Guardian: The Guardian Trilogy, Book 1 by Robin Helm

Author:Robin Helm [Helm, Robin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-09-08T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Hebrews 12:1

Xander stood to the side as fifteen-year-old Elizabeth crossed the stage to receive her high school diploma. Though he strove to maintain a neutral expression, his pride in her accomplishments was evident by the gleam in his eyes. She is truly amazing. I am privileged to guard her.

In the awards ceremony that morning, Elizabeth had won academic, citizenship, and outstanding conduct awards. In addition, she had been recognized, of course, as valedictorian, as well as a National Merit Scholar. Scholarship offers had poured in from around the country, but Elizabeth had declared her intentions to finish her bachelor’s degree in music at Converse while working toward a BS in theology from Liberty University online. Because she had begun working on her BA at Converse several years prior, and she had numerous AP credits, her class load there would be fairly light. She planned to finish her undergraduate work at both institutions in two years, and afterward continue her master’s studies in music performance at Converse and Worship-Ethnomusicology at Liberty in the same manner. If all went according to what she hoped, she would be working on her doctorate by the time she turned nineteen. Until then, her mother had decided to leave her teaching job at Peniel and had accepted a position tutoring English at Converse. That way, Elizabeth could live at home with her parents, and Lynne would drive her back and forth to Converse until she was ready to move out on her own for her doctoral work.

During the graduation exercises, Elizabeth gave her valedictory speech and sang a solo, “Con Te Partiro (Time to Say Goodbye),” and then joined the choir for “Hine Mah Tov,” a song based on Psalm 133:1, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony.” Senior choir members had joined together for “Friends Are Friends Forever,” by Michael W. Smith, and the program ended with the senior ensemble singing, “A Clare Benediction,” by John Rutter. Charlotte Lucas was in the choir and ensemble, and Elizabeth truly felt that she and the older girl would remain close; Charlotte had decided to attend Converse with her in the fall, commuting with Lynne and Elizabeth for at least the first year.

Xander and the other guardians stirred in astonishment as they listened to Elizabeth sing in Italian and Hebrew and realized that the English speaking audience heard every word in English, though she sang in languages that were foreign to them. Because the songs were translated on the video screens, and the choir members knew the English words for the songs, most of the humans failed to notice anything amiss. The few in the choir, faculty, and audience who did detect a deviation from the norm simply wondered why Elizabeth had chosen

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