Chapter 21

     I wrap my arms around Markus's neck and lean against his back so I can see what he is bending over.

     “How is the translation coming?” I ask with curiosity. Although I could read the Old Language as easily as the easier Common Tongue, I find code breaking and translating fascinating.

     “Very well,” Markus says as he puts his pen down. “I just finished the first entry. Do you want to heat it?”

     I slid into one of the chairs and nod. I already know most of what the diary says, I kind of wrote it, but I want to see how good Markus is. This is part of Lyrena's test for him.

     Markus smiles and starts reading the carefully penned translation. “'Hello there. I am called Myra. Lyrena convinced me to start recording my life after many hours of nagging. It does give me a chance to use this pretty, plank book.

     “'Today marks my sixteenth summer. My parents, to celebrate the occasion, gave my twin Unra and I presents. I received this wonderful journal, which is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and Unra got a pretty doll in a white party dress.

     “'Maybe now would be a good time to tell you about what plagues me. Nine years ago Unra met Draco, a nice boy our age. Since then they have been inseparable and strange voices have not left me alone. There are four of them and each one is different. They all feel different, act different, and sound different and they all want something different.

     “'Like I said before, Lyrena talked me into using this book. She is calm and earthy and loves recording anything and everything. She says that all knowledge, no matter how small, deserves to be saved for future generations.

     “'Feu thinks differently. She doesn't care about others at all. She is violent and fiery. All she wants is to hurt people and get what she desires. She talks a little more than Lyrena, but none of what she says is the least bit kind.

     “'Wina also doesn't care much for recording things, but she has a different reason. She wants to play and dance and sing all day, everyday. She is as happy as they come and she talks almost constantly. Feu spends most of her time threating Wina with a painful end if she doesn't quiet herself.

     “'Aqura is the quietest. She is so peaceful that I hardly know she is there. She speaks of the past, present and future and she often is the one to silence argument that get out of hand.

     “'My parents know that there is something strange about Unra and I. Unra can make things glow and heal people. I accidentally caught one of Mama's curtains on fire when the voices wouldn't be quiet. We both can make things float and Draco can make balls of light that can stay that way for hours. He taught Unra how to do it and we use those instead of lanterns.

     “'Papa said that, before we were born, five shining lights appeared to Mama and him and asked if they could be born into the world in their daughters. They agreed. Papa won't tell us what the shiny lights were, and the voices will not tell me either.

      “'I don't know who you are or how you came by this book, but I don't think it really matters. You may as well just be a figment of my imagination.

     “'I'm not sure what I am, really, but Unra has taken to calling me the Balance of Powers.'”

     Markus meets my eyes and he smiles in triumph. I hop from my chair to his lap and wrap my arms around his neck. I hug him tightly and kiss him.

     'He is very good,' Lyrena says with respect in her voice. 'I didn't expect him to catch on this quickly. Aqura may have to make her appearance earlier than planned.'

     'Yes, I may,' came Aqura's calm replay. 'He is very intelligent.'

     “This has to be the great piece of history in all Kincur!” Markus says in excitement as he stands and spins around in a circle with me in his arms. “Maybe in all Venderas! Such a detailed account of our history is truly priceless!” He sets me on my feet and kisses me lightly. “The next time you see Lyrena you must thank her for me.”

     I smile brightly. “I will.”

     Markus pauses as if something has just occurred to him. “Didn't Myra call one of those voices in her head Lyrena?”

     “I think she did!” I say with fake surprise. I try very, very hard to find the fact that I already know everything. I'm pretty sure he is still suspicious.

     “If Myra was the first Balance, then it may be safe to assume that the voices in her head could be the Great Elements themselves.” Markus starts pacing the kitchen. “A Wina and Feu were also names of the voices and when I spoke with Lyrena in the Meeting House she mentioned a Aqura. Is it parents honoring the Great Elements or the Great Elements themselves?”

     “The names of the Great Elements were known only to the Balance and her family. I doubt that any members survived the Massacre,” I say as I sit back down.

     “Then its the Elements themselves visiting me?” Markus stops pacing and stares at me. “Why would they visit me?”

     I shrug. “Maybe they want you to do something for them. It is said that each Balance was very dear to the Great Elements. Maybe they want you to clear her name.”

     Markus nods at this, his eyes seem far away and intense. Lyrena is right. He is very clever. I will have to be more careful.

     “Well, I came to steal you form your translating to go for a walk.” I take his hand and pull him toward the door. “You'll come with me, won't you?”

     Markus smiles and squeezes my hand. “Of course I will. What man would leave his beautiful mate to wonder alone?”

    I grin at him and we go outside for a few hours.

Author's Note

He just keeps getting closer and closer......

Reviews

[Brie]

closer.... and closer. lovely, Burr, lovely.
can't wait to read what's next!