Keeper's Knowledge (Balancer's Soul cycle) (58 page)

Behind
them came a deep rumbling laugh. Sarah
turned around to see Mark leaning against the wall in his wolf form. His furry arms were crossed over his barreled chest
as he surveyed the two with amusement
. His black tail hung down to the ground and he had one clawed foot propped up against the wall.
She
asked “How long has Kara been waiting to do that?”

He pushed himself off t
he ledge and walked closer to them
. He smiled and said “About an hour and a half. She didn’t want to miss her chance to play with Connor. You know how she is.”

Sarah
turned back around
,
still smiling. She was forcing it because she knew they listened to them
and what
they
did in
their
room a few minutes ago.

She
looked back to see Kara now standing on her back legs. She opened her arms and Connor stepped into them for a calm hug. When they pulled apart she said “Happy Birthday, Brother. What do you want to do today?”

He walked over to Sarah and took her
hand. “We were going
down
to
get some breakfast.”

“Sounds like a plan.” A male voice come from behind
again
.
They
turned to see
her parents
making their way to
them
.

“Wow, the two of you are up early this morning.” Connor said with a playful smile.

“Who could sleep with Kara’s voice booming so early? Not to mention how loudly she landed for some reason.”
Jack said and then yawned. Sarah
glanced to see Kara grinning at
her f
ather. “Please, I’ve seen a rabbit look more dan
gerous than you do right now.” Sarah
couldn’t stop laughing once Connor started. Once
they
finally stopped
Jack
said “Happy Birthday, Connor.”

They
made
their
way down to the cafeteria to be greeted by a worried looking Veronica
holding her egg between her legs
. Firon and Clarein sat beside her
and looked worried themselves. They spotted
them
and masked their expressions a little too late.

Sarah
walked up to
her
friend
s
and said “What are you so worried about?”

Veronica
took a deep breath and sighed. Sarah
could feel the heat of her breath
and her mental voice sounded defeated
.
“Do not worry too much. It is just my nerves, Sarah. Today is the day I am allowed to go up in front of the Elders and apply for a new mate to help me raise my child. I have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”

A shadow flew right by Sarah
and jumped directly
up
at Veronica. It was Connor and he wasn’t playing this time.
His body language
explained
he was ready for a fight.
He landed in her lap
,
picked up her egg and dropped to the ground before she even realized what just happened.
He ran back to stand beside
Sarah
with the
large
egg in his arms.
Veronica
looked down at her now empty claws and her gold eyes blinked before widening. All of her muscled tensed and her head swiftly moved to search for her egg. Once she saw it i
n Connor’s hands her rage and instinct to protect her young kicked in. Firon and Clarein were still reeling from what just happened. Veronica let
out a deep rumbling growl and Sarah
took a
n instinctive
step back, but Connor didn’t budge. She dropped onto all fours and approached Connor with the intent to kill.

“That is more like it!” Veronica stopped at Connor’s loud voice. “That
whining
, timid and scared creature wasn’t the proud, strong and wise Veronica
that
I know. Don’t let your fears take over you or else you will lose everything
you hold dear
, my friend.” Connor proudly walked
right up to her and held up the
metal encased egg. “
This
is the only thing you should ever worry about. If you did, you would have been able to stop me from taking your egg
so
effortlessly
. Friend or not, you are the only one who can protect this child from the dangers of the world and only you know what is a threat and what isn’t.”

She stopped moving as did Sarah’s
heart.

Veronica closed her eyes in defeat as she sighed. When she opened them again she pushed herself back on her back legs and stood like an immovable tower. Her mental voice took on pride and honor once again.
“Your words are wise beyond your years and I will not soon forget them. If you do not mind I will take my child back now.”
Connor raised her egg once again and she slowly took it into the palms of her hand.
“I hope to find a mate who is half as wise as you are.”

Before Connor could make a reply Firon stood and walked around Veronica. He knelt down to get eye to eye to Connor.
This was a threatening gesture and not one he’s shown since he barred his teeth at
Sarah’s
mate.
“I am sorry, but Connor you are under arrest for a capital offense. To take an egg from a
n
Honored Mother
is like kidnapping in your culture. You will come with me
to be judged by your Elders
.
Do not even attempt to resist.
”

T
he hairs on the back of
Sarah’s
neck
instantly began to stand straight up and her
face
flushed. There wasn’t any way she
would be separated from
her
mate.
Nothing
on this planet could separate them
, not even death
.
Her
rage couldn’t be contained as
she
took a step forward.
Her
hands
dove down and
were each
holding the handles of Fangs.

“He isn’t
going anywhere with you
!”
Veronica grabbed her son by the back of his neck and dragged him to his feet before he had time to react to her words. He might have been tall
er than she was, but right now Sarah
knew
his mother
would take him out if she had to. A low menacing growl came from her throat and froze Firon completely.
“You listen to me now, Child.
”
He blinked at being called a child
at his age
.
“
Connor will not go anywhere with you. He committed no crime because my child never left my eyes
nor was it in any danger
. What he did was teach us a valuable lesson which should already be instilled in all parents.
He also did this for you and Clarein when you two conceive a child.
If you lay even a single scale on him you will have to face both of us…”
S
he drew her face back
by
about two feet.
“By the way
,
did you realize he had your tail and was about to throw you against the wall
if you made another move against him
?
Just one more word
from your mind
and it would have been all over for you.”

Fir
on’s yellow eyes went down and Sarah
saw that Connor did indeed have
the Guard’s
tail held in his left hand.
They
could see Connor’s muscles screaming to be released.
Right now his wild side was warring with his sense of restraint.
Even
Sarah
was unable to see how Connor moved to get a
hold of it.
“How the…”
that was all
Firon
was able to get out.

Veronica regained his attention by saying
“Or have you already forgotten his…”
S
he glanced
towards
Sarah just as she
raised a warning
eyebrow.
“Y
ou know what you saw from the second time you
met these two
. He could take you down before you can even blink. I think how he’s holding your tail is further proof of his…
talents
.”
She chose her last word carefully. Veronica looked down at Connor and said
“Since I also outrank him by
my title
alone, I give you my word he will not arrest you for your little demonstration.”

Connor
released Firon’s tail and said evenly “That is all I need to hear. The last thing I need is to be arrested on my birthday.”
Firon rubbed his tail from the pain of
her
mate
’
s grasp.

“Well then I offer my congratulations. How old are you if I may ask?”

“I’m now twenty winters.” Connor said for her to understand properly.

“What are your plans for this special day?”

“To eat first.” Connor turned and began walking away from her and to
Sarah
with a smile. He took
her
hand and
they
walked together to the line.

Sarah
sealed off all access to
her
mind as
she
entered Connor
’
s. She
kept
her mental voice nonchalant as she
asked
“Will you tell me the real reason you pulled such a foolhardy stunt that could have gotten us both killed?”

He locked his mind as well.
“Because from what I’ve seen of their species
,
pride and strength mean everything to them
; even more than knowledge or riches
. If the
Elders
sa
w weakness in her as she pleaded
for a new mate
, she
will have a tough chance getting
her request
accepted. Plus she needed to see what would happen if someone vile saw her
in a state
like that.
Vulnerability invites disaster.
”

“Did you think of our child when you did this?”

“Yes.”
He glanced at her
with dangerous hazel eyes.
His dangerous side hadn’t left.
“If Veronica didn’t step in she was going to lose
the life of
her son.”
His voice turned deadly, but
she
recognized his protective instinct.
“Veronica had it wrong, I wasn’t going to throw him. I was going to use his tail to choke him to death.”
His eyes then began to soften a minute later and then he continued with a calm
er
and clear headed tone.
“No one can ever separate us by force. They can try, but you know they will fail in the process. I don’t like to kill,
but I will when they get in my way.
”

“I know exactly what you meant. I was about to fight with you.”

“I remember. You took a well placed step. It was difficult for even me to hear. I’m proud to know that you have my back even if you think I’m crazy.”
He smiled weakly.

“No, I would say the closer word would be…
insane
.”
She
couldn’t help but smile and he choked off a laugh.

Their
entire group remained in silence
for the next fifteen minutes. Sarah
invaded Kara’s mind and
to find out
she was
constantly
laughing at her brother’s stunt.
Her mother and f
ather saw
how
she
moved to help Connor and they were worried for
her
safety. Mar
k on the other hand was making plans for
tomorrow for some reason.

Sarah
turned around as the last person left with their tray of food.
They
both bo
wed down to Elder Adela and as Sarah
looked back at her she showed
them
a one sided smile. Her voice became chipper. “Just the group I have been waiting
all morning
to see.” She looked at all of
them
in one swift sweep. “Sarah, will you and
your group please follow me.” S
he put her hands on the tabletop and jumped over the
counter
in one graceful bound.