Warrior of the Ages (Warriors of the Ages) (31 page)

THE CLINIC WASN’T under a veil. There had been no wind as she approached. That clean fresh scent that surrounded Kahtar’s cabin was missing, besides there were the blinking lights of airplanes in the summer sky. Still the place was obviously other. A faint hum of what sounded like thousands of whispering fans sounded from what, even in the darkness, appeared to be a mile of low slung buildings. Lights shone from windows that looked oddly curved instead of flat; and strange columns of shimmering lights lit up the garden and hillside. Beth had a feeling that those lights were Old Guard. Something deep in her psyche told her that those lights were alive and powerful. She was starting to remember.

They hadn’t allowed her inside the buildings, and Beth had a hunch that they’d only allowed her through the gate because none of them could drive, and they wanted Kahtar to get help as quickly as possible. Strangely no one had stayed to guard her. At least it had seemed strange at first. Until it occurred to her that they could scan her. That came to mind after she’d slid from her perch on top the headrest in the front seat and walked across some sort of soft paving stones to sit on a marble bench that curved beneath her bottom as comfortably as a cushion.

Are they watching me now? How much can they see when they scan?
A shiver slipped up her spine. She should have taken the time to put on underclothes. Then the glass doors of the clinic flew open, and a group hurried out. A bright light lit the great expanse of paving stones and Beth glanced at her car parked on them, they indented like a mattress trying to support a heavy person. The convertible had sunk at least four inches into the stone, the body of the car almost flush with the road.

A voice growled into the night. “Left standing outside? It’s rude! I don’t know protocol either but manners are simple enough. Beth?”

Blinking into the bright lights and trying to believe the hulking figure stalking towards her could possibly be Kahtar, she slid onto her feet. There was no mistaking that husky voice of his, nor the sheer height and width of the man. The heels of her shoes poked into the paving stones and threatened to toss her back onto the bench. Balancing her weight on her toes she stared at Kahtar as he stormed towards her, followed by at least a dozen other people. His entourage were all dressed in muted colors and soft, comfortable looking fabrics. Dozens more people, all warriors, stepped from behind to surround her, and she realized that they’d been in the shadows watching her the entire time.

Goosebumps shivered over every inch of her in the humid summer night. They were clothed like something out of a medieval movie that had been crossed with Robin Hood’s shoes with maybe some Star Trek tossed in. The uniformity of their tunics was so precise that they all appeared the exact same size. Yet the cloth fit their bodies like paint, and it looked very futuristic to her eyes. Every one of those men had a sword in hand. When she tried to step away from them, they followed, moving forward with her. They made no sound. She fought the urge to run.

“Cease!” Kahtar barked, looking completely healthy, not even a scar marred his forehead, though blood still caked his face and glistened wet and thick over his navy police uniform.

“Back off!”

As one, every Warrior of ilu backed away from Beth. For once Kahtar didn’t seem like the scariest thing in the vicinity. She balanced on her toes and walked towards him. A strong arm encircled her, pulling her close and she didn’t protest the blood that smeared over her already bloodied sundress. He was all right, it couldn’t have been but fifteen minutes since it had taken three men to carry him through those glass doors and now he was fine. A sudden shiver slid up her spine as the full impact of that hit her, and he let his arm drop, stepping away as though he’d read her mind.

Kahtar ran his fingers across his healed forehead and told her.

“The giftings of healing these men and women possess is quite strong. Healing a head that has been cleaved open is a simple enough task for most warriors. Even your prayers helped, it was the blood loss that needed a specialist. Did I trash your car?”

Glancing over at it, even deeper in the pavement she lamented, “Not as badly as I’ve ruined the driveway.”

Chuckling, he nodded.

“It isn’t made for cars. Someone might want to move that car before we need a helicopter to lift it out. Not you, Beth. I want you to come inside Cobbson Compound—you wanted a choice. It’s time you discussed that with the leader of Cultuelle Khristos.”

THE ENTRANCE INTO the main building was like stepping into Oz’s Sherwood Forest with touches by Dr. Seuss. Blinking in wonder, Beth tried to take it in. The room was lit like day. The light appeared to come from the curved windows though it was dark outside. Flowering plants and greenery hung thick from above and the sound of a waterfall crashed faintly through some trees that appeared to be in full autumn glory though it was early July. On the far side of the huge room, several children played on what appeared to be an ice sculpture the size of a small hill. They raced up one blue white side to slide down the colorful cave-like front screaming with laughter.

Strange dark, geometric shapes were suspended impossibly in mid-air around the room. Beth almost overlooked them, except one sprang to life and branches of light shot out of it in the shape of a tunnel. A soldier in desert fatigue dropped out, clutching a machine gun. Several of the people dressed in soft, muted colors hurried to help him. Their prayers of healing echoing in their wake as they disappeared down a hallway, the bloody footprints left behind caught Beth’s attention. The floor was smooth like granite, but without the polished sheen. It was matte and dark, and the blood appeared to seep into it and vanish almost instantly.

Glancing up into Kahtar’s steely eyes she opened her mouth and then shut it. A hint of a smile lit his face, and she thought for a moment about the instant when she’d first met him. She’d thought he was the most spectacular man she’d ever laid eyes on. Zeus. For an instant she wondered what he’d say if she told him that is what she called him in her head. Then another of the dark geometric shapes shot to life and the light-like branches shot out of it, stretching six feet into the air before a man appeared from nowhere. His business suit caught her attention more than the unusual garb or the soldiers that seemed to come and go in the large room. Nodding to several of the people, he darted across the large room and hopped into a diamond shaped medallion of darkness, vanishing from sight.

Kahtar grinned at her then. “Any questions, Beth?”

Of course she wondered, but obviously it was a means of transportation. The details didn’t really matter to her. Even in this place, this odd new reality, what captivated Beth was a sense of finally not being the strangest person in a crowd. Yes, there were curiosities here, but she—for once—wasn’t the biggest one. Smiling at the blood soaked Police Chief beside her she shook her head, fighting back a wider smile at his look of disbelief.

I will not ask questions and reveal myself as the weirdest one of all
. Glancing down at her purple sundress, with splotches of blood shining like floral embellishments and her silver and pink heeled slippers she grinned too. Never one to try to fit in, because it was simply impossible, it still felt great to not be the strangest one in the room. Women in saris and Grecian gowns and plain grey sweats milled about at the far side of the room. Warriors dressed in what was certainly their traditional gear, mixed with men dressed in the military uniforms she’d grown up with. A tiny girl, maybe four years old, dashed through the length of the room with not a stitch of clothing on.

One of the warriors broke rank and dashed after her. “Buleeh! Sweetheart! Where’s your gown?”

Everyone laughed then, and from the thick depths of a jungle area, a woman floated out. Though she wore a cream-colored Grecian gown, her short auburn hair was a riot of curls, and if she’d worn a business suit she might have been CEO of some top company. Gliding to a stop in front of Beth she took her in with a pair of stunningly attractive dark blue eyes. Her smile revealed one front tooth slightly overlapping another, and the imperfection made her—perfect. For a reason she couldn’t fathom, Beth’s eyes watered, she wanted to hug the woman. The touch of her heart was unlike anything she could have imagined. It was—home.

Soft hands grasped her forearms and instinctively Beth clasped the woman’s arms in response. That heart wrapped around hers and a scent of oranges and cloves seemed to waft from somewhere and knowing it was right they leaned towards each other and kissed.

“I am Anwyn Glorianna D’Aval, The Mother of Cultuelle Khristos, and Covenant Keeper. When you ran, Beth White, you endangered the entire clan. You’ve returned of your own volition, but how can I trust you never to run again?”

The question was simple and straightforward, but Beth knew there was only one answer she could give. She would be held to her answer, and as long as she lived, nothing would impact her future on this earth as much as her response right now. Kahtar stood just two feet behind her, and she could feel the tension in his strong heart. Something about his heart distracted her, made her want to turn and reassure him that she did understand the import, but The Mother’s eyes were locked on hers, searching.

“I give you my oath that I will not run to escape. This clan is my fate. I’ve dreamed of finding where I belong, but I will need to see my family and take care of my store.” Determinedly she added her last comment, noting the interested lift of The Mother’s brow as she took in the frank reply.

Ignoring the stir of the other people in the room, the hearts that surrounded her like a warm glow and made her want to dance with them all, to laugh alongside them and know their names and hearts individually. Forcing her focus on this one who called herself The Mother, she waited for her verdict.

“It’s not safe to allow the outside world access to your heart. It is dangerous.”

“I’ve lived it my entire life. Mother, I belong in both worlds.”

Glorianna D’Aval tilted her head slightly, looking into Beth’s eyes, surprise lighting those stunning eyes of hers.

“What is your gifting, child?”

Hesitating, Beth wasn’t certain how to reply. Her gifting? Glancing around the spectacular room at the hundreds of people coming and going and the marvels she couldn’t begin to comprehend, she had never felt so inadequate in all her days. Kahtar’s attractively hoarse voice sounded beside her.

“Truth, I think, Mother. I think her gifting is truth. I hear her speak it, and have seen her listen for it in others.”

Dozens of people crowded forward at those words, and Beth felt conspicuous. Flushing she looked defiantly back at them.

“Yes. I do know the truth, and I do speak it.”

“Perhaps you do belong in both worlds. What an interesting woman you are, but I cannot promise you that you will be allowed the freedom you request.”

“I plan to take it then, although I mean no disrespect.”

Despite The Mother’s tolerant smile, she felt Kahtar’s heart sink at her defiant statement. It was pleasantly distracting, sensing the hearts around hers. Glorianna reached up and patted Beth’s smooth hair as though she were a child.

“You have just announced your intention to disobey me in front of a small squadron of Warriors of ilu—it is highly unlikely you’d meet with any success at all, normally. Yet in your case I will offer this much, if our resources can bear the burden and you will not risk our exposure to your family—I will not forbid you spending time with them.”

“You have my word. Mother? I would die before I would betray your trust.”

Glorianna’s eyes grew dark, and a deep furrow bit into the ivory skin between her brows.

“You will die if you betray us, Beth. That is a fact. Learn the laws of being before you attempt this life in two worlds. Perhaps our life looks appealing as you stand right here, you need to know it is not an easy path, but it is one none of us regret. Welcome home, Beth White—your choice is made, you are Orphan of the Inquisition no longer. You are Cultuelle Khristos now.”

Bouncing onto the balls of her feet Beth grinned. Whatever the laws of being, this is where she belonged, and it hadn’t cost her parents and whether these people knew it or not, it wouldn’t cost her dream of running Sweet Earth either. The Mother smiled back at her, and Beth was certain she was the singularly most beautiful woman on earth. Gloriana D’Aval reached up to caress her cheek, and Beth closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the joy of a small child who has met the approval of their beloved Mother.