“Huh?”First I heard of them being sworn to secrecy.
“He has been our replacement keeper for years. We are bonded to him most, even Lycus and I.”
“I still don’t understand,” I told him.
“The keeper is the glue. Darius is our glue. We draw off him the most, so our bond to him is stronger. He controls the bonds and, therefore, us, in a sense, like a blood tie or another way to put it is, we can’t betray him even if we wanted to.”
“So, you have no say at all?” I asked, wondering how that worked.
“We do, but only when powerful emotion is behind it. Like the few times we have gone against him.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lycus’s guilt, when he healed you. Tobias giving you magic the other day.”
I looked at him, wondering how he knew.
“Don’t tell me. In case you haven’t noticed, I am the weakest link. If Darius asks, I will tell him why. I won’t be able to lie to him. Therefore, some things are best for me not knowing,” Kalen told me, and I nodded.I’d have to remember that.
“Wait, how did you know?” I asked.
“Your aura changed. It glowed for a few hours, like you were recharged.”
“And now?”
He glanced at me. “Same as ours, though fainter since you have no magic.”
I nodded, relieved. “What can you tell me, then?”
“Ask, and we will find out. See what I can say,” Kalen told me.
I thought for a second, choosing my questions. “Why does Lycus hate me?”
“He doesn’t. He just hates what you did to me.”
“What did I do to you?”
“Can’t answer, but you already know,” he said, and I nodded, saving that for later to ponder.
“What about Darius?”
He opened his mouth and started humming. “Interesting, that is one I think I can speak about. He killed his father for you, for all of us.”
“Can you elaborate?”
“Ah…” He tried to speak when his mouth shut. “I guess that is all I can say on that one.”
“Fine, um… Tobias then?” I ask, slightly annoyed.
“His brother, and again all I can say,” he said, frustrated.
“Was that the man I saw in the picture on the bedside table?”
“Yes, it was his twin.”
“Was?”
“He is dead now.”