Page 158 of The Ranger
Kwaku, who’d just arrived, stood in his purple and yellow Azurti robes. Neither he nor Zara hadn’t taken the time to change into period clothing. Zara wore a white gown with adorned with a purple and yellow sash that matched Kwaku’s outfit. The Time Master stood, arms crossed, his eyes intent on Markhel and Maida. “He must touch her to make de bond stronger.” He looked at Major and smiled. “Dey are a handsome couple, yes?”
Major glared at Kwaku, but not out of anger, but resignation. “Duncan...” he said on a sigh.
Major’s son shook himself. “Huh?”
“Ride to town and fetch Preacher Jo.”
Honoria gasped. “Now?!”
“Darlin’, look at them!” Major pointed at Markhel and Maida, still seated on the bales of hay. Markhel held her and rested his head on top of hers for a time before nuzzling her hair then caressing one of her cheeks with his own. They reminded Makama of two cats show affection for each other.
Makama noticed Kwaku watching them like a hawk, especially Markhel. She side-stepped to him. “Is he going to be okay?”
“He is weak. Too weak,” he said in all seriousness. “He should never have been allowed to be out in de field so long. Even a ranger must spend an allotted amount of time wid his people.”
“It is my fault.”
Makama jumped in surprise at the voice. “Your Majesty...”
King Jaireth stepped into the barn, his gaze intense as he studied Markhel and Maida. “How bad is it Kwaku?”
There was another Muiraran with him, and Makama gasped.
Zerbe, the Muiraran Judge, ignored her and stood next to the king. “Kwaku?”
“Your son lives.”
The two Muirarans turned to him with narrowed eyes. “How close to death did he come?” Jaireth asked.
Kwaku looked at Makama. She gulped. Did he have to bring her into this?
King Jaireth glanced at Grandma Waller and the rest, gave them a nod, then stabbed Makama with his steely gaze. “Tell me.”
“He wasn’t breathing so Vale and I performed CPR on him. To tell you the truth, I’m not sure if it was us that got him breathing or Maida’s song.”
“Has she sung her final Call?”
“No, Your Highness,” Kwaku said. “But soon. De cub tries to repair de bond. It is his heart dat guides him now.”
Zerbe, who looked to be in his mid-fifties, and was getting gaped at by Grandma Waller and her friends, stepped forward. Makama checked to see how the rest of Maida’s family was handling this, noticed the host of Muiraran guards outside the barn, and gulped. Kwaku and Zara had shown up just minutes ago, Zara having sensed something was wrong. They must have sent word to King Jaireth just before coming here. The power it took for Zara to sense something was wrong with Markhel through time and space itself, had to be immense. She must have bonded herself to him in case of things like this. She knew Zara had done the same thing with Shona. Did that mean she had also bonded herself to Melvale? She looked at Zara in awe and gulped again.
Zerbe came before Makama and Vale and bowed. “You have done a great service.” He smiled as he straightened. “You will be well rewarded.”
She shrugged. “It’s what I do...”
Vale took her by the hand. “I don’t think he knows what a lifeguard is, darling, or that it was your previous occupation.”
Zerbe arched an eyebrow, and she saw the resemblance between father and son. “Markhel lives because of you and his Maiden,” Zerbe said. “I thank you.”
“Pardon me,” Major said stepping into the middle of Jaireth and his entourage. “But who are you?”
Zerbe and Jaireth exchanged a look before Zerbe gave Major a slight bow. “I am Zerbe. Markhel’s father. And this,” he said motioning to Jaireth, “is his king.”
Major was not impressed. “Well, Markhel’s father, I hope your son is prepared to do right by my daughter.”
Colin, who’d been standing off to one side, made a strangled noise. Harrison, meanwhile, had taken to covering his eyes. He was surrounded by Muirarans, and as the aliens outnumbered the humans, their camouflage instinct acted accordingly. It relaxed and showed them in all their Muiraran glory.
Makama had no idea where Logan, the Cookes foreman was. Nor did she know if Susara was aware of the number of guests now gathered in and around the barn.