Reborn Read Free Page B

doesn’t watch over you.”
    The old man sighed lightly as the wisdom of her words sunk in. Although he would stop at nothing to aid the Gate Keeper and his friends, there was only so much he could do before dangerously pushing the limits of his body.
    “I dared to dream of a day when this curse of mine could serve a higher purpose,” she said, “a day when I was no longer ashamed of being born different from everyone else. A day when...I no longer prayed death would find me sooner rather than later.” Addel tipped her head and smiled at her own morbid statement, completely at peace that those dark days were long past. “There is no longer any doubt as to what my calling is. I’ve sworn my life to this quest and will see it to the end, as have you. And I swear I will do everything in my power to protect you.” She smoothed her thin fingers across the top of his head before leaning down close to his ear, “even if I need to protect you from yourself.” She embraced the thin man in a gentle hug.
    Both looked up as the door slowly creaked open. There stood Ilirra in her long, flowing dark blue dress, her commanding presence filling the room before ever speaking. She scanned the room, eyes moving from shelf to jar, hammock to wall, apparently taking deep interest in the same mundane items that had been there as long as anyone could remember. Berkeni allowed the stalling tactic to play on, wishing the welcome silence would go on forever, hoping to buy a few more precious seconds before hearing the same painful question for the hundredth time.
    After a time, a slight nod indicated her thorough inspection of nothing had come to an end. Ilirra’s bright green eyes drifted back toward Berkeni. His gaze held hers for a second or two before settling on Her Majesty’s feet. As each day passed by, he was finding it harder and harder to meet her eyes when they spoke. Her face seemed a cool mask of calm and serenity to anyone else, but she never once fooled the wise man who always saw right through her facade. He could feel the pain and suffering that would drive any other woman to the brink of madness.
    “Your Majesty,” said Addel, stepping forward. She gave a deep bow before standing up straight with her hands clasped behind her back, all movements she could not have done prior to Berkeni’s help as well as the Queen’s fine doctors. Her body was not perfect, but far from the broken one she had been accustomed to for years.
    Ilirra gave a respectful nod of recognition before looking back to Berkeni, who still kept his eyes low. “Have you been able to find out any—” she cleared her throat sharply, never dropping her eyes or looking away. “I want a full report immediately. Tell me all you’ve learned.”
    The single, low-burning lantern flickering on the table provided just enough light to cast living shadows, which danced across the room as if many people were scattered about. Yet only three occupied the room, and the somber atmosphere made it seem like even fewer. The thin man looked older than usual as weary eyes finally rose to meet hers. “I’ve nothing to report,” he whispered in a tired voice. “I still have no indication of their whereabouts or even if they are still ali—” he swallowed hard and looked to his glass jars, as if something more important had just caught his attention.
    Ilirra’s expression never changed. Her cool, calm mask meant to fool the world never even twitched, but her green eyes betrayed the calm, like small windows that did little to hide a shattered soul. “You were supposed to be the one keeping an eye on them,” she growled. Her eyes narrowed angrily, though her placid mask remained unchanged. “I knew sending them on this fool’s quest was going to be dangerous, yet still I trusted your judgment. I blindly followed your feeble plan, thinking there was no other way.” The Queen seemed to loom over each of them as her powerful presence filled the room. “You gave my