Laura Jo Phillips (26 page)

“This is a lot more important than we thought, Aisling,” she said.

“Yes, I get that,” Aisling said.  “But don’t you think that the story you just told me is important as well?”

Karma dropped her eyes, then looked up again.  “I do think it’s important,” she admitted.  “But I’m afraid to tell anyone.  What if they don’t believe me?”

“Then that would be their problem, and their loss,” Aisling replied.  “Its up to you, Karma.”

“I know, Aisling, and I appreciate that,” Karma said.  “I need to think about it.”

“If I can translate this oraculum, maybe it won’t matter that much,” Aisling said.  “Maybe the oraculum itself will be enough.”

“Maybe,” Karma replied softly.  “And maybe the story of the Arkandu will help us to understand the oraculum.” 

Aisling nodded but couldn’t think of anything to say that wouldn’t sound as though she were pressing Karma.  This was Karma’s decision to make.  

“Ash, if you feel it’s important to tell someone, like the Gryphons, about the Arkandu, then go ahead.  I won’t mind.”

“Thanks Karma,” Aisling said.  “I appreciate that.  If it becomes necessary, I will.”

Chapter
24

Hope Bearen sat on the edge of her chair in the meeting room of their new home on the Dracons’ ranch, watching as Jackson entered with a cardboard box.  This was the box that the Director had given her before they’d left Earth.  The box left by her cousin, Harlan, with instructions that it be given to her in the event of his death, along with a letter addressed to her.  She’d read the letter shortly after the Director had given her the box.  As a result of that letter, she had not opened the box.  Just the sight of it made her nervous.

Jackson set the box down on the long meeting table and sat down across from Hope.  “Are you sure you’re ready to do this?” he asked.

Clark and Rob entered the room and took chairs on either side of Hope.  “The boys are sleeping now,” Clark said, reading the question in Hope’s eyes.  “Tessa said she will let us know if they wake up.”

Hope nodded, relieved that of their two new nannies, the older and more solid Tessa was the one watching over the children.  The younger woman, Sila, was a bit nervous and Hope wasn’t quite sure of her yet.  Satisfied that the boys were in good hands for the moment, she returned her gaze to the box. 

“You don’t have to touch anything,” Jackson said.  “We’ll open it up and take out whatever is inside.  Then you can decide what you want to do next.”

Hope nodded again.  She hated feeling afraid, but she couldn’t help how she felt.  Harlan’s letter had warned her to be careful about reading the items in the box.  He said that the objects had been given to him because her mother and aunt had feared what she might learn from them.  Even though she hadn’t accidentally read an object since she was a child, that had been enough to make her afraid to touch whatever was in the box.

“Okay, open it up and let’s see what’s in it,” Hope said.  “It can’t be too bad or the Director would have said something, right?”

“Yes, that’s right,” Clark said, reaching over to rub her neck gently with one hand. 

Jackson broke the seal on the box and opened it with mixed feelings.  He wanted to know what was in the box, but at the same time, he didn’t like anything that caused Hope worry.  He had considered chucking it out into deep space more than once during their journey from Earth to Jasan.  It was the mysterious connection between Hope’s family and the lost clan of the Owlfens, and the possibility that there was something in the box that would explain it, that had prevented him from disposing of it. 

He folded back the flaps at the top of the box, revealing a thick layer of white packing material.  He removed the top layer carefully, exposing an irregular object wrapped in more packing material.  He picked the object up and unwrapped it, revealing a stone carving.  The front of the carving was of an owl, but when he turned it over, he saw that the opposite side was of a bearenca.  Considering Hope’s ancestry, he wasn’t too surprised to find an owl figurine among the items handed down in her family, but the bearenca was a surprise.  That one carving contained both animals seemed eerie to him.

Setting the carving in the center of the table, Jackson reached back into the box.  The next object he unwrapped was unlike anything any of them had ever seen before. 

“That’s beautiful,” Hope gasped as Jackson set it carefully on the table beside the owl carving. 

“It looks like a peacock feather,” Clark said.  “Even the size is right.”

“Are those real gemstones?” Hope asked, fighting the urge to reach out and touch the object.  As Clark had said, it looked exactly like a peacock feather, except that it was made entirely of gemstones.  She’d never seen anything like it before, and had no idea what it was meant to be. 

“Yes, they’re real,” Jackson said.  “I’m not an expert, but I believe some of them are quite rare.  And not native to Earth.”

“
Gamoto
,” Hope swore softly.  “What’s next?”

The next object Jackson removed was larger than the first two.  When it was unwrapped he stared at it in his palm for a few moments before placing it beside the other items on the table. 

“I’ve no idea what this is,” he said.

“It’s an ankh,” Hope said at once.  “Sort of.  If an ankh had wings.  I’m not sure what that strange tube is at the bottom of it though.”

“What’s an ankh?” Clark asked.

“It’s an ancient symbol for life, or eternal life,” Hope said as she studied the object as carefully as she could without touching it.  “It’s origin is unknown, though it’s found frequently in ancient Egyptian art and jewelry.  This looks too big and heavy to be worn as a pendant though.  I wonder what it’s meant for?”

“It’s very beautiful,” Rob said.  “I like the dark blue of the stone it’s made of.”

“I think that’s lapis lazuli,” Hope said.  “I don’t know what that pale yellow metal is though.”

“I am not familiar with it either,” Jackson said.  “It is too pale to be gold, and too yellow to be silver or platinum.”

“Is that all there is?” Hope asked.

“No, there’s more,” Jackson replied, reaching back into the box.  There were several more objects which Jackson unwrapped and set on the table with the first three.  A ring with a strange, cloudy green stone, a golden bracelet, and two more carvings.

Jackson checked the remaining packing material to be sure he hadn’t missed anything before setting the box aside.  “That’s all of it.”

“Okay, now what?” Hope said nervously

“Whatever you want,” Jackson said.  “Do you want to try to read any of them?”

Hope looked at the objects for a long moment, but she honestly had no desire to touch any of them.  She opened her mouth to say so when there was a brief knock on the door. 

“Enter,” Rob called after a nod from Jackson.

The door opened and Saige Lobo stepped inside with Faron right behind her. 

“I apologize for intruding like this,” Saige said after the greetings were finished and she was seated at the table beside Hope.  “I received a message from Riata, asking that I come over right now and talk to you.”

“Who’s Riata?” Hope asked.

“I’ll explain, but before I do, would you mind voxing Karma and Aisling, and ask them to come over as well?” Saige asked.  “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I promise you, it’s important.”

Hope looked at Jackson, who looked as perplexed as she felt.  He turned to Faron who nodded.  “It’s important, Jackson,” he said.  That was enough for Jackson. 

“Clark?” he asked.  Clark got up and left the room to make the call to the Gryphons. 

“Thank you,” Saige said to Jackson.  She turned sideways in her chair so she could face Hope.  “I know that you don’t know me very well, but I promise, what I am about to tell you is true,” she began.  “Do you know what a spirit guide is?”

“No, I’m afraid not,” Hope replied. 

“I’d never heard of it either, until I actually had one,” Saige said.  “A spirit guide is a spirit of someone who has passed from the plane of the living, who helps or guides a person still living.”

“Do you mean that you’re able to speak to those who have died?” Hope asked, remembering when Karma had done that in the desert.

“No, I can only speak with the one who is my spirit guide,” Saige replied.  “My spirit guide was once an Alverian Empath named Riata, and she has asked that I come here to see you, and ask the other women here as well.”

“Do you know why?” Hope asked curiously, not doubting Saige for a moment. 

“Yes, but I need to wait till the other women get here,” Saige said.

“The other women are here,” Clark said as he stepped into the room.  “Aisling and Karma just arrived to visit the boys.”

Hope stood up and went to greet Aisling and Karma, giving each woman a hug. 

“You remember Saige, don’t you?” she asked. 

“Yes, I do,” Karma said, nodding politely at the Lobo’s Arima. 

“So do I, of course,” Aisling added.  “Nice to see you again, Saige.”

“Thank you,” Saige said as she watched Karma.  She noticed that the other woman suddenly appeared nervous, and she knew why.

“I wonder if you men would mind letting us females talk for a bit,” Saige asked.

All of the men looked surprised by her request, but not offended.  “Of course,” Jackson said.  “We’ll be in the living room if you need anything,” he said to Hope.

A moment later the women were alone and Saige noticed that Karma had relaxed a great deal.  Just as she’d hoped.

She quickly told Aisling and Karma about Riata, noting that Karma was not in the least bit surprised or doubtful at being told she had a spirit guide.  “The reason I’ve asked you here, is that Riata has messages for all three of you.”

Hope and Aisling both tensed, but Karma merely nodded. 

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing bad,” Saige said.  “But you already know that, don’t you Karma?”

Karma looked at Saige for a long moment, then shrugged.  “Yes, I know that.”

“Can you hear Riata?” Saige asked.

“Yes,” Karma admitted.  “I can see her, and hear her.”

“Wow,” Hope said.  “You can still do that, huh?”

“Yes.  Ever since I spoke with your brother, I’ve been able to talk to people who are no longer living.”

Hope opened her mouth, then shut it with a snap, but Karma knew what she’d been about to say. 

“I’m sorry Hope,” she said softly.  “I know you’d like to know how Harlan is, but he isn’t here now, nor have I seen him since that day.”

Hope smiled and reached across the table to pat Karma’s hand.  “Don’t apologize,” she said.  “I shall assume that if you ever have a message for me, you will share it.  Meanwhile, I will not hound you about it.”

“Thanks,” Karma said with a relieved smile. 

“What are your messages?” Aisling asked Saige. 

“I need to give my messages in order,” Saige said.  “Hope is first.”

“Great,” Hope said with a grimace.

“Don’t worry so much,” Saige said with a smile.  “I think you will actually like this.”

Hope sat up straighter in her chair.  “Okay, shoot.”

“Riata says that the true reason for this collection of objects, and the duty of your family for them, has long been lost.  It is very important for you, in particular, to know this because of your talent.  Most of the items in this box are not yours to read.  Attempting to do so would be uncomfortable for you in some cases, dangerous for you in others.  Do you understand?”

“Yes, so far, I understand,” Hope said.  “Can you tell me what the true reason and duty is?”

“Partly,” Saige said.  “Riata says that the objects in this box were entrusted to a very distant ancestress of yours known as the Keeper, who agreed to keep them safe until such time as their true owners, their descendants, needed them.  Part of the duty of the Keeper was to know when an object needed to be given, and to whom.  Each of these objects were deliberately imbued with something from their original owner.  A trait, or a message, something of that nature.  It could be dangerous for you to read one of these objects that is specifically meant for another.”

“Is that why my Mother and my Aunt were worried about me reading them?”

“They sensed enough to know, or believe, that it would be unsafe for you to read them, yes.  Except for one of them.  One object is meant for you.”

“That would be the owl and bear carving, of course,” Hope said.

“Yes,” Saige said.  “The question is, can you say which, if any, of the remaining objects belong to Karma or Aisling?”

Hope looked at the objects on the table, testing her feelings.  “I think so, yes.  What does that mean?”

“It means that you, like your ancestress, are a Keeper,” Saige replied.  “You will know when a woman comes to you that is ready to receive an object that you are holding, and which object to give her.”

 “Right now, I know that the mobius bracelet belongs to you, Aisling,” Hope said, indicating the delicate golden bangle.  It was a flat, narrow band of twisted gold with strange markings carved into it’s surface.