Banishment : Book 9 of the Heku Series (29 page)

“Of Dad?”

“No, for you.”

“I’m ok. I haven’t seen a heku since I got
here, and I think I could stay indefinitely.”

Chapter 9

“Let me see,” Emily said, and sat down in the
middle of the long row of stalls. Devia limped over to her, and she
pulled the Border collie’s paw up to look at it as some of the
Cavalry watched.

“We weren’t doing much,” Gifford told her.
“Devia followed us on patrols and just started limping.

She nodded and studied the dog’s feet, “If I
had to guess… he has arthritis.”

“How old is he?” Mark asked.

“He’s 15.”

“Is that old for a dog?”

“For a Border collie? Yes.”

“So now what do we do?” Gifford asked. He had
become particularly close to Devia and often took the dog out on
patrols.

“I need to take him to the vet to be sure,”
she said, standing up as she brushed herself off. It was obvious
that she was on the verge of tears, and Mark called out to clear
the stables.

“I know this isn’t going to help, but it’s
something all immortals have to live through,” Mark told her
softly. “We see people and animals we care about die.”

She looked up at him as she fought the tears,
“I can’t keep doing this. It started with Ford, and now I’m losing
another.”

“In time you’ll see how precious they are,
and you’ll learn to appreciate what little time you have with
them.”

“No, this is it,” Emily said. “No more
animals. I’ll keep a horse because I need one for the Cavalry, but
no more dogs.”

“You’d be lost without a dog. Let’s go get
Devia checked out and see what the vet has to say.”

Emily nodded and then picked Devia up when
Kralen pulled his truck up to the stables. She turned away when
Mark tried to take the dog from her and eventually got into the
F450.

It was quiet all the way to the vet, but
Devia fell asleep in her arms, seemingly unaware of the horrid
thoughts Emily had going on in her mind. She’d seen old dogs
before, and she couldn’t watch them suffer, but the thought of
losing her companion of 15 years was almost more than she could
bear.

They waited what seemed like an eternity to
Emily before the young vet could see the dog. Devia laid down and
let the vet look over him.

After a thorough examination, the Vet sat
down with Emily, “He’s in amazingly good shape for 15.”

Emily just nodded.

“You were right, and the arthritis has gotten
bad in all four legs. I can give him medication to help, but he’ll
always be sore and stiff. If he were a lap dog, I’d suggest we
medicate him. Because he’s a Border collie that actually works on a
ranch… it may not be in his best interest to remain in pain and
unable to do what he loves.”

***

“Dad, it’s me,” Dain said over the phone.
Chevalier was in his office going over papers and was glad he was
alone for this phone call.

Chevalier was shocked, “Dain, where are
you?”

“I’m not sure I’m ready to tell you that. I
just want to know how Mom is doing. I’m afraid she is keeping
things from me.”

“She’s holding on. She’s worried about
you.”

“Is she sleeping?”

“Not well.”

“Eating?”

“So far, but when she gets upset she doesn’t
eat for days,” Chevalier told him. “I wish you’d come back and let
us handle this. I’m not going to instantly banish you.”

Dain’s voice fell to a whisper, “I’m
sorry.”

“So am I. I shouldn’t have expected you to
act like a heku that was turned into the species as an adult.”

“I know it got out of hand, and I let it, but
I’m truly sorry and haven’t attacked anyone since I left.”

“That’s good to hear. Now, how can we bring
you back?”

“You can’t. I have an offer for punishment
that I may just take,” Dain explained.

“An offer from whom?”

“You aren’t interrogating Mom, right?”

“Dain! You know we wouldn’t do that.”

“Not using pain, no.”

“I’m confident that you’ll do the right thing
eventually and turn yourself in to us.”

“You are?”

“Yes. You made a mistake, a stupid, immature
mistake, but you are growing up.”

“If I could take it back, I would.”

“The best thing for your Mom would be if this
was over, and you can do that by coming back to Council City and
facing the Council.”

Dain sighed, “No. When I do decide to turn
myself in, it won’t be to you.”

“Why not?” Chevalier asked angrily.

“Because you want me banished, and I can’t
handle that!”

“I do not. You won’t give me the chance
to…”

“Give you the chance to what? Act like a Dad
and not my Elder?”

“That’s not fair, Dain. You are a heku, and I
treated you as such.”

“Maybe I didn’t need an Elder. Maybe I needed
a Dad.”

Chevalier started to get angry, “I treated
you the best I knew how. You had preferential treatment…”

“I did not! Once Mom died, you wrote me
off.”

“I did not.”

“Yes, you did. The only kid that’s gotten
even part of your attention is Megara, and now that she’s growing
up, you are backing off of her too.”

“I won’t sit here and be lectured about my
parenting skills by you!”

“Us kids would be better off if you’d just
retire, and let Mom be our parent.”

Chevalier simply hissed.

“I’m not coming back unless I hear that
you’ve mistreated Mom or Alex.”

“They aren’t mistreated!”

“I’m the one to judge that.”

Chevalier shut his phone, cutting off Dain
before tempers could go higher. He stood up and finally calmed
enough to return to the council chambers.

“Elder?” Kyle asked when he saw that
Chevalier was on the verge of losing his temper.

Chevalier sat down and then turned to him,
“Dain called me.”

“He did? What did he say?”

“It’s disturbing… he’s had a punishment offer
that doesn’t include us or banishment.”

“So he’s contacted either the Valle or the
Encala.”

“Right, my guess is the Encala. If the Valle
knew what Dain has done, they would banish him without a second
thought.”

“Did he give any indication where he is?”
Zohn asked.

Chevalier shook his head, “No, and he was in
a perfectly quiet location. I got nothing.”

“At least if he turns himself in to another
faction, we can petition to get him back,” Quinn told him.

“And he’d be off the streets,” Zohn
added.

“He claims that he’s stopped attacking
innocents,” Chevalier said. “Though he still lost his temper, and I
get the feeling he’s not any more in control than he was here.”

“Ask Emily to come in here please,” Quinn
called out when they heard her start up the stairs.

It was only a minute later when Mark stepped
in, “Sorry, Sir. I don’t think now is the time to bring her before
the Council for anything.”

“She refused to come in?” the Chief of Staff
asked.

“No, I didn’t allow Derrick to ask her.”

“Why not?” Chevalier asked, slightly
irritated.

Mark addressed the Elder directly, “We are
just returning from the veterinarian. We had to put Devia
down.”

“What happened?”

“Arthritis. Devia was 15 years old, which I
guess is pretty old for his breed. He started limping this morning,
so we took him to the vet. Emily had to make the decision to put
him down,” Mark explained. “I’ll take punishment for giving orders
to Derrick.”

Kyle shook his head, “No, no punishment,
Mark. I agree. Now may not be the time.”

“Maybe we should buy her a new dog,” the
Chief of Finance suggested.

“She already has Sebastian and Quiesco
though,” the Records Keeper reminded him.

“She mentioned she’s not getting any more
dogs,” Mark said.

“It’s hard for any immortal to learn how to
handle the death of something or someone we love,” Zohn said. “It’s
something we all have to learn to deal with. If she doesn’t want
another dog, then we let her be. Someday, she may change her
mind.”

Mark turned toward the door and then looked
back at Chevalier with wide eyes, “She’s… she’s in the corner of
the room rocking.”

Chevalier stood slowly, “What?”

“Silas went to check on her, and she’s curled
up rocking in the corner.”

Chevalier instantly disappeared, and Kyle was
shortly behind him. They both stopped in the room and saw Emily
curled into a ball in the corner of the room and rocking. They
hadn’t seen her do that in years, not since she fully came out from
under Salazar’s grasp.

Chevalier moved forward slowly and then
crouched down beside her, “Em?”

She sniffed slightly, obviously crying.

He put his hand on her shoulder, “Em? Are you
ok?”

Emily nodded but continued to rock.

“I’m sorry about Devia.”

“Please don’t make me move,” she whispered,
and clutched her legs tighter against her chest.

“I won’t,” he promised, and then looked over
at Kyle.

Kyle took the hint and silently called for
Lori. When she walked in, she immediately saw Emily and her
shoulders fell.

“What happened?” she asked Kyle in hushed
tones.

“She had to make the decision to put Devia
down.”

Lori nodded, “Is she talking?”

“Yes”

“Then let her be. If rocking makes her feel
better, just let her do it. I’ll keep tabs on her, and if it gets
out of hand, I’ll let you know.”

Chevalier nodded and then stood up and pulled
a blanket over Emily’s shoulders. He crouched down again, “If you
need anything, let me know.”

She nodded, so he stood up and met up with
Mark out in the hallway.

“Leave her alone for now,” Chevalier told
her.

Lori shut the door behind her and joined
them, “This may just be her new way to feel comfort.”

“It’s disturbing,” Mark said.

“I know, but she needs to mourn, and it’s a
vulnerable feeling. She may feel less exposed in her tight
posture.”

Chevalier nodded, “I don’t want to leave her
right now. Stand down her guards.”

Mark nodded and sent the Cavalry guards to
their barracks. Lori, Mark, and Kyle all left when Chevalier went
back inside. He sat down beside Emily as she rocked, and he lightly
rubbed her back.

It was hours later when she finally stood up
and crawled into bed without a word. Chevalier waited until she
fell asleep and then laid down beside her and wrapped his arms
around her. Her dreams were sporadic and full of strong
emotions.

Late that night, she woke up and looked over
at Chevalier.

“Are you ok?” he asked as he brushed the hair
off of her face.

Emily nodded and then sat up slowly.

“Can I order you some dinner?”

“No, I’m ok.”

“Are you?”

“Yes,” she said, and then stood up and
slipped her clothes back on.

“Where are you going?”

“I just need some time alone, ok?”

He studied her and then nodded, “Take the
time you need.”

“No guards?”

“Are you leaving the city?”

“Yes”

He sighed, “Ok, but be careful.”

Without another word, Emily left her room and
headed down the stairs. Her guards seemed irritated when they were
backed off but obeyed and left her alone. After grabbing some
supplies, Emily quickly went out to the stables and threw a bridle
onto her horse. She kicked him and left the city, heading straight
for the trees.

Emily hated the dark, even out in the trees
she felt like she was being watched, but she had to be alone for a
while. Once in the clearing that the guards used for parties, she
dismounted and tied her horse to a nearby tree. Within minutes, she
had a fire roaring and sat down to watch it and listen to the
soothing crackle.

She sighed when she heard footsteps, and then
turned just as Andrew appeared in the clearing. Realizing it wasn’t
an Equites, she turned back to the fire.

Andrew sat down beside her without saying
anything and watched the flames. It was almost an hour later when
he finally spoke, “You ok?”

“Are you spying on me?”

“No”

“Then why are you here?” she asked, shifting
so her feet were closer to the fire.

“You’re going to burn yourself.”

“Why are you here?”

“I’m sorry about Devia,” Andrew told her.

“How do you even know?”

“I have my ways.”

She shrugged, “When I was a kid, Dad and Sam
used to take me out on the dry farm, and we’d roast
marshmallows.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“Not really. It was their way of coping with
a death. They wouldn’t just tell me that my Mom’s horse died, or
that the dog died, they’d take me to a campfire and would tell me
there.”

Andrew nodded, “Everyone has different ways
of mourning.”

“Not sure it was their way of mourning as
much as trying to soften the blow.”

“It would be hard for two grown men to raise
a little girl on their own.”

“One grown man and one spying familiar.”

“That too.”

“Over the next 20 years is going to be the
hardest time for you as an immortal,” Andrew told her.

“Why’s that?”

“Everyone you’ve ever known will be gone.
You’ll suddenly realize that any relationship, other than with a
heku, is too short.”

She nodded and watched the fire, “Sometimes
relationships with heku are also too short.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Devia was only 15-years-old. That’s too
short.”

“Someday, you’ll see that even though short,
they are still worth it.”

“It’s not worth it,” Emily said.

“It is though.”

“Does it get easier?”

“Yes, it does.”

“Have you ever loved a mortal?”

“No”

“Is it because of how short you’d have with
her?”