Chapter Thirty-Two

"We've assembled the best warriors for yer protection," King Father says, his voice is an exhale.
There's a shocked silence. What can the Wendigos do against the Essence Thief now? He's so much stronger.
"Don't waste time and resources on me." I set down my empty glass and wipe my palms on my thighs. "I'll be fine."
I don't have a gift yet. Even if the Essence Thief tried. He wouldn't find anything. I'm probably a Silencer Noddon anyway, with no real magical ability.
Silence. And then, "But--"
I interrupt King Father with my hands. I don't want to hear anymore. "Trust me. I'm not in need of any protection."
Queen Mother picks at the red nail polish at the fingers. I watch her for so long that when I look away, I notice everyone is looking at me.
I straighten and hold up my chin. "How many rooms are in all the Royal Houses?"
It is quiet as Elder Koleka does the math. She's good with numbers. Before I can decide how many rooms are in my old house she's done. The warmth of her skin, drained by years gone by, is made up her warm brown eyes.
"How many people does our nation have that have collected their gifts?" Worry has crept into my voice.
Sir Ayize takes out a list of all the people that have been to his shop. When a sword leaves it's stand it is automatically checked out. Sir Ayize doesn't need to manually record them. The second the magic activates in the sword. It is immediately crossed off on the store's catalogue.
"Fifty Thousand," Elder Koleka says at last. She's good with numbers. Can count faster than a calculator.
"How many of those have silent gifts?"
"Ten thousand."
"And how many have lost their gifts to the Essence Thief?"
"Fifty."
"Do the math. How many people do we need to protect?"
"Thirty four thousand and fifty."
Still too many to fit at the Royal palace.
Queen Mother is weaving her way toward the table now. "Ya can't expect to bring commoners to the Royal Palaces."
I look a her. "Surely ya don't suppose I bring my people to their deaths."
"I didn't mean--"
My stomach is queasy. "I want them to train in martial arts. If we can't beat this guy by magic, we'll bring him down with our combat skills."
Queen Mother deliberates for a moment as we all wait for her to protest. "He's strong."
"I know but he's only one person." I stand up and slam my fist on the table. "We are thousands and thankfully none of the gifts he stole makes him immune to blades."
She glares at me, her face stiff with skepticism. "True but one of them makes him immune to death and pain."
It's so obvious I'm surprised I hadn't thought of this. "Mama's?"
Their silence is enough of an answer. The seconds tick by. My mind explodes. Mama's gift is gone? Only Kaseke is rejoicing from this. He didn't like his gift much anyway.
"Is the Blocker's gift still safe?" I ask.
They actually laugh.
"What could the Essence Thief do with such a silent gift?" King Father goes to the beverage table, wobbling like a baby's first steps.
I want to roll my eyes. "Don't be so short sighted."
He returns with two glasses of whiskey, handing one to me. "His name is Lundi, and yes his gift is safe and will remain safe from the thief. The thief only wants real, dangerous gifts, not silencers."
"Good. Noddon and her people need him." I take it from him and set it down.
"What could he possibly do for us?" Queen Mother twists one of her braids loose. I don't think she realises she's doing it. "The only thing he can do is block thoughts, feelings, that kind of thing.
I don't bother to explain. "What about the Transmitter?"
Elder Koleka raises her eyebrows. "Why don't ya just call them by their names?"
"Remembering them by their gift is actually much easier. There are thousand of Noddons. I can't match a name to every face. Gifts make them more distinguishable."
I frown. Isn't this the same way they keep track of everyone?
We go quiet.
Queen Mother folds her arms. "But if I may ask why do ya want all these silent giftors?"
My response is easy. "They will save us."
"That's ridiculous," she says. She coughs, but there's a scoff in there.
"Get me the Reverser as well," I say. "Oh, and don't forget the Illusionist."
"This is a joke." King Father strengthens up, grabs his glass and empties it. "Ya can't put my faith in the hands of someone who can create fairyland if only for a few minutes."
"The problem is, I'm the Goddess. My word is final." I fold my arms and give him a hard look. "I need the Imitator as well. And the Tech. Don't forget the Tech."
"We should be employing the army at large." King Father means Wendigos. He views them as a casualty. "We should be preparing to battle not forcing people to escape reality with the Illusionist. We will die." He pronounces each word separately.
That would be horrible.
"I hope not."
"Does anyone know how the magic Essence gets stolen? Does the thief steal the gift through the sword?" Elder Joni asks. When he talks his words slur. He drags out his o's and forgets his t's.
Queen Mother hands me the papers she was scanning through. "No. He does it through skin to skin contact."
I glance at them. They detail more names of people who've lost their gifts. I wonder how they got all this information. It reveals their date of births, first friend, siblings, sword collection date, gift stolen date.
"But how because we are powerless if the sword is not there?" I ask before tipping my glass. "How exactly do ya suppose he transfers the power from the sword to the body."
Madam Thembi leans down and kisses Sir Ayize. She squeezes his shoulder and he welcomes her support with a smile. He looks at her the way a dehydrated man would look at water. "When ya get yer sword. Half the magic transfers to the body. The rest stays with the sword. So if the thief steals the magic in yer veins, the magic in the sword goes to the "gift's" current owner."
"Those who lost their powers, do they feel nothing at all? No pain?" Queen Mother asks, curious all of a sudden.
"They describe feeling empty." Sir Alice flashes her a stink eye. "Remember a big part of them is missing."
I bite my lip. "When do these attacks happen?"
Sie Ayize's eyebrows knit together. "At night."
"Never during the day?"
"No."
I freeze. "That means something."
Madam Thembi frowns. "What?"
I jump up. I must stretch my legs. I begin pacing again. "When I find out, ya'll be the first to know."
"So what now?" Elder Joni falls on his ass. He laughs at himself. "We wait?"
"No. We gather everyone of those giftors in the Royal Hall Tzar." I try to help him up. He's too heavy. What is the man's body made of? Cement? The clothes he wears must be made of rock. "The old army men must teach the rest of us fighting skills."
Queen Mother side-eyes me. "But the thief will be there."
I snort. "That's what I'm betting on."
"Okay." Joni puts his arm around my shoulder and we almost fall back to the royal blue rug. "The meeting adjourned?"
Once I help him back to his feet, he stumbles his way to the door. I notice the room has gone somewhat dark. The clock above the door reads, 1745. We've been here since morning. My stomach growls.
"Yes." I try not to sound too embarrassed. "I have another meeting to attend in fifteen minutes."
King Father sniffs and he closes his eyes, appreciating the scent coming through the open door. "We actually wanted to eat."
I doubt I'll have time for dinner. I'm pressed for time. I nod, and lead the way out. The same guards that got me here this morning stick close by my side. They haven't left since I got to the meeting. I didn't dismiss them. I didn't think I had to. Guilt wrenches my stomach. They must be so hungry.
Yet that doesn't stop me from taking his arm and leaning to him for support. I've never had so much whiskey. At least not to the point where I walk like how Kaseke usually does, as if I'm stepping on clouds. My legs are heavy. My feet are light. I can't decide.
Kwaito is waiting for me in the foyer. The guards place the boxes down. Time to get to business.