Before they knew it, Cherin and Leika were standing at the entrance of Lopu Mansana’s quarters.
“We’re all going in together to explain what happened,” the kinder courier said. Leika cast a nervous glance at Cherin. Would Lopu be able to tell that they were friends from the start? What would happen if the whole truth was discovered?
“You may enter,” Lopu’s powerful voice said.
Cherin and Leika moved forward into a room full of bookshelves. In the center was a round oak table where Lopu was pouring over some papers. She was the most elegant of the Loni women, and Leika felt immediately self-conscious in her presence. Lopu fixed her otherworldly golden eyes upon them and she knew for certain that she would be able to keep no secrets in front of this woman. Lonis were oracles and scribes; people with immense and immeasurable intuitive powers. Lying was futile.
“Welcome, my children,” Lopu said, smiling kindly and lowering her reading glasses. She stood and bowed formally, and the couriers rushed ahead of Leika and Cherin, bowing respectfully.
“My Lady, we were attacked by some particularly vicious wolf shifters while we were escorting young Leika here, and happened to pick up the man who saved us.”
“Oh?” Lopu asked, her golden eyes lighting up at the unexpected information.
“I’m very sorry, my Lady, but we brought him with us in hopes of giving him some type of reward for his trouble. We were goners without him.”
“I see,” Lopu said. “Very well. You are dismissed gentlemen. Thank you for your brave service. A hot meal has already been prepared.”
“Thank you!”
The couriers scrambled out of the room, leaving Leika and Cherin alone with Lopu.
“So it seems not everything went according to plan,” Lopu said, fixing her gaze upon Cherin, who was standing with his back straight and chin up like a true Dragon soldier.
“No ma’am,” Cherin replied, fixing his signature grin on her. She smiled warmly at him before directing her attention on Leika.
“Leika, my dear, you must be beside yourself with worry, wondering why I might have called you down here today.”
“Well…” Leika wanted to claim that no such worries had crossed her mind in case it looked like an admittance of guilt, but with Lopu’s all-knowing eyes fixed upon her it was impossible to lie. Instead of trying, she nodded weakly down at the floor without catching Lopu’s eye. The carpet was a plush red and gold. Everything about this room was exquisite. “A little worried, yes.”
“Of course you were,” Lopu said kindly.
Leika cringed, waiting for the axe to drop. She felt suddenly furious that Cherin would be there to see her ultimately get punished by the most important woman on Kaldernon.
“You need not fret, child,” Lopu said, her eyes staring kindly at Leika. “In fact, you should be rewarding yourself. You’ve done nothing but good since we released you from the academy. The same goes to our hero, here.”
Leika glanced at Cherin, whose chin was quivering in an effort not to smile. If they had been alone, she would have gone up to him and tickled the grin out of him. It was impossible to know that he was trying to contain his elation. His smile was her favorite thing in all of Kaldernon.
“The fact is that I’ve got an incredibly important mission that I need you to help me with,” Lopu said, frowning down at the papers. “According to my records there should have been far more descendants of Kaldernon living on Earth to date. When we rescued them, the numbers were shockingly low. And from what I hear, there were several accounts of new members of the Kersh clan appearing out of nowhere. Using their intuition and just finding their way to the place where Kaldernon meets Earth.”
Leika nodded, unsure of what Lopu was getting at. Cherin stood stock still, listening. He knew this information had nothing to do with himself, but he was startled by it nonetheless. He tried to keep a straight face as Lopu continued.
“The thing is, I value my people above all else, and the idea of keeping them on a hostile planet where there are people actively working to eradicate them is keeping me up at night. I need someone to go back to Earth and help me to gather up some of the descendants who were left behind. Use whatever means possible to do so. I have been informed that you are a rare type of Loni – equal parts shifter. Were you aware?”
“Aren’t we all?” Leika asked, frowning.
“Afraid not, my dear. You’re blessed with physical strength and a sort of practicality that most Lonis are not naturally gifted with. This makes you the ideal candidate for a rescue mission.”
“Alone?” Cherin blurted, his eyes wide with fear.
“Perhaps,” Lopu said, gazing steadily at him, her amber eyes glowing. “But perhaps fate has decreed that she is to have company on this journey. The pinnacle of our warriors would be worthy company on a mission this dangerous. What say you, Cherin of Jairn? Would you like to accompany my Loni warrior on this rescue mission?”
Cherin turned to face Leika, his light blue eyes wide with surprise. He wanted to jump on the opportunity to protect her, but he knew that she probably wouldn’t appreciate him tagging along on her first important mission. Leika wanted him, and everybody else, to know that she could take care of herself. Clearly, Lopu Mansana felt the same way about her capabilities, but he wouldn’t give an answer without Leika’s consent.
To Cherin’s surprise, Leika smiled broadly at him. Cherin’s heart thudded as he turned to Lopu, his voice caught in his throat. As he stammered to make his reply, nodding like an idiot as he attempted to speak, Lopu smiled graciously.
“I’ll take that as a yes. Is that all right?”
Cherin nodded dumbly and Lopu and Leika laughed in delight.
“It’s settled then,” Lopu said, looking as if a burden had suddenly been lifted from her shoulders. “First thing in the morning, the two of you will be sent to Earth and the rescue mission can begin. I’ve drawn out papers already in case there is any confusion about your task. You may go over them tonight or choose to rest yourselves now and look over the technicalities as needed during your journey.”
“Yes, my Lady,” Leika said with a courteous bow. Cherin also bowed stiffly, his whole body quaking with bottled up excitement. He had always dreamt of such a mission, Leika knew, and now he was finally being given his chance to make a real difference in Kaldernon.
“I believe in you two,” Lopu called to them as they started to leave. “You will make all the difference to the people who are still stuck on Earth. This is going to be the most important mission in their lives, and you two are fit for the challenge. I will see you both when you get back. In the meantime, feel free to treat yourself to any of the hospitalities this place has to offer. Thank you both.”
And with that, Cherin and Leika left through the heavy double doors that normally separated Lopu Mansana from the rest of Kaldernon, both with a feeling of elation deep inside their breasts. Together they had been sent to an unknown planet and together they would ensure the safety of the descendants of Kaldernon.