The Lost Knight (Volume II) The Lost Girl

Chapter 11: Fear, Courage, & Reason

I bolt upright in bed and turn off the Latuus birds at the first peep, but Lenox doesn't chase them this time. Instead, he stands at the foot of my bed and watches them flap around.

"You're so good," I say to him as I crawl to the end of my bed to rub his overly large ears. He enjoys the pets and then walks out the door without so much as a glance at me.

I start my day and just as I'm about to leave, Jonah materializes next to my sofa. I let out a small scream before I can stifle it.

"What?" Albína shouts as she flies back into the room.

I shake my head and take a breath. "Sorry, Jonah startled me."

"Why?"

I wave in his direction and pick up the pareixer on the nightstand. "Because he suddenly appeared." His image readjusts to face me and he smiles when he sees me. Then I remember that I was supposed to call him. "I'm sorry, I forgot!" I say in a panic. "I'm not used to having to call anybody, and I forgot." I'm genuinely upset. I don't want him to think I don't care about his feelings.

His smile doesn't waver as he shakes his head. "It's not a problem. I know you're busy and you need your rest. I'm calling because the council wants to meet with you. Now."

My pulse shoots to a thousand. The council that I have never met and controls my entire life has finally decided to introduce themselves. "Why now? I've been wanting to get with them for weeks and now, after what happened yesterday, they want to meet?"

"Yes. They're concerned. You also have concerns, so be thankful they called a meeting so you can get your needs addressed."

Of course they're concerned; yesterday was proof that I'm no Knight. All this training and instruction they've set up for me isn't working. What if they throw me out? Where would I go?

I quickly get ready and continue our conversation as we leave for the Temple. Jonah's floating next to me and no one else can see him. I'm literally talking to a ghost. "I can't ask them about that now! I really messed up. What are they going to do to me? Will I have to leave?"

"Agatha, look at me." I lift my eyes to his. "Almost getting abducted is not your failure. It's theirs. You did not mess up. Your one job is to read the Orb. Everything else you're learning is just in support of that. You haven't failed in your mission because it hasn't even started. What happened yesterday shouldn't change the things you wanted to ask for."

I study my feet and run through my demands one more time. I want Jonah to be in charge of the council, which would put him in charge of my life. I've never asked who's in charge now, but there is no one I trust more than him. If they are going to keep me here, I should have the person I trust most running my life. I also want Dathid to have a seat on the council. He's my only other friend, and I want as many friends as I have to be on my side. Plus, he doesn't like the Queen and I could definitely use more allies to defend against her. I don't remember the third one. I'm too scared to ask for the first two, so the third probably wasn't that crucial anyway.

"It's not important," I mumble.

Jonah tries to put a hand on my shoulder but remembers we're not actually together and stops himself.

I don't want to talk anymore so I watch my feet as they click down the corridor. I wish I was as confident as he is. He's trying to put a good spin on this meeting, but the council finally called me before them because they're mad. I know it.

When we reach the Temple, Master Sarpedon is sitting on the floor next to an empty chair, with his long serpentine tail wrapped around him. He's motionless and quiet as usual, but I can hear garbled voices that sound like an argument.