Free Mirrored Time (A Time Archivist Novel Book 1) by J.D. Faulkner Page A

his breast coat pocket and set it on his desk. It glinted in the light. “After last night, you have an idea of what goes on here. The test will help to further your understanding of the Archives. Traditionally, the Guardians conduct the testing. However, I have decided to … forgo this particular formality.”
    Rafe snorted and mumbled something derogatory.
    Gwen chose to ignore him. “Guardians?”
    “Bunch of busybody diplomatic serpents, if you ask me.” Rafe’s voice was venomous.
    Alistair sighed. “The Guardians have existed for as long as the Archives have. After the Archaic war, the gods worried someone else would try to seize power like their brother. The power to affect time could be dangerous in the hands of uneducated travelers without any guidance. Thus, the Archaics created the Guardians: Part political entity, part educating body, and part police force. They guard the time streams and make sure no harm falls to either travelers or the uninitiated.”
    Gwen bit her lip. Great. A few answers and a thousand more questions.
    “I realize you have questions. And later today, I promise I will do my best to answer more of them.” Alistair said. “However, the test needs to be performed—with or without the sanction of the Guardians. Every would-be traveler undergoes the same thing.”
    Rafe spoke up. “What Alistair isn’t telling you is the Guardians are more interested in bureaucracy and their own relative power. They’ve lost sight of their original mission of protecting the time streams. Now they are only interested in enforcing their unyielding and outdated rules. If Alistair had appealed to the Guardians, let’s just say you might have been able to take the test in your forties.”
    “Rafe is correct.” Alistair crossed his arms. “Gwen, the test is not a simple one, and there are reasons why the formalities are in place. However, the Guardians and I have never agreed on much, let alone the requirements of allowing someone to enter the time streams. It is counterintuitive to forbid an individual access to the time streams before they have been tested. If the testing has been triggered, it is because the individual has already travelled the time streams. You can’t prevent an event that has already happened.” He raised his shoulder in resignation. “Yes, the test is helpful. However, years of preparation shouldn’t be required.”
    Gwen saw her opening. “But what is the test?” Should I have grabbed my No. 2 pencil and graphing calculator?
    Alistair straightened in his chair. “The test will reveal a traveler’s gift. As I said, each Archaic was gifted with a unique skill. Modern travelers have lesser skills but still one relating back to the original Archaics. Since the defeated brother never passed down his gifts like the others, there are six gifts a traveler can possess.”
    “Can someone have more than one gift?”
    “Generally, no.” He coughed into his hand. “Your experience today will tell you from which Archaic your power descends. The test is the most efficient way to determine this, although perhaps not the easiest. It is a trial of the mind, a mental battle to ensure a potential traveler enters the time streams with a pure intentions and no ulterior motives.”
    “Not that it has helped much in the past.” Rafe’s voice had a dark edge.
    “Indeed.” Alistair’s voice was low.
    “Well …” She cleared her throat, hoping her next words would sound more certain and less like a scared little girl. “… sounds like fun. When do I start?”

    Gwen stood in front of a large wooden door, a grassy plain stretching out around her as far as she could see. The wind made swishing sounds as it swirled through the grass. The door towered over her marked with heavy dents and scratches. In her hand, lay the key, so cold it almost burned. For all her brave words, the idea of putting key to lock sent her heart racing to a panicked beat.
    Alistair had tried to encourage her.