She nodded. "Just leave the door open." Her eyes darted to the opening.
"Done," he said. He carried her to the far side of the entrance, sat with her in his lap, and leaned back against the wall. "You didn't always live with your parents?"
She shook her head. "They found me in the castle ruins when I was seven years old."
"Do you know how you got there?"
"No, I don't have any memories before that." She touched the crease between Moto's brows. "What's wrong?"
He shook his head. "I don't know. There are things about you that don't make sense."
"Like?"
You dreamt about a Druid, was the first thought that came to Moto's mind and he quickly discarded it.
"I shouldn't dream about a Druid?"
Apparently, not fast enough. "No, you shouldn't even know about them."
She half smiled and shook her head. "Moto, Earth has legends of Druids throughout history."
"Truth?" He didn't expect that. "Okay, another is you speak the Agenors language."
"That's because that is the language of my childhood."
"It is?"
Her smile widened. She wiped away the last remnants of her tears.
"Well, at least your amusement at my expense are quieting your tears."
She ducked her head. "I don't know where I came from. I do know that it was a little time before my foster parents and I learned to communicate, but we eventually did, and they took me in as if I was their actual daughter. No one ever came for me, and up until five years ago, we were very happy."
"When they died," he softly said.
She nodded, "it was a freak accident in their lab."
"But?"
"I don't know. It just never made sense to me. And now," she looked around the room and back to him, "with all this that has happened to me, I wonder if there was a lot more going on than I could have known."
He could sense there was more, but she didn't say anything else. "What is it, Kaily?"
She sighed. "I'm not supposed to tell you."
He lifted her chin so that her eyes locked with his. "Don't keep secrets from me, Kaily. There should never be secrets between us." He knew he was using his lecturing tone, but he couldn't help it.
"It's Shimani," she started.
He frowned, "What about Shimani?"
"I couldn't open the Gateway on Earth. I could feel the energy, but I couldn't open the Gateway. I felt panicked and sat to try to think what I should do, and then before I knew it, Shimani was there. He opened the Gateway to get me back to you."
"And?" He asked. He could still sense that she was holding back.
"I asked him some pointed questions, and while he wasn't forth coming with detailed answers," she took a deep breath. "I didn't end up on Ki by accident. He knows more than he will say, and he isn't taking his orders from the Queen." She squeezed her eyes tight on the last part as if she expected an explosion.
He didn't reply. He sat utterly still.
"Moto?" She opened her eyes and touched his face.
He caught her hand in his. "Who is he taking his orders from?" His tone was quiet, too quiet. He knew that his stillness frightened her. He tried to calm his temper that he felt rising to the surface. He kissed the palm of her hand and smiled at her. The smile didn't come across reassuring as he intended.
"See, this is why I didn't want to tell you." She tried to pull her hand out of his.
"Who is he taking his orders from?"
She shook her head. "I don't know. He said that in time all would become known." She lifted her other hand and tried to turn his face towards her. "Moto, please, you're scaring me."
My apologies, little one, he replied.
Apology accepted. She replied. "Please don't be angry at him."
He gave a short laugh and shook his head. "You are just as angry at him as I am, little one."
"I know, but"
"But you like him." He finished for her.
"So, do you." She defensively said.
"I do, but I have a feeling that he and Sari know a great deal more than they are sharing, and like you, Kaily, I don't like to be manipulated." He held her tighter to him and let out a long, heavy sigh.
"What do we do now?"
"Wait and see what happens." Moto said.
"You're not going to tell him, I told you, are you?"
Trust me, little one, he reprimanded.
She didn't reply.
He could tell she felt the sting of his words. My apologies. I didn't mean to hurt you with my words. No, I'm not going to tell him.
"Thank you."
And?
She smiled. And I accept your apology. Seriously, what are we going to do?
"For starters, we need to train you to use your abilities. You should have been able to open the Gateway; you did several times while I was there." He felt himself frowning and rubbed his own brow before Kaily did.
She laughed and shook her head. "I don't mind touching your creased brow."
"I know." He kissed her hand. "Did Shimani happen to say why you couldn't open the Gateway?"
"He said it was because I didn't have my talisman."
"You didn't either when I was with you." Moto said.
She frowned. "I haven't had my talisman with any of the times my abilities surfaced, except the first time, but you were with me the other times. Do you think our connection gives me the ability to draw in the energy?"
He rubbed the crease between her brows. "Maybe," he stood and set her on her feet. "Wait here." He left the training room before she could respond. He returned after with his talisman in hand. "Hold out your hand."
She did as she was told.
He placed his talisman in her hand and turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
He cringed at the fear he heard in her voice and felt in her mind. He turned back around to face her. "I want to test a
