Page 31 of The Hidden Guardian

I approach the door. I’m not supposed to leave. Something happened today, it was bad and scary, but I can’t remember what it was.

Autumn.

I glance back at the couch, the dark shape of the sleeping wolf-man reminds me I can’t leave. I’ll have to wait until he’s awake to leave. So I tip toe back to the bed and crawl inside, silencing the whispers that found me.

* * *

Growling is all I hear when I awaken sometime the next day, confirming I dreamt the silence the night before. There’s no way the cave could be that … still. The voice I heard, well, it would be impossible. What a sick, twisted dream my subconscious is playing on me.

“Ah, you’re up.”

I scream and reach for the first thing I grab on the table beside the bed, waiving it at the voice. Between my hands is a golden flower, it’s not heavy like gold should be. It’s as light as a regular flower, just pure golden. Onai hides a giggle behind her hand decked in gold rings, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“I didn’t even notice you were in the room.” I scratch my head, placing the pretty flower back on the table beside the bed. “How long have you been here? How long have I been sleeping?”

“Renall says you don’t sleep well, he said to let you sleep. He let me in when he went to trial today.”

“Oh, I can be ready in a few, he should have woken me.” I leap up from the bed and rifle through my backpack for something clean to wear. That’s when I remember, I never washed my clothes after yesterday’s events. I’ll be damned if I wear a dress or skirt in front of these people again.

“Well …” Onai coughs uncomfortably. “You can’t exactly go to the trial anymore. So Renall asked father if you could be watched while he was away.”

“He gave me a babysitter?” I seethe, “I’m going to throttle him.”

“I can’t say we have never thought about it.” Onai smiles. “And we can’t exactly have you back out in the cave unattended after what happened yesterday.”

“I can’t even watch the trial? How am I going to know what’s happening? He could be killed.”

“Well, you’ll need me to translate anyway. They never said anything about not being able to eavesdrop.” Onai shoots me a mischievous smile. It’s so different from Lupe’s sudden cold demeanor that I almost don’t believe they could be related. She drags a chair over to the door and leans her ear against it.

“Today is all about Renall’s past grievances, it seems.”

“Past grievances?”

“I guess it’s their chance to bring up his pattern of disobedience.” Onai rolls her eyes.

“How long do these trials usually last?”

“Depends on the crime and how many questions the clan has. Renall is one of our ancients, part of the original Warrior Clan created by the Sun God—his trial could go on for days, weeks even. Plus, he doesn’t like to follow rules. I hope they don’t bring upallhis past atrocities, then we’d be here for months.”

“He’s that bad, huh?”

“Renall’s an honorable wolf, but you don’t become the fiercest warrior by making many friends.” She pauses, glances at me, and adds, “Or by following rules.”

“I see.”

“Be glad we’ve resorted to trials. Back in ancient times, these things would be decided by blood.”

“By blood? I don’t like the sound of that.”

“Oh yes, it’s exactly as it sounds. A fight to the death with the accuser would be the only way to resolve the issue. Either you killed your accuser and were proven innocent, or died a guilty man at the hands (or teeth) of your challenger. A Blood Rite they called it.”

Silence grows between us as the gravity of the situation twists in my gut. When I glance at Onai, she glances toward the door, pulling her eyes away from my gaze. I’ve never been good at this, human interaction. They never seem to understand me or my beliefs, but Onai and I share similar Gods and gardening hobbies.

“So,” I start. “Your Mother told me you have a garden. I had a garden back home.” Sorrow fills my heart and tingles behind my eyes at the loss of my raised garden beds beside the cabin.

Onai smiles proudly. “Yes, every Guardian tends the garden in training years, but it’s flourished quite nicely under my hand.”

“We had to grow our own food when my Mother died, I had a planter of herbs, then two for vegetables, and the blueberries just took on their own life. Then there’s the apple tree that we started from a pit and grew apples in less than six months, which is unheard of.”

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