Who Watches Them? (Edward, Jacob)

A gentle knock on the door roused Sir Edward from his studies.

“Come” he offered around his pipe.

Jacob entered the room, shutting the door back behind him. With a practiced, determined stride he closed the distance of the cavernous study and sat in a chair opposite his cohort Sir Edward Hilla Ray.

“So Jacob, what say you?” Edward asked folding his book closed and laying it on a nearby table aside his now recently used pipe.

“I’ve just returned from my reporting on Quint.” He replied reclining a bit into the Elizabethan chair he now occupied.

“How is Quint doing in the ‘city’ no nastiness I hope” Edward smiled fully aware of Quints habits and chosen occupation.

“He seems to have been running around quite a lot. He has a room at the Serendipity…”

“Phae’s place, hmmm.”

“…yes well. He has not been there more then he has been, since he blew into town three weeks ago. Has been contacted twice, accepting one and declining one. A backup took out the rejected target despite Quints refusal.”

“Well it’s good to hear that the man does have a smattering of morals.”

“I’m concerned about his company. He seems to have taken an interest in Casey and has been keeping company with that sailor Eduardo.”

“Is he aware of his gift?”

“No”

“Does he know about Casey or Eduardo?”

“I believe he knows that Casey is a divine being, but isn’t accepting it fully. Angels, after all, are beings of literature not reality. He has known Eduardo for too long to see him for what he truly is.”

“You know as well as I do that the role of a Watcher…”

“…is to observe and not interfere. I have lived by that and will continue.”

“Of all the many types of beings in and around our planet, humans have the greatest ability to set aside all others for the greater good. We have been assigned the task of watching and recording the lives of Immortals because we can mix with them unnoticed but also, I believe, because we have the greatest capacity to observe and not get involved.”

“I know, I was your pupil remember.”

“Do you want another assignment?”

“No Watcher has followed Quint for longer then I have, no one knows him better” Jacob replied defensively.

“I can not argue that, but it has been documented that extended periods of time on one assignment can cause emotional attachment that prevents the Watcher from remaining detached, objective.”

“I have not succumbed to ‘alignment’” Jacob exclaimed jumping to his feet.

“Then bring me facts and not your feelings.” Edward responded placing the pipe between his lips and raising the book back to eye level.

Hesitating momentarily Jacob Sladder exited the room, slightly bent as compared to when he entered.