“All right,” I say and look up to see that Mio has started to fill out his own paperwork. Not even Mio is guaranteed a place in Libertas.
“Mio,” I start. He pauses from writing and looks at me. “I overheard you and Leo talking last night. What did he mean by Kimberly not wanting us there?”
“Well, when Leo and Kimberly were dating he didn’t tell her he had the gift. He’s able to make things appear invisible. He’s a Vision Shifter, with an enhanced sense of sight.” He clears his throat before continuing and I wonder how his brother got the gift but he didn’t. “So when he finally told Kimberly about his gift it took her a long time to accept that. She knew that meant she’d have to live her entire life keeping this a secret and if it got out it would result in their deaths. When she finally came around to the idea I was just starting to work with your father. So she not only had to accept Leo’s gift, but also housing runaways. As you can imagine this new life was far from anything she could have imagined.”
“So Leo’s gift was why the guard couldn’t see us?” I ask.
“That would be correct,” Mio says, writing in some more of the answers.
“So, your brother has the gift but you don’t?” I ask Mio bluntly.
Mio lets out a dry laugh and says, “Please, don’t remind me.” I scan Mio’s face and see his mouth set in a thin line. I imagine that was a constant topic the two argued about growing up.
“If Leo has the gift why doesn’t he want to come to Libertas?” Alexander leans in and asks.
“It would mean he’d have to leave Kimberly behind,” Mio says, still not looking up from his own paperwork.
“After all that she’s done to help people get to Libertas, they won’t let her in?” I ask.
“We’ve requested it many times before,” Mio says, and disgust fills his voice. “I asked them to come again because I was hoping maybe this time things would be different, but Leo doesn’t want to drag Kimberly out here again just to be turned away.”
I’m silent for a moment as the realization that Libertas has turned away someone as significant as Kimberly in the past weighs on me. She’s been helping people escape for years and she still hasn’t earned her place.
“What did Leo mean when he said, ‘They know’?” I ask, remembering that part of their conversation. Mio glances up at me and I know he’s lightly scolding me for eavesdropping on him and his brother. A long silence follows and Mio doesn’t answer. “Mio,” I start to push.
“I’m not sure I should tell you this,” he says, hesitating.
“What do you mean?” I ask in a broken voice because I can’t believe no one will tell me when it seems to have everything to do with me.
“You and Alexander are very important to Libertas,” he says, carefully thinking through each word.
“I’ve figured that much out,” I say.
“Well, now we think King Renon figured it out as well,” he says.
“Figured what out exactly?” Alexander asks. Mio starts to backtrack when Alexander pushes, “No, I want to know just what these people in Libertas are expecting from us.”
Mio is quiet for a minute before letting out a long breath. “King Renon’s family is known for not only having ruled in Dather but the very first ruler, his grandfather, was a future holder like his wife.” Alexander tenses at the mention of his family’s history. “His grandfather, King Lux, had many visions of disaster for his family in the distant future. To warn his later family he wrote his visions into a prophecy that has been attempted to be deciphered for years. The prophecy was simply titled The Prophecy of Saviors.” He pauses and pulls out a worn piece of cloth from his bag. He hands it to me and I carefully unfold it. As my eyes gaze over the black ink Mio’s voice reads aloud:
Related to me, you must read
A warning you see, pay attention to thee
Years will come, and years will go
Deep in the future, you must go
We rule with power and rule together
But one will ruin our family’s honor
Again a warning I am sending
Pay attention, I am begging
They have value
Use them wisely
Keep them close, don’t let them go
They hold the string that ties the nation closely
A warning has been noted
Your actions will not be forgotten
But if they go, and take the string
There may be hope for thee
A boy and a girl keep watch for them
They hold great power that can save our rem
Fate is set and can’t be changed,
But think again my family’s end
The boy and girl hold the key
Kill them off to guarantee
That life in Dather will always be
The way it was from sea to sea
Mio stays silent and lets Alexander and I digest the words. “That’s supposed to be us?” I start. “Alexander and I are supposed to be this key?”
“Yes,” Mio says shortly.
“With what
