Quiet stillness blanketed the town, everyone gathered at the square where nineteen individuals knelt with their arms tied behind their backs. No one made a sound as an Army soldier stepped behind each of the traitors and pulled a blade free from the sheath. 

Phoenix stood in the crowd with the rest of the town folk, palms sweating and heart hammering, her mouth dry. The arrests had been made the night before, the execution announced this morning, and now at sundown, there was nothing for Phoenix to do but watch.

Maverick stood beside her, his jaw clenching and unclenching as he glared at the soldiers.  Phoenix couldn't watch people she knew die, and she watched Eric. He didn't seek death either, and kept his gaze fixed on the ground, his face almost as pale as his hair. Each time one of the soldiers cut through the neck of one of the prisoners, a soft gasp went through the crowd - and Eric winced.

A tear slipped down Phoenix's cheek and Eric lifted his gaze, meeting her own.

I wanted justice, not death. 

Phoenix sucked in a sharp breath, unable to break away her gaze as she felt Eric's emotions hit her. Had he really thought that? Could she hear him? Was this a new Guardian gift? Her heart ached at the sight of his pain, and she pursed her lips together.

I know. 

It was Eric's turn to startle. He straightened his eyes going wide. Could he have heard her as she heard him? Did telepathy come with Guardianship? Phoenix dropped her gaze, breaking the connection. It wouldn't be safe to test with Eric - not when he still hunted for anyone involved with the insurrectionist group.

Claire and Norman had returned early the night before, Norman's gift having stopped them from entering the meeting as they usually did. They arrived home after watching the arrests from afar, knowing there was nothing they could do without exposing themselves and Maverick. None of the prisoners had betrayed them - at least, that's what they assumed, as no soldier had broken down their door yet.  They now stood on Maverick's other side, Claire softly crying as Norman kept his eyes closed.

What good is this death? Phoenix glanced around. No one, save for a few of the soldiers, seemed to take any pleasure in what was happening today.

No one, that is, except Aundreya. Phoenix caught sight of her watching with a glittering stare, not flinching as each life ended. She seemed to hold her breath, her cheeks pinking and lips parting as the executions ended. Anger and hatred bubbled inside Phoenix, flaming in her stomach. As soon as the Army left, Phoenix would give Aundreya a piece of her mind - and maybe her own power.

When the executions finished, the soldiers marched away, leaving the dead to their loved ones for funeral pyres - the only way to return to Adonai. Phoenix and Maverick followed their parents on the long walk back to their cottage.

"It's done," Maverick said through gritted teeth, tears shining in his eyes. "He's gone now."

"He doesn't have a choice," Phoenix said, thinking of what she'd felt from Eric. "He didn't want this."

"How do you know that?"

"There's something we need to try."

None of them felt hungry when they returned home. Claire and Norman sat quietly at the kitchen table not saying much. Phoenix dragged Maverick to the sofa, forcing him to sit.

"I need you to look me in the eye and think something."

"What?"

"Just think something, but something really...something you feel."

"I feel you're crazy."

"No, I'm serious. Just do it." She stared into his eyes, and he leaned away from her. "Mav, please."

"Fine." He sighed and his shoulders slumped, but he met her gaze.  As Phoenix searched his eyes, she felt a tingling of concern mingled with pain and sorrow. Nowhere near as strong as what she received from Eric, it nonetheless proved her theory.

"I have a new gift. I can sense what you're feeling."

"You're an empath?"

"I think so. I have to keep eye contact for a while, but eventually it's there. Maybe if it were stronger it'd happen sooner, like with Eric."

"You felt what Eric's feeling?"

"I did. He wasn't happy about the executions. He didn't want it to happen that way."

"How'd he like to do it, burn them alive?" Maverick's glower darkened. "He's not our friend anymore, Laina. The old Eric is gone."

Without waiting for her reply, Maverick shot up, stalking away toward the stairs. Phoenix dropped her gaze to her hands. "He's still in there, somewhere," she whispered.

A knock at the door paused Maverick's progress. With a fearful glance back at Phoenix, he changed course to the door and opened it. Mr. and Mrs. Lanslow, friends of their parents, stood in the doorway.

Within minutes Claire and Norman and the Lanslows sat in the living area, Maverick and Phoenix confined upstairs. Not that it did any good, they sat and listened to everything said below.

"We know it's only a matter of time before we're caught." Mr. Lanslow held his wife's hands in his own, his face drawn. "We escaped by a hair's breadth, but we were seen. They'll come for us, and eventually they will suspect you. They've interrogated most of the families in Treywick. It's only a matter of time before they get to you, and you can bet that daughter of yours will get you all killed."

Maverick shot Phoenix a look, his hand on her arm to keep her from marching back down the stairs and giving Mr. Lanslow a piece of her mind. 

"Laina is not a danger to us," Claire said. Phoenix felt a surge of gratitude toward her adoptive mother. "Our only danger is the Army."

"We're here to warn you," Mrs. Lanslow said. "You ought to leave at once. Take your son and go through Tranchet's Pass. The letter from the Militia said there would be someone there to take you to them. The Army knows, too, and the sooner you leave the better your chances are of reaching the Militia first."

"If we leave, the Army will know we're traitors," Norman said.

"They'll know either way." Mrs. Lanslow sighed. "You need to go. Go through the pass, find whoever waits there, and get yourselves safe."

After the Lanslows departed, Phoenix and Maverick descended the stairs, their parents still sitting on the sofa.

"Are we leaving?" Phoenix asked. Claire shook her head. "Why not? You're in danger. Mr. Lanslow's right - all it would take is the right question and I would give us away."

"We aren't cowards," Norman said. "And we aren't going. It would be more dangerous to leave than to stay."

"How can you say that?" Maverick asked. "After what we just saw today?"

"I need you to trust me." Norman stared at his children, and Phoenix saw how he'd seemed to age twenty years in only a few hours. His strong jaw stubbled with a beard, and new grey hairs crowned his brunette locks. Wrinkles deepened around his eyes. Claire hadn't fared much better.

What toll was bearing down on them that they weren't sharing?

"I trust you," Phoenix said. "But I won't like what happens, will I?"

Norman's lips twisted into a grim smile. "I don't think anyone is going to like what's coming. As long as you remember what's important, you'll get through it."

"What's important?" Phoenix asked, her stomach twisting at what she sensed he wasn't saying.

"Adonai honors those who honors others. Adonai loves truth, gives family, and strengthens the good." 

"May it be to us, too," Phoenix, Maverick, and Claire said in response. 

"I'm afraid we've reached the beginning of a new chapter, my children. Rest now, for tomorrow, the story begins anew."

###

In the middle of a dark forest, where the trees stretched high into the sky, affording no light to permeate their canopy, a soft, silver glow emanated among the branches. It illuminated the twisting bark, the gnarled wood. As the light grew stronger, it took form, a man stepping out from behind a tree, his steely gaze searching for another.

"I'm here, Castor." 

Castor turned, lips pursing. "This isn't how it ought to be."

"It never is." Another Ancient stepped out into sight, his piercing blue gaze the only discernible feature, the rest of him masked in his silvery glow, just as Castor remained hidden. It wasn't safe to be seen as themselves, not when they risked crossing paths while walking the land.

"Then it ought to be stopped." Castor gestured around them. "Lives are being lost. Each one brings Adonai pain. Don't you feel it?"

"I feel it." Altair's voice sounded weary. "But we can't interfere more than we have. They need guidance, not puppeteers. It's our job to watch over them and help them see their path."

"You don't seem to be doing much of that," Castor argued. "You haven't even entered into her world."

"I have found other ways. Dreams. Feelings. Helping her gifts along. She'll be ready when we meet." Altair moved to a nearby tree, placing a light emitting hand against the trunk. "Things are changing. The Other Lands are bleeding into Braskey. First Narissa, and now Fangralee. Our world must be protected."

"Narissa can be dealt with." Castor clenched his fists at his side, annoyed by the elder Ancient's calm demeanor when discussing the destruction of their people. "If you would only - "

"It's not our place." Altair turned toward Castor, his blue eyes narrowing. "And I must remind you not to get too involved."

"That," Castor said, "is not part of our agreement. You chose to do this and you chose me as your companion. You can't dictate how I do my job."

"If anyone were to find out-"

"They'd praise us for our foresight. We can't let all of Braksey fall away for the sake of a family feud. The Heir will sit on the throne, and the Guardian will rise to Braskey's aid." 

Altair sighed again. "I wish I had your confidence, young one. But I warn you. Growing fond of humans is a dangerous business."

"And I warn you. Distancing yourself from them won't protect you from pain if they fail."

Dang, that's a lot of executions :( And everybody's sad.

What do you think of Phoenix's new empathy power? Of the Lanslows' warning and Norman's reaction?

More importantly, how many of you are super intrigued and maybe a bit confused by Castor and Altair?! I love them. They're a mysterious duo, but I promise you'll see them again. What do you think is happening in their conversation??

Comment below and vote for this chapter because you make ALL THE GOOD THINGS happen!!! Love you all. Seriously. You make writing so much fun :)