Jabberwocky - 15. Prophecy

XV. Prophecy

Training with Naani was exhausting. Understanding what Naani was telling him was one thing. Putting it into practice was another case entirely. Editing or censoring the amount of information coming off his brain required a level of concentration that was totally foreign to Brandon. It seemed to come much easier to Jordan. Naani explained that it was because Jordan was a natural introvert—not his exact words, but as close as the language barrier could get—and that made it easier for him.

Brandon’s frustration grew until Naani called off the training… it was quite late after all. Brandon was slightly mollified by the meditation exercises that Naani gave him.

“What is the plan?” Brandon asked, as the entire group sat around the table, eating a light snack. Charion had a version of ice cream that was about a thousand times better than anything he had ever tasted on Earth.

“We need to get someone inside the palace, inconspicuously of course, and then that person should try to get the remainder of the group inside,” Jassa said. She glanced at Naani. “Are you joining us?”

Naani smiled, but his eyes were sad. “Sorry love, but I rather like my shop here. I think your cause is admirable, but this is my home. I would rather not jeopardize it.”

Jassa reached over and squeezed his hand. “You’ve done more than enough for us already.”

“We need someone who has been in the palace, who has knowledge of the layout, who knows how to get around,” Sumna continued.

“I’ll go,” Jordan said.

“Like hell you will,” Brandon interjected.

“I’ve been inside, I know-“

“No!” Brandon insisted.

“Neither one of you will go,” Sumna said before an argument could erupt. “You are both too high risk. Brandon, Keith has seen your face and the palace guards were combing the palace for Jordan. Like I said, we need to be inconspicuous; both of you are too high risk.”

“But I’ve been inside the palace for several weeks,” Jordan said. “We both have.”

“I know. So have I,” Sumna said.

“But someone might have noticed that you have been absent for a while.” Jassa pointed out. “In fact, I am certain it has drawn attention. You weren’t exactly unpopular.”

Sumna glared and stuck her tongue out.

“So the three main people who know the layout of the castle best are the three who would draw the most unnecessary attention,” Jordan said. He glanced at Jassa. “Looks like you drew the short straw.”

Obviously something didn’t translate over correctly, because she frowned in confusion and Jordan clarified. “You are the most likely to go inside the castle. You’re not familiar.”

“Which is exactly why she should not go,” Sumna pointed out. “She’s not familiar with the layout.”

“That is why we have the plans and blueprints,” Jassa said. “Let me familiarize myself with the layout of the castle, I’ll go over the plans with everybody here and then I’ll go inside the castle.”

“You aren’t that inconspicuous either, you know,” Naani said, a line of worry in between his brows.

“But I'm not recognizable the way the rest of the group is,” Jassa pointed out.

“But what if you get cornered or stressed?” Sumna asked. “You’ll start to wing out and people will know that you are a foreigner.”

“We can go around like this all night,” Jassa said. “The point is that the boys are easily recognizable, you are recognizable and I am not. I am the most obvious choice.”

Sumna frowned and ran a hand through her glossy hair. “I don’t like it.”

“There is no other way to get this done,” Jassa said. She pulled the maps and plans over the table. “Show me.”

Sumna sighed, obviously unhappy about the arrangement, but she pulled the prints to the top of the pile. “Most of the essential places are on the first floor. We were unable to pinpoint the exact quarters of Keith or Elizabeth, but we did manage to eliminate many of the places that we know are not the living quarters of the two of them. Brandon showed us the Queen’s quarters, here,” Sumna said, pointing. “Most of my reconnaissance was limited to the South Wing, but I managed to get a good look around most of the palace and I’ve marked all the places of interest and marked off the places that are guest quarters, storage, etc. So that leaves mostly this section up north, here, near the Queen, which makes sense. Keith would want to be close. I doubt he would choose a second floor room for residence, since it would limit his escape options.”

“We were able to map most of the possible escape routes in the East quarter,” Jordan chimed in. “But I don’t know if they are replicated in some other parts of the palace.”

“Where are they?” Sumna asked. “We can see if they match up with the South wing.”

As Jordan bent over the map with Sumna, blond heads pressed together, Brandon watched Jassa and Naani. There was definitely some affection there. He had sometimes wondered if Sumna and Jassa had a relationship like… well, him and Jordan. Friends, soulmates, lovers. But seeing Jassa and Naani, he began to think there was something there, too. That damn Naani. Why was he so attractive?

Should I be worried? Jordan’s warmly amused mental voice wound through his mind. Brandon grinned.

“Brandon, a lot of what you have told us indicated that you know these people, at least a little bit,” Jassa said. “You said the Queen was a friend of yours.”

“I knew her before she came to Charion,” Brandon said.

“Was she the same person before she became Queen?”

“Not really.”

“How was she different?”

“She was sane.”

Jassa looked like she was going to say something but thought better of it. Brandon was grateful for both of their sakes that she was rethinking her words. Jassa was nothing if not blunt and straightforward, and Leia was still a delicate subject for him.

“What about Keith or Elizabeth?”

“I didn’t know the girl very well,” Brandon admitted. “Keith I knew a bit about. He created Charion.”

“Yes, he has made that fact abundantly clear,” Jassa said. “Is there something you can tell us that might give us some kind of idea how he would act, or how he would think?”

“Hmm… he is very arrogant and prideful. That fact would only be amplified by the fact he is living in a world that he created. He’s paranoid, controlling, but he’s a loner, so he wouldn’t want to be surrounded by people all the time.”

“That reinforces our theory about Rajar and Sonra being pawns,” Jassa said.

Brandon’s stomach twisted again at his name and Jordan looked up, his attention caught by the name as well.

“What?” he said.

“We think that Keith had people planted inside the palace to keep the Queen in line. Sonra and Rajar seemed to control more of what was going on in the castle. We saw them, especially Sonra, quite often in different parts of the castle, but Leia was confined mainly to her throne room and private quarters. She seemed more of a puppet ruler than anything, signing in laws and decrees that she knew nothing about. She would put her signature on anything Sonra gave her. She wouldn’t even attempt to read them, but I doubt she could decipher them even if she wanted to.”

“Why not?”

“Charion’s language is different from yours. Leia wasn’t a Creator or an Enabler, she didn’t have the benefit of automatic translation the way we do. Not only would that foster a dependence on Keith or Elizabeth, who she would need to translate, but we think some of your language must have been taught to Sonra and Rajar so they could communicate with her, but beyond that…” Sumna shook her head. “I sure don’t envy her.”

“You didn’t envy her,” Brandon corrected. Another twist in his stomach.

There was an uncomfortable moment of silence. Brandon felt a warm sweep of emotion from Jordan soothe his mind.

“So, the exits look to be the same for both the East and South wings, but that is no guarantee that the North and West wings will be. But regardless, we must assume going in that there are going to be other hidden exits and entrances that we don’t know about.”

“So once we get inside, we have to locate Keith, Elizabeth and the child, but we also have to make sure none of them escape during this process. And all the while trying to avoid getting run through by a member of the guard,” Jassa said. She rolled her eyes. “Simple.”

“Technically, you only have to find one, right?” Brandon asked. “Kill Keith, Elizabeth will die, too. If they have a tertiary bond, they both would die.”

“If they have a tertiary bond,” Jassa said. “I would predict so, but it’s not for certain. Worst case scenario, we find and kill Elizabeth, while Keith escapes with the child.”

“No, we can’t have that,” Brandon said. The thought of Keith with a baby…especially Leia’s baby…turned his stomach. “Killing Keith should be our highest priority.”

“But we still must watch Elizabeth,” Sumna cautioned. “If they have a tertiary bond, her death will shortly follow his. If not, it might take a few days for her to die as well. Enough time to take the child and stash it.”

“Why the hell is this baby so important again?” Brandon snapped.

Jassa gave him a cool look. “If it is important to Keith, then it is important to us, too. He obviously has plans for it.”

“But if Keith is dead then-“

Shut up Brandon. Jordan’s mental voice shot through his mind, sharp as a knife.

But-

No. Be quiet. We will save the baby. But act compliant for now.

“I think we are all tired,” Naani said softly. “Especially the boys. Why don’t you get some sleep and reconvene in the morning when you are well rested and form a game plan?”

Everyone murmured some kind of assent.

“Come with me,” Naani said to Jordan and Brandon. “I will show you where you can rest and clean up.”

Brandon followed Naani to a small, simple room; the only piece of furniture really catching his eye was the large bed against one wall, made up with dark blue sheets and comforter.

“Your work, I’m guessing?” Brandon heard Jordan asked.

“Dyed by yours truly,” Naani replied. “Get a good rest. Brandon, you’ll want to try those exercises I gave you first thing in the morning.”

Brandon nodded. Seconds after the door clicked closed, he felt Jordan hug him from behind, pressing his head into the back of Brandon’s shoulders.

“Let’s go to bed,” Jordan said. “Sleep.”

It sounded good enough to Brandon, and he quickly undressed and climbed in between the sheets. Jordan followed and Brandon immediately burrowed into his warmth.

“Why’d you tell me to shut up about the baby?” Brandon asked sleepily. There was no trace of accusation or bitterness in his voice or mind.

“If I tell you now, will you remember in the morning?” Jordan teased. Brandon smiled and pressed his face against the pillow.

“Doesn’t matter. You will.”

“Why didn’t you see it in my mind then?”

“I was too tired. And it was way in the back,” Brandon mumbled. Brandon turned and looked at him. “Seriously, though.”

Jordan sighed. “Regardless of your own feelings, Jassa and Sumna believe this baby is a threat. And nothing you say is probably going to change their mind on this. You remember how we said we couldn’t trust them, even though we want to? Well, I think they feel the same way towards us. Probably more so, considering our ties to Leia and Keith. If we keep arguing with them about the baby, they might wonder if we have our own agenda concerning the baby as well. That we might try to keep the baby from them. Or even get in the way. And they might decide that we are very, very disposable. Or tradable.”

“Tradable?”

Jordan’s lips touched his hair and Brandon could see what he meant without saying a word. He shivered.

“Okay. And promise me something.”

“Hmm?” Jordan asked.

“If…If you see that the child… Dammit. If you can tell that there is something wrong with the child. That from letting it live, bad things will happen the way Sumna and Jassa think. Well, I want you to—you know—not let me take it. Because I’m not sure I can be objective. Because it is a part of Leia, and I think I might love it like I love her.”

Jordan’s wrapped his arms around Brandon, feeling the same dull ache in his chest.

“Promise,” Brandon insisted.

“I promise, baby,” Jordan whispered. “I promise. Now go to sleep.”

Brandon closed his eyes. Jordan’s skin radiated warmth against him, glowing like a banked coal. The sheets smelled sweet, like lavender and it was too much for Brandon. Any thoughts of anything other than sleep instantly evaporated from his mind and he succumbed to it without a seconds thought.

Jordan lay beside him, stroking his hair and occasionally lowering his head to kiss his hair or temple, listening to the slow pulse of Brandon’s mind as it slipped deeper and deeper into sleep. He shivered a little at the tickle of Brandon’s memories in the back of his mind that had been unwillingly transferred earlier while he was looking at the map of the palace. He was fairly certain he hadn’t even gotten the entire experience, but what he had seen had been nasty enough on its own.

“Never again, baby,” he promised, whispering it into his lover’s hair. “I swear to God, I will kill him before I let that happen again.”

Brandon stirred in his arms and Jordan quickly pushed those thoughts aside and tried to clear his mind. He didn’t want to disrupt Brandon’s sleep. Instead, he focused on the slow, steady pulse of Brandon’s sleeping mind until it lulled him asleep as well.

* * *

They were flying, high above Leia’s palace. They had wings instead of arms, like Jassa and Sumna, and could feel the wind underneath them, the strain in their shoulders, chest and neck as they worked to keep themselves airborne. They smiled at each other and felt nothing but the euphoria of flight. They circled the castle slowly and could see Leia leaning out of one of the upper windows. The palace in this dream was different than the one that Leia had resided in; it was all towers and spires, reaching up into the heavens with slick, mossy walls. Leia’s hair was long and raveled out the window, like Rapunzel, and Brandon swooped in close to her. He felt he should warn her not to let her hair hang down yet, because princes weren’t the only people who could climb up to her. But when he got close, he felt his face change, a long beak jutting forward from where his mouth and chin used to be and he only had a second to wonder if the rest of him was going to turn into a bird, too. Then he saw Leia watching him, her upturned face innocent and her eyes radiating trust before his head was jutting forward and his beak was slicing into her eye, drawing bloody furrows down her face.

Then it was the memory on replay, like it was again and again, Leia screaming on stone, bloody smears from her fingertips as they scraped against the altar, thighs splayed out, open, as the creature inside made its way out of her, into light and oxygen, releasing its desperate cry into the world.

Brandon woke up the same as he usually did, nausea in his stomach and sweaty shakes seizing his body. He could hear Jordan sit up next to him, a hand on his shoulder, comforting. He closed his eyes, took a couple breaths and tried to clear the ugly scene from his mind.

“Was that mine? Or yours?” he finally asked.

“Probably a little of both,” Jordan said. “Everyone who knows about tertiary bonding told us we would share dreams. The beginning felt like one of mine. The latter part was definitely you.”

“What makes you think the beginning was yours?” Brandon asked.

“It's prophetic,” Jordan said. He lay back down, encouraging Brandon to do the same. Brandon eventually acquiesced, lying down on his side, facing Jordan. Feeling cold, as he often did following the initial panic of his nightmares, he pulled the blanket up over his shoulder and hooked one leg around Jordan’s.

“When we talk to Sumna or Jassa in the morning, they’ll tell us that Jassa plans to infiltrate the palace using flight.”

“Really?” Brandon asked, fascinated.

“Yes,” Jordan said. “I often have dreams that hint about future events. So if you think about what you were being shown and how it might apply to a current situation, it will usually tell you how things are likely to play out. But it isn’t definite, like most prophecies. Never trust the human factor.”

“How do you know it was a prophecy and not a normal dream?” Brandon asked.

“Prophetic dreams have a feel to them,” Jordan replied enigmatically. He closed his eyes. “Check with them in the morning and see what they tell you.”

Brandon sighed and took one of Jordan’s hands, kissed it and held it up against his neck.

“You feel guilty,” Jordan murmured.

Brandon was silent, but knew denying it would do no good. If that dream wasn’t a big neon sign of how he felt, Jordan could just glean it from his mind later. “Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Don’t you know why?”

“I want to hear it from you.”

“Leia was my friend. And somehow, I just get the feeling that if she wasn’t close to me that this somehow wouldn’t have affected her. Everything around this is related to me.”

“But you know that isn’t logical. Leia was attacked before I even knew you. If anything, it’s the other way around. This situation originally involved Keith, Rajar and Leia. You were drawn in because you were her friend and because you were a Creator. You didn’t bring trouble onto Leia. You were drawn in because you wanted to help her.”

“But if I wasn’t a Creator-“

“Brandon, I need you to listen to me, okay?” Jordan’s eyes were searching his in the dark room. “First of all, being a Creator isn’t a choice, okay? Don’t ever think otherwise. You are born a Creator, just like some people are born with a proficiency for music or algebra. It’s not always the greatest thing in the world, and it’s going to be hard to handle sometimes. And it’s going to change your life…in many ways it already has. But it’s not something you can keep from happening. Fate draws Creators and Enablers together, remember? So don’t think you could have just chosen not to be a Creator.

"Secondly, you didn’t do anything to hurt Leia. You didn’t. A bad thing happened to her. A terrible thing. But it had nothing to do with you. It didn’t happen because you were a Creator. It didn’t happen because you were a friend. It happened because Keith wanted one of his creations to mate with someone from our world, and Leia was chosen because Keith knew her and didn’t like her and wanted to hurt her. You had nothing to do with this. Leia wanted this child, even though she probably was just as well aware that it might kill her as we were. Everyone makes choices, Brandon, and you can’t change the choices they make. Guilt is easy and it’s familiar and it’s comfortable. But it’s not the answer. Sometimes there isn’t an easy answer when something bad happens. But in this case, you need to stop blaming yourself. We’re going up against some very dangerous people, and guilt is a weapon they can use against you. Don’t let them.”

Brandon scowled. He could remember what Jordan had told him when he felt guilty about what had happened to Sam. “Knowing something logically is one thing. Knowing it in your heart is another.”

How true.

“I will only agree if you do the same,” Brandon said finally.

“What do you mean?” Jordan asked.

“I know that you feel guilty about what happened that night in the palace,” Brandon said. “It colors your thoughts all the time. And I was upset at you. But it was because you had lied to me and had endangered yourself after you had promised me we would talk about it. It had nothing to do with what happened afterwards. If anything I was glad-“

“Don’t,” Jordan said, his voice shaking and strained and Brandon could feel the thick layer of guilt clouding his thoughts.

“It shouldn’t have happened,” Brandon said. “And trust me, I’m not glad it did. But you did exactly what I wanted. You stayed safe. And don’t be sorry about that.”

“I should have helped you. I should have been there.”

“You would be dead now,” Brandon said. “And that would have killed me.”

Jordan bit his lip and Brandon could feel the crackle of grief inside of him seconds before Jordan was crying, gasping, pulling Brandon into his arms.

“Oh baby, when I think of what he did to you…”

Brandon tucked himself into Jordan’s body, returned the embrace and just let Jordan cry. Let it out, baby, you’ll feel better.

Jordan was gripping Brandon’s back with one hand, fingers pressing hard, the other hand buried in Brandon’s hair, holding his head up against him, burying his face in the thick black strands as he sobbed. “I’m so sorry.”

“Hush,” Brandon whispered, pressing a light kiss against his boyfriend’s skin. “I don’t blame you. You know that. You can see it in my mind.” Another kiss. “Just let it go. You’ve been so strong for me. Just let go.”

And Jordan did, his entire body shaking with the force of his tears, and Brandon did nothing but hold him for hours and hours until Jordan had exhausted himself and they both slid into sleep.

* * *

Brandon woke again slightly before dawn. He stretched a little, yawned and felt Jordan’s mind thrumming gently in the back of his own. He was still asleep. He took a minute to study Jordan’s face. It was slightly puffy and red from last night. But that was okay. Jordan had needed that. He might be two years older than Brandon, but he was still a teenager and had been dealing with too much for too long. He would probably be embarrassed once he woke up though, so Brandon vowed not to talk about or to think about it too much, if he could help it.

He crawled out of bed, pulled his clothes on and retreated to a corner to try to work on the meditation exercises Naani had given him. Here, in the quiet of early morning, it was easy to calm his mind and focus, but he didn’t know if he could do the same when Jordan was awake and there were other distractions at hand.

Eventually he noticed Jordan stirring and his mind waking up sleepily. Brandon was tempted to throw out a “good morning”, but he didn’t want to lose his focus. He kept trying to keep his mind still and empty and free of thoughts.

But Jordan was obviously not tempted to do the same, and a full stream of thoughts were flooding across his mind and skimming across the surface of Brandon’s. Brandon found out he could ignore them if he tried, and kept it up for several moments. Eventually curiosity caused Brandon to lose his concentration and he started listening to what Jordan was thinking about. Jordan's thoughts were very interesting.

…built this way. If he had gotten even one detail wrong, like the wrong mixture of gases in the atmosphere or the wrong concentration of minerals in the soil, this place would just collapse. So he had to have help and he didn't really want to experiment too much, because this place is so similar to Earth; it's uncanny. Just without the advances brought forth by the Industrial or Technology revolutions. So I wonder why he felt compelled to create this? Why not try to enforce changes on Earth? Perhaps he feels that it is too far-gone. So he creates this world to rule to try to prevent those changes? But someone is going to think of something eventually, so what is he going to do to prevent it? Keith is young, but even he can't live forever, unless there is something happening in this world that we don't know about. In fact, he might even die sooner because of the lack of medical technology in this place. So he would have to set something up after his regime to control what develops here and what doesn't. I wonder if that has anything to do with Leia's child? Is there something special about Driamor that setting up a capital here would allow him to control, or does he have some long distance influence over some of the other settlements? I didn't sense any kind of government influence in Odwayon, but I can't see Keith not having any interest in that area seeing as how many resources he could obtain from them. Maybe he is frightened of the guardians? I wonder if that is something he created for this world or if it is something that comes along with Nexus worlds. I wonder, since Keith is a Creator, if he is immune to them. I-“

“Christ baby, take a break,” Brandon said, getting up from his spot.

Jordan glanced at him. “What?”

“I’ve never heard anyone think as much as you do,” Brandon said, climbing onto the bed and giving Jordan a kiss.

“Just trying to take some things into consideration,” Jordan said, sitting up. He rubbed a hand over his face.

“Like what?” Brandon asked.

“Well, I understand why Keith is an issue for us. But I also wonder why Jassa and Sumna feel that he is a threat as well.”

“Because he is trying to change Charion. And that’s bad.”

“Yeah, but what proof of this do they have? It’s something that I’ve wondered about for a long time, but there were so many other things happening for such a long time that I never thought to question it.”

“Sumna said that things have been happening. Like…floods, earthquakes. Things that show the world is in a state of unrest.”

“Yeah, but floods and earthquakes happen everywhere,” Jordan said. “If you were listening to what I was thinking about earlier, you know that this world is eerily similar to our own. These are natural phenomena. They’re not signs that a world is in danger.”

Brandon shrugged. “Or maybe they are. Weren’t you always going on about how you think Earth might have been a Nexus world?”

“Might have been, Brandon. If it was, those doors are certainly closed now.”

“Which is maybe why we have earthquakes and hurricanes and such.”

“They are natural disasters, Brandon, and they have been happening for millions and millions and millions of years. You know how old Earth is.”

“Yeah, but maybe those natural disasters didn’t happen until the Creator died or tried to change something.”

“Which is-“ Jordan suddenly went quiet, holding up his hand and turning his eyes towards the door. There was a sound outside their room, a rustle and creak, accompanied by the steady low-level thump of footsteps. Jordan looked at Brandon, then wrapped an arm around his waist and carefully pulled him down into the sheets with him.

Lie here, like we are sleeping and let me talk to you about some things when no one can hear us. Jordan’s voice flowed smooth through his head. Brandon nodded in assent. It wouldn’t be hard, to lie here in the still warm bed, next to his unclothed lover.

What I was trying to explain was why it doesn’t make sense for Jassa and Sumna to want Keith dead. Think of this. If Keith has made changes to Charion that are causing these so called disasters to take place, what do you think will happen if he is killed?

He can’t make any further changes, Brandon replied promptly. At times like this, it amazed him how speaking this way, mind to mind, was so quick and easy. It made talking vocally with the use of lips and tongues seem awkward, clumsy and time consuming. It had never seemed that way until he found this new form of communication. It was so fucking convenient; he loved it.

Pay attention, Jordan chided gently. So, Keith can’t make any more changes, but that won’t have any effect on the changes that he already made. The only way to reverse the things that are happening now is to keep Keith alive, but that is obviously not on their agenda. Wonder why?

Maybe they just want to kill him before they do any more damage. And he has been killing Creators and Enablers, so I’m sure they are concerned about that, too.

Jordan gave him a doubtful look. That is also strange that he is doing that. I wonder what his reasoning is. He had to know that it is going to turn some people against him, and I don’t see how Creators and Enablers can really change how things are happening here in Charion. It doesn’t make sense.

Keith is paranoid. Maybe he is just worried about someone trying to mess stuff up for him. That Creators and Enablers can fuck up his world somehow.

Like the way Sumna and Jassa believe he is doing?

Brandon frowned. Why are you defending him?

I’m not, Brandon, but I just want you to think. There is a lot of stuff going on that doesn’t make sense, and I think we need to think carefully before making any of the big decisions that lie ahead of us. And about the child…Jordan looked down at his hands, flexing them slightly before bringing his eyes back to Brandon’s. I didn’t want him born on Earth, because I didn’t want an alien hybrid to be introduced on Earth. I still don’t really. But I don’t understand why that would be a problem here, in this world. There are so many different varieties of creatures here, from several different worlds, that I can’t see interspecies mating and breeding to be that much of an impossibility or even taboo. And even though Leia wasn’t a native of Charion-“ Jordan shrugged. There are plenty of human or humanoid creatures here. In fact, they seem to be the majority although with some mutations here and there to suit their purposes. And their Goddess was modeled after Leia herself.

Keith’s doing. Brandon interjected.

I know, but still…I don’t think Leia’s child, Ezekial, would cause the same kind of issues here as it might on Earth. He’s not going to stand out in a world of pseudo humans. Rajar, except for his coloring, is mostly human, too, and if his child picks up his shapeshifting ability, he can appear as human as anyone else once he is old enough to control it. And I don’t believe he is inherently evil. I mean, he has a monster for a father, yes, but evil isn’t something you inherit. I’m not saying it’s not possible here, but until I see evidence to the contrary, I don’t believe children are born bad. And I don’t see any reason for Sumna and Jassa to think so either.

But they said unless- Brandon started, but Jordan steamrolled over him again.

I know, but I don’t believe them. I think that they just say that so we don’t try to interfere. But I think there might be something else coloring their opinion.

Jordan retrieved the book on Charion and opened it to a section in the back. I didn’t see this the first several times I flipped through this, but I think it explains some things.

Brandon looked down at the passage Jordan was pointing to and read.

In green brown blue a child is wrought

No true color, butterfly

No cocoon, no flight

Holds the heart of Charion

Shed the tears of the forsaken

Light the laughter of the child

Harken forward to bask in his smile

Tremble under wrathful scowl

Apocalypse

New light

The Bringer shall decide

“You think this refers to Ezekial,” Brandon said, so surprised he forgot about stay quiet.

I think everybody thinks this refers to Ezekial, Jordan agreed. Remember why we wondered about Keith being so thrilled to have a son?

He wants to raise this child as a god, Brandon mused.

I think the way this reads, awkward as it is, a child can be raised either as a Savior or Demon. Smile or scowl, laughter or tears, apocalypse and new light, so on. I think this is the reason that Sumna and Jassa want him out of Keith’s clutches.

I want him out of Keith’s clutches, too, Brandon agreed. The thought of Keith bringing up Leia’s child made him sick. This is probably awkwardly worded because of Charion’s language. There are some words that have trouble crossing the barrier. I discovered that when I tried to tell Sumna what a carburetor was a few days ago. So if Sumna and Jassa want this child away from Keith, then we are on the same side, right?

I doubt that all Sumna and Jassa want is to keep the baby away from Keith. I think they really want the child dead. They obviously love Charion and come across as purists. I don’t know anything with any certainty, but I do believe they would rather see Ezekial dead than to see him fulfill a prophecy…one way or another.

And you are sure Ezekial is this child?

Sounds like it. No true color, so he is not of any race, which makes sense if he is a hybrid. And called a butterfly, which means he will undergo changes, but not in a traditional sense, with the no cocoon thing. Also fits with him being a shapeshifter. I’m not saying that he is, but I can see how Sumna and Jassa may believe he is.

Do you think they know we know about this? They did loan us the book.

Jordan shook his head. No. In this case, I think some of our ignorance regarding Charion and Creating and Enabling actually helped us. I think they thought we wouldn’t notice or even figure out this prophecy. I did miss it the last several times I looked through this book. But if you take this prophecy and their behavior, it makes sense.

Well, if they want to kill Keith, I’m fine with that. But not Ezekial. Prophecy or not.

Okay. Well, I don’t care too much about whether or not they kill Keith. But I’m with you on saving the baby. And I want Rajar dead.

No, Brandon thought instantly. No, I don’t want you anywhere near him.

Well, I don’t want you anywhere near him either.

I have no intention of getting anywhere near him if I can help it. But I won’t let you confront him alone.

Jordan sighed. Okay, okay. I won’t seek him out. But if we come across him, he’s dead.

I don’t want to come across him.

Jordan pressed a kiss against Brandon’s head. I’ll be with you. Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.

I know.