Thirty-Seven
A Date with a Dragon
As Gin and Nelenie caught up and plotted strategy, Sath was deep inside his mind and still searching for the Mother Dragon. While he felt bad about lying to Gin and locking her out of his mind, he knew that he had to be alone when he made contact with Kaerinth. He was not really all that upset that, so far, she had not answered him—he could still hear Gin and Nelenie’s conversation, and he could only surmise that their plan was going to be uphill both ways with a side helping of awful. He finally gave up on calling for her and ended up trying to find her so that he could at least see where she was and what she was doing. But nothing worked. She was clearly blocking him, most likely after his accidental contact with her previously.
Sath absentmindedly reached out for Gin’s hand at the same time that she scooted closer and took it. With that contact, Sath felt Gin’s power surging into him, and he turned his attention back to the Mother Dragon, but not without a grin on his face. This time felt as though he was pushing through the water in a river. “I’ve found her, but she isn’t responding to -”
You again.
Greetings, Mother Dragon.
What do you want, Rajah?
I wanted to apologize for my intrusion before. I bring you urgent news concerning your son and granddaughter.
There was a shift in the air that Sath was confident that Gin and Nelenie could feel. What do you mean, Rajah? What news?
Mother Dragon, your granddaughter is under the control of a very powerful wizard.
Taeben? No. He is in the Void. He has nothing to do with Daelyth.
Are you certain?
Ah, Rajah, as is the way with your kind, you and I are not on the same page. Goodbye.
Wait, Mother, please?
Now you call me, Mother! Sath could almost feel her snort—he involuntarily reached up to make sure that the fur on the back of his neck was not alight. Very well. I will hear you, but speaking to you through the bond this way is tiresome. I prefer to look you in the eye when you talk to me. You will come here now.
Gin spun around, leaping to her feet as Sath’s hand disappeared from hers. He was gone—there was no flash of light, no circle of fire, no warning at all. “SATH!” Gin turned in every direction, trying to sense him, but he was nowhere to be found.
“What happened?” Nelenie was watching Gin, wide-eyed. “Where is the Rajah?”
“Kaerinth must have taken him through the bond. He doesn’t know how to use that kind of magic without help.” Gin was raging as she looked around up into the night sky. “SEND HIM BACK!” She shook her fists at the unyielding stars.
“Gin, I don’t understand what the Mother Dragon has done -”
“Of course not, Mother didn’t think you needed to understand the bond.” Gin exhaled sharply. “I can’t even follow him because I can’t guarantee that you will come along with me.”
Nelenie hung her head for a moment, but then looked up at Gin—she understood what Gin was really saying, and it clearly did not sit well. “I don’t know what you’re talking about exactly, but—you’re saying I’m a liability?”
“Well, you aren’t HELPING, are you?” As soon as the words came out of Gin’s mouth, she felt Taeben laughing in the very back of her mind. “Ikara’s TEETH.” She covered her face with her hands for a moment and then lowered them to find Nelenie glaring at her. “Nel. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”
‘Yes, you did—and you’re right. I just need you to tell me how to help, and I will.” She put a hand on Gin’s shoulder. “I didn’t mean to snap at you either.”
“It was him, Nel. It was Ben, I heard him laughing just now.”
“Ben took Sath?”
Gin sighed. It wasn’t Nelenie’s fault that she didn’t know what Gin meant. “No—it wasn’t him exactly, but I made him laugh by how frustrated I became with you. That can’t happen again—it means he can hear us somehow. It means he is back in my mind again.” Gin looked up into her friend’s eyes. “Swear to me that it was Sephine that sent you and not Ben.”
“What?”
“Swear it. In fact, Mother, I know you’re listening, and I need you to show yourself. I cannot take anyone’s word for anything anymore!” Gin held her arms out wide and moved around in a circle, again addressing the stars above them. “I cannot continue until I know why Nel is here, and that you actually are the one that sent her.”
“Gin, I told you, it was Sephine and the Ikedrian, Ayna that sent me, just as she told you she would in the bond.”
“You didn’t say that before. You said it was the All-Mother.”
“You are nitpicking.”
“YOU have not proven to me that you are my Nel!” Gin’s arms folded across her chest, but electric magic sparked between her fingers. Sath’s disappearance was unraveling Gin’s grip on her temper.
Nelenie’s eyes narrowed as she focused on Gin. “Prove it, huh? Fine. I never wanted to play tag with you because you cheat!” Gin was taken aback by Nelenie’s outburst. “That day in the forest, the day that you were a tree, and then you weren’t—that was the last time I remember us being young and innocent. You were my best friend! You said that I would leave you, but it was you that -” The mighty high elf warrior’s voice shook slightly, and she fell silent, her lips forming a thin line.
Gin wiped a tear from her cheek. “Nel, I’m sorry I doubted you.”
“It is fine—I
