Alora: The Wander-Jewel (Alora Series Book 1) by Tamie Dearen Page A

Four
     
     
    “So, that abou t sums it up,” said Alora. “Did I leave anything out, Kaevin?”
    “I haven’t explained about the council and how you’ll be a member once we get you back to Laegenshire.”
    “ If ,” said Charles. “ If she goes back with you. It sounds to me like she’s safer here.”
    “But she must come back,” Kaevin declared. “She must use her gift to help Stone Clan and all the other clans to defend ourselves against Water Clan. And I will be the next Stone Clan leader, after my father. I cannot remain here.”
    “Perhaps you can’t stay here, but Alora can. We’ll just find some way to undo this soulmate thing,” reasoned Charles.
    “But it cannot be undone.” Kaevin’s hand tightened around her fingers.
    “How do you know it can’t be undone?” asked Charles. “You said yourself you only knew of two other couples who were soulmates. You don’t know that much about it. Surely, this bond can be broken somehow. Especially since the two of you are so young.”
    “Excuse me, Mr. Whitford,” said Beth. “I hate to interrupt, but I think Wesley and I need to get home. It’s a school night.” She and Wesley donned their coats and hats.
    “I’m sorry, Beth,” said Charles. “Do I need to drive you home?”
    “I can take her, sir. I got my license this summer.” Wesley gave a polite bob of his head.
    “So... I’m guessing you won’t be at school tomorrow?” Beth asked Alora.
    “Sure she will,” said Charles. “I’ll see to it.”
    “I think Friday is more likely,” said Alora. “But then we have the Christmas holidays. Three weeks off!” She could feel her uncle fuming silently behind her.
    “I was thinking maybe Kaevin might like to go hunting during break,” said Wesley. “Maybe elk or deer?”
    “I’d be glad to go on a hunt,” said Kaevin. “I always take part in hunting for Laegenshire. And Jireo and I are masters at laying snares. We’ll have the smokehouse stocked in a few hands.”
    “Uhmm... okay. Sure,” Wesley said. “Do you need to borrow a gun?”
    Kaevin blinked in confusion. “What’s a gun?”
    “You don’t know what a gun is?” asked Wesley.
    “I have a better question. What’s a hand? I mean, I know what a hand is,” Beth waved her fingers in front of Kaevin’s face. “But not the way you used the word.”
    “A hand is… it’s how long it takes the sun to set if it is a hand’s width from the horizon.” Kaevin stretched out his arm and turned his hand so his fingers stacked sideways.
    “Oh, I’ve heard of that.” Wesley mimicked Kaevin’s pose. “We did this at camp as a way to estimate how much time you have left before sunset. One finger is about fifteen minutes, so all four fingers would be about an hour.” He stacked four more fingers from his other hand. “And two hands would be about two hours. Right, Kaevin?”
    He stared at Wesley, shaking his head. “Uhmm… What’s an hour?”
    Wesley laughed. “You don’t know what an hour is, and you don’t know what a gun is? I don’t suppose you can learn how to shoot a gun by this weekend, can you? I guess hunting isn’t such a good idea.”
    “Wesley, aren’t you a big bow hunter?” asked Beth.
    “Absolutely—I prefer bow hunting.” Wesley grinned, pulling out his phone to scroll though his pictures. “Look at this awesome compound bow I won in an archery contest. It’s super lightweight, all carbon-fiber.”
    “I bet Kaevin can shoot a bow and arrow,” Beth suggested, turning expectant eyes to Kaevin.
    “Of course. I’m gifted with weapons.” Kaevin stretched his mouth in a broad smile, flashing deep dimples. Alora thought he seemed relieved to have something in common with Wesley, although his answer sounded a bit arrogant.
    “Gifted, huh? That sounds like a challenge to me. We’ll see how good you are on Saturday.” Wesley crossed his arms over his chest.
    “Wait,” said Beth. “I forgot the dance is Friday night. Alora, are you