A Guardian 's Vow (Open Novella Contest 2021)

Chapter 14

After I left Eliseaya, I told Tyrris of Eliseaya's plan and of the upcoming vote. He understood where Eliseaya was coming from, but agreed with me for wanting the boy to stay. Tyrris knew from our earlier talk about Aiden's history, as well as the Mark of Trust that the boy carried, just how important Aiden truly was and how vital it was that he remained. Tyrris trusted my decision, and would help me in my fight to keep Aiden safe with us.

I spent the rest of the day with Aiden and Tyrris. We talked and introduced the boy to some of my closest friends. Hopefully, if Aiden made a good impression on enough of them, they would realize that he was trustworthy, and vote for him to stay. Tyrris walked with Aiden and I as we talked, keeping us company. Many Guardians trusted Tyrris, so if they saw that he trusted Aiden, then they might too. That was our hope anyways.

"A lot of them don't seem to like me," Aiden said, sounding discouraged. Tyrris, Aiden and I laid under a tree, resting as the day grew to an end.

"Since the war, quite a few of us have grown weary of your race," Tyrris said. "Our trust in humans is a fragile thing."

"I can see why; we betrayed you," Aiden said, hugging his knees to his chest.

"We're holding a vote tonight on whether or not you can stay," I said. Aiden needed to know. "Tyrris, Kaliden, and Eliseaya are going to speak on your behalf to hopefully convince the others to let you stay. I'll do everything I can to make them understand too, I promise."

"I thought Eliseaya was the leader? Can't she just say that I can stay and leave it at that?"

"That's not how we operate," I said. "Eliseaya is only our leader because she's the one who communicated to the humans for us, when we still talked. She was the mediator between us and them, leader is just a formal term. All major decisions are decided by a vote, which everyone participates in."

"So that's why you introduced me to so many people," Aiden realized. I just nodded my head.

"Takaiya, Tyrris?" All three of us looked up Kaliden. "Eliseaya is about to start the vote." I could see the worry in Kaiden's face. He knew as well as I the most likely outcome of this vote.

We all rose and headed towards the gathering crowd. Aiden was clearly nervous, glancing around and playing with his frayed sleeve. I moved closer to the boy, offering him my comfort as we entered the circle.

The four of us moved towards Eliseaya, sitting in the gap that had clearly been left for us. I made sure Aiden stayed close to me, getting him to sit between Tyrris and I. A few more Guardians joined us before Eliseaya started the meeting.

"Now that we're all here," Eliseaya began, rising to her feet to address us all. "We must discuss the choice we have to make today. Will we allow Aiden to remain here with us?" Eliseaya looked to me, letting me address the gathered Guardians.

I rose to my feet, drawing in a deep breath. Figuring that the beginning was the best place to start, I began my speech. "Aiden is not the typical human. He doesn't mean to betray us, in fact, he has saved my life twice in the short time I have gotten to know him. The first time, he gave me shelter, a place to rest and heal after a hunter's ambush, and he turned against his own people in order to prevent the hunters from killing me. Right then and there, in those two situations, I knew that he was one of the few humans left that still believed and one that we could trust."

Murmurs travelled around the circle.

"That doesn't mean that he's not a spy, meant to infiltrate us and reveal our location to the hunters," Adrastea exclaimed, speaking up. She rose to her feet, and I couldn't help but glare at her.

"I highly doubt that," Tyrris said, rising to his own feet. I sat down, letting my mate deal with Adrastea. "In all of my many encounters with the hunters, I have never known them to be the ones to infiltrate. Their very name says it all, they're hunters; they hunt, they kill, they don't infiltrate. Takaiya's description of that situation proves to me that they were going to kill Aiden too. The hunters would not kill one of their own."

"I was there, I witnessed it," Kaliden spoke up. Murmurs started up again. "The hunters had no intent on letting Aiden live."

"None of that says we should allow our guard down," Adrastea said. "He's still a liability."

"Then I will take that responsibility," I said. "I owe him my life, and I intend on repaying that debt."

"He will betray us!" Adrastea snarled.

"You have no proof of that!" I leapt to my feet. Aiden's hand touched my leg, bringing me back from my rage. He was the reason I was fighting so hard, but I couldn't allow my frustration towards Adrastea to throw me off. I had to remain level headed and calm, anger could not cloud my thoughts, this was too important.

"All the other humans did, so why wouldn't he?" Adrastea challenged.

"Because he has the Mark of Trust," I blurted out, revealing my final card.

The murmurs and whispers fell silent at my sudden outburst. Looking amongst the crowd, I could see that there were some of the Guardians who didn't believe me. "Aiden, show them your mark," I quietly said, my eyes never leaving Adrastea.

I heard Aiden rise to his feet behind me, hesitant at first. Rustling of fabric followed as he pulled down his collar to reveal the mark on the base of his neck. Collective gasps and chatter erupted at the sight of the mark.

"We can trust him. That mark proves it," I said calmly.

"Everyone with that mark was killed," Adrastea said. "It could be a hunter trick."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Is everything a 'hunter trick' to you? Can't you see, this is proof that he can be trusted. If anything, we need to protect him even more so because he has the Mark of Trust."

"Takiaya, Adrastea, sit down," Eliseaya commanded. The leader of the Guardians obviously sensed the tension growing between us.

We both listened, but I still shot a glare towards the griffin. Aiden moved closer to me, just as worried for the outcome of this as I was.

"I think that we have all made our sides and arguments clear; let's take a vote," Eliseaya said. "All who agree with letting Aiden stay?"

Kaliden, Tyrris, Eliseaya, myself and a handful of others raised a wing, paw or tail to give their vote. It was a little under half of us, and I felt my mood drop. Although, there was still hope; some might not cast a vote, fine with either outcome. I could only hope it would be those people who allowed this vote to go in our favour.

"Those who wish Aiden to leave?" Over half of the Guardians voted, Adrastea among them. My head drooped, defeat filling me.

"Then it is decided," Eliseaya said, her own voice saddened by this outcome. "Aiden can not stay. Tomorrow morning, you will drop him off at the nearest settlement Takiaya. I am sorry." The immortal truly meant it.

Aiden looked just as crestfallen as I looked at him. At least he wasn't going back to the farm.

"So am I."