Smoke and Mirrors - 37

Aidan began pacing as he answered Daniel’s question. “I can surmise why he hid it, to keep it out of the wrong hands. He was sent to this world to find it when the court discovered that it had fallen into possession of a family of sorcerers who were, to say the least, very ambitious. He managed to work his way into their good graces, claiming he’d been forced out of his own family because of his magical abilities.”

“So he wasn’t really Marie’s brother.”

“He was, by adoption. He convinced them that only by their doing that could he remain safe. From what I know, from what he reported back to the court, his adoptive father turned the wand over to him, intending to join him and Marie here as soon as he felt it was safe to do so. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, he didn’t move quickly enough and lost his head to Madame Guillotine.”

“May I inquire why Kenton didn’t take it back to the court once he got his hands on it?” Mor asked.   

“Probably because, once he thought about it, he decided not to trust the court any more than I do. Neither of us have much love for humans. At the same time, the idea of using the wand on them for its intended purpose doesn’t sit well, and that’s what some members of the court would like to do.”

“Turn all the humans into animals?” Jared looked at Aidan in horror.

“In the minds of some of the court, there would be no better way to cleanse this world. This used to be our world you know, before the humans forced us out.”

“Still that would be bit extreme,” Daniel said dryly.

Aidan shot him a scathing look. “We’re an extreme race when it comes to protecting what is ours.”

“But this world isn’t yours,” Daniel growled.

“It should be. Look at what…”

“Stop, now,” Jared said impatiently. “You two can debate the evils of modern technology some other time. Right now we have to find Kenton and make certain he’s re-hidden the wand safely.”

“You’re going to let him keep it?” Mor glared at him angrily.

“He’s done well enough so far in keeping it protected.”

She snorted indelicately. “I found it, the nahual knew where to find it, I don’t think that constitutes ‘protected’.”

“Which is why we need to locate Kenton,” Aidan said. “I, we, have to find out why the two of you were able to do that.”