Guardian (Sequel to Fearless)

Chapter Twenty Four

"Aye, I have," Hench said. "I thought it'd be nice to have a second woman at the sanctuary. It's only been me for the last fifteen years, so I picked her. She's my first trainee since I began working for the Remorda Guardians, and I do believe she'll be my last." A loud laugh reverberated from Hench's chest.

"You don't like her?" Zayn asked, subconsciously filing the information about this woman being an active combatant for fifteen years away in his brain. He hadn't known Remorda Guardians had accepted women into their order all this time. Ah, he'd give that surprise more thought at a later time, on a later day --he'd already been dumbstruck too many times today.

"Ah, I like that girl just fine. She's very sweet and very skilled to boot. I'm very proud of her and I commend her dedication and determination," Hench answered. "But my gods at all the questions..." They all shared a laugh.

"Yes, she does have that quality to her," Zayn agreed. "I'm glad she's doing well. How is she faring, eh, mentally?" He pointed this question at Kayde.

"From her father's death? She's better," Kayde answered earnestly. "She's alive inside again --reminds me of how she was when I was helping her through the war. Worry not, my general. Time heals all wounds. Even the ones Hench leaves on her."

Zayn raises a brow. "Is that so? Is that even possible? The last part, I mean. Iris is fast." He looked to the mighty woman.

Kayde interceded. "Of course," he replied, and gestured at the other guardian. "She's been in intensive training for fifteen years, general. Hench can throw just about anyone around if she so desires --including our former Rogue Captain. Iris has a good teacher, indeed." Kayde said that partially to placate the woman after she had just had to bear that horrible story about herself. Hench just chuckled and ruffled the top of Kayde's head in response.

"Ah, that's enough of that," she said heartily. "Well that is all we needed from you, general. I suppose we will take our leave now."

"Wait!" Zayn called. "Not yet. Kayde, I have something for you --for both of you actually, I guess, since you're training Iris. There's something you need to see... something that Iris needs to see." The general began ruffling through the bottom drawer of his desk, drawing a small box from its depths.

A second later, Zayn dug around in the box and pulled out a small painting. Without a word, he laid it face up on the table. It was the first painting he'd found with Cricket in it. Both guardians just stared down at it as the general began laying a lot of other evidence from the box onto the wooden surface. There was journals, notes, the "missing" poster --just various things related to Cricket.

"What's this?" Kayde asked, picking up the painting.

The world went quiet for a moment.

"That," Zayn said, his voice turning grave, "Is Cricket. That is Iris's older sister."

"Huh?" Kayde grabbed the picture now, bringing it closer to his face. "Wait, Iris doesn't have an older sister."

"You're wrong."

Kayde laid the family painting back down. "What are you talking about? What is all this?"

"This is the best kept Gwenneth secret since Iris was born," Zayn explained. "Renna first told me about her a few weeks ago accidentally when she was drunk --about how Iris's parents had had another little girl. So, naturally, I went looking for proof to see if there was indeed truth to what she told me and I've found all of this. It was hidden in Irila Gwenneth's things. Kayde, Iris has an older sister. Or had, anyways-- and Iris has no idea that this girl exists. Her family never told her."

Hench cleared her throat. "I'm going to wait outside. This seems personal. Come out when you're done, Kayde."

The mighty woman took her leave, and the two men continued to talk.

"What happened?" Kayde asked, his mind completely reeling at the information. "Where is this Cricket?" And after a moment, Kayde put a hand to his chin. "Wait, Cricket? That was the name... Cricket?"

Zayn nodded.

"I've heard that name before," Kayde thought aloud. And he had. "Recently, actually. Gods, where did I hear that name?"

"You did?" Zayn stood from his seat so quickly it toppled over. "You're sure?"

"Yes. I did," Kayde replied, racking his brain for who had said Cricket's name. He came up short after several long minutes. "I can't place where I've heard it before... but that name has come up lately, and it wasn't with Iris or Renna either. At least I don't think it was Iris. It was in the guardian sanctuary, I'm almost positive. Had to be --that's the only place I ever stay. Or was it on that mission I took? Damn it, I don't know." He stopped talking for a minute. Finally, he said, "Zayn, what happened to Cricket?"

"She's missing, Kayde," Zayn said. "She disappeared when Iris was an infant at a harvest festival. She snuck out with a boy into the woods and no one ever saw her again --no one ever even heard her scream. There was no sign of her anywhere. Every single trail went cold the moment she went missing. It was the perfect crime. The boy came running back a while later saying that a strange man had been watching the both of them. That's the only lead we have on the girl. Elliot and Irila looked for a long time after she was presumably abducted but Cricket never was returned." Zayn paused, "Kayde, you have to remember where you heard that name and what was said exactly. What you heard may or may not be the only lead that anyone's had on Cricket for over twenty years."

"I'll do my best." Kayde promised. "What do we do about Iris? Why did they never tell her?"

"They planned to after Iris turned sixteen, so she could have a happy childhood before learning about her sister," Zayn explained. "But then Irila died not too long before that. I suppose they decided that that was just too much despair and let her remain ignorant." Zayn paused. "And what we should do is clear. We have to tell her. Iris has a right to know she's got a sister, even if Cricket is dead now. You need to bring some of this stuff and show her, Kayde."

Kayde nodded, looking through more of the paintings. He found one of Cricket holding baby Iris and smiling. The guardian shook his head. "My gods."

"I know," Zayn responded, a bittersweet smile on his lips. "Madness, isn't it?"

"I'll show her; I swear on my life," the guardian promised. An emotion passed over Kayde's face. "Iris deserves more than secrecy and lies." Something about the look in Kayde's eyes and the reverence in his voice when he spoke Iris's name  reminded Zayn about the previous discussion he'd had with Renna about the both of them.

Zayn could tell somehow that the guardian's feelings had not changed since then. After a long moment, Kayde packed the box and finally headed for the door.

"Wait," Zayn called to him.

Kayde whirled back around at the door. "Yes, general --Zayn?"

It was then that Zayn nearly brought up what Renna had told him about Wallfront. As he stared at Kayde, though, he truly thought better of it. Instead, he said, "It was good to see you again, my friend. I hope you are doing well."

"Likewise." A ghost of a smile appeared on the guardian's face. "Hey, now that you remind me, I should probably tell you that I broke the rules and told Iris I was coming to see you. She wanted me to wish you well from her."

Zayn simply nodded and chuckled. "Kayde breaking the rules? Helping out an illegal soldier not enough for one lifetime?"

"You know what they say about the forbidden," Kayde jested. "Once you've had a taste... you always go back." Now he shook his head. "But I shouldn't hear you complaining. I'm a two way messenger, after all. Anything you'd like me to say to her from you? Aside from Cricket, I mean."

Zayn thought for a long moment. Then, he smiled politely and clasped his hands. "Just wish her well from me."

The words hang heavy in the air for a few long moments.

"Very well. I will do that," Kayde said.

The guardian left the general's office to join Hench outside.

A/N -- Thanks for the read! Kind of a big chapter here! Let me know what you think below.