“Sure thing.” Sophia smiles brightly at me. “Let’s go!”
“Where are we going?” Stella asks.
Sophia’s smile dims, and she frowns at Stella. “You’re coming?”
“The Royal Researcher accompanies me everywhere,” I say. It’s as good an excuse as any to keep her near. Clever Stella. I think I’ll make it her official title. Then I won’t get trouble from elves or humans about keeping her close.
Sophia sighs and looks disappointed, though I can’t imagine why. Everyone likes Stella, or they should.
The Watcher observes Stella closely, but what she’s thinking, I can’t tell. “Very well,” she turns away. “I shall be in the Meditation Hall if anyone needs me.” She pauses and pulls something out of her skirt pocket, something wrapped in linen and twine. She gives it to Sophia. “Happy birthday, daughter.”
Sophia takes it. “Thanks, Mom.” She stuffs it into her backpack without unwrapping it.
The young women and I leave the room. A man walks down a side hall, glancing at me with curiosity before he continues on whatever errand he’s about. I don’t fail to see the sword strapped to his side, and the bow slung over his shoulder.
“I’ll take you back to where we met,” Sophia says. “That’s my favorite place to talk to Eema. Unless you need to go somewhere else.”
“That should be fine,” I say. “I would like to observe you and see what I notice.”
“Of course.” Sophia beams at me again.
Stella grunts, and I glance at her. She’s looking straight ahead, a slight wrinkle marring her brow.
Stars.
Something has her upset, but I can’t begin to guess what that would be.
24
Stella
Eldaren and I follow Sophia outside.
“So it’s your birthday, huh?” I say. “We’re about a year apart, then. That’s cool. Happy birthday.” I guess.
“Thanks,” Sophia says, in a tone that says she doesn’t mean it.
“Elves don’t celebrate birthdays,” Eldaren says. “Well, my mother tries to celebrate mine, but generally, we don’t. It feels pretentious.”
“I agree,” Sophia says quickly. “Waste of time when there are much more important things to do, you know.”
I roll my eyes since I know she can’t see me. She sounds like she’s trying to butter up to the prince. But no, she can’t be, can she? She doesn’t even know him.
Eldaren sounds doubtful. “You’d be the first human I’ve met who doesn’t put much stock in birthdays,” he says uncertainly. He looks at me. “You haven’t had a birthday yet, Stella, have you? You’re still eighteen.”
I can’t resist teasing him. “I turned nineteen last week. You didn’t even ask.”
Eldaren’s eyes bulge, and he gasps audibly. “I missed it?”
“I’m just kidding.” I pat his arm. “It’s next month.”
He exhales heavily. “I wish you wouldn’t do that,” he says.
Sophia slows her steps to walk beside us.
“You don’t like jokes?” Sophia asks.
“Not usually, no,” Eldaren says. “I wish people would just say what they mean.”
Sophia nods. “I’ll try to keep that in mind.”
“Thank you,” Eldaren says, the relief evident in his voice. “It’s nice to know a human who respects my culture.”
“Hey,” I frown at him. “I respect cultures.”
Eldaren frowns at me. “I can think of several ways that you have not.”
“We respect all cultures, here on the Island,” Sophia says. “We respect the fact that not everyone has the same upbringing or beliefs.”
Eldaren’s expression doesn’t change, but he practically radiates approval. “That is good to hear,” he says. “I am glad the elves can consider the humans here potential allies.”
Sophia quickens her steps when we reach the edge of the forest. I look around, seeing a few people here and there, some entering or leaving the forest, while others work in what I assume are communal gardens. Strange. It was so quiet and peaceful, a stark contrast to the city chaos I grew up in, and I say as much to my companions.
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Sophia says, her nose wrinkling in distaste. “The people of Liberty have lived without proper authority for too long. You chose anarchy during the War, and you all suffered for it.”
“That is true,” Eldaren says. “I wish the people of Liberty carried even an ounce of sense that the Shore Watch do. It would make my job far easier.”
I feel a flicker of irritation, and I narrow my eyes at the girl’s back. Are we already sizing ourselves up against each other? For what? Eldaren?
That’s ridiculous. Eldaren’s crazy about me.
But I never told him we were officially a thing. There’s nothing stopping him from going for someone else that might catch his eye.
Well, except the Kenelky.
I chew my lower lip, a new thought coming to me.
Does the Kenelky lessen with time?
I’m not sure. Eldaren didn’t seem to think it did . . .
“It’s incredibly fortunate I found you so quickly.” Eldaren’s matched his stride with Sophia’s, and I realize I’m lagging further behind the two of them. “I hope we’re not too late to save Eema.”
“I don’t think so,” Sophia says. “I mean, I think between the two of us, we can figure something out to help her.”
“I hope so,” Eldaren replies amiably.
The two of them, huh?
I can’t blame Eldaren for being excited. Just a while ago, he was despairing of ever finding a gaia. Now he’d found her.
I just wish she was a little more . . . I dunno. Nice? Chill? Not clearly crushing on Eldaren?
I mentally shrug. It’s okay. If Eldaren really cares for me, it’ll come through.
And if not, I mean, that’s okay, too.
I think.
“Here we are.” Sophia enters a glade, a little off the main trail we’d been walking on.
She turns to face Eldaren. “Now what?”
“Now, you talk to the Earth and get specific information on how best we can help her.” Eldaren stalks around the glade, looking in every direction.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Making sure the area is safe,” Eldaren replies. “There’s something out there, but I haven’t detected it since this morning.”
He returns to us and motions to Sophia. “Try talking to Eema.”
Sophia blinks. “Uh, sure.” She walks a short distance away from us and settles on
