after I was already confronting them!”
Roland reached across the table and grabbed Tally’ s hand. “That wasn’t supposed to happen. I called a friend to pull the registration on Sean’s license plate and when I looked up, they were gone! I knew they wouldn’t kill you and I rushed in as soon as I felt you panic!”
Tally was incredulous . “Felt me panic?” She ripped her hand away, “You knew that I was in danger and you thought this would be a good time to phone a friend? How did you know they didn’t want to kill me? The big guy in my kitchen wasn’t doing my dishes!”
“The Spina would never allow an agent to kill you this early in your development. They need proof to be sure,” Roland struggled for the words, “sure that you are who they are looking for.” He took a deep breath, “Tally, you’re a singer.”
“I play guitar too, but no one ever broke into my house or drugged me in the parking lot.”
“Not that kind of singer. You are an elemental singer, an air singer. You have powers that most people believe only exist in fairytales. It is why I am here. I’m a paladin, your paladin.”
Tally sat back in the booth looking across the table to the most handsome, delusional and possibly certifiable man she had ever met in her life . Of course, he’s crazy. It’s the only reason someone that attractive would still be single.
Roland could see the doubt forming in Tally’s eyes . This whole situation had been forced from the beginning. He knew that Tally was smart and after Sean’s two attempts to bring her into the Spina’s grasp, she would not be going anywhere with him on his story alone.
“How is your breakfast sweetie?” Roland’s new admirer had decided to come see what the raised voices were all about.
Roland , furious at this interruption, mustered up as much self-control as possible. “We are fine,” he growled. His eyes never left Tally’s, “I’ll flag you down if we need anything.”
The waitress turned on her heels and walked away.
“There is no reason to be mean.” Tally grabbed her purse and overnight bag and began sliding out of the booth. “Look, I’ve been drugged, hit, dragged and lied to more times in the past twenty four hours than, well, ever. I appreciate you helping me out and I am sure you have the best intentions, but I need to find a new job, a new apartment…”
Roland grabbed her arm before she could stand, “Do you remember the sand storm that hit Phoenix in July last year? The last singer died the night before and the sand storm was an announcement that a new singer had been chosen.”
Tally froze at the edge of the booth . Roland saw that he had finally touched on something that she could find truth in. “Tally, look at me.” After a few seconds, she turned toward him.
“What?” she whispered.
“No, really look at me.”
Tally never exposed herself to other people’s energies this much in such a short amount of time. Reluctantly she dropped her shields and experienced the warmth of his green and gold energy stable and unyielding.
“Am I trying to hide anything?”
“No.”
Roland knew that what he was about to do was done only after a paladin and his singer had trained together for at least a few months, but he didn’t have that much time. The Spina would send more agents when Sean reported that Tally’s paladin had arrived. He took in a deep breath and let his energy expand to encircle Tally.
Roland’s aura overwhelmed Tally . The gold surrounded her and though his power alarmed her, the familiar warmth and serenity that came with it allowed her to stay sitting. Her skin tingled as a wave of images and knowledge flooded her mind. A story unfolded that told a millennium of history in a matter of seconds.
The elements have been a source of power since before recorded time . Whether it was a shaman praying for rain to nourish crops or a high priest bringing wind for fast travel across the ocean, the person who could
Roland reached across the table and grabbed Tally’ s hand. “That wasn’t supposed to happen. I called a friend to pull the registration on Sean’s license plate and when I looked up, they were gone! I knew they wouldn’t kill you and I rushed in as soon as I felt you panic!”
Tally was incredulous . “Felt me panic?” She ripped her hand away, “You knew that I was in danger and you thought this would be a good time to phone a friend? How did you know they didn’t want to kill me? The big guy in my kitchen wasn’t doing my dishes!”
“The Spina would never allow an agent to kill you this early in your development. They need proof to be sure,” Roland struggled for the words, “sure that you are who they are looking for.” He took a deep breath, “Tally, you’re a singer.”
“I play guitar too, but no one ever broke into my house or drugged me in the parking lot.”
“Not that kind of singer. You are an elemental singer, an air singer. You have powers that most people believe only exist in fairytales. It is why I am here. I’m a paladin, your paladin.”
Tally sat back in the booth looking across the table to the most handsome, delusional and possibly certifiable man she had ever met in her life . Of course, he’s crazy. It’s the only reason someone that attractive would still be single.
Roland could see the doubt forming in Tally’s eyes . This whole situation had been forced from the beginning. He knew that Tally was smart and after Sean’s two attempts to bring her into the Spina’s grasp, she would not be going anywhere with him on his story alone.
“How is your breakfast sweetie?” Roland’s new admirer had decided to come see what the raised voices were all about.
Roland , furious at this interruption, mustered up as much self-control as possible. “We are fine,” he growled. His eyes never left Tally’s, “I’ll flag you down if we need anything.”
The waitress turned on her heels and walked away.
“There is no reason to be mean.” Tally grabbed her purse and overnight bag and began sliding out of the booth. “Look, I’ve been drugged, hit, dragged and lied to more times in the past twenty four hours than, well, ever. I appreciate you helping me out and I am sure you have the best intentions, but I need to find a new job, a new apartment…”
Roland grabbed her arm before she could stand, “Do you remember the sand storm that hit Phoenix in July last year? The last singer died the night before and the sand storm was an announcement that a new singer had been chosen.”
Tally froze at the edge of the booth . Roland saw that he had finally touched on something that she could find truth in. “Tally, look at me.” After a few seconds, she turned toward him.
“What?” she whispered.
“No, really look at me.”
Tally never exposed herself to other people’s energies this much in such a short amount of time. Reluctantly she dropped her shields and experienced the warmth of his green and gold energy stable and unyielding.
“Am I trying to hide anything?”
“No.”
Roland knew that what he was about to do was done only after a paladin and his singer had trained together for at least a few months, but he didn’t have that much time. The Spina would send more agents when Sean reported that Tally’s paladin had arrived. He took in a deep breath and let his energy expand to encircle Tally.
Roland’s aura overwhelmed Tally . The gold surrounded her and though his power alarmed her, the familiar warmth and serenity that came with it allowed her to stay sitting. Her skin tingled as a wave of images and knowledge flooded her mind. A story unfolded that told a millennium of history in a matter of seconds.
The elements have been a source of power since before recorded time . Whether it was a shaman praying for rain to nourish crops or a high priest bringing wind for fast travel across the ocean, the person who could
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