Keeper of the Lost Cities: War

Chapter Thirty Three

Sophie glanced at the flashing symbol on the jewel of her panic switch ring.

Someone had pushed it.
And by the looks of the light blue color the gem had turned, she guessed it had been Marella to push it.

Haru raised an eyebrow at it, but said nothing as the two walked through the jungle they came across.

Haru didn't explain why they brought her tramping through the jungle in the middle of nowhere, Sophie just knew that they were looking for something that would help on their journey.

Figuring that Marella could handle herself in a situation, or maybe it had even been pushed accidentally, especially with Callan and Keefe by her side, Sophie didn't reply to the panic switch being flipped.

Though she did stretch out her mind, latching onto a telepathic connection with Keefe.

We're alive, there's no reason to worry Foster. Tam just showed up-

Sophie pulled up short, stopping dead in her tracks as her heart skipped a couple beats, making Haru turn to glance at her again.

TAM SHOWED UP? That sounds like the exact thing I would need to be there for! Is he still there?!  Sophie practically mentally screeched. After all, they couldn't heal his mind without her, or at least another skilled telepath on hand, and those were pretty hard to come by these days.

No, we're looking for him right now though, oh and one thing, Marella thinks that Tam is hunting me. As in hunting me to kill me. Keefe announced, which definitely didn't make Sophie any more comfortable with leaving the trio to deal with Tam on their own while she and Haru found whatever they were looking for.

Please just be careful Keefe. Sophie paused, biting her lip, wondering if she should transmit the thought that has been on her mind for a while now. And Keefe, I know you hadn't really considered this, but as a part of the royal guard, Tam made an oath that said if he became a liability to the cause, saying that if he became a danger to the people in the cause for whatever reason, then he was to be killed.
I don't want to put that on you solely, but if you get the chance to end him if things get much worse, do it. The real Tam wouldn't be mad at you for doing that.

Even Keefe's mind seemed to freeze hearing her transmit that.

No.

Sophie's mind didn't want to process his downright refusal to do what she proposed. She hadn't been expecting him to disregard the war cause so blatantly outright.

I refuse to kill him if there's the slightest chance to get him back. I'm not going to give up on him.

Then the connection broke.
Keefe blocked her from his mind.

While Sophie understood Keefe's sentiments for Tam's well being, she also wished he had to go through what the elves of the Lost Cities had so he would better understand the situation.
All of the Royal Guard had made that oath, if they became a threat against the Lost Cities, then they were to be executed, eliminated, taken care of, whatever the terms.

And Keefe's refusal to do what was necessary was endangering the Lost Cities, especially if Tam became a big threat.

At least Sophie could count on Marella to hold that oath if things got even worse. Technically Tam hadn't done anything to go against the war cause just yet, so he was safe for now.
But knowing Fitz, it wouldn't take him long to make Tam their greatest enemy.