Chapter Twenty-One
All eight Sentinels, the Sentinel Elders, and Mary, the Magic Keeper Elder who could make portals, stood behind them. All eleven were glaring daggers at them.
Killian held a notebook in his hand and raised it. It looked like the one Marcus always carries.
“He watches from the shadows as the three traipse through the flea market like they have not a care in the world. He watches the sun begin to set, grinning as he calls shadows to him. He would bide his time until they stepped too close. It was almost too easy.” Killian put the notebook in his back pocket, then glared at Roz and Bréagha.
“You two have no clue how close you were to real danger,” growled Killian.
“We don’t have time to admonish them here; we need to get back to the Garden. As soon as this place darkens more, we’ll have to fight our way out,” reminded Drago as he watched the deepening shadows around him.
“Yes, come on, we need to get where we can portal out quickly and safely,” agreed Mary as she took Roz’s arm and led them behind the line of booths.
Mary’s portal was a pretty violet color, but Bréagha wasn’t given time to admire it before she was lifted bodily and thrown over a shoulder then carried through it.
She groaned when she realized they were right outside the Record Keepers library. All the familiars, including Kaedryn and Vyranthos, stood lined up on the marble steps leading to the doors glaring at them like wayward girls.
“And what do you two have to say for yourselves?” Vyranthos growled into their minds, his disappointment strong.
“We won’t feel bad for taking some time to ourselves,” Bréagha crossed her arms and tilted her chin. “We’re sorry we didn’t tell you before we left, and you worried. But we won’t apologize for taking the time we needed.”
Roz nodded next to her, raising her head and shoulders, standing tall next to her friend.
“Yes, Bréagha died, if you haven't forgotten. She's been re-formed and beaten every day for weeks. She wasn’t born a Sentinel and now she’s a Guardian, one of eight that are supposed to save all eight realms from some shadow-crazed, fallen Sentinel. I’m not sorry for giving her the day she deserved after all that.
I am sorry I didn’t tell anyone where we were going, I should’ve realized you guys would worry.
But I won’t apologize for giving her a day where she could just be Bréagha,” ranted Rozengwyn while they all stared at her, surprised.
Roz was a dutiful Magic Keeper, always willing to help where needed without question.
She was the one they all leaned on, probably more than they should, especially since Bréagha and Aiden had arrived at the Garden and all the weird things started kicking off.
The tiny woman never spoke out of turn or made a fuss, almost like she made herself smaller so her extraordinariness would be overlooked.
Now, here she was standing up to three Elders, ten familiars, and eight Sentinels without flinching.
“Yes, well. Yeah, tell someone next time,” Bracken finally managed.
“And take one of the Sentinels with you please,” requested Drago quietly.
“I wouldn’t let anything happen to my soul-bonded, even if I looked like an ordinary sparrow,” protested Sperwa. “We don’t need a Sentinel with us.”
“Yes, we don’t need one, but if it’ll make everyone more comfortable, we’ll make sure you are aware the next time we go on an adventure outside of the Garden and will think about taking one of those idiots,” allowed Bréagha reluctantly as they all started to protest Sperwa’s words, waving her hand to the formidable line of Sentinels in front of them.
Before anyone else could say anything further, the library doors opened, and the other Elders stepped out onto the steps looking bewildered by the large dragons standing near the stairs.
“I see you found our girls. Are those presents?” Donegal asked excitedly as he came down the steps to hug both Roz and Bréagha, clearly relieved to see them but willing to forgive and move on.
For the next few moments the girls handed out their gifts, taking delight in each person’s excitement.
Even Killian was excited by the perfectly balanced throwing knives, even though they had carvings of Care Bears in the handles, including Grumpy which Bréagha delighted in pointing out.
Bracken and Travis both got trucker hats with mustaches.
Cathal received an ornate dagger with the handle curved from petrified wood in a scene from the savannah, a lion stalking from the tall grass.
Liam and Mason both got leather necklaces, Mason with a bear head carved from a black walnut tree and Liam with a leopard’s head.
Jaxx was more than thrilled with the set of leather bracelets he was given, all red with different designs woven into them.
Marcus was given a set of notebooks and pens which he was adorably happy with, while Lily got new hair pins with fluorite roses to replace the pencils and pens, she kept using.
Donegal got a case of miscellaneous tea, none of which was chamomile.
He laughed as he showed Marcus who shook his head.
Isadora got a delicate tea service, secretly being someone who enjoyed tea as much as Marcus.
Kat and Mary both got new cashmere cardigan sweaters, Kat got a sunshine yellow one and Mary a purple one.
Colin and Drago both cracked up when they were handed whistles and a set of movies from the 80’s and 90’s that Bréagha had been insisting they add to their movie night lineup.
“I threw in Die Hard and Lethal Weapon, so you still get explosions!” Bréagha insisted.
Aiden was the last one and Roz proudly handed him a slim tube.
One eyebrow rose as she blushed and stepped back.
He opened the tube and a tapestry fell out.
It was a delicately woven tapestry of a white tiger that looked like Makani lying next to a stream with fairies dancing around it.
He started laughing, doubling over in his mirth and Roz grinned with him.
“Did you break him?” whisper-yelled Bracken as he craned his neck trying to see the tapestry. Aiden turned it around so the others could see but from the puzzled look on their faces he knew they didn’t see it.
“Look closer,” he suggested. They all moved closer so they could see better and one by one they all started laughing. Woven into the leaves, rocks, flowers, and water were grotesque images of zombies, aliens, and raptors; all of Aiden’s favorites.
“Don’t think all these wonderful gifts get you off the hook ladies. It does buy you at least an evening to finish enjoying your girls’ time. Tomorrow is soon enough for lectures,” announced Marcus. He gave them both a hug, then escorted the Elders back into the library.
“Since he demanded it, we’ll give you the night, but just know your lecture is coming.”
It was hard to take Bracken seriously with how ridiculous he looked in that trucker hat. Bréagha grinned widely at him, and he sent her a wink. The Sentinels all turned and started toward their town homes.
“Boys, I can portal you!” Roz yelled after them. They all waved but kept walking.
“Let them walk back, let’s teleport over to Stephen’s Deli and see if he wants to join us for movie night and mani’s at my cottage.” Bréagha was more than willing to take full advantage of her rare evening off.
Back in Texas, Lucien stepped out of the shadows and into the light of the food trucks where Bréagha and Roz had been sitting. He growled in the direction his brother had disappeared with the two girls.
“How did they know you were here?” whispered Vaelthryx.
“Not sure, Vael. But trust me, I will find out,” Lucien stepped back into the shadows and disappeared.