The Four Guardians by Matt Laney

Author:Matt Laney
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HMH Books

Chapter 18

Those who are not satisfied with what they have will never be satisfied with what they want. Those who are satisfied with what they have are not persuaded by their wants.

—Sayings of the Ancients

“Are you comfortable?” the Twelver asks.

I nod uncomfortably.

We sit opposite each other on a woven carpet at one end of a torch-lit room. Each wall is painted with a magnificent sprawling picture of one of the Four Guardians: the Red Firewing, the Black Tortoise, the Green Draycon, and the White Tiger. We are closest to the painting of the Green Draycon.

The corners of the room are furnished with shelves reaching from floor to ceiling, packed with hundreds of books. This library dwarfs Galil’s collection hidden deep in the castle of Singara.

All of our books except those on science and the Kahn’s History were gathered and burned hundreds of years ago to protect our Pride from fiction and other dangerous ideas. Only a few were saved, preserved to this day in Galil’s secret reading room. Could Galil’s books be copies of some of the books in this chamber?

In the middle of the room, which might be the very center of the temple, is an ornate and ancient rack obviously designed to display something important, something that is no longer there.

Except for the books, the wall paintings, the rack, and Latha—still curled around my neck—the Twelver and I are alone in this room.

The Twelver has removed her headdress and green cloak. She wears a jeweled garment made from thin strips of animal hide, draping her shoulders, tucked under the wide belt around her hips, and flowing about her folded legs like tentacles. More of her pelt is visible now, golden orange laced with dark stripes common to all her Pride. Bright firewing feathers adorn her wrists, neck, and ankles.

She carries no weapons. As Wajid said earlier, she is a weapon.

“Goram!”

A smiling, round two-legged Jin materializes at her side. He sports a tall hat, tunic, and foot coverings with bells.

“Bring some hot herb brew,” the Twelver demands.

Goram bows and trots out of the room, bells chiming merrily as he goes. He reenters moments later with two steaming mugs on a tray. He sets them before us and awaits further instructions.

“You may disappear, Goram,” the Twelver says without even looking at him, “and reappear in the holding chamber with the others.”

Goram bows as he fades away. Even though Alayah stopped sending Jin to the Twelver, she still has the power to command Jin who are already here.

She lifts her mug and takes a sip, staring at me over the edge of her tipped cup. “The Twelver has waited many moons, many years to meet you . . . Eliyah.”

My mouth hangs open.

Her eyes sparkle. “Yes, the Twelver knows who you are. You are the son of the Twelver’s brother and his demonic mate. How could a Shakyah be born among the demonics otherwise? Besides that, you resemble Makayah. The only surprise is that you would come to our realm and make your way to Elyon.

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