XV

Wren paced back and forth in the small room provided by the Kindred Enclave. Last night he did not sleep easy, and he woke up restless. Being underground, he had no idea what time it was, but his stomach rumbled and breakfast had not yet been delivered. Lira sat on the edge of one of the bunk beds, watching her brother trace the same path over and over. So far, the Enclave had not been unkind, and had in fact been very welcoming. But Wren hated being locked in a room and told to wait. For all he knew, this was all some elaborate ruse to attract runaways before cycling them back into the orphanage. His frustration only grew as time dragged on. Oh how he wished his sister could speak! He longed to have someone to share his thoughts with. Lira did what she could with her comforting touches and looks, but she couldn't provide him with any advice, or retort the fears that haunted his thoughts.

Finally, a knock sounded on the door, and Wren spun around. The door opened, and a guard stepped in, different from yesterday, followed by Sophie.

"Finally! Are you letting us out of here?" He asked impatiently.

"Not just yet." She said, holding out a tray of food. "Breakfast first. The interviewer is almost ready."

On the tray was an assortment of foods--muffins, fruit, and cheese--all of it looking much more appetizing than the mess hall food. Wren wanted to complain, but the pangs in his stomach made him hold his tongue. He took the tray and thanked her, carrying it to the small table in the center of the room. The guard closed the door again, locking it with a sturdy click. Wren was anxious to leave their confinement, but a good meal wouldn't hurt. Lira came over, her eyes sparkling. They silently ate, and Wrens' mood was temporarily improved by the delightful breakfast.

Once again a knock sounded on the door, only shortly after they had started eating. The guard entered, but instead of Sophie, a tall older man in a long brown cloak followed in.

"Good Morning! I hope your stay hasn't been too bad." He said, a slightly foreign accent in his voice. "I apologize for these precautions, but it is a necessary step."

"Necessary how?" Questioned Wren.

The man came in and took a seat in one of the chairs. Under his cloak he brought out a blank parchment and stationary.

"Well, we had to make sure you weren't being followed. If knights or guards were ever led to our location, it could ruin everything we've worked so hard to do. We also need to make sure you aren't working for them, even if it's without your knowledge."

Wren raised his eyebrows. "Do you plan on reading our thoughts?"

"Not exactly." Replied the man. "You will tell me your stories, and I will ask you questions. While I am not a proficient psycho-mage, I have enough talent to detect a lie, and can feel if there is some underlying pressure if you do."

Wren glanced at Lira. "Sophie said you know a little about what happened to my sister. Can you help her?"

The man dipped his head slightly. "Alas, I am not here to help with whatever mental conditions the knights may have incurred upon her, nor would I be able to. I am here simply to collect information, and make a recommendation. Help will come after, should we deem it necessary."

Wren frowned at this answer.

"Oh how rude of me! I never introduced myself!" The man stuck his hand out. "You may call me Keel. It's a much shorter name than the one from my homeland."

Wren and Lira took turns shaking his hand. It was firm, but not rough.

"Let's get started, shall we?" He said, leaning forward.

The minutes passed as Keel interviewed Wren, starting with his childhood, going all the way to the moment Sophie approached them. He asked details about the compound, how he was treated, the behavior of the staff and the other orphans, plucking every detail he could from Wrens story. When the time came to talk about Lira and her condition, Wren made sure to be as clear as possible in his retelling. By the end of it all, He had written on several pages. Keel leaned back, looking over his notes.

"So I didn't detect any dishonesty from you, nor any strong impulses during any of your answers. As for your sister, since she cannot answer me I'll have to use alternate methods."

He turned his chair so he faced Lira directly, and held out his hands, palms up.

"Please, place your hands in mine."

She did as she was asked, laying her small hands in Keels.

"Now, I will ask you to think of things, and I want you to picture them in your mind as clearly as you can. Ideally, this shouldn't hurt."

"Shouldn't?" Wren repeated, slightly alarmed.

Keel didn't answer, but lowered his head and closed his eyes.

"Now, I need to see the night of the werewolf attack." He asked.

Lira closed her eyes. The two sat in silence. Keel continued to ask questions, to which of course she didn't reply. The whole ordeal seemed rather strange to Wren. The two of them just sitting, heads bowed, eyes closed, hands together.

"Okay, now, the infirmary. Show me everything you remember." Asked Keel.

A frown slowly made its way onto Liras face. Wren saw Keels jaw clench and a vein stand out from his neck. A tingle of energy wafted through the room.

"Steady...breathe slow...just picture his face." Keel said quietly, his teeth clenched tight.

His sisters hair began to stir, and the hair raised on Wrens arms. He took a step back, not sure what was going to happen.

"Lira...focus on the room! Pull yourself out of--" Keel was cut off as a grunt of pain escaped his lips. Keel's cloak lifted, and the air began to take on a shimmery appearance, like heat waves over cobblestones on a hot day.

Lira suddenly gasped and lifted her head, her blue eyes wide open and glowing. Keel seemed to curl in more, tucking his head almost to his legs. A burst of energy erupted from the two of them, knocking Wren against the wall. Keel wrenched his hands away from Lira, panting heavily. His sister slumped in the chair.

"What happened?! Is she okay?!" Wren said, scrambling to her side.

Keel leaned over, his hands on his knees. When he looked up at Wren, his face was red, and sweat dripped from the tip of his nose.

"Yes...yes she's fine." The tall man wearily placed his hand on his chair and lowered himself down. "Sir Orin, the senior Psycho-mage within the compound, he has been inside your sisters mind."

Wren placed a hand on the side of her face, carefully watching her breathing. "What did he do to her?" His voice was almost a whisper.

"That, I don't know. I was unable to glean much information. The reason for the sudden appearance of mage-like abilities seems to have been intentional. He somehow imbued her with his own magical energies. I saw...well I'm not sure what I saw. Glimpses of things that didn't make sense." Keel said carefully.

"Wait, he gave her his powers? Why would he do something like that?" Wren asked, turning his head to look at the man.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Keel shook his head. "No that's not what I said. It's more like...he transferred some of himself, some of his own will he uses to access his own abilities, into her mind. As I said, I couldn't see much, and what I did see was confounding. What I will suggest," he said, leaning forward to look at his notes. "Is that you two are no longer kept here in isolation. I cannot confidently say she is not a danger to us, but I am not currently concerned with it. I need to go finalize my notes, and you two should be allowed some level of freedom before too long."

Keel rose slowly, and walked to the door.

"What about Lira? Will she be okay?" Wren asked, standing up.

Keel rapped his knuckles on the door, and the sentry pulled it open. He turned to look at Wren as he stepped through the door. "Right now, she's simply exhausted, and should wake up soon. As for the long term? Well, I need to speak to some colleagues, but I believe we can help."

He stepped away, and the door was once again closed and locked.

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The siblings were enjoying roast chicken, berries, and bread when a knock came at the door. This time, Sophie walked in by herself, a small box in her arms.

"Good news! You're free to go!" she said, energetically. "I told you it wouldn't be for very long."

Wren leapt to his feet, knocking his chair over. He sheepishly picked it up, then turned to Sophie. "So does that mean we're part of the Enclave?"

Sophie sat down the box and opened the lid, revealing clothing.

"Sort of. I can explain more in a little bit, but for now, I've brought you new clothes. Well they aren't new, but we can't have you running around in Silverblood orphanage clothes. Change into these, and place your old stuff in the box. Cloaks too." She set out two sets of clothing, then walked back to the door. "Just knock when you're done!"

Wren held up an olive green tunic. beneath it were light brown trousers. They were in much better condition than what they currently had. The siblings changed, Wren into his tunic, Lira into a simple darker green dress. They fit well. Wren knocked on the door and Sophie opened it.

"Great! just leave that box there, someone will come for it." She turned and began walking down a corridor. "Come on, I can take you to your living quarters now."

Sophie led them through the communal room they first saw, and passed more rooms. Despite being in an underground tunnel, the lighting and size didn't leave Wren feeling all that claustrophobic. The Enclave had done a fair job trying to make it feel like a home. They laid out rugs, hung simple tapestries, and added potted plans. The extra effort went a long way, and he appreciated it.

As they walked, Sophie spoke.

"For now, you two will reside here, in this shelter. Depending on what happens, you may be moved to another location. But don't worry about that right now. You've already been assigned a job, which is great! It will act as a cover for you, help out the Enclave, and earn you some money!"

"A job?" Asked Wren. "Like cleaning out the tunnels or something?" His experience at the orphanage lurking in his mind.

"No, like an actual job. You'll meet the man you'll be working for shortly. There's also one last thing we need to do today for you'll be allowed out."

As they approached an intersection on passages, an older man with huge arms stepped out. Sophie stopped and held out her hand, indicating to the siblings.

"Marco, this is Wren and Lira, your new workers."

The big man eyed them up and down. His bald head glinted in the lantern. A smile cracked his short kept beard. He reached a giant hand out his skin a copper color, engulfing Wrens forearm completely.

"Glad ta meetcha lad. You look tough enough. Farm hand I assume?" His gravelly voice was gruff, but friendly.

Wren nodded. Marco daintily touched Liras hand with his fingertips and bowed his head slightly.

"How d'ya do lass? I'll have a nice job for you in my shop to keep you busy, but nothin' too rough." Lira nodded, her blue eyes never leaving Marcos face.

"Marco here," Sophie started, smacking the big man's arm. "runs the smithy in this district of town. He does all kinds of work, so he'll keep you plenty busy. Anyway, one last important issue."

Sophie led them down the left-hand tunnel and through a door with a sentry standing idle. On the other side was a ladder leading to another trap door. She led them up, rapping on the door a few times with a specific rhythm of knocks. After a moment, the hatch popped open.

The light coming through absolutely blinded Wren, who had gotten used to the tunnels. He blindly climbed up and out of the hole, and found himself in another backroom. A shape moved to his left and he gave a shout, jumping. A very short, hunched old woman in a dark green hooded cloak giggled.

"No need to fret deary, it's just old Agret." She said, her voice croaky. Her face was crisscrossed with many lines, and her eyes were cloudy, yet a twinkle still remained.

"This is Agret, the local apothecary." Said Sophie, amusement in her eyes.

The crone hobbled out through a door disguised as a wall and into her shop. The walls were lined with shelves, and absolutely packed with all manner of things. Plants, potions, books, jars, and a plethora of other things. A myriad of scents assaulted Wren, making his head spin.

"We need to do something about your appearances." Stated Sophie. "I can tell you've already had your sisters hair trimmed. With...what, a dull knife?" She leaned closer to Lira, inspecting her hair.

"Uh, sheers, from a horse stable." said Wren, only slightly offended.

Sophie nodded. "Well at any rate, Agret here will fix you two up."

The old woman brought out two sacks, plopping them on the counter.

"I've got walnut husks and indigo for a darker color, and chamomile for a lighter shade. Who wants what?"

Wren looked at Lira and tried to picture her with something other than the soft woodsy brown. The idea brought an unexpected pang of sadness. Their mothers hair was the same color, and changing it would be just another reminder of how displaced they had become.

"Well...I don't think I really care that much. What about you sis?" Wren said.

Lira walked to the counter, opening each sack and inspecting their contents. After a moment of contemplation, she slid the bag of indigo and walnut husks towards Agret.

"aah, a darker tone for the lass. Once I stained my hair black too. Fancied myself as quite the seductress back in my day." Agret cackled.

"Guess that means sun bleached for you!" said Sophie, ruffling Wrens hair.

"This will take some time, some go ahead and get comfortable. You can peruse my shop all you want, just don't break anything!" Agret said, leading Lira over to a chair.

Wren stepped further into the shop, trying not to contemplate how his life was getting another unexpected change.