Chapter 12

Before I could figure out what was going on, I found myself in a long grey robe with elaborate black suns and moons embroidered on it. The material was soft and reflective, almost shiny, but not quite. Everyone was standing in a room of chairs waiting for the elders to arrive. Adjusting the red sash, I looked again at the large emblem of a shield and sword on it and wondered what that was supposed to mean. None of the other women’s sashes had that on it. Daxx had a large moon and small sun on hers. Alona’s was the opposite to that. Crissy’s had something that looked like the scales of justice on it, and Paisley’s was similar only a sword was in the middle pointing down. I frowned when I noticed Victor’s matched Crissy’s. What did these symbols represent?

I looked at the door again, debating if leaving was a better option for me. Outside the door stood large armed personal guards for the women. Chances of them letting me just walk away? Less than zero, according to my calculations.

“You doing okay?”

I looked away from the door to Autumn. Her sash had a book of some sort with a sword through it. I studied the pendant she wore hanging out of her robe and noticed it was the same. “I’m not sure why I’m here.” I rolled my eyes and motioned to what I was wearing, “in this meeting or whatever it is.”

She snorted. “Join the crowd.”

“Don’t you want to see people older than ten centuries?” Alona asked as she adjusted her sash.

She had a point. It’s not like I’d get that opportunity again in my life. Then again, I’d only just found out that there were people that lived that long. “They’re all over one thousand?”

“Yep.” Daxx pulled at the collar of her robe. “That’s what we’re told.”

“I wonder how old they are.” Bethany was playing with her pendant that hung over her sash. Matching symbols of two swords crossed with the sun and moon on either side for Bethany, I mused in my head. Still not knowing what all of it meant.

“Elder Varus is two thousand, six hundred years old.” Crissy said as she fidgeted with her pendant. It looked like she was having a hard time standing still and doing nothing. Knowing the flow of her mind, I could understand why she would have a hard time being idle.

Paisley looked at her. “Did you read that?”

Crissy shook her head. “I asked Victor.” She nodded. “Elder Varus is the oldest and that’s why she’s the head of the council.” She glanced over to the where the men stood chatting. “Elder Landry is the youngest, he’s only eleven hundred.”

“Only.” Daxx murmured and rolled her eyes.

I was going to meet people that were that old. I was struggling to make it to twenty-six and they had survived hundreds, and more than a thousand—or two.

“Each brother has a mentor on the council,” Crissy was talking fast, but quietly, “I wonder if Emil has one now?”

All conversation stopped when Rafael came into the room. With long strides he came toward me. My heart started beating faster. The first time it had happened, he was glaring at me in the cube, then again when I watched him wield his sword in his warrior garb. Now, in a non-threatening robe like my own it was happening again. I turned to say something to Autumn, then noticed the women had moved a few feet away, leaving me standing there by myself. My level of panic elevated.

Rafael stopped in front of me and looked down at me. I couldn’t figure out what he was thinking, his expression was completely closed off.

His sash had the same thing on it mine did. I stood there staring at it, puzzling out why they would do that. Clearly the matching symbols between the men and women meant they were a couple. Why would they want to portray Rafael and I were? And why was it necessary I was at this meeting? With people from another realm…

He held up his hand, a silver chain with pendant dangling from it.

I looked at the pendant. It had a shield with a single sword, pointing up on it. On either side of that there was a sun and moon. It was the same as the larger one around his neck.

“This is my mates’ pendant.” He said quietly. “You need to wear this to be in these chambers.”

I stood there, then realized he was waiting for me to take it. “Why do I need to be here?”

Rafael’s jaw clenched, his expression going blank. He held the pendant closer to me.

Glancing out of the corner of my eye to Autumn, she gave her head a quick shake. Hesitantly, I took it from his hand. “I’ll return it when we’re finished.”

His blue eyes moved over my face, I thought for a split second they softened. Without further comment, he spun on his heal and walked over to Michael.

“Well, that was something.” Alona gave me a gentle smile as she came over and took the necklace out of my hand. Stepping behind me, she put it around my neck.

“Guess that arrow broke Rafael’s charm.” Daxx said as she crossed her arms and stood to study Rafael.

“Definitely not what I expected.” Bethany whispered.

“She did shoot him in the butt with an arrow.” Paisley had moved closer as well.

“Yeah.” Autumn smirked. “I think his pride is more damaged than his butt was.”

“Damaged describes so much more than his pride.” Chase said as he moved closer. He motioned around the room. “We’ve graduated to a new arrangement in these chambers.”

I looked around at all the chairs behind tables. Along the back was a long table with at least a dozen chairs behind it. I watched Alona look down the long tables that were set up to curve from one end to the other. I didn’t stop to count chairs but guessed there had to be close to twenty. Going off how fancy they were compared to the others, it must be where the royal family sat.

“Are our guests using those chairs?” Alona asked.

I followed the direction she pointed to see four chairs at the end of the room.

“Yes.” Chase pointed to the opposite end where two more chairs had been placed behind a table. “The archivists will sit there.” He looked bored. “Official meetings such as this are transcribed for the journals.”

“You guys should join this century and tape them.” Paisley said glancing up from her phone.

Chase grimaced. “That would be a sight, your papa-elder’s face in the archives for all to see.”

Crissy shook her head. “I like that they put them in journals to read.”

“Of course you do.” Daxx said, then sighed. “When is this rigmarole starting?”

Just then a door on the far end of the room opened.

“Now.” Chase answered.

Twelve people came out of the door wearing the long black robes. They moved to stand behind the long table and stood beside their chairs. In unison they all bowed.

“Your majesties.” The woman in the middle with long white braid said.

I looked down the length of the table, trying to see if any of them looked as old as a thousand. They didn’t. Which was probably okay, if they aged normally it would likely not be pretty to see.

“Our guests will be arriving shortly.” The woman said looking at Chase. “They are adjusting to our realm.” She offered a polite smile. “I thought it prudent for us to precede their arrival and meet the new members of the royal family.”

“A meet and greet of sorts, of course.” Chase motioned to the curved table. “Perhaps you can give us a hint as to how we’re supposed to be formally placed along our new table too.”

Elder Varus nodded. “Elder Landry has overseen the new arrangement of the chambers, I will let him assist there.”

A man with long brown hair and gentle eyes bowed his head. “It would be my pleasure.” He glanced down the length of the table. “It would save time if we introduced ourselves as well.”

“A wonderful idea, Elder Landry.” The woman with red hair smiled. I didn’t know how old she was, there were a few grey streaks in her hair, but nothing made her look older than a thousand years old. “I’m Elder Udela.” She looked right at me as she said it, then bowed her head.

I didn’t know if I should smile or…

“Elder Drusla.” The woman I’d met earlier stated abruptly.

Next to her was a man with light brown hair, he didn’t look fifty, never mind older than a thousand. “Elder John.” He looked at Michael and bowed his head.

Next to him was Elder Landry, he motioned to the man that had reported to the kings in the dining room. “Elder Marinus.” He said in a deep tone.

The man beside him was Elder Segos, who bowed his head abruptly before stating his name. “Segos.”

Watching him for a second, Elder Varus turned to look on the other side of her.

A man with white hair, very little black still showing, nodded. “Elder Moire.”

Next to him, the man with the long wavy grey hair made an elaborate motion with his hand before bowing his head. “Elder Nodin.”

Elder Udela was beside him, she turned to look at the man beside her.

He squinted at all of us for a few moments, before smiling a stiff grin at Paisley and Autumn. “Elder Roan.”

The woman with dark hair and haunting white eyes bowed her head gracefully. “Elder Faran.”

Last at the table was a happy looking woman with curly white hair, it bounced as she nodded. “Elder Arian.”

Elder Landry came around the table into the center where we stood. He walked to the far end of the curved table. Skipping two end chairs he motioned to the next one. “Prince Emil, if you would.”

Emil raised an eyebrow. Without comment, he went around the table and stood beside the chair the elder had motioned to.

“Prince Quinton, The Huntress’s Captain.” Elder Landry motioned the chair beside Emil.

“Perhaps we can forego the long titles at this point.” Troy suggested. “So we can all find our chairs before our guests arrive.”

Elder Landry inclined his head. “As you wish.” He stepped to the next chair. “Prince Arius.”

With long strides Arius went to the chair, Paisley followed him and stood at the chair next to him.

The elder nodded and stepped to the next chair. “Princess Autumn.”

With a quiet snort, Autumn went to the chair. Michael followed her and stood in front of the chair beside her.

“Very good.” The elder said in a hushed tone. “Huntress.” He looked at Daxx. She nodded and went to the chair. Troy, Chase and Alona followed and took the next three chairs.

The elder walked along and motioned to the chair beside Alona. “Justice.”

With a stern look, Victor moved to take that spot. Crissy was right beside him.

“Enforcer.” The elder looked at Leone.

Leone smiled and took Bethany’s hand and went to the chair.

The elder stood there and looked at me.

“Kara.” I said nervously, not sure if he knew my name.

“Princess Kara and our Captain of the guard.”

Before I could correct him on the princess part, Rafael took my elbow and steered me around the table.

I stood beside Bethany, she gave me a reassuring smile.

“I have to say, princess, I’m quite excited you’re here.”

I looked to see Elder Udela looking at me. I needed to correct this princess thing…

“I too have telepathic abilities.” She smiled at me.

I didn’t know what to say to that. I’d never met anyone that had the same problem as I did. Why was she looking so pleased about it?

“Can you hear our thoughts?” Elder Varus asked.

I opened my mouth to say something, when Chase answered.

“Kara is wearing an inhibitor at the moment.” Chase looked down the table at me. “She finds too many thoughts overwhelming,” he motioned to Crissy with a smile on his face, “and our seer’s thought capacity almost debilitated her.”

“Oh. Yes.” Elder Udela nodded. “I remember how hard the first few hundred years were for me.” She heaved a loud sigh. “It was a very trying time.” She held up her arm, her robe fell down her arm to reveal a thin band on it. “When Elder Arian designed this, I was elated.” She taped her finger against it. “With a touch I can hear or not.” She smiled again.

I looked at Chase, then back to her. “I…”

“We’ll get some tests done in the lab and get the witches working with my team to design a personalized one that will work for you.” The elder with the bouncy curls said.

“Thank you.” Chase answered before I could process what they were saying. “She has agreed to assist us with Eunice.”

Elder Udela’s eyes widened. “I tried and wasn’t able to weed my way through the mush in her head.” She held up her wrist. “I fear the last two thousand years with this have let me be a little too selective and my skills are too unpracticed.”

“Maybe you’re just getting old.” Elder Drusla leaned forward and smiled down the length of the table at her.

“That could be.” Elder Udela laughed.

I didn’t know if I was supposed to speak. I bit my bottom lip, trying not to. Blurting out the wrong thing in a room full of leaders and royalty probably wouldn’t be the best thing. In truth I had no idea what the frack was happening…

“I am quite intrigued with the Princess Kara’s skill with a bow.” Elder Marinus said. He glanced to Rafael, “perhaps we can discuss reinstating such weaponry into the security protocol, Captain.”

I looked up to see Rafael’s jaw twitching, he didn’t look happy at all to be talking about what I could do with an arrow. Maybe they didn’t know I’d shot him in the tush.

“I think that’s an excellent idea, Elder Marinus.” The scary looking Elder Segos said nodding his head. “It hasn’t been used in the realm in well over a thousand years and could be useful again.”

“I have some ideas for arrow tips that stun and incapacitate.” Elder Arian said loudly, looking completely animated.

“Intriguing.” Elder Drusla said with a smirk. “Once we find out what Solrelm wants of us, I think we should begin tests to help Princess Kara with her telepathy and have her do some teaching in archery.”

“I agree on both matters.” Elder Varus said, then turned to look at Troy and Chase.

Troy nodded his head. “I’m inclined to agree.” He turned to Chase.

Chase looked down the table at me, an understanding expression on his face. “I think if this is what Kara wants, we’ll make it happen.”

What Kara wants? I had no idea what I wanted. No idea what was happening. They were going to help me further so I could or couldn’t hear people’s thoughts. I frowned, I guess that meant I wasn’t going to be keeping the red cuff. Teach archery? What did I know about teaching anything?

“I think we all need to get out of Kara’s face.” Rafael growled. “She didn’t even know Alterealm existed a few days ago. She’s been through hell. Tortured by the human doctors—everyone just needs to back off and let her adjust.”

My mouth was hanging open as I stood there looking up at him, but I couldn’t think beyond my shock to close it. Where had that come from? That was the most I’d heard Rafael say, and he was defending me. The man that had been shooting darts of hatred at me with his eyes yesterday now was defending me.

“As you wish, Captain.” Elder Varus bowed her head. “We’ll proceed when the princess has settled more.”

A man came in the door to my left. “They are ready.” He inclined his head to the royal family and then to the elders.

“Show them in, Ira.” Troy said, then he sat down.

Everyone else sat down, Beth tugged on my hand so I would as well. I was about to meet more people from a third realm. I honestly didn’t know how I felt about that. More had happened in my life since I climbed that fire escape than in the last ten years.

Two men in grey robes came through the door at the other end and sat in the two chairs there.

Beth nodded to something that Leone told her, then leaned closer to me. “We do not stand when the Solrelm representatives come in.”

I looked at her and nodded. “I don’t even know why I’m here.” I whispered.

Rafael turned and gave me a hard look.

I closed my mouth and clasped my hands in my lap. My hand felt naked without the leather finger guard. Mitz had me put it in my pocket, she said nothing weapon related was worn into the council chambers. I didn’t mention the four knives at my ankles, deciding my own comfort level was more important than walking into a situation I didn’t know anything about, without a way to defend myself if needed. I took a deep breath and then looked at the door, waiting, all I had to do was sit here and not freak out. I could do that. I hoped I could do that.