Chapter 98

“So the glowing entertainment box isn’t magic?” Darius said, rubbing his chin. “How’s it work then?”

“Science and electronics. There’s physical rules that dictate how all things are made up and how things interact. If you can manipulate those, it produces magical effects. My world is full of doodads and gizmos that do a lot of what we can do here. Like we use radio waves instead of crystals for communication,” she explained, chattering animatedly, front paws twitching with her words as she bounced on her back paws.

“Seems like magic would be easier,” Harold mused, kicking his feet, which hung just a few inches above the floor, as he sat on the bench.

“Well, as I said, we don’t have magic there,” Riley countered.

The child scoffed. “You’re fibbing! Magic is everywhere. How could it not be there and be here?”

“That’s above my pay grade; different world, different rules? We are talking about another universe, and I’m about to give myself a nosebleed.”

Her ears went crooked in testament to her words.

“What’s a universe?” Cedric asked, having closed the shop early.

“We’re in one,” Riley replied awkwardly.

“No, this is Calaria,” Darius corrected.

“Well, yes, but…” She paused and fidgeted with her front paws, “Calaria is in the universe, and the stars at night, they’re actually giant balls of gas that are burning in a process called fusion. There may even be other worlds orbiting them! Everything is like this delicate balance and the sum whole of everything in this reality. I think this is right, but I’m not a scientist; I’m waaaaay out of my comfort zone here; well, that’s a universe!”

Harold, Cedric, and Darius looked at her as if she had tentacles coming out of her ears before Darius fell out of his chair laughing.

“Oh, dear me…” He lost himself to the chuckles again. “Balls of gas in the sky, universes, non-magical worlds… Oh, spare me! My old ticker can only take so much!”

“But I’m right,” Riley boggled, her ears twitching, “at least kinda right. What do you think is up there?”

“It’s a great firmament. Those are the distant lights of the kingdoms of the Gods, Riley; everyone knows that,” Cedric replied.

“And have you ever seen a God?” Riley challenged.

“Well, not personally, but the God of Justice showed up last year, and the God of Healing stopped a plague in Da’s time. Wasn’t that right, Darius?” Cedric countered.

“Yes, in fact, he did! I was about Harold’s age, and that plague took my sister before he appeared. There’s a statue in honor of that event at the Cathedral. I passed it just today. The Gods have to be from somewhere, Riley. Still, it’s a good tale,” Chuckles rumbled through him like the aftershocks of a great earthquake.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“But...but...but... I… You win,” Riley dropped to all fours, sullen, having neither the science nor the philosophy to take her story further.

“It was still a ripping good yarn,” Cedric praised.

“You’re welcome,” she said, her tone flat as she heard Tobias trudging up the stairs.

“Riley, we need to go,” he announced as Gwendolyn came out from the kitchen.

“You’re all cutting up fine, I hear,” she smiled and drifted over towards Tobias, patting his cheek.

“What’s wrong?” Riley asked, noticing him still holding his com crystal.

“We’ve been ordered to report in. It’s about that business we ran across this morning,” Tobias couched his words carefully, scanning around the room.

“Super secret ranger stuff…” Harold whispered reverently.

“Duty calls? Oh, love and I just put on your favorite dinner. Is there no way you can stay?” she pressed.

“I’m sorry, no. Riley, how’s your mana?” he asked, all business.

“Topped up and ready to go,” she reported, happy for the reprieve.

“Son, you’re frightening us. Are things ok?” Cedric asked for the family.

“It’s nothing you need to be concerned about,” Tobias replied as the back doorbell rang downstairs.

“I’ll get it. That’s for me. Riley, we need to go,” he said, moving for the exit.

“It really is ok. It’s just that we can’t talk about things, and Tobias doesn’t want to lie to you. We keep you safe by keeping you out of it,” Riley explained.

“We understand. You two, just be careful,” Cedric called down the stairs.

“I love you all. We’ll be back in a few days. Riley’s right, I don’t want to lie to you, but I can’t tell you about it,” he said back, his words growing fainter as he moved.

Cracking the door revealed the guard, Phineas, and his kraus.

“Ranger Tobias! You turned out fine. I told your Granda I’d put in a word for you, and you went and made us all proud. So, what’s this about?”

“Keep a patrol on this neighborhood and look out for figures in hoods and black masks. If you see them, don’t hesitate,” Tobias replied.

Phineas firmed up and saluted, “We’ll keep a weather eye out, worry not. I understand you’re looking into the strange murders that have been going round?”

Tobias only nodded before projecting towards Riley, “Let’s veil and get going.”

“Until next time. Thank you, friend,” Tobias held out his hand as they both clasped arms.

“What is going on?” Riley insisted as they slipped out the door, her veil falling on both of them, “You scared the crap out of everyone there!”

“It was purposeful. I want them to be watchful. Sabine has our stalker in custody,” Tobias intoned seriously as they moved through the bright afternoon streets.

“Is he talking? What did he say?” Riley switched gears.

“He’s not saying much, but whatever he’s volunteered prompted Sabine to send the guard. We’re in a very volatile situation here, and I’d rather my family feel the need to be cautious without explaining that a member of the Royal family may be out to kill us,” Tobias continued as Riley noticed they were making a wide circle, moving through not just their neighborhood but moving towards the one behind.

“We’re doing what we can then, but what’s stopping Chadrick from just ordering the guard away on business or things like that?” Riley challenged.

“It would be too overt. If he could come out that brazenly and attack a Ranger or his family, he’d just order me arrested and killed or do exactly as you’ve wondered, but he can’t. This is politics, Riley, noble politics, and we’re second tier grunts right in the middle of it,” Tobias’s jaw and shoulders were tense, his hand on his blade as his eyes scanned warily.

“Tobias, look down that alley,” Riley beckoned as they crossed back up towards the Cockatrice, a rough block or so away from their home.

“I see him,” Tobias drew his dagger, sighting in on a man in a cloak and a black mask, keeping to the shadows, watching the passersby.

“If you kill him, they’ll know you were here. It will signal this is an effective strategy to draw us out. Think with your head, boy!” Riley projected, in a perfect imitation of Cid.

Tobias ducked his head sheepishly and let the dagger fall back into its scabbard. “Fair enough. They must have moved up when Phineas came through the neighborhood.

“I don’t like this,” Riley complained.

“Neither do I and truly, it’s the last thing we need,” Tobias commiserated as they stealthily moved up the lane.