Free Tiva Boon: Royal Guardian by Jenn Nixon Page B

fingers eased their restraint. He was starting to slip away.
    “From who?”
    “Them all.” He choked and spit blood.
    “Who?” she said. She wiped the corners of his mouth, waiting for his response. He continued fading, his life slipping away. She shivered and tried to think of happier thoughts. “Please, tell me who!”
    “She knows…” Ispek spoke his last words and went still.
    “Guardian Ispek?” she said while shaking him. “Wake up!” Tiva stared at his lifeless body. Who harmed him? Why did he bring a message for her to protect the king? She was just a trainee.
    Tiva gazed back to the house, saw lights flickering inside. She jumped up and ran home. She forced the door open and darted up the stairs, entered her parent’s room, and stopped short seeing Kevler sitting next to her mother on the bed.
    “Father!”
    “Oh, my dearest one.” Kevler stretched out his hand to her. Tiva froze. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she fell into her father’s arms. She held him and took comfort against him. Kevler smoothed her hair along her back and kissed her forehead. Suddenly he stiffened, nudged her back, and glanced into her eyes.
    “What has happened?”
    “Guardian Lety Ispek, he is…” she said.
    “Speak of what you know, Tiva.”
    “His spirit has gone to the Eternal Lands. His body lies in the field. He had a message.”
    D’laja jumped up from the bed. She hurried to the window, gasped, covered her mouth, and stepped back. Kevler released Tiva and followed. He peered out, then took D’laja in his arms.
    “What did he tell you, Tiva?” Kevler said while comforting her mother.
    “He said ‘I must protect the king from them all’, and then he said, ‘she knows’,” Tiva said. “Mother, do you know what he speaks of?”
    “No, I do not. Precious…wait…he said you were to protect the king?” D’laja said.
    “Yes, Mother ,” she said.
    “By the spirits you are bleeding!” D’laja shrieked and rushed to her side.
    “Mother, I am fine. I attempted to help Guardian Ispek and tend to his wounds…there were so many…”
    “Tiva, wash up and make haste to bed,” Kevler ordered.
    “But, Father—”
    “Don’t argue, dearest one. Your day has been eventful enough. Mother and I shall handle this.”
    “Yes, Father.” Tiva sighed and left. So many thoughts filled her mind. What she felt from her parents scared her most. Her father was injured and concerned, her mother distraught. Sensing the tension inside them was simple, but the darker feelings deep within surprised her: Fear and anger. Something more important and threatening than anything either of her parents had faced before had happened. It was not her place to question them, but as she washed up and changed into her sleep clothing, she couldn’t help but think of all that had happened.
     
    She finally drifted off and slept soundly until she woke in the early morning. Rubbing the tiredness from her eyes, she saw her father sleeping upright on her toy chest. She rose from her bed and crossed the room. Softly, she caressed her father’s forehead. His markings were darker than normal, which did little to comfort her.
    “Father.” Tiva threw her arms around him and squeezed tight when his eyes fluttered open.
    “What is wrong, dearest one?”
    “I am not strong, Father. I lack control. I hear thoughts all the time. I feel emotions from everyone. The king, he spoke inside my mind. I can’t block all the hurt and despair.” She crawled up into his lap. “I cannot protect the king. I can barely face the death of my cousin and Guardian Ispek. I can’t do this, Father.”
    Kevler rocked her gently. “Shh, my dearest one. You are just facing many things and have yet to learn how to deal with them. Mother told me of your troubles in the palace, but she did not mention the mind-speak.”
    “I didn’t tell her. I was afraid. You know the king better so I wanted to tell you first. How come I can sense and hear him so?” she