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Authors: Brandon Charles West
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didn’t like the sound of that last statement, but at least he and Xavier understood one another.
“How can our dogs talk all of a sudden?” Scarlet asked. Charles was pleased; this was definitely something he too wanted to know.
“As for your lovely dog Cricket, I expect that the dog you call Dakota taught her. Not an easy task, considering that dogs don’t really have the right equipment, physically that is, to speak. But then again, Dakota has abilities that have more than surprised me before, so I can’t say I’m surprised at this.”
“And Dakota?” Charles added.
“He has always been able to talk,” Xavier said matter-of-factly. “Well, ever since he was old enough, that is.”
“He wasn’t very talkative when I found him in the woods, or any of the five months we had him as a pet,” Charles said.
“Ah, of course. I had forgotten that you might still be under the impression that he was only five months old. Dakota is not, I’m afraid, exactly what he seems, and I’m not sure how much he would want me to tell you. I will say that he is from Satorium, and your finding him in the woods that day was not an accident. He was sent to protect Scarlet and your family, and had we not made the decision to send him . . . well, some things are better left unsaid.”
The girls continued to ask questions, while Charles waited as patiently as he could to speak to Xavier alone. Yes, they had been shrunk with magic from the great oak, Xavier told them. The Tounder lived exclusively in Illuminora, the village beneath the tree, and they were also called the Keepers of Light, although explaining that title properly would take more than an afternoon. The Hopewells had been in danger at home, Xavier conveyed delicately, and he and Dakota had brought them here to keep them safe.
After about half an hour of questions, Xavier suggested that they take a break.
“I would think that two young girls such as yourselves,” he said to Scarlet and Melody, “would love to explore such a strange and wonderful place as this must seem to you.”
“Oh, yes!” they both answered.
“If you will permit, Mr. Hopewell, I can assure you, they will be quite safe,” Xavier said.
Charles was reluctant, looking to Allie, who’d been silent this whole time, for guidance, but eventually he agreed; he needed real answers from the old Tounder, and he wouldn’t get them with his daughters present.
“You watch after your sister,” Allie said sternly to Scarlet.
“Will do,” she promised, taking Melody’s hand and heading for the entrance hall.
***
The two girls were giggling and running toward the entrance hall, their heads swimming with ideas of what to try and see first, when they caught sight of Dakota speaking to the group of wolves who had helped them escape. Melody was about to call out to Dakota, but Scarlet put a hand to her mouth.
“Shhhh. Wait a minute,” Scarlet whispered, pulling Melody behind a pillar just inside the entrance hall. Dakota and the wolves were standing in the entrance to the castle, and Scarlet could just make out what they were saying, although she had to strain hard to hear.
“I don’t understand,” Ulrich was saying. “You mean the change is permanent.”
“Yes,” Dakota answered. “There was no other way.”
“But a dog, Udd Lyall!” Ulrich moaned.
“The dog who came here with us is a braver and more noble creature than many Stidolph I’ve met in my day,” Dakota snapped back. Stidolph was clearly the name for the magnificent wolves, Scarlet realized.
“I’ve nothing against dogs. That’s not what I meant,” Ulrich said defensively. “It’s just that, well, dogs— They don’t—”
“I know, old friend. But it’s a small price to pay for saving her life. A small price to pay if it means winning the war that’s to come.” Dakota lowered his head solemnly.
“Well, at least you’re a big dog,” Fael added cheerfully, though Dakota didn’t look that big next
“How can our dogs talk all of a sudden?” Scarlet asked. Charles was pleased; this was definitely something he too wanted to know.
“As for your lovely dog Cricket, I expect that the dog you call Dakota taught her. Not an easy task, considering that dogs don’t really have the right equipment, physically that is, to speak. But then again, Dakota has abilities that have more than surprised me before, so I can’t say I’m surprised at this.”
“And Dakota?” Charles added.
“He has always been able to talk,” Xavier said matter-of-factly. “Well, ever since he was old enough, that is.”
“He wasn’t very talkative when I found him in the woods, or any of the five months we had him as a pet,” Charles said.
“Ah, of course. I had forgotten that you might still be under the impression that he was only five months old. Dakota is not, I’m afraid, exactly what he seems, and I’m not sure how much he would want me to tell you. I will say that he is from Satorium, and your finding him in the woods that day was not an accident. He was sent to protect Scarlet and your family, and had we not made the decision to send him . . . well, some things are better left unsaid.”
The girls continued to ask questions, while Charles waited as patiently as he could to speak to Xavier alone. Yes, they had been shrunk with magic from the great oak, Xavier told them. The Tounder lived exclusively in Illuminora, the village beneath the tree, and they were also called the Keepers of Light, although explaining that title properly would take more than an afternoon. The Hopewells had been in danger at home, Xavier conveyed delicately, and he and Dakota had brought them here to keep them safe.
After about half an hour of questions, Xavier suggested that they take a break.
“I would think that two young girls such as yourselves,” he said to Scarlet and Melody, “would love to explore such a strange and wonderful place as this must seem to you.”
“Oh, yes!” they both answered.
“If you will permit, Mr. Hopewell, I can assure you, they will be quite safe,” Xavier said.
Charles was reluctant, looking to Allie, who’d been silent this whole time, for guidance, but eventually he agreed; he needed real answers from the old Tounder, and he wouldn’t get them with his daughters present.
“You watch after your sister,” Allie said sternly to Scarlet.
“Will do,” she promised, taking Melody’s hand and heading for the entrance hall.
***
The two girls were giggling and running toward the entrance hall, their heads swimming with ideas of what to try and see first, when they caught sight of Dakota speaking to the group of wolves who had helped them escape. Melody was about to call out to Dakota, but Scarlet put a hand to her mouth.
“Shhhh. Wait a minute,” Scarlet whispered, pulling Melody behind a pillar just inside the entrance hall. Dakota and the wolves were standing in the entrance to the castle, and Scarlet could just make out what they were saying, although she had to strain hard to hear.
“I don’t understand,” Ulrich was saying. “You mean the change is permanent.”
“Yes,” Dakota answered. “There was no other way.”
“But a dog, Udd Lyall!” Ulrich moaned.
“The dog who came here with us is a braver and more noble creature than many Stidolph I’ve met in my day,” Dakota snapped back. Stidolph was clearly the name for the magnificent wolves, Scarlet realized.
“I’ve nothing against dogs. That’s not what I meant,” Ulrich said defensively. “It’s just that, well, dogs— They don’t—”
“I know, old friend. But it’s a small price to pay for saving her life. A small price to pay if it means winning the war that’s to come.” Dakota lowered his head solemnly.
“Well, at least you’re a big dog,” Fael added cheerfully, though Dakota didn’t look that big next
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