Alora: The Wander-Jewel (Alora 1)

“My home is Laegenshire, in Tenavae Territory. That’s Alora’s home also. Or, at least, that’s where her mother lived and her grandmother still lives. I am Stone Clan, and Alora is Stone Clan and Water Clan.” His voice trailed off as he looked up to see them staring with open mouths.

“I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” said Beth. “Alora, can you maybe shed some light on all this?”

“You can make light?” Kaevin asked Alora with wide eyes. “How many gifts do you have?”

“No, I didn’t ask her to make light,” said Beth. “I asked her to... Alora! What’s going on? Who is this guy, and what’s he talking about?”

“Uhmm, I’m not really sure myself. We really only met one other time.” She purposely ignored their meeting in the bathroom, hoping desperately Kaevin didn’t notice her blushing at the thought.

“Did you guys meet online? Some kind of online dating website?” asked Wesley. “I didn’t even know you had a boyfriend.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” Alora said, allowing a curtain of hair to shield her red face from view.

“No.” Kaevin smiled as he squeezed her hand. “I’m fairly certain we’re soulmates, although no one in Laegenshire believes me.”

“Well, whatever you are, you’re going to be in big trouble when your uncle gets home if you’re still holding hands,” said Beth.

“Oh! I forgot about Uncle Charles.” She turned to Kaevin. “How old are you?”

“I’m seventeen, and you’re fifteen.”

“How do you know so much about her when she doesn’t know anything about you?” asked Beth.

“We simply calculated the probable facts from what we knew. To be honest, the council reckoned the facts. As I told you, her grandmother lives in our shire, and she’s on the council. But when Alora returns, she’ll take Raelene’s place, since she’s an active bearer. She’ll be the youngest person ever to be on the council. Fifteen! Usually one must have thirty years.”

Beth stared at him as if he had four eyes, shaking her head. “Alora, your uncle won’t let you date a seventeen-year-old.”

“What does date mean?” asked Kaevin. “Is that like marriage?” He held out the empty glass to Wesley. “Could I perhaps have some more? And do you have any food? I’m suddenly quite hungry.”

“You know, if you let go of her hand for a minute, you could probably go get it yourself.”

Kaevin dropped his eyes. “I’m sorry. I won’t trouble you again.” He looked at their linked hands. “But I’m not sure we should release our handhold so quickly. I’m uncertain of the exact requirements of the soulmate bond. What I mean to say is, I don’t know how long it takes for one to recover from separation. I suppose we could try it for a blink... letting go.” He regarded Alora with his eyebrows raised in question.

“Okay, let’s try it. Wait—what if you disappear again?”

“I won’t go back unless you send me back.”

“I never sent you back. You just left.”

“No, Raelene explained you sent me back. But I don’t believe you’ll do it again. Shall we try?” He lifted their clasped hands.

Opening their fingers, they slid their hands apart. Kaevin smiled at Alora, and she smiled back. For about five seconds. Then his eyes rolled back into his head as he keeled over onto the floor. And someone stabbed a hot knife into Alora’s head. Frantically, she grappled for his hand, sighing with relief when their fingers connected. Kaevin’s eyes blinked open.

“Ugh! That wasn’t pleasant at all. I think it would be simpler if we were married. It probably takes longer since we aren’t able to... since we can only hold hands.” His face reddened.

“Married?” exclaimed Alora. “I can’t get married—I’m only fifteen. I’m just a sophomore in high school.”

“Well, I wasn’t planning to marry, either. It’s not my fault we’re soulmates.”

“Wait a minute,” said Beth. “Just back up a minute and explain this soulmate thing.”

“I don’t have a great deal of knowledge concerning soulmates,” said Kaevin, pushing up on his elbows. “It’s a rather rare occurrence in Tenavae in recent generations. I’m only aware of two other couples who were soulmates in my lifetime, and they were killed by Water Clan in the Leeward Battle. There haven’t been any new soulmates in this generation.”

“They were killed because they were soulmates?” asked Wesley.

“No, they were killed in battle. But soulmates tend to enhance one another’s gifts, so they’re more powerful and have extremely valuable roles in wars.”

Beth said, “This sounds great. You have to hold hands for the rest of your life or until one of you gets killed on the front line in battle.”