Chapter 27: Chapter Twenty Seven: Keeper Of Many Paths

It took her some time to calm, but when she did Aiden filled her in on what he had been up to.

"I found Reacher," he said after she cursed Tremaine for trying to poison him.

"Reacher?"

"The Guardian," he said. "The one Tremaine wanted the Key for. Ashala, he can make more!"

Her eyes got back some of their old resolve. "We have to take him with us."

"I know," he said. "But first, I have to get the Key."

"Tremaine has her," she said.

"I know where she is. I saw her. And my backpack."

"It's too dangerous," she said. "He'll capture you and then me and he'll! he'll!" she choked up again.

"What, Ash?"

"This is wrong, Aiden," she said. "No Keeper is meant to carry more than one set of the Paths." She stared down at her toes. "I may not be complete in my Earth Paths, but I've begun them." Ashala forced a breath, whole body straining as if she struggled with the very air. "This is terrible." She hung her head, hands lifting to cover her face.