispers roared through the Chapel. Normal breakfast proceedings had been forgotten.
Shai stood there with her arms hanging at her sides. The hairs on Aliah's arms stood on end as he moved through the crowd towards her. Her fear and confusion pulsed into his own body the closer he got to her. Heat flared through his birthmark. Things were about to get even more out of control.
Aliah pulled on his hood and kept his head down as he approached the front.
Maire gasped and stepped aside, her stubby finger pointing. "Here's a Watcher now!"
Aliah pulled Shai into his arms, pressing her to him roughly. She pushed and clawed at him until he had no choice but to press his mouth to her ear and hiss, "Shai! It's me!" She grew quiet, but held herself rigid against his side as he led her out of the Chapel.
Aliah ran down the street, across the bridge and behind the Girls' Houses into the woods with one arm around Shai who struggled to keep up with him.
CHAPTER 20
Shai
They crashed through the woods. Shai stumbled over a root, scratching her face on a low-hanging branch.
“Aliah, stop!” She tried to yank her arm from his grip, but he grasped her firmer. “Stop! You’re hurting me! Where are you taking me?”
Aliah didn’t stop until they reached a three-strand barbed wire fence that blocked their path. Aliah looked for the cut in the fence and they slipped through it. He led them along his most familiar route to Thunder Manor. When they reached his hide-away, he stumbled through the door and pulled her inside by her wrist again. Only when the door was shut did he yank his hood off.
She whirled around to face him. "Where are we?" Shai's round blue eyes flicked from his face, to their surroundings and back again. She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear that had sprung loose, and crossed her arms.
"Sorry it was so abrupt, but I had to get you out of there. I worked it all out. You've been exiled. Welcome to your new home. We're outside of Lael… in the Borderless." He breathed heavily and wiped the sweat off his face with the back of his hand. He reached out to touch the scratch on her face but she slapped his hand away, her cheeks red.
"What do you mean you worked it out?"
&
nbsp; "Your infraction, your exile. I made it up. You're shaking. Here." He pulled her into the living room and grabbed a thick, grey Laelite blanket to wrap around her shoulders. He took a seat close to the fire in the Great Room but she remained standing.
She looked around the room, face pale and lips pressed into their familiar thin line. “I can’t believe this! First you faked my exile then you kidnapped me? What were you thinking? Where are we?”
"We're at Thunder Manor." His head spun and his skin prickled in spite of the sweat pouring in rivers down his face and back. He shivered then stood and walked to the window; the curtains were drawn, but he could think better if he didn't look at her.
"Thunder Manor? I don’t understand. I thought it was just part of a story. The story that I have pieces of in my mind. It was supposedly destroyed during the War Between Worlds. What is going on?" The anger in Shai's voice stabbed at his heart. Silence filled the room. He removed his cloak, draped it over the arm of a nearby chair then turned back to the window. He ran a hand through his hair and breathed deeply. Out of the corner of his eye he glimpsed her sitting down with her head in her hands, her hair catching the golden glow of the fire. How many times had he seen her vulnerable like this? More times than she'd care to admit in the past few days.
He turned back to stare at the folds in the thick, red drapery, his heart summer-saulting in his chest. There was no turning back now.
He strode to the front door and shoved a large steel deadbolt into place. They were safe from the Laelites, but not from Samael.
Aliah slowly turned from the door to look at her blanket-clad back for a moment before speaking. "The Leader never destroyed Thunder Manor. He sealed it up when he fenced in Lael to protect it. I've been staying here for a while." He couldn't tell her that guilt drove him here.
"I... I don't understand. Why did you bring me here?" She shrugged off the blanket and got up to stand by the fire.
"To protect you."
Shai met his eyes. "You faked my exile! How is that protecting me?"
He licked his lips with a tongue too dry to moisten anything. "I had to save you. I...I had to play the part of a Watcher to get you out of there before... Recruitment Day." Aliah crossed the floor to stand in front of her then reached out to touch her shoulder. He had to make her understand. She needed to trust him.
She stiffened. He dropped his hand and set his jaw.
Soft shuffling behind them interrupted his explanation. Zev stood there, his shoulders straight, hands behind his back like he was waiting to deliver some important news.
"What is it Zev?" Aliah's impatience made his tone sharp and Shai's wide eyes looked from him to Zev.
"Who are you?" She turned back to Aliah. "Who is he? What's going on?"
"Shai, this is Zev. It's a long story."
Zev shifted from one foot to the other until Aliah nodded at him.
"I've just come from Lael. You told me to report anything unusual going on. Well, there's something you need to know. One of the Mother's, Eliana, was exiled right after you left. She defended Shai and... committed a…what do you call it? Uh, an infraction. She publicly dishonored the Leader."
Shai looked away and Aliah swallowed. Any words he had stuck in his throat.
Zev continued, "I decided to follow her. I saw her go through the cut in the fence-line, but when she began running I lost sight of her."
Shai's shoulders slumped as she stood in silence. When at last she raised her head her eyes were hard. Her pupils dilated until only a small rim of pale blue outlined them. "All this mess is because of me."
Aliah cleared his throat. "No. Don't think of it like that."
"Did they take her pendant?" Shai asked Zev.
"I'm sorry...I don't know." Zev backed away then left the room. But Aliah knew. He'd been a Watcher long enough to know that part of the territory the Watchers watched included the Borderless. It was only a matter of time before the next group of Watchers went out on another raid. And if a Borderless person was found having taken anything from Lael, it would be confiscated. If they refused to part with the item they would be beaten.
He gripped the edge of the mantel to steady himself. He was part of the group scheduled for the next raid. He had to go. He had to find Eliana and take her pendant before someone else found her. If he didn't help Shai's favorite Mother, she would never forgive him.
"Aliah, why'd you do all of this? You should've just let me go with Elchai. It would've been better than staying in Lael anyway. And better than hiding out here. How long can this last? When I don't show up for my “reward” he'll discover that you set this all up. How many infractions would that be?"
His heart sank.
"I can't let you go, Shai. Ever. I don't care if I spend the rest of my life running. I only want to protect you. You hate the Laws. Do you really think you're better off being with the man responsible for making them? I don't believe you do."
Several moments passed in silence. Then Shai's face softened suddenly. "I know you put yourself in danger to rescue me. Thank you."
His heart beat so furiously he was afraid she might hear it. Light-headed and short of breath, he whispered, "Stay with me, at least for now. I'll keep you safe. In a few days if you really want to go to Elchai, I'll take you myself."
She reached out slowly and touched his hand. He took her fingers and pressed his lips to them, never taking his eyes from hers.
When she spoke, her voice was soft but strong. "What if we die?"
He shook his head. "We won't die. We still have our pendants." He stopped himself. "I'll go back and get yours. It's probably in the vault. Stay here until I can go back to Lael and figure out how to get it. Zev will look after you until I return."
She nodded. "I've always hated those things."
He took her hand and put it through his arm. "I know, but they keep us safe. As long as we keep the Essence safely inside them we'll be fine."
Wearing a pendant did nothing to keep Sileas safe. He bit the inside of his lip. He knew Shai would be thinking the same thing.
"Come. I want to show you something." He led her down a massive hall with high ceilings made of curved stone, flanked with wooden doors on both sides. He stopped at the last door on the right.
The solid wooden door had a dark oil finish that made the grain stand out against the light grey stone walls. He turned a small key that protruded from the lock, then pushed the door open. A damp mustiness greeted them as they entered. More expansive stone walls similar to the hallway extended at least twenty feet high before they met with thick log rafters. But in spite of its opulence, the room had an oppression like years of sadness had been sealed inside of it.
Aliah took a lit lantern from a round table near the door and gripped her hand tighter in his other arm. He pulled her into the room and walked towards the opposite end. Their boots clomped on the stone floor and the sound echoed back to them.
Lonely. Hollow.
He cleared his throat and swallowed. His chest ached as he tried to breathe the stale air.
Shai stared at the oil paintings hanging on the walls, Thunder Manor in its glory long ago. Its crumbling exterior walls had been alive with curling tendrils of ivy, and the grounds had been lush with grass and multi-colored blooms.
"Elchai and his sons lived in this Manor a long time ago." Aliah's voice sounded too loud in the long room. "My mother used to tell me stories about him. She said he was kind and gentle."
Shai took her hand from his arm to run her fingers along the stone walls. "I remember some of those stories too. I was younger than you so I don't remember all the details. Your mother used to talk about Elchai and his sons, one of them they called the Son of Thunder. She used to say Elchai's Laws were there to help us be who we were meant to be. To protect us from ourselves. And one day, when the Laws were abolished, infractions and their penalties would no longer be needed. On that day, the Son of Thunder would take the rest of Elchai's land back from his enemy, S
amael. I always thought your mother made up those stories so we wouldn't be afraid to obey Elchai. That we would see him as some kind of hero. But the more time passes, the less I believe that Elchai is as kind as that."
The look on Shai's face revealed her dislike for their Leader. It was the first time Aliah had heard her come close to committing an infraction by speaking against their Leader. Maybe she felt free to do so because for the next twenty days she was free from the Laws and Rules, or maybe it was just being in Thunder Manor.
"So I didn't believe any of the stories anymore. But sometimes... when I'm alone, I think I see it: the Old World. I mean, I have these thoughts, daydreams, that seem so real. And they make me think that maybe everything’s true: the stories about Elchai's land, and the land of Edan being divided during the War Between Worlds. And I dream of someday leaving Lael. Crossing the fence-line and going into the Borderless to see if the Sectors exist."
She had stopped walking and stood on the opposite side of the room, cast in shadows. Aliah lifted the lantern and its light bathed her face in a soft glow. Her blue eyes shone like two bright stones in her pale face.
"But then I realize how stupid that is. And I make the thoughts go away. But being here...what if it's not just some story? I want to believe but it's hard to think of Elchai or even his sons as a savior when to me he's a bully. Part of me wants to go to him. To meet the Leader no one's ever seen because he lives in the Borderless. And then I could see if the Sectors exist." She closed her eyes and leaned her cheek against the wall.
Aliah sucked in a breath then coughed. "I don't know, Shai. I stopped believing too. Just because the Manor is real doesn't mean the rest of the stories are true." He paused and ran a hand through his hair. "You know Zev is actually from out there. He says there's nothing left. The Sectors don't exist."
Aliah lowered the lantern. He had to change the subject. The hope he suddenly saw in Shai's eyes was worse than the pain he usually saw there. He didn't want to see her disappointed.
"I will get your pendant from Lael when it's safe, then I'll take you to Elchai if you want. You can see for yourself that there's nothing out there." His stomach was suddenly in knots. What if she decided she wanted him to take her to Elchai? He shouldn't have offered to. I’m a fool!