Free Tiva Boon: Royal Guardian by Jenn Nixon Page A

good for the others, but she would not forget what she had seen. Death. Though she was too young to understand completely, she had no other choice but to learn to deal with what the Great Spirits had thrust upon her.
    She should have heeded her mother’s advice to leave the Great Hall. Yet something kept her there, something that pulled at every cell in her body. Something close, something familiar, something special.
    The king had the ability to mind-speak. She too possessed the gift. The shock at first filled her with panic, but the warmth emanating from the king calmed her. She kept the fact hidden from her mother, unsure what to say. Her father knew the king as a brother, she would wait until he returned and then confess.
    Her mother kept her word to the king and allowed Tiva time to perform the Calming when they returned home. Nervously, she had walked through the forest searching for the lake. Approaching the bright blue-green water, she examined her surroundings carefully. She stripped off her clothing and jumped in quickly. She understood the need to perform the Calming with no clothing—so one was closer to nature, but did not like the idea of being nude out in the open. She preferred the water as opposed to the forest for the ritual as it provided more cover.
    The ambiance lifted her spirit as soon as she got into the lake. She swam through the cool clear water and meditated as her mother had instructed. All thoughts and feelings that cluttered her mind slipped away. She dove down into the pond and chanted the words of the Calming. She prayed for the spirits to calm and heal her mind. Upon reaching the bottom, she had scooped up a handful of dirt and finished reciting the chant. She pushed off, and as her body rose through the water, she let the dirt slip through her fingers as all the thoughts and emotions vanished from her mind.
    Admittedly, the Calming made her feel better, but returning home without her father saddened her. She couldn’t sleep, and knew Tespor wouldn’t come to visit her. The last she saw him, he was still angry.
    Her mood was so sour that she stared blankly into the field for a while, paying no attention to Te or anything else, until a large shadow caught her eye.
    She perked up and peered out. Again, she saw the shadow lumbering through the forest. As the form exited the cover of the trees, Tiva watched a cloaked figure enter the field. Instinct took over; she reached back to her bed and collected her sword. She jumped into the windowsill, flipped off the ledge, landed, and ran toward the figure in the field.
    She slowed near Te. Tiva unsheathed her sword, took a fighting stance, and waited. The figure ambled closer. Tiva suppressed the feelings flowing through her, and stood strong, prepared to protect her family.
    “Guardian Boon…” the wheezing voice rose through the air.
    “Speak your name ,” Tiva said in response.
    “It is I…” The figure pushed back the cloak shielding his face, then fell to his knees.
    “Guardian Ispek!” Tiva sheathed her sword and rushed to his side. She helped him to lie down and bit her lip seeing his condition. Lety Ispek’s face and torso dripped red with blood. His normally bright white hair was saturated and appeared orange. He had several gashes on his side, stomach, and legs. She immediately ripped his cloak off and tore it in pieces. She wrapped his leg and waist in the cloth, hoping to stop the bleeding. The markings on his forehead were dark neon purple. He was frightened and angry, the feelings she held were mutual.
    “Must protect…” he said.
    “Save your strength. I will wake my mother and we shall find a healer,” Tiva said, pulling on one of her braids nervously.
    She felt his tight grip suddenly around her wrist. Horror rose though her as she felt his pain, thoughts, and emotions in her mind.
    “No time.” He struggled for air. “ You …must…protect.”
    “Me?”
    “Yes.”
    “What must I protect?”
    “King.” His