All of them pretty valid reasons, of course, except they weren’t exactly true, not fully. The only true reason why I was going to the Turning Trials was because I wanted to be away from home, from my parents, from every single person I knew.
I was running.
In the best, most inconspicuous way I knew how, but I was still running—and that was okay.
The reminder finally calmed me down. When Mother and Father saw me to the fence gate, I even smiled a little. When my friends from school and my cousins with whom I’d grown up, called my name and waved from the sides, I waved back. Blew kisses and winked.
Then I was in front of the ginger-haired man wearing dark blue velvet clothes.
A Timekeeper.
I’d never seen one in person before.
“Miss Reese, I am Calren Hock, Royal Timekeeper and warden to the Hands of the Turning Trials. It will be my pleasure to escort you to the Labyrinth of Neverwhen safely.” With a hand to his chest, he bowed his head all the way.
I had never been bowed to before, either. My smile was genuine as I did the same.
“Please, Ora is fine, Mister Hock,” I said, while my familyand friends allbuzzedwith whispers like bees all around us. I was sure most of them had never set eyes on a Timekeeper before, either, let alone aRoyalone.
They were very much like us, it was true—except they were ginger, and they kept time, and it was said that they always had more than a watch on their person. I could confirm this with Calren Hock—he had a few chains slipping through the many pockets of his vest, some gold, one silver, most likely attached to clocks.
The smile he gave me when he straightened up again was genuine. His deep brown eyes could have been made of chocolate, and they sparkled with somethinggood,too. Something pure.
“In that case, please call me Cal, or Ren, or anything that starts again.” A wink.
I giggled—which never happened, really. His voice was soft and sharp at the same time. I’d never quite seen anybody like him. Jinx would have adoredhim, I thought. And maybe that’s why I felt like I would, too.
“Calren sounds about right,” I decided.
He arched a ginger brow high on his forehead. “Does it, really?”
“Mhm. It tastes right on my tongue.”
A grin broke on his face. “I already can’t wait to see who you’ll become, Ora.” A deep nod, and the gears in my stomach twisted. I felt so giddy all of a sudden, it was absurd.
Time’s Teeth, wasthishow all Timekeepers were? Did they all have the same effect on the rest of us?
Or was it just me?
“I’ll let you say youruntil-latersto your family. Whenever you’re ready, hop in and the door will close itself.”
With that, the Timekeeper walked around the carriage. While he did, he produced a round hat from thin air—justgrabbedit as if it had always been hovering there near him,invisible to the rest of us—and put it on while he took his seat in the front again.
The man sitting with him wasn’t a Timekeeper. His hair was a dark brown. Maybe a Heart or a Club?
Hands on my shoulders—Mother and Father spun me around and spoke at the same time.
That’s a Timekeeper!Mother.
Please, be careful! Keep your eyes open, and remember what I taught you, darling.Father.
That’s animportantTimekeeper—I’m twelve-hours certain he’s very important!Mother.
Keep your head about yourself and your eyes sharp. Watch, Ora. Always watch.Father.
He will most likely introduce you to big names, important people—it’s vital that you make a good impression, darling!Mother.
They went on for a good minute, until I raised my hands to their cheeks.
