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Heliopath’s World: Ildieu: Benedict: Studying (part 3)
Brushing a hand through his hair Benedict made a decision he was certain he was later going to regret, even though he believed he was right about Kestrel and Ash. For the first time since he entered the Gardens he opened his shields, knowing that when he did Jasper would be able to read everything, which would change things. Sighing, Benedict did his best not to panic, although there was a part of him that couldn’t help it, because he knew it wouldn’t be long before Ash’s ever protective second would arrived to ask questions about what he’d just seen. It was easy to imagine what they’d be, but it wasn’t so easy to know what Jasper’s final reaction would be. To someone in that position Benedict could appear to be a traitor, which was exactly what he didn’t want.
“I know you’re not a traitor,” Jasper said, making him jump. “You’re shields weren’t that good, Ben. Even before you let me in I could see some of what you were hiding, but that might be because I really was looking into you, and that’s something whoever created the shields wouldn’t have been prepared for.”
“How much of it?”
“Enough.” Jasper smiled. “Thank you for showing me the rest. It does make my decision much easier now.”
“What decision?”
“I want you to go to Kieran.”
“The ice mage?”
Jasper nodded. “He’s related to you as well and I want him here. Tell him anything you need, but I want him at the Gardens sometime towards the end of the week.”
For a moment Benedict had no idea what to say. “He doesn’t even know that.”
“I’ve picked certain things up that tell me if someone is related to you or not.” Jasper shook his head. “The number of your family in the city has been steadily dwindling, which makes me thing you’re up to something out there, and all I can do is hope that you’re preparing for the war that you believe is coming.”
“We are.” Benedict bit his lip. “How much do you know?”
“Probably much more than you want me to.” Smiling, Jasper sat down in the seat opposite. “Did you know that Calogero is your uncle?” He laughed. “I take it from the look on your face that the answer to that is no.”
“No, I didn’t, but I’m not really all that surprised. We are everywhere.” Benedict studied Jasper. “How did you find out?”
“There are certain blocks in his mind that were created by an oath he made before he travelled to Ildieu and I wanted to see if I could get past them. It took me longer than I wanted it to, but I did eventually manage. When I did I found out some very interesting things about the Hollow, and about how it was created, and about who is control of it.” Jasper bit his lip. “It’s something I’ve never talked to Ash about because I didn’t think he was ready to know, although I think the time is coming when I might have to.”
Mirrored from K. A. Webb Writing.