Silver powerforce's Arc

Chapter 4 of 5

Silver stood at the inner gate at first light and watched the road. The count had run down through the night. Celeste held the choke point behind the gate with a blade drawn. Pearl paced the yard and set the new recruits along the wall. Silver had her white hair braided tight and pinned high so any rider on the road would see her from the ridge. She wanted them to see her before they saw the door. The party came into view at mid-morning. Six riders, slow pace, no banners. Silver could not tell friend from threat at that distance, and the wrong greeting would start a fight her guard could not finish. She sent Pearl to the wall with a bow and Celeste to the gate with orders to hold. Then she called for the two time-keepers she had housed in the side room since the warning came. If anyone could buy her a clean look at the riders, it was them. Goldie and Sierra came into the long room already arguing. Sierra had her hood back and her pocket watch open in her hand. Goldie stood a pace behind her with her arms crossed. "Slow them at the bend," Silver said. "Half a second. Long enough for me to read their faces before they reach the yard." "I can hold five counts," Goldie said. "Sierra pulls the slow. Together it works." Sierra shook her head once. "I do it alone. You lost control last time. I am not standing in another loop." Goldie's mouth tightened. "That was one time." "It was two seconds that felt like an hour," Sierra said. "I said what I said." Silver stepped between them. "I do not have time for this. Pick." Neither sister moved. Sierra snapped her watch shut and walked to the door. "I will do it from the ridge. Alone." Goldie followed her out into the yard. Silver heard the last of it through the open door. Goldie said her sister's name once. Sierra said, "Go home, Goldie. Go back to the time realm and stay there. I am done." Goldie did not answer. A moment later Silver felt the air pull tight, then loosen, the way a held breath lets go. When she looked out, both sisters were gone. The riders were still on the road, still coming, at normal pace. No slow. No window. Silver walked to the whiteboard and picked up the red-capped marker. She wiped the warning she had written two nights ago and drew a fresh line: six riders, no time-magic, greet at the gate. She capped the marker and set it down. She went to the inner gate and stood where Celeste could see her. "We meet them cold," she said. "I speak first. You hold the line. If I raise my left hand, you close the gate." Celeste nodded. Pearl took the wall. Silver stepped past the bait door alone and waited for the riders to reach her.