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reading me now? I tried to focus on his thoughts but heard nothing.
 How does telepathy work? I asked as I settled on the kitchenette chair and poured milk in my cereal.  Sometimes I hear you and the others, other
times I don t. What am I doing wrong?
Grampa finished washing the vegetables, turned off the water. He leaned against the kitchen sink, crossed his arms and studied me.  It s all about
focusing, and that comes with training. The address and the hours of the dojo are on the fridge door. The instructors will teach you how to control
and maximize your powers.
Just as I d expected, he wasn t going to let me decide for myself. It wasn t fair.  Why can t you train me?
 Because I ve got a job to do. Besides, Cardinal Guardians train together. That s how it is with us, team work.
Yeah, right. Kim didn t seem eager to be on a team with me earlier today. Even the thought of her left a weird feeling in my gut.  So I can t know the
big secret until I join the program?
Grampa shook his head.  What big secret?
 I heard the stakes are high in what you do.
He shrugged as though he had no idea what I was talking about, which meant he did. Fine. I didn t need to know.  How was your meeting?
He smiled at my smooth change of topic.  We re still talking. The Circle, you ll come to learn, is made up of a bunch of cantankerous old fools. I m
always amazed we accomplish anything when they re involved.
The meeting with Bran flashed in my head. Would Grampa be angry I hadn t listened to him? I d never disobeyed him before.  Why did you need to
consult them anyway?
He wiped his hands on his jeans and took the seat opposite me.  As much as I don t trust the boy Bran Llyr, we think his message might have come
from one of our own. Coronis took Tariel fifty years ago. He was the Cardinal Water Guardian. If he s alive, we must save him. He paused and
pinned me with a steady gaze.  If this is not about Tariel, then this boy is a demon scout. Using you to reach me only makes him more suspicious.
I shook my head.  He s not a demon, Grampa.
 You re new to your powers. How would you know what he is or is not?
I pulled out my amulet from under my top and dangled it.  The jadeite didn t work on him.
If Grampa was surprised I knew about the amulet s powers, he didn t show it.  He could have found some way to become immune to it. Demons are
crafty.
I let out my breath in a whoosh, as doubts seeped in. Images of how Bran had looked, all banged up and scruffy-looking, flashed in my head.  He s
scared& terrified of something.
Grampa scratched his chin, frowning.  A scout would be terrified of being caught, I suppose. How do you know what he feels?
Something in his voice told me he already knew the truth. I swallowed and forced myself to tell him about our meeting.  When I saw him today, he
touched my hand and I felt his emotions. He s terrified. He also had cut lips, bruises all over his face, a ripped shirt. I think he fought with someone,
and then slept in the streets. He smelled awful. I wrinkled my nose at the memory.
 I see.
I rolled my eyes.  Is that all you re going to say? Aren t you going to yell at me for disobeying you and talking to him?
 I don t yell. Finish your cereal.
I pushed my bowl aside, my appetite gone.  We must help him, Grampa.
He didn t respond.
 I didn t mean to talk to him. It happened so fast. One minute I was opening my locker, the next he was there. But we weren t alone. There were lots
of students around.
 But he touched you.
 Accidentally. He showed me a scar on his chest and said he ll be in the valley if you want to meet with him.
Grampa stared at me for a few moments without speaking, then sighed.
 Well? Aren t you going to retrieve the images from my head? I asked.
 For starters, you shouldn t have talked to him. I keep telling you, he may be dangerous. Second, you can t be involved in this investigation
anymore. His eyes drifted past me, dismissing me, and anger surged through me.
 Why not?
He got up.  You re not a Cardinal Guardian, Lil. It takes decades to become one. You re not even a trainee yet. And from what you told me last
night, you re not sure you want to help people.
My jaw dropped open.  That s not fair. I didn t ask for my powers or for Bran to approach me.
 No, you didn t.
 But the fact that he did means I m involved.
 Not anymore. He took a step away from the table.
I grabbed his arm.  But Bran wants me involved. He told me about his family needing help, showed me his scar. It s shaped just like my amulet,
similar to the ones Sykes, Remy, Kim and Izzy wear. When Grampa frowned, I let go of his hand.  I met them at school today, talked to them. They
showed me theirs.
 Kim and Izzy?
 Isadora and Pilar. They prefer to be called Izzy and Kim.
Grampa scowled.  You discussed what Bran told you with them?
 Of course not. We just talked about when they got their powers and stuff. But from what they said, only Cardinals wear the six-pointed star amulet,
which means Bran s a Guardian trainee. There must be a trainee missing somewhere. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]