“Thank you, I will deal with this immediately.” Simeon took the notebook eagerly. “Captain Haven, I can’t thank you enough for your help. Where Greenswatch would be if you hadn’t intervened, I dread to think. That the Ascendants have such power is frightening. Where is the King’s defence?”
“I think you are looking at him, and I need to go and brief the King next. That was where I was going before I detoured here. I need to inform the King about what is going on. We will need his help to release Deepwater and the towers, and to protect the other Watches.”
“If there is anything you need, anything we can do for you,” Simeon gripped his arm, “please, don’t hesitate to ask.” He turned to his sister. “Alyssa, we need to speak before I go and address our guests. If you would excuse us for a moment.” Simeon bowed to Lords William and Marcus and Lady Olivia. “Please, rejoin our guests and enjoy the hospitality. We will be in to address everyone in the grand hall in a moment.”
Chapter 33
Greenswatch
The soft green cushions on the window seat coaxed Jerrol to lean back and close his eyes: just for a few minutes, he thought. The emotions buffeting him in the room had taken their toll as he had tried to find his way. They all believed he had the answers, but answers were woefully sparse. The strain of meeting everyone’s expectations was wearing him down. He dozed in the warm afternoon sunshine that was weakly penetrating the clouds until Tagerill’s voice woke him.
“Captain.”
Jerrol reluctantly opened his eyes. “I am sorry to disturb you, Captain.” Tagerill apologised, acknowledging the exhaustion on his face. Jerrol waved the apology away. “Saerille sent a report. She patched the Veil, but it won’t hold. She needs to stay and keep repatching until you can go up and seal it.”
“I don’t understand, why can only I seal it?” Jerrol asked with a slight frown. Surely if the Sentinals could patch, they could seal?
“The power to seal is the same as the power to shred; as you can heal, so you can injure. That power must be controlled. Therefore only the Captain may truly heal. Otherwise, the risk to the Veil is too great.”
Jerrol paused. “I don’t know how to seal it,” he admitted.
“You will when you need to.”
“I hope so. So be it; advise Saerille to hold station. Can you call Ari?”
“I’ll see to it,” Tagerill promised. He blushed and shifted awkwardly. “Birlerion told me the Greenswatch Sentinal is Versillion. If you could wake him, Birlerion could rest better in Versillion’s sentinal.”
Jerrol cursed under his breath as he rose. “How could I have forgotten? I tried to wake him before, only I didn’t know how. Where is Birlerion?”
“I managed to persuade Birlerion to rest upstairs. I’ll go and wake him and meet you at Versillion’s tree.”
Jerrol hurried out of the manor house, thankful no further catastrophe had befallen the Watch whilst he had slept.
Skirting the lake that was rippling in the light breeze, he approached the tall sentinal. He rested his hand on the smooth trunk, thought of the Lady and reached. The image of the broad-shouldered Sentinal came into focus, and Versillion stepped forward. He was taller and broader even than Tagerill, but the family likeness was clear. Tousled red hair framed a firm face, silver eyes bright.
“Versillion, it’s time to wake. Greens needs you.”
“Captain, I have been waiting.”
“I know, I’m sorry. But it’s time now, and I need you.” He stepped back and Versillion shimmered out of the tree. Tagerill rushed up from behind him and engulfed the startled man in a hug.
“Tage? What’s the matter?” Versillion looked around him, frowning at the unfamiliar view, but his expression eased as he saw Birlerion. He hugged his brother back.
Tagerill shook in his arms, incapable of speech, and Versillion looked across at Jerrol. “Captain, what happened?”
Jerrol grimaced and ran a hand through his hair; what could he say? “You’ve been asleep for three thousand years. The Lady brought down a Veil which banished all magic, to defeat the Ascendants. But that meant she and Guerlaire left along with the Ascendants. Her guards, she encased in a protective sentinal.” He gestured at the tree. “I awoke Birlerion in Old Vespers about two months ago, Tagerill a few days ago and now you.”
Versillion blinked and tightened his grip on Tagerill; he reached an arm towards Birlerion, and Birlerion stepped into his embrace. “Three thousand years?” he repeated, hugging his brothers.
“I’m afraid so. The Lady needs our help, and there is a renewed threat against Vespiri. Guardians are being targeted, killed. Administrators influenced against their better judgement.”
“Birler?” Versillion whispered.
Birlerion raised his head, wiping his tears away. “Sorry.”
“Hush, nothing to be sorry for, you’ve had no one. I at least have you.”
“It’s all so different,” Birlerion whispered.
Versillion gave a sour laugh. “It’s been three thousand years. The house will have been rebuilt many times; of course it’s different. But it’s still Greens, and it’s the land, not the house, that makes it Greens.”
“It’s called Greenswatch now,” Birlerion said.
“Greenswatch,” Versillion repeated. He gave Birlerion a little shake. “It’s still home. Our home.”
Birlerion gave him a strained smile. “It has a lake,” he said, indicating the water behind them.
Versillion spoke more sharply. “It’s our home, Birlerion, don’t you dare say otherwise. We are still your family. Don’t upset Greens.”
Birlerion stilled and then sighed. “I know.” He looked up, concern in his eyes. “Marianille is not in Vespers. I don’t
