Peacebringer

Chapter Twenty Seven - Handing over the Stone

"I just need a moment with Finn and Asha." Tana's words felt heavy, like a reprimand. The other three stepped past her into Havi and Natalya's house.

Asha immediately remembered the stone. It was in her backpack pocket. She glanced at Finn, and he seemed to have had the same realization.

"Finn, did you or did you not complete the mission I asked of you?" Tana said calmly, but firmly.

"Uh, yes. I did." Asha pulled out the stone as Finn mumbled.

"And why did you not give it to me as soon as you had recovered? Why did you wait?"

"I wanted to know what it was."

"And was that your business?" Her tone was suddenly sharper. She was angry.

"I believe the answer you're looking for is no." Finn crossed his arms defiantly.

"Because it was not in fact your business." Her voice was starting to get shrill.

"You sent me on a mission that was potentially dangerous for something very important, why shouldn't I know about it?" Now Finn was angry.

"It's not something that concerns you!"

"Than why send me? Why not send someone older who was able to know about it? I've put my life into this group since I was left here! I'm not a little kid! I DESERVED TO KNOW."

At this point, Tana stayed silent and merely held out her hand, her eyes dark and her brow furrowed. Asha reluctantly dropped it into her hand.

"We already know what it does, anyway." Finn couldn't help adding. "And we should have been told about it."

Tana only shook her head and walked away. After a few paces, she slowly turned and faced them.

"You don't know what you're dealing with," she said darkly. Then she continued on her way without turning back again.

Asha and Finn were silent for a few moments, mostly because Finn was still fuming, hands curled into fists. Asha was more confused than angry. Why did she suddenly change her attitude? Why was she trying to be so secretive? Asha suddenly had a much darker thought. Did Tana know that there was a high possibility of danger for Finn? This prophecy seems important, What if the King was after it? What if she had INTENTIONALLY put Finn in danger?

Asha was starting to realize that Tana may not be as kind and calm as she seemed. She clearly had other motives going on, and maybe didn't care as much about others as she appeared to. Those were dangerous qualities in a well-loved leader.

"I'm starting to see why you don't trust her," Asha said slowly. "Do you think she'll come to the same conclusion as us about the prophecy?"

"If she does, it could mean we're in a lot more danger than we thought. If the King gets any word of this, I think we'll have a lot more trouble on our hands."

We? thought Asha. You mean just me. She shivered involuntarily.

"Hey, it'll be okay." Finn said reassuringly, despite what he had just said. "We'll work through it. There has to be some way of fulfilling the prophecy or-"

"This is just bigger than we all thought, it's bigger than this war, than everything." Asha sighed, starting to feel nauseous again. "I don't know if I-"

"Can handle it?" Finn interrupted. "Good thing the prophecy doesn't say anything about you doing it alone." He smiled and put his arm over your shoulder. "I promise to help you in any way I can."

"Even if it means being the errand boy?"

Finn groaned, "Even if it means being the errand boy."