“Nope. None of that. Just hug the druid and whatever happens, Nel, DON’T LET GO. I have never tried this before, so I don’t know if it will work—but as our Elys used to say -”
“There’s only one way to find out.” Nelenie smiled sadly and took hold of Gin’s forearms as Gin did the same just above Nelenie’s elbows.
“Here we go.”
“Not accustomed to that kind of travel, are you, Rajah?” Kaerinth chuckled as Sath struggled to get to his feet. His head was a little swimmy, and he was almost tempted to close his hand, just to prove to himself that Gin was really not there with him. “Oh, no, I left your little druid and her friend in the woods, Rajah. I wanted you and I to have a chance to talk before she figures out how to follow you here.”
Sath looked up into the face of the oldest, most powerful creature in all of Orana and found his knees a bit weak, just as they were when he first hopped through the portal from the Void and landed on “her” beach. She was intimidating at the best of times. He swallowed hard and tried to conjure up his best and most haughty Rajah persona. “You have saved me time, my Lady. Had I wanted Gin and the warrior to be privy to our conversation, I would have included them in the bond.”
“That paladin doesn’t even know how to be included in a bond. I’m not stupid, Rajah.”
“Of course you aren’t, my Lady.” Sath swallowed hard. Time to change tactics. “I just needed to let you know about what has happened with your granddaughter while the Nature Walker was not listening—it involves a wizard that was so powerful in life that he was able to control her.”
“Oh, this again? I know all about Taeben,” Kaerinth snorted. “He led my Taanyth to his demise, as sure as if he had the magic that killed him.”
“He is the one that has control over your granddaughter, Mother Dragon.”
“Impossible. Daelyth would have annihilated him. He has no corporeal form.” She paced back and forth, studying Sath. “He is working with someone. The Ikedrian. I should have known -”
“Pardon me, but he has taken control of your granddaughter’s mind. I don’t know how he did it—but when she returned to her father, Lord Omerith, she was not herself. My Lady, if we leave him squatting inside her for too long, we will never be able to get her back.” Sath held his breath as the Mother Dragon considered his words.
“Why do you say we, as though you would help me? What is it to you if my Daelyth lives or dies?”
“Selfishly, my Lady, I know that losing his daughter will drive Lord Omerith mad, and as the founder of the Guardians—well, your son could be the only thing standing between peace and chaos on my side of our world. But on a more personal note, I know what it is to think your child is in danger. I know how it feels to almost lose your child, and I cannot put him—or you—through that.”
“Yes, this same wizard and my misguided Taanyth took your son from you, didn’t they?” Sath looked up at her with surprise. “Oh, don’t look so astonished, Rajah. I may have slept for two centuries, but my mind was not dormant that entire time.” She paced back and forth again, never taking her eyes away from his. Sath found the amber gaze unnerving at best. “So why did this wizard target Daelyth? I have to assume this again has something to do with the Nature Walker—it seems that the wizard dedicated his life to utterly destroying hers.”
“Not this time, my Lady.” Sath rubbed the back of his neck—the fur there was standing on end, and his neck and head were tingling. Nerves? “This time, we believe his motives to be selfish. He wants Daelyth because she was the last one to see the orb that contains the magic of Ikara—and he needs the orb to resurrect himself and leave the Void.” Sath wasn’t sure if he was supposed to tell her everything that was now pouring out of his mouth, but at least she was listening. If only that tingle on the back of his neck would stop distracting him!
“Found him. Hang on, Nel.” Gin focused on her bond with Sath and could visualize in her mind the connection to him. It appeared as a golden cord, and once she was sure that she had a good grip on Nelenie, she visualized grabbing the cord and pulling it to her—which in turn pulled the two of them through the bond to Sath. They fell into him as they appeared, almost knocking him into the Mother Dragon.
“Ah, seems our private time is over, Rajah.” Kaerinth looked down her scaled nose at Gin. “Hello, Nature Walker. We meet again.” Gin bowed low before the massive creature and Nelenie followed suit. “I see you brought your playmate with you—Nelenie, is it?”
“Aye, my lady Kaerinth, I am Nelenie Ergwyn, First Caeth of Alynatalos and Guardian of the High Elves of the Great Forest. I am at your service, sent by the All-Mother, Sephine.”
“Gracious. Do all of you in the Great Forest talk that much? I thought it was just the Nature Walkers.” Kaerinth ambled closer to Nelenie, who stood her ground. Gin didn’t notice the slightest tremor in her friend’s entire body. What it must be like to have that sort of courage in the face of a creature that
