Page 33 of Custodian

Mordecai paused and Max was gratified to see he commanded the attention of the whole room. A quick glance toward Garrett and Autumn showed bland faces as if they didn’t have a care in the world. They had well and truly perfected their acting over the years, and she was worried that even the heartfelt words of one of their oldest and most respected wardens, was not going to be enough to convince the public.

Mordecai’s green eyes turned shark-cold as he gestured to his once-friend, “Those people are Garrett and Autumn. They were tasked with executing their son, Emmanuel, before the Great Massacre because he had turned into something beyond even a chade. But they did not. Instead, they cultivated the evil being we all had a hand in creating. And in the years since, they have been plotting against us all.Theyare the reason our numbers are dwindling – because they have been hand-feeding wardens to their abomination.Theyare the reason chade numbers are increasing – because their son is able to communicate and command them. Andtheyare the reason why chades are making their way here once more – because they are planning another slaughter. Just like the Great Massacre fifty years ago.”

The stillness in the room was stifling and Max fought the urge to fidget.What the hell was everyone waiting for?Finally, after what seemed like hours but was likely only seconds, Blu once again took control of the conversation;

“Garrett, Autumn, what do you have to say about these accusations?”

Garrett smiled at his friend and Max saw Blu blanch. She didn’t know what Blu saw but she was certain the elderly water warden now knew the truth. She didn’t have long to feel sorry for her friend though because Garrett spoke, answering Blu’s question;

“Not much at all I’m afraid. In fact, I believe we will be leaving now.” He stood up and straightened the collar on his shirt, holding his hand out to his wife, who accepted it with a demure smile.

The room was silent – too stunned to do anything more than stare at their leader as he made no attempt to deny the serious claims. “Garrett. Autumn. Please don’t do this,” Max wasn’t above pleading if it would save lives.

Autumn turned to her, her hazel eyes filled with a sick kind of mirth, “My dear, we haven’t done anything –yet.” And with that the pair swept from the room, their paladins and the mysterious Ranger Unit following closely, as the room erupted into pandemonium.

“Max, are we really just going to let them walk out of here?”Darius asked.

Max could hear the strain in his voice and understood it. “We don’t have a choice. Garrett hasn’t really admitted to anything. Even if he did, it wouldn’t matter. Look around you,”she urged her Order, gesturing in her mind to the room’s dozens of occupants, “They don’t understand what they’re hearing. They don’t believe what they’re hearing. Because they’re not ready to believe it. If we try to stop them, they will fight for him. Besides, Garrett and Autumn aren’t the real problem. Emmanuel is. And we are no closer to finding him now than when we walked through the door. Let them leave,”she commanded. And hoped she hadn’t just lost her only chance at taking them down.

FIFTEEN

It had taken more than two hours to settle the Lodge back into some semblance of order. Max hadn’t even been able to hear her own paladins inside her own head over the noise in the room after Garrett and Autumn had made their grand exit. Unsurprisingly, after a few minutes of yelling and accusations, a handful of people had become violent and before Max had the chance to give them a thorough spanking, several members of the council had stepped forward to do it for her. They included, Mordecai, Blu, and surprisingly, Cinder. Ares and Ravyn had both predictably turned accusing eyes and words on her, serving to whip the crowd into even more of a frenzy. Her Order had tried to whisk her away but she had balked; the community needed answers and she wanted to be the one to give it to them. Many wouldn’t listen and she knew they would be running to Garrett the moment they left. But she had also been surprised to see the large number of wardens and paladins defending her. Looking around the room now,she knew in her gut that a line had now been drawn – that sides had now been chosen.

And knew the future she had been dreaming about was now set in motion.

“Well, this is a fine mess, young lady,” a voice said, rather cheerfully, from beside her position on the floor.

Max couldn’t help smiling at the grey-haired old rogue. Blu was like a dirty old grandpa – you couldn’t help but love him and feel comfortable around him. Max was glad he wasn’t the one behind all the scheming and the lies. Although Garrett and Autumn’s deceit had been a shocking and painful blow, it would have been far worse had it been someone like Blu. Someone she had genuine affection for as well as respect.

Without conscious thought, her mind strayed to how Mordecai must be feeling after the betrayal of such a good friend. She didn’t want to feel anything for the man who had been lying to her from the day they met but she found herself unable to stop thinking about him. She knew her Order was steadily thawing toward him, despite their protectiveness of her. Even Ryker wasn’t threatening to maim him every time they occupied the same space anymore. Although, her guy had questions for Mordecai. Serious questions. She did too – lots and lots of questions. But she just couldn’t bring herself to talk to the man. Couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eyes.

Thinking back, she remembered the feeling when she had walked into the training lodge for the very first time. She had been terrified nobody would like her. She had finally been offered a safe place to stay amongst people just like her. People that understood her and wouldn’t look at her like she was crazy. And the fear of rejection from such a place had been immense. Well, it was nothing compared to the fear of rejection from the man who was her biological father. No, Max decided, she couldn’t talk to the man. There was just too much to lose.

“Did you know?” she blurted out without meaning to.

Blu turned his head to face her, “Know …?”

“Know who I was? Know who Mordecai was,” she expanded.

His blue eyes softened and he shook his head, “No, my dear. I truly had no idea. I confess, I have met a Custodian or two in the past but you are so unlike them, I didn’t even consider it. And as for Mordecai, I have known the man for years upon years and consider him a good friend as well as a good man. I certainly noticed a change in him over the last fifty years or so but I put that down to the Great Massacre. Not once did I consider he had a secret love-child with Mother Nature.” His wink softened his words and Max scoffed at his word choice;

“Love-child?”

Blu simply shrugged, looking across the room at Mordecai where he was talking with the only remaining council member, Cinder. “Hindsight is a funny thing, isn’t it? Now that I know, I can certainly see the similarities – in looks as well as temperament.”

Her rebuttal was swift and strong, “I’m nothing like him.”

Blu turned back to her again, “Ah. Okay, then. Another topic perhaps?”

Max took a couple of deep breaths, shaking her head at Ryker, Cali, and Axel who were all heading her way, having sensed her anxiety. Ryker and Axel stopped but Cali kept coming until Max shook her head again, adding a frown for good measure. Cali pursed her lips for a moment and narrowed her eyes before turning in a huff, her scythe returning to its home in her harness.

“That is going to be one fierce mother,” Blu drawled.

Max snorted, “Right? She’s always been protective. But now? She’s like a feral, pregnant tigress.”

“Lucky baby.”

Max smiled, “Very lucky baby.”

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