I remember to relax, the horse just falls into a nice easy gait and everything seems a million miles away for a little bit. It’s like a mini vacation for someone like me.” Tally let her head fall against the cushioned bolster. “So tell me about you.”
“Not much to tell that you didn’t get out of our little connection at breakfast.”
Tally was still sorting through all of the knowledge that Roland had passed to her durin g their psychic link. She learned that Roland was her paladin, her guardian and personal warrior. Her heart fell at this revelation. She was elated that she would be spending more time with him, but now suspected that what she thought was mutual attraction was nothing more than a means for Roland to bring her into the Cadence. She would have to deal with her unrequited feelings soon or this would be a difficult arrangement. “So have you always been a paladin?”
Roland kept his eye s on the road while he answered, “The Cadence adopted me when I was five. Before that I was in the Cook County foster system in Chicago.”
Tally sat flabbergasted, “They adopted you? How does a child become adopted by anything other than a mother or father?”
Laughing at her shock, Roland continued, “It’s not like I became the property of The Cadence Incorporated . My mother and father were Cadence members but they gave me a home filled with love and happiness, just like any other family.”
Tally relaxed a bit, “So how did the Cadence know you would become a paladin?”
“They look for signs of psychic ability while you are growing up. If it comes naturally, they encourage its development and eventually train you to be a paladin. If a student does not exhibit the natural gift, than they are trained to be sentries.”
“What is a sentry?” Tally sorted through her memory and did not remember sentries being a part of the story that Roland had shared with her in the diner.
“Sentries investigate natural disasters, weather patterns, and climate changes to determine if it is part of the normal order or if it was influenced by a singer.” Roland glanced toward Tally, “Oliver is the sentry in Pinetop. You will be spending a lot of time with him and Anna once we get you settled in.”
“ Is Anna a sentry as well?”
Roland’s expression suddenly became somber, “She was a paladin. Now she manages the operation of various facilities in the US. She will decide what direction your training should take.”
“If I am the Air Singer, shouldn’t my training center on that?”
A smile broke onto Roland’s face. “It will, but there are many other things to learn as well.”
“Like what?”
Roland turned the volume up on the radio. “We are about to enter the canyon. It’s a beautiful sight. Take this opportunity to enjoy the journey. All of your questions about training and the Cadence will be answered when we get to Pinetop.” He reached across the seat and patted Tally’s hand, “Trust me.”
Tally burst out laughing. “Trust you? After everything that’s happened, you feel the need to ask that just now?” She tried to stifle herself. “Now I know I’m in trouble.”
Chapter 9
Roland’s truck kicked up d irt as it pulled up in front of an old antique shop just inside Pinetop town limits. Reclaimed wood had been stained dark and covered the outer wall and eaves. Faded license plates from various states across the country provided pops of color against the dark walls. An old sign behind a stack of old patio swings read Antique Mercantile and Trading Post.
“Why are we stopping? ” Tally had never been fond of thrift or antique stores. The items there carried the energy of the previous owners and walking into a store was the psychic equivalent of walking into a room filled with hundreds of people’s dirty laundry. It was never pleasant and at times nauseating.
“We’re here. ” Roland parked the truck and shut off the engine.
Tally didn’t hide her confusion.
“Not much to tell that you didn’t get out of our little connection at breakfast.”
Tally was still sorting through all of the knowledge that Roland had passed to her durin g their psychic link. She learned that Roland was her paladin, her guardian and personal warrior. Her heart fell at this revelation. She was elated that she would be spending more time with him, but now suspected that what she thought was mutual attraction was nothing more than a means for Roland to bring her into the Cadence. She would have to deal with her unrequited feelings soon or this would be a difficult arrangement. “So have you always been a paladin?”
Roland kept his eye s on the road while he answered, “The Cadence adopted me when I was five. Before that I was in the Cook County foster system in Chicago.”
Tally sat flabbergasted, “They adopted you? How does a child become adopted by anything other than a mother or father?”
Laughing at her shock, Roland continued, “It’s not like I became the property of The Cadence Incorporated . My mother and father were Cadence members but they gave me a home filled with love and happiness, just like any other family.”
Tally relaxed a bit, “So how did the Cadence know you would become a paladin?”
“They look for signs of psychic ability while you are growing up. If it comes naturally, they encourage its development and eventually train you to be a paladin. If a student does not exhibit the natural gift, than they are trained to be sentries.”
“What is a sentry?” Tally sorted through her memory and did not remember sentries being a part of the story that Roland had shared with her in the diner.
“Sentries investigate natural disasters, weather patterns, and climate changes to determine if it is part of the normal order or if it was influenced by a singer.” Roland glanced toward Tally, “Oliver is the sentry in Pinetop. You will be spending a lot of time with him and Anna once we get you settled in.”
“ Is Anna a sentry as well?”
Roland’s expression suddenly became somber, “She was a paladin. Now she manages the operation of various facilities in the US. She will decide what direction your training should take.”
“If I am the Air Singer, shouldn’t my training center on that?”
A smile broke onto Roland’s face. “It will, but there are many other things to learn as well.”
“Like what?”
Roland turned the volume up on the radio. “We are about to enter the canyon. It’s a beautiful sight. Take this opportunity to enjoy the journey. All of your questions about training and the Cadence will be answered when we get to Pinetop.” He reached across the seat and patted Tally’s hand, “Trust me.”
Tally burst out laughing. “Trust you? After everything that’s happened, you feel the need to ask that just now?” She tried to stifle herself. “Now I know I’m in trouble.”
Chapter 9
Roland’s truck kicked up d irt as it pulled up in front of an old antique shop just inside Pinetop town limits. Reclaimed wood had been stained dark and covered the outer wall and eaves. Faded license plates from various states across the country provided pops of color against the dark walls. An old sign behind a stack of old patio swings read Antique Mercantile and Trading Post.
“Why are we stopping? ” Tally had never been fond of thrift or antique stores. The items there carried the energy of the previous owners and walking into a store was the psychic equivalent of walking into a room filled with hundreds of people’s dirty laundry. It was never pleasant and at times nauseating.
“We’re here. ” Roland parked the truck and shut off the engine.
Tally didn’t hide her confusion.
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