Read The Guardians of the Forest: Book Two Page 26
CHAPTER 46
PEACEFUL
Kiethara followed Aaron’s instructions despite the fact that she was frustrated with him. Aaron enjoyed keeping secrets—she could see that now. It worried her, though; the last secret Aaron had tried to keep had changed the way that she looked at her life forever.
His attitude, too, kept her wondering. Aaron was usually never anything but calm, but his increasingly annoyed demeanor was making her head spin. It was obvious what was happening to him. Why did he keep denying it?
As Kiethara thought out this new phenomenon, her stomach dropped. Could his power be…fading? He had already died, but was it possible for him to do it again? He was a spirit, but she did not know what that meant. She had never heard a story or a legend that could possibly describe to her what was happening to her mentor.
Could he be sick and ashamed to admit it? Aaron had never shown a weakness before, and maybe he was scared to show one now, in front of her. She knew that whatever the reason might be, she would never lose faith in him.
Still, the mystery bothered her. The unknown was almost as intimidating as what she did know, and Kiethara felt something forbidding creeping up behind her, but whether it was anticipation of another attack from her father or of something else, she could not tell.
Kiethara mused over all of this why she thrusted her sword in a left-handed stab. She no longer needed to learn any new techniques, but to practice them. As the blade glittered in the evening sun she marveled its beauty, how every crystal and diamond sparkled in its own, perfect way.
She had other things to worry about besides Aaron, anyway.
As she had been following Aaron’s orders, she realized that one of the presences she had felt yesterday was not turning back. It was deep in the forest, although not too deep to be a worry to her yet. In order to sense the presence, she still had to strain her mind to its limits and she could only hold on to it for a maximum of ten minutes at a time.
Disappointedly, Kiethara knew it could not be Navadar. It was far too early for it to be him; he might not even be at Redawn yet. Also, this person was too bright to be Navadar. To her, his presence was almost invisible due to his lack of magic. He had to be within a certain distance of her for her to even register that he was near. The person coming now had magic.
She also knew it could not be Gandador. For one, Gandador would not waste his time strutting through the forest. If he wanted to, he would appear directly in her clearing and smack her clean across it. No, this presence had less magic than Gandador or even Sinsenta.
So where did this leave her? Kiethara had never been able to anticipate an unexpected arrival before. This person was not a friend, but not strong enough to be considered a threat. Only someone with Gandador’s amount of power could be considered one and she had defeated him the last time he had decided to come and play a visit.
Defeated, not killed.
Kiethara kicked forcibly at the air in front of her and brought her sword down in a right-to-left strike, entwining her physical combat with her sword training. She rolled through the grass and then kicked off the ground. Halfway flying, halfway falling, she took the sword in both hands and pointed it down, pretending she was bringing it down on someone’s skull. Finishing the move with a graceful land on the balls of her feet, she grinned. No one was getting past her.
Kiethara straightened up, sheathing her sword with a sigh and looking over at the setting sun. It hung low, the beautiful shades of orange falling below the tree tops.
She climbed into her hammock with a yawn. She was too tired to worry about anything now: not her guest, not her father, and not her mentor. The only thing she really needed to worry about was what crazy dream she was in store for tonight.
With that, she closed her eyes and fell asleep…
So you don’t even have a plan? the voice asked.
Kiethara was lying in her mother’s meadow. At least, that’s where she thought she was. The flowers towered above her, some of them as tall as trees. The ground beneath her rocked as though she was in water.
What exactly are you referring to? Kiethara asked.
Why don’t we start with this guest of yours, Tinya said. Don’t you think you should be a little more prepared?
Kiethara sighed. Tinya never gave it a rest. How? I don’t even know who it is.
Are you sure? What if it’s Durga or Markii?
Kiethara pursed her lips. She hadn’t even considered them. They visited the forest so rarely, and she had only met Markii once…
I’m not sure Markii has any magic, she thought.
But you don’t know that.
Kiethara sighed. She did not need some dead kid lecturing her on her decisions. Her plan was to attack if necessary. Was it really so complicated?
Fine, then, leave it at that. Goodness forbids you’re prepared for once in your life.
Kiethara could practically hear the voice roll her eyes.
But you said to start with, Kiethara reminded her. What else?
Your father, of course. What do you plan to do about him?
Kiethara was quiet for a moment. What do you mean?
You know what I mean.
I’m going to defeat him, she thought simply.
The voice snorted. How? Are you going to scold him for his wrong doings and send him on his way? You have to kill him!
I know that.
Do you? Tinya asked. Do you really have a plan? How are you going to kill him?