Page 16 of Joy Guardian
I’d heard that belief expressed among the Watchers. Personally, I’d held no opinion on that either way, until I met Ciana. Her intelligence was unmistakable, and her emotions were more complex and diverse than those of many fae I knew.
“Humans are not animals,” I argued adamantly. “They certainly deserve the same respect and treatment as fae.”
Lady Uryami leaned closer. “Tell me then, Joy Guardian, do you not support the Watchers’ beliefs? In your personal opinion, can human joy be mixed safely with the joy of magical beings?”
No. Of course it could not. How could I ever believe otherwise? I swore to protect our Joy in its ancient form. The idea of any modification to it was supposed to be abhorrent to me from the start.
But the truth would give me away.
“Possibly,” I replied evasively instead. “However, I fully trust the judgement of the Master Guardian. If such a decision becomes necessary, I believe it is wise to wait for his full and thorough assessment of the matter.”
Lady Uryami nodded, thankfully looking satisfied with my answer.
“Just to clarify, Joy Guardian Kurai…” Councilor Terent lifted a quill, ready to record my words. “Is it your official statement that you know absolutely nothing about the Watchers?”
I resisted the urge to rub my wrist where the wide golden bangle concealed the Watchers’ scorpion tattoo. The physical pain from getting it was still fresh in my mind, but also was the pride at having a visual sign of my dedication to our cause inked with gold into my skin.
“Yes, my lord. I know nothing but what you have told me here tonight,” once again I lied for the Joy.
“How long are you planning to stay in Kalmena, Joy Guardian Kurai?” Councilor Jerti inquired.
“My mandate is for at least four weeks or until I’m absolutely certain that theleilathaspell functions as intended in all harnesses and no joy is missed or warped during its transmission from a human to a fae.”
“Very well then,” Lady Uryami concluded. “You can remain in Kalmena until your task is complete. Meanwhile, we shall send delegates to the Temple of the First Priestess to question all otherJoy Guardians. Our investigation has to be thorough. We cannot allow any harm to come to the queen’s Joy Vessels.”
I didn’t want to hurt any of them, definitely not Ciana.
But the words of my vow echoed in my head.
“Protect the Legacy of the First Priestess, her temple, and the Joy by all means necessary.”
All means necessary…
Including murder.
Five
KURAI
“Do you want to take a bite?” Ciana held up a piece of roasted red pepper from her dinner plate.
With a quick glance at the food on her fork, I returned my attention to her face so as not to miss a single change in her expression.
It’d been almost four weeks since the night of herleilathafitting, and I’d dedicated a lot of that time to catch and study the meaning of her many smiles.
“No. Thank you,” I declined her offering of the cooked pepper. “I prefer my food to be less wet.”
“Less wet?”She laughed.
I noted she’d been doing it more frequently lately—smiling with her eyes not just with her lips and laughing with all her heart.
“Like this then?” She lifted the thick slice of buttered bread from the tray in her lap.
“No. That’s too dry.” I shook my head, pointing at the fried rice on her plate. “This would be more suitable for my preferences.”
“You like rice?” Dropping the pepper back onto the plate, she gathered a forkful of rice for me.
“Ipreferrice,” I corrected. “‘Like’ implies pleasure, which I don’t derive from any food the way you do.”
