From Quincy, the lawyer, they learned that Heather’s parents had filed a wrongful death civil suit against Anna, who just wanted to settle and get it over with. Both Jade and Raven were discussing legal action or their parents were. Ryan and Eriana both pledged to take care of it, financially, so Quincy would represent the matter and make it “go away” as she said. They could handle the other suits for various kinds of other damages the same way. The accidents had involved other cars.
Anna wasn’t sure how to feel about all of it, from guilt over what happened to guilt that others were dealing with her problems. And part of her just didn’t care, having too many problems as it was. She didn’t want to think about it, didn’t want to try talking to Heather’s parents or anyone else, but she felt she owed it to them and that not doing anything was cowardice. But until they fixed this Home Ring situation, it would have to wait. And if the victims did not understand this, and they likely wouldn’t given her inability to tell the truth, there wasn’t much she could do about it. More powerlessness made her sigh in frustration and turn her mind to things she could resolve.
Jack and Quincy had moved forward with trying to find a rural estate to set up as a new home base. Jack had visited several for extensive tours with a video camera rolling, knowing they couldn’t visit in person without unnecessary risks. One stood out and, while not perfect, would work. The group made a quick decision to gain it, Eriana footing the three-million-dollar cost and admitting she had to figure out what to tell Paul, but assuring them he would do what she wanted. Anna couldn’t help wondering about that relationship and what the excuse would be, but Eriana believed it was best to start telling her husband some version of the truth.
Eriana had been collecting supposed magical items throughout their marriage, Paul well aware of the collection that they showed off in their house to wealthy friends. With the reports of magic and healing working around the world growing, he would believe that some items were real after all. With the friends back on Earth now, Eriana was booking a flight home to have this talk with Paul and, just as importantly, bring every last one of those items back here for potential use. She would tell Paul that Ryan and the others had some items of their own and needed her help to deal with them, and that the items were causing them trouble she wanted to help them with. She also intended to bring her private investigator for physical and digital security at the new estate. Anna felt beyond grateful for all of it. Maybe soon they would have less to fear while on Earth.
Daniel revealed that he had purchased tons of additional equipment for them—period appropriate clothes, crossbows, long and short bows, bolts and arrows, swords and daggers of every kind, suits of armor, shields, lances and more, and a small library of books about medieval life and culture, how kingdoms worked in various parts of Earth, and a copy of every supposed book about magic, including ones with spells. Some were about witchcraft, others about necromancy, and pretty much every variation on the subject. He had also ordered a ton of ingredients that were listed as needed for magic, whether or not any of it was true. They would soon have a lab set up.
On a more mundane level, Daniel was now going to shop for furniture for the estate with Jack. And it was time to buy horses, with Ryan placing an order for the related gear like tack. Eriana knew more about it than anyone but Ryan, who couldn’t go, so she would take care of it once she returned, including hiring a barn manager. Ryan already owned the horse he used at RenFest but wanted a few extras, all transported to the new estate once set up. But this was going to take a while. Anna felt relieved to know that everything would progress even in their absence, and the others shared their appreciation aloud. They needed friends like never before.
Despite the return spell refreshing them physically, Anna felt exhausted by the night’s end. She needed a mental respite but decided not to join the boys for a streaming movie to get their minds off everything. Eriana left to make preparations, promising to return in the morning and leaving the amulet with Anna, who sat on Jack’s bed, where she would spend the night, the guys settling for the floor or couch in the living room. She felt bad about that and wondered which of the three other champions, if not all of them, she should get used to sharing a bed with. She trusted them, so it wasn’t like one of them would behave inappropriately sleeping beside her, but she just had too many other things on her mind. And she felt violated, like she had no control or privacy, so she didn’t want to give up one minor element of it sooner than she needed to. She knew the guys understood and didn’t begrudge the uncomfortable night they would spend, but she felt guilty and was tired of that feeling.
As Anna lay trying to sleep, she had the Corethian Amulet beside her, one hand on it. Closing her eyes, she focused her will and tried to remember the feeling coursing
