Chapter 20

Marcus explained the conversation he’d just had with Brindle, including the part where she said she wouldn’t let Arias tell her what to do, although he didn’t elaborate as to exactly what she’d said.  Arias in turn was somewhat miffed and considering his experience, Marcus couldn’t blame him, but then again he didn’t know Brindle.  Marcus did his best to keep a straight face while explaining to Arias that Brindle had a mind of her own and that she would not take kindly to him trying to take control of her. 

Marcus went on to explain that he and Brindle worked as a team, he guided and advised her, he didn’t tell her what to do or force an issue.  She had a strong mind and the gifts she’d been given enhanced it.  She was quick thinking and would work towards the best outcome possible with the least amount of damage.

Obanab sat quietly listening to Marcus as he got Arias up to speed regarding ‘The Keeper’ and the type of Guardian he needed to be for her.  “If,” Marcus said, “you want to be a Guardian that can work with Brindle, then you will need to learn to listen when she speaks.  Do not dismiss her because she was once human.  She is ‘The Keeper’ and she has already earned our respect.”

“The Arch’s,” Arias began, “why did they not tell me any of this?  My brief was to take your place Marcus, to be the Guardian I have always been.  Nothing of what you have told me was said!”  He looked from Marcus to Obanab, but they didn’t speak.  He thought about all that he’d been told here and knew that whatever was to come, it would not be what everyone was expecting.

“She has agreed to my being her Guardian?  She will listen and not ignore me and take off like she did last time?”

This time Obanab spoke, “Arias, you are good great Warrior and a true Guardian, but Brindle is like no other you have met before.  She will not be bound or controlled by anyone good or evil.  Keep that in mind when you are trying to get her to hear you.  Tread carefully, but don’t treat her like a child because she is far from it and you may well feel her wrath if you do.”

Arias nodded, “Thank you for what you have told me… both of you.  I can’t help but feel somewhat like a novice and she is my first my first assignment, my first ‘Keeper’.”  He laughed and ran his fingers threw his hair.  “She truly has agreed to this?”

“For the time being yes, but remember this Arias, she is mine!  I will come to her when she calls and Arias, when that time comes you will need to make a choice.”

Arias had no idea what he had gotten himself into, he had been told this was a simple assignment, he was to act as Guardian for a time.  But now he saw that there was much more to it than he was led to believe and now he wondered just what game the Arch’s were playing at.

“It is time,” Marcus said and he sent an image to Arias showing him where he was to meet Brindle and Brae.  “Watch over her my friend.”

Arias bowed in thanks to Obanab then turned to Marcus.  “You can be sure I will take care with your ‘Keeper’ old friend and your advice will not go astray.  I sense there is much to her story and yours that is still to be told.  If I am to be part of that story you can rest assured that I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe for you.” 

That said he was gone and Marcus and Obanab looked at each other with missed hopes knowing that for the moment all that could be done had been.  For now it was up to Brindle, Brae and Arias.

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Brindle and Brae sat under the Willow tree near the huge flower beds in the Botanic Gardens, the sun was turning and taking the main heat of the day with it.  Brindle rested her head on Braes shoulder but was getting restless and rose to wonder along the edge of the flower beds.  She wanted – needed something and then she heard it, the cry of the eagle hawk high above her. 

She looked at Brae and grinned.  Brae knew that look and was immediately on alert, “What are you up to My Lady?  Now is not the time to go off without letting me know what you are doing.  She sighed knowing he was right, but the urge was so great.

“Brae you know I can shift right?  I’m feeling restless like I need to do something and I think I know what that something is.  I promise I won’t be far and I won’t take long.”  Then before he could speak to talk her out of it she shifted.  She ran along the ground and as she leapt into the air her body shifted into that of the eagle hawk. 

Brae watched in awe as she glided through the sky her wings extended helping to stabilize her so she floated with the wind.  She was so graceful, so natural so wondrous that he almost missed Arias’ arrival.  He acknowledged his presence by a nod of the head then continued to watch as Brindle soared across the sky. 

She must have noticed that Arias had arrived as she turned and dived as if headed straight for him.  He started just enough that Brae noticed and before he could draw his sword she had flown back over the water and as far away from him as she dare go.

Arias began looking around for Brindle and as he made a move towards Brae he wrapped his left arm with one of the blankets they’d used last night, held out his and sending a pray out hoping Brindle would oblige, he whistled for her to come to him.

He could see Arias watching him out of the corner of his eye but stayed focused on Brindle.  He held his arm steady and it wasn’t long before she was headed towards him and within a minute or so she landed on his arm.

He held out his other hand so she could see it as he didn’t want to startle her, he also didn’t want to get bitten, this kind of bird had a very sharp beak.  She nudged his hand and let him stroke her with his finger talking nonsense to her in a calm even voice so she would feel safe.

Arias came up beside Brae and he stood silent as he watched the interaction between man and bird.  He was astounded at the trust this magnificent creature showed with Brae and secretly wondered if he could do such a thing one day.

Then Brae brought down his arm and as he quickly brought it up thrusting the bird skywards it took flight and flew high above them.  She moved into a circular weave above them, each circle growing smaller as she came closer to the ground. Then when she was a few feet off the ground she started to shift and landed as if she had stepped down off a small set of stairs.

Brae had a grin from ear to ear and Arias, well Arias was in shock!  He had been told that ‘The Keeper’ could shift, but until he’d seen it he didn’t fully believe.  Now that he had seen Brindle shift gracefully from one form to another, he was just as much in awe of her as Brae was.

“That was magnificent!” he cried out to her as she came to a stop between them both.  “Marcus said you could shift, but I have never seen any shifter so swift and graceful as they moved from one form to another.”

Brindle couldn’t help herself, she grinned at him.  Brae came up beside her and positioned himself just in front of her letting Arias know he would have to go through him to get to her.  both Arias and Brindle noticed and while Arias was willing to let it slide, Brindle moved beside him letting them both know that she could look after herself and also that she would stand beside her friend, not hind behind him.

Brindle gave Arias the once over twice, she wanted him to know in no uncertain terms that she was in control here not him.  “Marcus asked me to do this and because I both trust and respect ‘my’ Guardian I agreed.  He would have told you not to try and boss me around again, so if you can respect the fact that I have a brain in my head and treat me with the respect that Marcus tells me I have coming we’ll get along just fine.”

Arias smiled at her struggling to remain calm, “Marcus and I discussed what my role is to be with you.” He looked from Brindle to Brae then back again. “I wish to apologise to you for my behaviour when we first met.  I was not given a full briefing on you, in fact I was told very little it seems.”  He sighed and shook his head, “How about if we… start over, would that be possible?”

Brindle smiled at him, “You want a do over, okay, but just make sure you remember everything Marcus told you, deal?”

“Deal.”  He offered her his hand, “My name is Arias and I have been sent to be your Guardian.  It is an honour to work side by side with you.”  Then he bowed and kissed Brindles hand.

Brindle laughed and responded accordingly, “It’s nice to meet you Arias, I am Brindle Jacobs, ‘The Keeper’, I’m sure we will get along just fine.”  She turned to Brae and introduced him also and both men nodded acknowledgement of the other.

“So,” Brae said “Where to know?”  He looked to Brindle knowing she would be the one making the decision and waited for a response.

Brindle let out a big sigh, “Okay, I guess we should go back to the gym, Uncle Adrian’s probably worried about me and we should keep up our training.”  Both men agreed and in an instant they arrived back in the basement gym.

They immediately got themselves organised to spar, first Brindle and Brae worked with each other Brae unarmed and Brindle utilising whatever was at hand.  Then Brae picked up a wooden plank and started swinging it at her and. 

Arias was watching carefully and smiled when he saw what Brindle was going to do.  There was a heap of rope dumped in the corner behind where Brae was standing and it began to move towards Brae and as he went to step towards her the rope wrapped its way around him and tripped him up.  Brae sprawled on the floor and the plank went skidding across the room.

Brindle came over to help him up and they both laughed at the situation.  Arias was surprised at the closeness they showed for each other and felt a sudden pang of need.  He’d never had that kind of closeness with anyone before and the more he watched them together, the more he wanted to experience it.

Brindle looked over and smiled at him and he couldn’t help but smile back.  He was beginning to see something of what Marcus had tried to explain to him about Brindle.  She wasn’t just ‘The Keeper’ she was a young woman with a mind of her own and she was open in her affections to those she cared about.  He found himself warming to her and in doing so he opened up a part of himself he didn’t realise had been dormant.

They spent the next few hours sparring sometimes Brindle and Brae, sometimes Brindle and Arias but Brindle found she enjoyed watching Arias and Brae spar, they both had great strength and because of their age and experience knew so many more moves than she did.  She took note of them all hoping she’d never need to use any of them, but keeping them tucked away in her mind just in case.

Finally all three sat and rested.  Brae’s stomach was grumbling and Brindle apologised for not giving any thought to his needs.  He patted her thigh and said it was nothing to worry about, but she set her mind to bringing him something hot and meaty.  Moments later a large plate appeared in one hand with a huge steak and some vegetables on it, she held out her other hand and cutlery appeared.  She held them out to Brae and he accepted them with a huge grin on his face.

“Enjoy,” she said as Brae went into the little office so he could sit at the desk and eat.  Brindle smiled at Arias “I don’t suppose Marcus said anything about when he might come back to me?  I’m so use to him being with me it almost feels like a part of me is missing.”

Arias saw the sadness in her eyes and felt for her, he remembered what Marcus had said, “she is mine!” and now he could see that she really was his and not just as someone for him to protect.  Their bond was one thing, but what he was beginning to sense in Brindle was so much more, something he believed to be greater than their original bond had ever been.

Arias pondered this for a while then it suddenly hit him and his jaw almost hit the floor in astonishment.  Brindle saw the look on his face and touched his arm, “What is it Arias?  Is everything alright?”

Without thinking his hands came to her shoulders and held her in place, “You’re in love him with him aren’t you?  This has never happened to any Guardian not in all the long years of our existence.”

Brindle looked a little shocked at first, but then his words rang true, “Yes I’m in love with him Arias, I don’t know what that will mean for him or for me, but I will fight to keep him by my side.  He is mine now and always!”

Brae was standing in the doorway of the office; he’d heard what was said and when he looked at Arias waiting for him to protest he was very much surprised.  “Marcus said the same thing about you ‘Keeper’, he told me to never forget that you were his and that I was to make sure I kept you safe until you called for him to return to your side.”

Brindle’s eyes lit up with happiness at hearing what Arias had said, she had known for a while now how she felt about him, but because he was an Angel, a Guardian she didn’t think they could ever be more than what it was intended they be to each other.

“I made your Guardian a promise ‘Keeper’, I will keep it no matter the cost to myself.  I am starting to see why you were chosen to be the final ‘Keeper’.  You and Marcus will make a formidable partnership, one perhaps even the Arch’s will be cautious in crossing.