Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-44544645-20191211195811/@comment-44544645-20191216234318

Here's chapter five:

Five

'''“You’re sneaking off to the Seat of Eminence—breaking into one of the most secure places on the planet. You’re trying to open a cache, which breaks at least a dozen different laws. Which may have secrets that could topple the elvin world and shatter Councillor Oralie’s sanity. You’re bringing Dex and Biana into this, risking their safety as well,” Grady recapped, pacing Havenfield’s immaculate living room. “You should be glad I haven’t barricaded you in your room.”'''

'''“Believe me, that was my original idea as well,” Sandor—Sophie’s overprotective goblin bodyguard—said in a squeaky voice that made him sound more like a cartoon character than a fierce warrior. Bo, Sophie’s overprotective ogre bodyguard, was nodding along. '''

'''Flori, a tiny green gnome who was Sophie’s third bodyguard, seemed indifferent. '''

'''“It’s all to save Keefe,” Sophie reminded him. She knew her adoptive father could be overprotective, but hadn’t expected him to be this against their plan. After all, he’d let her take risks before.'''

“I’m aware.”

'''“If Oralie is on board with this, their plan can’t be too risky,” Edaline reminded him. “I think it’s a good idea.”'''

'''Grady sighed. '''

'''“Just….be careful,” he finally conceded. “I trust you, and I agree that the Forgotten secrets shouldn’t be hidden forever. But this is extremely risky. You’re a Regent now, Sophie, and that would make everything worse if you were discovered.” '''

'''“I know,” Sophie said. “Really. It’s not like I haven’t been in danger before.” She decided against pointing out that this was one of the less risky risks she’d taken.'''

It took eight and a half more minutes of arguing, along with a promise to be back from the Seat of Eminience by one AM, before Grady agreed to let her go.

'''Then she left, to go visit Keefe. '''

***

'''“Hi, Sophie,” a crisp, accented voice said. Sophie turned to look at him. Dark hair and teal eyes and perfect features, just like his younger sister. Fitz Vacker.'''

'''Strangely, her heart didn’t give the little jump it used to whenever she set eyes on him. Maybe that was because their boyfriend/girlfriend attempt had failed majestically. Or maybe beacuse Sophie was worrying about enough things already. Especially Keefe…..'''

'''“You haven’t missed much,” Fitz said. “Keefe’s still unconscious. Elwin’s been checking on him, and he’s okay. Just asleep, and…”'''

“He’s manifesting a new ability.”

'''Fitz nodded. “Yeah. Do you have any ideas about what it might be?”'''

Sophie shook her head.

'''“You’re in the Healing Center—without any immediate emergencies!” Elwin cried, coming up to where the two of them were standing. “Sophie, I think this is a first for you.”'''

'''Fitz laughed, and although Sophie glared at him, she couldn’t deny it. Two pictures hung on the walls of the Healing Center, one of Sophie in her embarrassing dragon costume from her Level Four Opening Ceremonies, the other of Keefe dressed up as a yeti for his Level Six Opening Ceremonies. Elwin had put them there as a tribute to all the times the two of them had been in danger, and Sophie had heard him thinking about adding a tally board to keep track of their visits. '''

'''“Nothing new with Keefe?” she asked, trying to cover up her embarrassment. '''

'''“No. I took a deeper look at his cells, but they still don’t bring any specific abilities to mind. It’s funny—he’s somehow both asleep and awake.”'''

'''“That could be because the elixirs Lady Gisela took before she got pregnant are only acting now,” Sophie suggested. '''

'''Elwin had heard about the mysterious empty vials, but hadn’t come to any conclusions yet. There wasn’t much to go on, at any rate. The only real lead they had was stellarlune—which Sophie did not want to talk to Fitz about. Because then he’d remember the conversation they’d had about matchmaking and her biological parents, and he might start pressuring her about trying to find her biological father, or get angry that she’d only reached out to Dex and Biana. She didn’t want to deal with any of that right now.'''

“Maybe,” Elwin said, snapping his fingers and flashing an orb of light around Keefe.

'''“For the record, he is not getting out of his punishment just because he’s unconscious,” Ro—Keefe’s ogre bodyguard—jumped in. “I’ve had plenty of time to brainstorm.” She grinned, flashing a malicious smile that showed her fangs, and showed her orange-painted claws for added effect. '''

'''Elwin laughed. “Wait until he’s had some time to recover first.”'''

'''Sophie and Fitz stayed in the Healing Center for another few hours. Thankfully, they managed to avoid any tricky topics. Finally, Sophie realized it was sunset. She’d promised Grady that she’d be home early so she could get some rest before sneaking in to the Seat of Eminience. “I have to go.”'''

“You’re not sleeping here?” Fitz wondered.

“No.”

“Are you working on a project?”

'''There was no denying that. “Yes.”'''

'''“Sophie, we’re Cognates! Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”'''

'''The rare telepathic bond that she had with Fitz did require them to share all of their secrets. “I only just started working on this—and I’ll tell you everything tomorrow.”'''

“Why not now?”

'Because I don’t want to bring up matchmaking, and Oralie, because then I’ll just get even angrier. '

'''“I have a really good reason. I’ll tell you tomorrow.”'''

“Sophie—”

'''“I’m sorry, but I really have to get back. Hail me if anything happens to Keefe, okay?”'''

'''Sophie pulled out her home crystal, and her bodyguards clumped around her as she wrapped her concentration around them like a thick blanket. As the light swept her away, she started to wonder......after all the secrets she’d kept, and the matchmaking fiasco, would their Cognate relationship still hold?'''