Page 37 of The Timeless Vigilante

“The council at the House of Fourteen,” he replied, making his way to his desk. “They want to meet this fandangle dragonrider from the 15th century. They want to talk to this supposed Founder. But remember, that you work for me. Remember your place.”

Gen simply nodded and then made her way out the door, away from the man whose nose she couldn’t wait to break.

CHAPTER THIRTY

THE FOUNDER’S BURDEN

Chamber of the Tree, House of Fourteen, Santa Monica, California, United States

It was like stepping through a door to her past as Gen entered the place she’d created with her father all those years ago. But it had changed so much over the centuries that there were only hints of the original Chamber of the Tree—which was created for meetings of the House of Fourteen. Gen had been there on a few occasions in present times, but not like this, during council proceedings. She felt the beating of adrenaline and anticipation as she entered the place known for creating justice, but also full of so much drama and argument.

At her back, she felt Dwayne ushering her forward, like he didn’t want to allow her out of his sight, as if she’d misbehave. She wanted to tell him off. To teach him a lesson. But she knew at her foundation that Sophia and Emperor were correct. She had to suck it up and allow him to think he had the advantage—for now…

The Chamber of the Tree was absolutely as Gen remembered and also completely different. The high bench where the council sat was at the back of the round, domed room with the illuminated tree on the wall at their backs. There the names of the seven families presently composing the warriors and councilors could be seen. Added to this were also the names of the Mortal Seven, an addition to the House of Fourteen to create balance among the non-magical and magical races.

The rounded ceiling of the chamber twinkled with lights that represented the life of every magician out in the world. That was magic that Gen and the Founders had built into the Chamber of the Tree when they created it. Back in the 15th century, there were a fraction of the twinkling lights that she now saw dazzling overhead.

Another part of the Chamber of the Tree that hadn’t changed were the regulators. The Founders wanted this place to be only for truths and therefore they imbued powerful magic into two creatures—Diabolos and Jude. The black crow and the giant white tiger represented lies and honesty.

They could spot someone lying and signaled it, so that these proceedings were never riddled with deceit. There were, of course, many loopholes for getting around their lie detection, but they were very good, having personally been programmed by Gen. She had always been excellent at telling when someone was lying. Diabolos and Jude had stood all these centuries by the bench, operating as lie detectors. And currently, they were untouched by time and continuing to serve in the role they’d been given from the very beginning.

Standing in front of the bench and dressed for adventure were a few warriors. To Gen’s surprise, when she strode forward, all of the warriors turned to her and bowed low. It was the greeting that Emperor had received upon hatching. It was the welcoming that the ruler over dragons had gotten when he met the Rogue Riders’ dragons. And now, for once, Gen was being acknowledged in the same way.

She halted. Tensed. And looked to the side where Dwayne stood beside her— appearing angrier than hell by the display of respect.

Nervously, Gen looked up at the council, grateful to see a familiar face. Staring down at her was Clark Beaufont, a slight, proud smile on his face. Beside him, his fellow councilors were wearing guarded expressions, like they weren’t sure about this new Beaufont with a strange story and assorted background.

“The warriors for the House of Fourteen are paying their respect to the first of them,” Clark said, breaking the silence in the chamber, having sensed Gen’s confusion about the display around her.

All of the armored clad warriors rose, looking straight at Gen with fierce expressions. She was grateful to see Liv, one of her closest friends and one of the people she’d followed into the twenty-first century. Gen also recognized Liv’s husband, Stefan Ludwig who was a warrior as well and a demon hunter specialist. Rose was often in attendance at these meetings as a Mortal Seven, but only Warriors appeared to be there now for this special session.

“Approach the bench, Miss Genevieve Beaufont,” a man with a shaved head and scruffy beard said from the council area. Sophia had given Gen a quick rundown of the names and descriptions of each of the councilors and therefore she knew this was the rude and often cynical Freek Kolman.

Like she hadn’t heard the order, Dwayne ushered her forward, a pinching grip on her arm. Gen jerked her head over her shoulder, her every instinct screaming for her to backhand the man. However, she restrained herself, knowing that she couldn’t allow her anger to get to her.

“We understand from reports from Councilor Beaufont and Hiker Wallace that you came through a time gate opened by Warrior Beaufont,” Freek said, looking down at her when she paused in front of the bench.

“You look like a Beaufont,” a woman with mousey gray hair and a warm smile said—Hester DeVries, who was apparently a healer and had been on the council for a very long time.

“It’s simply astounding to be in the presence of a Founder,” the woman beside Hester said, her black hair pulled back to reveal a beautiful face. She was Raina Ludwig and sister to Liv’s husband, Stefan.

“It’s unsettling, is what it is,” a man with long curly black hair with an air of authority said, narrowing his eyes at Gen—Armando Rosario. “When the council was made aware of this mistake by Warrior Beaufont we were very disconcerted.”

“I didn’t make a mistake,” Liv dared to cut in. “Gen was always meant to come to this timeline. Papa Creola has confirmed that. She was meant to be a dragonrider—a Rogue Rider.”

“That’s yet to be determined,” Dwayne Stone said at Gen’s back.

All eyes swiveled to the man who was undoubtedly wearing a sour expression.

A woman with light orangey-red hair shot Dwayne a look of surprise. Her name would be Seraphine Galopin, the sister to the man who last owned Bellumferrum—Porthos. “You haven’t accepted Gen Beaufont into your ranks?”

“No, I haven’t!” Dwayne’s voice boomed.

“And why is that?” a man with a long black beard asked. This was Haro Takahashi, the only member from the original founding families besides the Beaufonts in the House of Fourteen. He was from an ancient magical family which had the vision and fortitude to create the organization still going strong in the modern world. “She is a Founder for the House of Fourteen. To have her in the Rogue Riders is beyond an honor.”

“She was supposedly a part of the beginning of the House of Fourteen,” Dwayne began in a low tone. “We have no way of telling how much she actually did. But we do know that when she disappeared, her sister, Elizabeth, took her place. That woman, in my opinion, is the first warrior. She is one of the Founders looking down on us now, making appointments. She and William Beaufont and the other Founders are the ones who put me into my role and you all in yours—not this woman here.”

“How can you be so obtuse?” Liv dared to ask, striding forward and turning around in front of the bench, staring back at Dwayne Stone. “She is not this ‘supposed’ Founder. Rose and I found her in 1426, right after the House of Fourteen started. She was a Founder. Gen is one.”

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