THE KEEPERS RISE

Chapter 6 - Common Ground - Part 2

*Remember to click the play button to listen to the soundtrack as you read!*

Velda and Mortimer went into the spaceport through an archway in the side, which was normally free for public use but now had two royal guards at each side. The door was many meps tall and still barely made a dent in the spaceport's massive structure. Once inside, the giant starship was fully visible, and it was even more amazing than Velda had ever hoped.

The main body of the ship was streamlined and coated with an iridescent sheen that couldn't properly be described as any one color. Its two wings were also huge, and three pairs of huge, boxy engines doubled as landing gear on the craft's underside. The ship was larger than any ship Velda had ever seen. Its fuselage went all the way up to the spaceport's opening and was tall enough to reflect the rising sun on the horizon outside.

Alesteir and a few castle guards stood at a distance from the ship, but closer to the ship's gangplank, a group of meps with Rhea at the head was facing a large humanoid. Velda could tell right away that he was where the constant magical aura was coming from. He looked almost like a human, but a little too tall and thin. He was also wearing some assorted pieces of white cloth and a cloak, and it took Velda a moment to remember that most humanoids weren't innately furry. The humanoid was sitting respectfully in front of the meps to be about the same height that they were, and as Velda walked closer she saw the humanoid glance at her.

She was instantly transfixed, and he stared straight back at her. He looked gentle, childlike, and almost awkward in his position. His shift in attention made Rhea and Alesteir notice Velda and Mortimer, and they all hurried over to greet them. It turned out that the other meps were the Councilors.

Velda quickly pulled the MepQueen aside, though it took a few seconds for her to collect her thoughts. "Do you ever sense stuff?" she asked.

Rhea blinked. "What do you mean?"

"Like, know that someone's there, even when you can't see them?"

Rhea frowned and studied Velda. "You're starting to sense auras, perhaps. They're specific to each individual, but only detectable when they are using magic."

"I can detect Mortimer's aura, I think."

"I'd assumed you were asking because of our visitor. His aura doesn't fade."

Velda nodded. "That too."

"Just like yours."

Velda exchanged greetings with the Councilors gathered, but they all seemed rather subdued. Alesteir was especially affected. He gave her a quick hug, and said, "Remember, I'll miss you. We all will."

Velda cocked her head at him. "Am I going somewhere? Who is that, anyway?" she asked, glancing in the humanoid's direction.

"His name is Will'ym," Rhea said.

He wasn't looking at them, and Velda watched him for a long time before she responded. "And what is he doing here?"

"He's here for you," Alesteir intoned sadly.

"What?"

Rhea said, "You'd best let him explain." She and Velda walked over to where Will'ym was sitting. He had been looking around at the other ships in the spaceport, but quickly noticed Velda and the royals and looked down shyly. As Velda got a better look at him, she noticed a streak of white in his otherwise dark brown hair. The hilt of a sword poked up above his head, and a dagger rested in another sheath on his waist.

"Is this the one you call Velda?" Will'ym asked in Common. His voice wasn't as deep as Velda had been expecting, and he had a sharp, brusque accent, but he still sounded calm and centered.