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and run several miles. We kept
our conversation neutral and talked mostly about the islands, the Retreat, and
his family. Actually, I learned more about his brother who was attending
college in Maine. When we found our way to the big outdoor mats, I sat and
watched as he demonstrated some of his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu moves. After some
arm twisting, he persuaded me to come out to the mats and learn a few
self-defense techniques. He said it was more important than ever that I learn
how to defend myself against an attack.
    Ally
and I had taken a few years of gymnastics, so I surprised him, and myself, when
I demonstrated some fast flying front flips. Back flips? Well, that wasn’t
happening any more. When I fell flat on my face, we found ourselves lying next
to each other on the mats, laughing uncontrollably.
    “Hey,”
I cried out and pointed upwards. “A bald eagle.”
    “No
matter how many times I see one, they never cease to amaze me,” he said.
    “Their
wingspan in incredible.”
    “Six
to eight feet,” he replied. “They soar over the islands with grace and an
authority. There’s an abundance of food, and the tall trees offer a safe place
to nest and roost. Bald Eagles in the San Juan Islands have one of the highest
breeding densities in the lower 48.”
    Lying
on my back, I turned my head sideways and said, “Looks like I’m not the only
one who reads. Is it true they mate for life?”
    He
tilted his face sideways, his eyes piercing mine. “From what I’ve read, they
remain faithful to their mate until death.”
    I
studied his face. “Don’t suppose you wanna tell me how you got that scar on
your eyebrow,” I prodded.
    Gazing
upwards, he considered my request. The tree tops lining the surrounding blue
sky quivered in the breeze, and the scent of fresh evergreens cleansed my
senses. Just when I was sure he wasn’t going to answer, he did.
    “Really,
it’s Max’s story not mine.” His jaw locked. “But it’s not something he or anyone
else ever talks about.” I waited patiently until he began again. “About four
years ago we found a Seer up at Western. Max was supposed to link with her, but
he didn’t want to. He wanted to re-link with Maggie, who was his girlfriend at
the time. You probably won’t meet her, because she belongs to a different
Circle down in Florida now. Anyways, Max was pretty upset. He was a lot younger
and very hot-headed; it didn’t help that he thought he was in love with
Maggie.”
    “I
didn’t know you were told who to link with,” I said with surprise. “Who
decides?”
    He
looked at me and raised his eyebrows, as If I should know the answer to that.
“Oh,” I said quietly, “your dad.”
    “You
got it,” he said trying to sound indifferent. He rolled his head from side to
side, like he was trying to undo kinks. “The Senior Guardian makes a lot of
difficult decisions.”
    Spontaneously,
I reached over and rested my hand on his arm, more for moral support I guess.
He didn’t look at me cross-eyed or jerk away, so I relaxed and left it there.
    “To be
fair, for the most part we do choose who we link with, but occasionally the
Senior Guardian will override our decisions, especially when a new Seer is
found and that Seer needs a strong partner for their first link. Anyways, this
time my dad told Max he had to link with the new Seer; her name was Shannon.
Max flat out refused and said he was going to re-link with Maggie.”
    “Yikes,”
I said.
    “Yeah
well, things went from bad to worse real fast. Before my dad could talk some
sense into Max, he’d already re-linked with Maggie, who was supposed to be on
her way down to join the Florida Circle.” He gave me a knowing look.
    “A
Senior Council decision?”
    He
nodded. “But not everyone submits to their decisions – Max and Maggie being a
perfect example. Only now, time was running short and a replacement Guardian
needed to be found for Shannon. So, my sister Hannah had to get on the Network
and find