“You mean the Tree of Knowledge or like Yggdrasil?” Ori asked.
Ranth stroked the patchy, coarse hair on his chin. “I don’t know these names. They are ancient trees which hold incomprehensible knowledge and power. It was the Ahknim’ssacred duty to protect them. We maintain the Garden, and only the best of a generation is chosen.”
“Meaning you were considered the best?” I pressed fingers to my forehead and rubbed circles. Fortunately, Ori was here to process all the details. I preferred the present to history. I was still wondering how much of all this we could believe—but I didn’t feel like he was lying.
“And two others as well. It takes three wizards to move the Trees.”
“So, the Trees are in an inter-dimensional plane? Is it in your time or ours?” I asked.
“Those questions are nonsensical. I have told you that planes and time don’t work like you expect them to.” He traced the scar on his neck and exhaled.
“And these two keys, or people, or whatever they are, are also trapped in bracelets?” Ori asked, typing some more.
“I believe the other Keepers are still in the Garden with the Trees. Only I was drawn out. Something must have happened to our temple.”
“Let’s back up to this Garden, or forest, or whatever. You’re guardian of it?” Ori asked.
“We are the Tutelars of it. But right now, none of us can take the position. It requires three.”
My brain was melting. “Tutors? You mean you teach someone? What happened to the Trees, then?”
“And can you spell that?” Ori asked.
Ranth tilted his head down as if he were explaining something to children. “T-u-t-e-l-a-r-s,” he spelled out, “are protectors, not teachers. I assume the Trees are safe with Rei and Kellis. Unless something has happened to one of them as well, and the Garden is opened, but then we would know. No, they must still be there.”
“You mean if they were cursed like you? If you die, for real, then what?” A tingle crawled up the back of my neck.
“If the plane is accessible, then that which is locked in would be released unto the world.”
“And what else is locked in?” Ori asked, her hand trembling on the keyboard.
“A great Serpent,” Ranth replied.
“You mean the devil—or the Loch Ness monster—OR! Like the serpent from the Garden of Eden?” Ori and I exchanged glances ofwtaf.
“I don’t know these things you are speaking of. The Serpent answers to no one. It is as old as the Trees.”
“But whatever this serpent is, it’s on some other plane or planet. I don’t see the big problem, then,” I said, watching Ori type in searches.
“The released serpent can travel. In this world, it would boil the seas and freeze the land. It is not supposed to world-walk, and it could destroy the connections between the planes.”
Ori replied, “But that only happens if you die for real, right? And you say that can’t happen?”
The information in my head didn’t give me a complete picture. “So let me get this straight. Serpent on plane, gets out, goes to Earth—equals bad. But since the Serpent is probably still trapped in the Garden, or that would have already happened, it’s no biggie?”
“I didn’t say that. While I’m bound to the gold, I do not believe I can be dissipated. But now that you’ve partially released me…”
“You don’t know for sure?” I finished for him.
He shook his head.
“That’s not very comforting,” I replied.
The cat door flapped open, and Antimony mewed her arrival. My heart swelled. I picked her up, burying my face in herfur scented with grass and the sand she liked to roll in. She squirmed, hating to be held, but I gave her a kiss and set her down. This time, she walked toward Ranth, then puffed out, growling again. She hissed showing her fangs. He took a step back.
I crouched beside her, speaking softly, “It’s okay, Ant, he’s not a threat.” Ant hunkered down under my hand and squirmed away. She hissed again, giving Ranth a wide berth as she slunk toward the living room.
“What is going on with her?” Ori asked, giving Ranth the side-eye.
