‘Is she dead?’ said Shella.
‘We don’t know. The last we saw of her, she was hit by two steel ballista bolts.’
Karalyn opened her eyes.
‘Well?’ said Corthie. ‘Can we rescue her?’
Karalyn shook her head. ‘Lostwell is no more. I cannot see it or reach it; all that’s in its place is a void. Belinda’s gone.’ She lowered her gaze. ‘I’m sorry.’
They stood in silence for a moment, then Corthie sat and put his head in his hands. Aila stood by his shoulder, a hand on the back of his neck.
‘I do have some good news,’ Karalyn said. ‘I can use the Sextant; it responds to me the same way that Quadrants used to. I saw the other worlds it has created, and I saw Kelsey and Sable; one in the City, and the other on Dragon Eyre. They’re both in one piece. I can also see the potential this device brings us. We could use it to travel between the worlds, if we wished, or, we could even create a new world. I need time, a lot of time, to study it. Shella, I intend to keep it here.’
‘Eh, it seems a bit dangerous.’
Karalyn withdrew the Weathervane. ‘It’s useless without this. We’ll keep them separate unless I’m using it.’
The door to the chamber opened and two young children ran in, a boy and a girl. Karalyn laid the sword down on top of the Sextant and crouched next to them.
‘Kyra, Cael; this is Corthie, your uncle.’
The boy frowned at him, while the girl looked shy.
‘Hello,’ said Corthie. He wiped his eyes, stood, then got down to one knee. ‘I’ve been away, but I’m back now. What have you been doing?’
‘Playing in the gardens,’ said the boy. ‘Do you want to play?’
‘Aye,’ he said. ‘That sounds like fun.’
‘Later,’ said their mother; ‘we’re going to visit grandma today, as a surprise.’
The girl’s face flushed. ‘Will… will Aunty Thorn be there?’
‘I expect so, Kyra.’
The faces of both children lit up. Karalyn smiled, but Corthie could see the pain that their response had caused her.
‘I’m staying here,’ said Shella. ‘As much as I’d love to see old Daffer’s face when she realises her boy is back, I think I’ll leave this one to the Holdfasts.’
Karalyn picked up the Weathervane. ‘Stand by me, children,’ she said.
‘Where are we going?’ said Aila.
‘The Hold Fast estate,’ said Karalyn.
The air wavered round them and they appeared on a wooden porch. It was freshly-painted in white, with chairs and tables laid out under the sloping roof. To one side stretched the flat grasslands of the Holdings, illuminated by the morning sunshine, and Corthie gasped. Home. He stared at the view for a moment, then turned towards the rear of the large mansion. White arches and colonnades were stacked up, and the grand building stretched out before them. Close by were other structures – stables, barns, and down a little slope was a row of cottages for the estate workers.
‘You lived here?’ said Aila. ‘It wouldn’t look out of place on Princeps Row in Tara.’
Corthie said nothing, his eyes taking everything in.
‘Give me a moment,’ said Karalyn. ‘Take a seat.’
Aila and Corthie sat down on a couch facing the view of the plains, and a few moments later, a young woman walked out onto the porch.
‘You called?’ she said. ‘Oh, you’ve brought the twins.’
The young woman crouched down, and the two children ran into her arms.
She laughed. ‘Yes, it’s lovely to see you too.’ She glanced up at Karalyn. ‘As much as I adore seeing them, I wish you had called ahead to let me know. It’s only been four days since your last visit, and you said you would leave at least ten days before bringing them back here. I…’
‘Sorry, Thorn. You’re right; I should have let you know, but, well, guess who’s back?’ She glanced over to the couch.
Thorn turned, and her eyes widened. ‘Is that…? Corthie?’
He stood, and her eyes glanced up at his height.
‘He’s just arrived back,’ said Karalyn.
‘And Kelsey? Sable?’
Karalyn shook her head. ‘They’re both fine, but they went their own way.’
Thorn stood, holding a child’s hand in each of hers.
‘This is Thorn,’ said Corthie, ‘my sister-in-law.’
‘Hello,’ said Aila, getting up.
Thorn glanced at Aila for a second, then her eyes went back to Corthie.
‘She’s a soulwitch,’ said Karalyn.
‘What’s that?’ said Aila.
‘It means she has the same powers as Amalia,’ said Corthie, ‘except, of course, she’s mortal like the rest of us. It’s good to see you, Thorn.’
‘And you. You’ve… grown.’
‘Would you mind looking after the twins for a little while?’ said Karalyn. ‘I want to take him to see mother.’
‘Of course. Will you be staying?’
‘I might head back to Colsbury later, but Corthie and Aila will be staying; mother will insist.’
‘Then there will probably be a party tonight. Keir’s here.’
‘And how is my brother?’ said Corthie.
‘Doing well,’ said Thorn. ‘Celine’s been showing him how to run the estate, so that he can take it over one day.’
Karalyn gestured to Corthie and Aila. ‘We’ll see you soon, Thorn.’ She crouched down by the twins. ‘Aunty Thorn will look after you this morning; alright?’
Cael smiled, while the little girl had already buried her face in the folds of Thorn’s dress.
Karalyn led Aila and Corthie into the mansion through the rear door.
‘She was looking after your children,’ said Aila, ‘while you were… away?’
‘Aye,’ said Karalyn, her eyes reflecting the pain she felt, ‘but what I thought was going to be a few thirds turned out to be four years. Sometimes, I wish I could cut off all contact with her, but the twins love her, and it wouldn’t be fair on them. It hasn’t been easy, but we’re getting there, slowly.’
‘The twins are beautiful,’ said Corthie.
Karalyn nodded.
‘What powers does your mother have?’ said Aila, as they walked along the marble floor of the hallway.
‘Vision,’ said Corthie; ‘the whole range.’
‘Will she be able to read my thoughts?’
Karalyn eyed her, and they came to a halt in the passageway. ‘Good point; we can’t be having
