19. HYRAN
19
HYRAN
Coldis buffered. It felt wonderful, so good that it woke Hyran a few times in the middle of the night when all around them, the suite was silent. Col slept through it, the buffering something he couldn’t help, like breathing.
I should leave, let him rest. Poor thing shouldn’t even be buffering. He’s such a skilled Conduit according to his file. But I guess it is true: the imprinting works both ways.
Hyran would roll a little to the side, abandoning touch, but it never lasted long. Whether he rolled toward Col or Col turned toward him, Hyran wasn’t sure, but in this suspended place between deep sleep and being awake, where nothing mattered for a few hours, they searched for one another, and Hyran decided that it meant they would find each other in the end.
If only Mama hadn’t talked about grandchildren, and if only I could’ve shut up about it. That was stupid.
As morning approached and the blanketing darkness faded to light, Hyran couldn’t hold on to his sleepiness even if Col was still resting in his arms, the buffering now a low thrum like sunlight on his skin.
The lack of an Op-AI was…like the plot in a very bad drama, the kind of thing that would be canceled before it could go anywhere. Hyran wasn’t sure what the Grounds would look like if that were really the case, if they truly couldn’t replace the Op-AI, but he had two ideas, one he liked better than the other, and he would need Col’s help to achieve it. Potentially also a lot of luck.
The other idea involved going outside the walls. Hyran absolutely didn’t want to take Col outside the walls for anything other than getting him home to Argentea, but Col would likely have something to say about that.
Then again, if he was born outside the walls and if he has memories left of that time…it has to be why they were fine being on a boat with a Hound. Col kept them all calm.
Col blinked crusty eyes open a good while later. He turned on his back and continued to just lie there, making Hyran wonder whether the Conduit wouldn’t have been better off at the clinic after all.
“I’m awake,” Col said eventually.
“Good morning. Did you sleep well? You buffered some, during the night.”
Col looked over at Hyran, those arresting eyes sharp despite everything. “Are you joking?”
“No.”
Col groaned and let his head roll back, his eyes falling shut again. “I can’t believe this. I should have better control. At any rate, we will be going to meet your mothers today. Then Alesa. Or the other way around if that works out better for everyone’s schedule. And then…I’m not sure. We have to warn psionomancers everywhere, I think. I know a few Conduits all over, and Senny actually has family connections we can use.”
“I thought he wasn’t a tool for anyone to use.”
Col looked back at Hyran. “Are you trying to be funny?”
“Can’t I be?”
“I haven’t decided yet. Notice how I’m not laughing.”
Hyran shrugged. “I assumed that had to do with your head hurting. It’s very nearly time for your meds as well, and you should eat.”
“I want coffee. My head is fine.”
Hyran couldn’t help himself. He smiled at Col. “You know, that’s such Hound-crap. I think it’s adorable that you’re not giving in to giving in, but you don’t have to pretend you’re fine all the time.”
Col focused on Hyran for a long time, and Hyran got the sense he was being examined and judged. It wasn’t uncomfortable, mostly because it was Col, his Conduit, but still. Hyran was afraid he would be found wanting.
The Conduit reached out and touched Hyran’s cheek. The channeling this time was that of an adept Conduit.
“You certainly are leveled out. More than leveled out. I think I should have sent you to sleep outside my door instead of in my bed after all. Buffering in one’s sleep is exhausting.”
“I will do anything to make it up to you. Anything at all.”
Col’s eyebrows went up. “Call your mothers. Oh, and unless I dreamed you said something about having an idea yesterday, you should tell me about that as well.”
Hyran sighed. “I was thinking more along the lines of I would make sure you cum whichever way you want, whenever you want.”
Col smiled at him. “That wasn’t lost on me. Later. Not now. We need to do what we can for the people in our cities. Just in case.”
“In case?”
“In case that woman your friends outside the walls talked about isn’t done with us yet.”
Protector Mana had grumbled at the meeting request. At the same time, Hyran could tell she was excited to see Coldis again and get to know him better.
Consequently, she had said she’d make time for them as soon as they could get to her, and after a quick breakfast of medication and pancakes, they’d left the suite.
They had taken an auto-drive for most of the way, but their destination sat in the middle of a pedestrian area, and a short walk was unavoidable.
“Where are we going?” Col asked, walking next to Hyran.
“She’s meeting us in a school room. They put the protectors in the school for the time being. Apparently, no one was comfortable sending their children to school, so the building is pretty much empty.”
Col looked at the wild bushes and trees that grew around them with minimal maintenance. “You said that, but what kind of park even is this?”
Hyran put an arm around Col. “It’s used as a backdrop for dramas set outside the walls a lot, but we also train young Guardians preparing to head out there here. Just basic training, of course, but some preparation is better than none at all. It’s constructed wilderness.” He pointed. “When I went to school, I climbed that tree. Someone dared me to do it at speed and stand on one of the branches. I was too heavy for the branch and learned, through a broken arm, that I’m not meant to climb trees.”
“Hmm. We learned physics differently.”
Hyran snorted laughter. “Yeah, that’s a good thing. Still, this wilderness was fun to run around in.”
“We don’t have anything like it in Argentea.”
“Maybe you can suggest it.”
Col worried his bottom lip. “It’s not at all like the outside really is. Not even close.”
Behind the trees ahead of them, buildings peeked through. Low pillars carved by lithomancers lined the border of the green area, and Hyran took care to step through the trees with their hanging branches ahead of Col so he could make way for him.
Here, back at Hyran’s school, everything looked wrong. The activity field outside the main building was colorful but slides and swings stood empty.
Instead of students in their uniforms, protectors swarmed. They were talking to Conduits and Guardians alike, working hand in hand. The outside of the Elementary School’s entrance was flanked by makeshift desks laden with screens.
“They set up a base here,” Col said. “Good thinking. But sooner rather than later, the Grounds will want to send their students back to school. We need to move them to the G&C Center.” He pulled out his screen and made a note. “I’m having my office AI tell Rasev.”
“I don’t think they were planning on being here long enough to be moved from one locale to the other.”
One of the protectors recognized them and came over. It took Hyran a moment to realize she was the first rank runner his mama had sent. Protector Motono.
“Guardian Hyran and Conduit Coldis. I told Guardian Taros to let me know if you needed anything, but barring that, I was recalled to help with smaller issues here. There are so many things that need doing, and we need everyone. Is there anything I can do for you?”
Hyran opened his mouth to tell her no, but Col took a step forward.
“We have a meeting with Protector Mana. You can take us to her.”
The first rank bobbed her head eagerly. “Of course. I’m sure she will be delighted. Follow me, please.”
She was quick, and Col readily matched her pace. Hyran wasn’t really used to having to try to catch up, but with Col, he found he didn’t mind so much.