even sorrow. Instead, he saw a familiar gleam that in younger days would have sent him headlong in the opposite direction.
“You have a soul, Alon. All living creatures have a soul.”
“We don’t.”
They stared in silence, deadlocked. His mother dropped her voice to a soothing coo. “Is this why you left Samantha?”
He nodded.
“Do you love her?”
“What does that matter? I can never be like you and Dad. I can’t cross with her to the Spirit World.”
“You do this thing because you love her?” Bess coaxed.
“Yes!” he snapped, folding his arms across his chest. “Because she deserves her true soul mate.”
His mother used her thumb and index finger to rub her eyes. Then she glanced skyward, as if calling for help from above. At last she turned to her eldest son and took both his hands. He resisted a moment and then allowed her to unfold his arms. She stared up into his eyes.
“Alon, my dearest boy, you have a soul. The Guardian of the Way of Souls told me so long ago.”
He looked away. His mom squeezed his hands. Alon kept his head averted, but now glanced at her from the corner of his eye. He did not like the hope that crept back into his belly, swelling like a sponge in warm water. He couldn’t bear it if he gave in to the hope only to have it crushed out of him once more.
“I spoke to Hihankara. She said that all the children of Nagi bear the markings necessary to gain entrance to the Spirit World. She said she thought only Soul Whisperers were born with such marks. But that all Ghost Children bear them, too. Do you hear me, son? You have a soul and you will one day enter the Spirit World. Hihankara told me so.”
“She could be wrong,” he whispered, longing to give in to the possibility even has he dug his heels in further.
“Alon.” Tears filled her eyes. “I saw Gregory and Gail on the Road.”
He stilled, thinking of the brothers and sisters he had lost. Gregory and Gail had fallen early in the battle.
“I called to them, but they begged to go. I had not the heart to force them back to us. Do you understand? I saw their souls, brilliant silver and shining bright as the face of the full moon. You have a soul, Alon. And you are born with your feet already upon the Red Road. Your love will not hinder Samantha. It glorifies her, it strengthens her and it protects her.”
Alon sank back against the bench. His heart now raced and his ears were ringing as if he flew very fast.
“Is it true?” he whispered. “Can it be?”
“Yes.”
“Then why could Nagi not tear our souls away with the others?”
“I know only that it is not because you do not have one.”
He did not remember standing, but suddenly he found he was on his feet.
“I have to go to her,” he whispered, more to himself than to his mother. “Where is she?”
“Back with her parents in Yellowknife.”
Alon was already airborne.
“Wait! I haven’t finished.” His mother’s words receded as he flew fast. He needed to get to Samantha.
Alon rocketed through the skies, night to day to night once more, not stopping, racing higher and faster than he had ever gone. He rose so high he saw the glittering path that led to the Spirit World, and he saw the shining silver souls walking along the path.
Then he came down, low to the ground, sighting the topography, searching for the Great Slave Lake, which would mark his arrival. He found Yellowknife and recalled Samantha telling him that Nagi found them because she had expelled a ghost from a boy in a place called Dogrib. He started there, finding a Skinwalker, a wolf, whom he recognized by his scent. His name was Nodi, a tribal leader, and he said he had fought with Sebastian in Wyoming. He did not recognize Alon in this form, but seeing him turn to his fighting form convinced him. Nodi provided him with clothing, jeans, boots and a navy blue jacket with a king salmon embroidered on the breast. After he learned Alon was Aldara’s brother, he agreed to lead him to the Prouds’ home.
His arrival was not as private as he would have liked. Nodi, his elder escort, brought him to Sebastian, who looked less than pleased to see Alon. His wife, Michaela, welcomed him to their large, three-story home, though Alon perceived from her breathing and heart rate