The Tower (3 page)

“What are Knights?” I asked.

“That is what we call our soldier class, such as the brave fellows that broke you out of that dungeon early yesterday morning,” explained Mr. Baker. “They are mostly destroyers and controllers, though some are even non-psionic.”

I remembered the Knights on the bus. With the exception of Ralph, who was a windmaster and peacemaker, they were all psionic destroyers with formidable powers.

Mr. Baker continued, “If you were to join the Knights, you would be assigned a psionic mentor to help train your powers, and start at the bottom of a mildly militaristic chain of command. Once you were deemed ready, you, along with your team, would be given assignments appropriate to your talents, which could include bringing in wild-born psionics, gathering information about the Angels and other lesser factions, or heading off attempts to attack our community.”

“That sounds exciting,” I said, trying to show more enthusiasm than I felt.

“However,” said Mr. Baker, “you are not an adult, and while it is true that you are one of the more powerful telekinetics to join our ranks, and certainly the most powerful for someone your age, nevertheless I do not intend to risk your life unless it is unavoidable.”

I frowned slightly. “You mean you don’t want Cindy to worry about me.”

“Cindy was quite adamant on the matter of keeping you out of harm’s way,” admitted Mr. Baker. “Besides, regardless of what Cindy still believes, we really are not savages, Adrian. We do not like to drag children into our conflict. Of course, I can’t promise you that we will not call upon you to do some service for the Guardians. You never know, after all. For the time being, however, I am placing you in charge of Cindy’s security. We have cameras set up on the outer walls, and we’ll soon have a dedicated security system in place to guard your penthouse in case an attack is attempted from the air. But even so, you are closest to her.”

“You’re just giving me something to do,” I said, frowning for real now. I wasn’t disappointed about not being asked to fight, but I could tell when someone was patronizing me.

Mr. Baker chuckled. “Oh, I haven’t begun giving you things to do yet, Adrian.”

“Meaning?”

“Stand up for a minute,” he said, getting up himself.

I stood, and without warning Mr. Baker grabbed my right wrist with his left hand. Taking a silver stirring spoon in his right, he touched it to the back of my hand. I instantly felt dizzy as my strength drained away. I struggled against Mr. Baker’s grasp, but it was futile, and I quickly dropped to my knees.

“What are you doing?!” I gasped, trying to keep myself from fainting.

“Oh my,” said Mr. Baker, hastily pulling the spoon away. “You really are horrible at it.”

Regaining my strength, I stood and glared at him.

Mr. Baker calmly put the spoon back on the table as he said, “Cindy told me that you had severe power balance issues, but rarely do I see a case this bad.”

“You could’ve just asked,” I said crossly.

“I thought Cindy was exaggerating,” said Mr. Baker. “I wanted to see it. Are you angry?”

“A little,” I said, steadying my breathing.

“Good,” said Mr. Baker. “I mean, I am sorry. But this was a test of character as well. I needed to see how you would react.”

“How did I do?” I couldn’t help asking.

“Well enough,” said Mr. Baker. “At least you didn’t attack me. Please sit down.”

We sat again, and Mr. Baker said seriously, “Cindy is right. You really do need to work on your power balance. The truth is that many psionics can’t balance their power as well as Cindy can. In fact, I’m not all that great at it either, and it’s not a very healthy way to live, I know. But you’re the worst I’ve seen in years.”

I looked down at the floor. I knew perfectly well that I was horrible at power balance and didn’t need yet another reminder of it.

Mr. Baker chuckled again and continued, “So, you wanted to know what I’m going to keep you busy with? Well, in addition to being Cindy’s bodyguard, you will continue to learn power balance from her. Meanwhile, you will be given a private tutor to continue your academic studies until your power balance is good enough for you to safely return to a normal school. Furthermore, you will be assigned a combat instructor to teach you how to fight and defend yourself.”

“A combat instructor?” I asked. “You mean for my psionics?”

“No,” said Mr. Baker. “There’s no need to train your psionic power any further at this point. I was referring to physical combat and weapons training.”

Physical combat? Weapons training?
I looked at Mr. Baker uneasily.

Mr. Baker continued, “Cindy has mixed feelings about my putting you through combat training, Adrian, but she also absolutely refused to let me place a bodyguard in her home. Aside from Alia, you are the only one living with her. We are not officially making you a Knight, of course, but nevertheless I must insist upon you learning how to fight.”

“Do all Guardian Knights take combat training?” I asked.

“Actually, no,” said Mr. Baker. “Many of our Knights simply rely on their psionic powers. However, as powerful a telekinetic as you are, Adrian, it wouldn’t hurt to be extra ready. Why do you ask?”

I said slowly, “Well, I’m not really much of a fighter.”

“Not from what I’ve heard,” said Mr. Baker, grinning. “Besides, it’s not like we’re shipping you off to boot camp. You’ll be given private lessons, and I’m sure I know just the person for the job.”

“As long as it’s not Ralph.”

“It’s not,” Mr. Baker said with a curious smile. “I was thinking of someone closer to your age. You probably won’t see much of Ralph anyway. But in case you do run into him, I should warn you that we have a law amongst Guardians, which is that you must never use your powers against another member. Not without consent. This is especially true for destroyers and controllers.”

“Ralph used his peacemaking on me when he tried to recruit me last year,” I said, remembering also that he had later tried to kill me by using his power as a windmaster to remove the air from my lungs.

“You weren’t a Guardian then,” Mr. Baker said simply, and then added, “I know Ralph is a bit on the extreme. I don’t expect you to get along with him, or anybody for that matter. But even Ralph won’t use his power on you once you have officially joined.”

“Ralph doesn’t seem the type to follow rules,” I said stiffly.

Mr. Baker shrugged. “From what I’ve heard from Cindy, neither do you.”

Ouch. I gave Mr. Baker a sheepish look. He laughed, saying, “Ralph may be a crazy old man, but he does know right from wrong, Adrian.”

“That’s comforting.”

“Good,” said Mr. Baker, ignoring my sarcasm. “So, that’s about it from me. Do you have any questions?”

I paused, thinking about that for a moment before saying, “Just one. Am I a Guardian now?”

“You are indeed,” confirmed Mr. Baker. “I plan to introduce you at the welcoming party next month.”

“Party?”

“The ‘Welcome to New Haven’ party. You will be introduced along with Cindy to the rest of the Guardians.”

My stomach growled loudly, and Mr. Baker chuckled, saying, “You haven’t had any breakfast yet, I suppose. Cindy will no doubt have cooked something up by now. If you really have no other questions, why don’t you go on back?”

“Okay,” I said, getting to my feet.

Mr. Baker stood up too. “And if you have any other questions or problems, Adrian, don’t hesitate to find me, okay?”

I did have one other important question, but I decided against asking it, and simply said, “Thank you, Mr. Baker.”

“I’m a bit hungry myself,” said Mr. Baker.

“Why don’t you join us?” I suggested. “It’s your food, after all, and Cindy usually cooks too much anyway.”

“I’d love to, but I have some business to take care of. Things are going to be very busy for a while.”

Mr. Baker showed me out, and I went back up the stairs to the penthouse. Sure enough, I was met with the smell of ham and eggs the moment I opened the door. Alia had already finished eating and was busy exploring the other rooms.

“You know, Cindy, this is the first home-cooked meal I’ve had since February,” I said as I sat down at the dining table with a plate load of breakfast and a tall glass of orange juice.

“Sorry it’s not full-course,” said Cindy, who prided herself as a semi-professional cook. “How was the food at the research center?”

“Not bad, I suppose,” I mumbled through a mouthful of scrambled eggs. Cindy’s was better.

“Alia’s grown some,” said Cindy.

“I didn’t notice.”

Cindy smiled. “You have, too.”

Maybe. Honestly, I didn’t feel any different. At least, not in that way. One of the things Alia and I shared was the unfortunate fact that we were both small for our ages, but Alia especially so. When I had first met her, I was shocked to learn that she was two years older than I had thought.

Cindy, who had already eaten with Alia, sat quietly at the table watching me chew. I found that a bit annoying, to tell the truth, but I wasn’t going to say it to Cindy. Besides, I was happy for her company, even if she was treating me like a child.

“So how’d it go with Mr. Baker?” asked Cindy as she refilled my glass of orange juice for me.

“Oh, like you don’t know!” I laughed. “You set it up with him so that I wouldn’t be assigned to anything dangerous.”

“You’re not upset about that, are you?” Cindy asked in a concerned tone.

“No, of course not,” I replied, which was true. “I’ve had enough fighting to last a lifetime.”

If I was disappointed by Mr. Baker’s decision to keep me out of the Knights, it was only because I felt that I wasn’t repaying my debt to the Guardians as much as I should. In all honesty, I was very relieved that I wouldn’t be thrown into their war. After all, I had only barely escaped Ralph when he first kidnapped me, and I couldn’t have beaten him later without Cindy’s help. I had been no match for the graviton woman in Mark’s town. Ralph had to save me from the insane pyroid at the research center, and Dr. Denman would have killed me had Alia not intervened. Upon reflection, I realized that I had yet to win a single fight by myself. Nor did I particularly want to. Fighting just wasn’t my thing. It was scary. It was painful. I’d fight in self-defense, but only if escape was not possible. I certainly had no desire to go looking for trouble.

“Good,” said Cindy. “I was afraid you might be upset. You know... for treating you like a kid.”

I sighed and said, “I acted like a kid, Cindy. It’s no more than I deserve.”

Cindy shook her head. “No, Adrian. What you did was very grown-up. You kept Alia safe, and you saved her.”

“She saved me,” I said quietly, and then looked into Cindy’s eyes. “I never really thanked you... you know, for everything...”

“And I already told you that you don’t have to,” said Cindy.

“I – I know,” I said, trying to keep myself from mumbling. “But I want to. Thank you, Cindy. Thanks for coming after me.”

Cindy smiled warmly. “That’s what family does, Adrian, but you’re welcome all the same. And thank you, too.”

“For what?” I asked, laughing. “Turning your life upside down?”

“For Alia,” replied Cindy. “Didn’t you notice how she was on the bus?”

I gaped. I hadn’t even thought about it until now, but Alia hadn’t made the least fuss about being around strangers.

“Glad I could help,” I said, grinning.

“Good, because there’s something else you can help with,” said Cindy.

“What?”

“Promise me you won’t get angry.”

I gave Cindy a cautious look. “I’ve learned to be a bit more careful about making promises, Cindy.”

Cindy cocked an eyebrow. “Adrian?”

“Okay! I promise. What is it?”

Cindy smiled as she said, “Alia wants to share a room with you.”

“What?!” I sputtered.

“Adrian!”

“I’m not angry, Cindy! I’m – I’m shocked.”

“Oh, come on, Adrian.”