“Ellie Storm?” she murmured.
Darius smirked. “Who’d have guessed?”
“Nice to see you too, Darius. How’s Samantha?” Ellie earned a grin from Darius at mention of his affai.
“She’s fine, I’m sure,” Arim interrupted in measured tones. “Now unleash this ancient trunk before I’m forced to kill some of Tanselm’s living forest.”
I unclenched my will, and the roots released Arim, streaking back into the ground. The grasses covered what holes had formed, making it appear as if nothing had happened.
Marcus whistled. “Nice work. It seems we aren’t the only ones with increased power.” He gave Ellie a subtle onceover. “It appears your affai is indeed much more than just a pretty face.”
Darius grunted. “Yeah, she’s a knockout, and she’s Djinn. First Aerolus with Alandra, now Cadmus with Ellie. Too bad we don’t have another brother. Then we might welcome a Dark Lord into the family.”
I saw the humor in the situation. Even Ellie smiled.
Arim watched the group silently, his gaze disapproving.
Marcus broke the sudden tension. “Okay then. Time to see Mother. She’s been out of her mind with worry since the last Netharat attack.”
“When was that?”
Ellie and I joined the others, and our group entered the entrance into the kingdom. The door closed behind us, magically protected and sealed with an invisibility spell. A dark passageway opened before us, one that tunneled under the kingdom, branching into several strategic exits as well as leading directly into the main keep. Darius held a small ball of flame to lead the way. Ellie walked by my side, and Arim and Marcus brought up the rear.
Darius spoke. “The Netharat hit again just a few days ago. A weak attempt to divert our attention from the west. They struck at your territory, Cadmus.”
“The north,” I clarified for Ellie.
“Of course, that attack was nothing on the one we struck when Aerolus nearly bit it.”
I gaped. “What?”
Darius filled me in as we walked through the narrow stone passage that would take us right into the heart of the castle.
I squeezed Ellie’s hand, pleased when she squeezed back. As happy as I felt to finally be home, I worried about Ellie’s impression of Tanselm. Seattle had been her world for her entire life. In just a short span of time, she’d been hit hard with the Djinn culture, then was jerked out of it only to be shoved into Light Bringer central. Hell, I’d had a hard enough time adjusting to Foreia, and I was used to magic. I could only hope Ellie had an easier time here.
Are you doing okay? I asked her.
I’m fine. Tanselm seems very welcoming. Being down here in the cool dark feels really, really good. It’s like a big cocoon of magic.
Too warm for you outside?
I could feel her shrug. I’ll adapt. I always do.
“You know, you could have just teleported us into the castle instead of making us walk the long way,” Marcus complained to Arim.
“But where would the fun, brotherly camaraderie be?” Arim said with fake cheer. “So Ellie, what do you think of Tanselm so far?”
“It’s ripe with magic.”
“That it is.”
“It’s a lot like Foreia, actually.” She sounded surprised, and I watched the academic within her come to life. “That feeling of power brims in the soil beneath your feet. You probably don’t notice it so much since you’re used to it. But trust me, it’s very different from Seattle.”
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Arim’s speculative gaze. I wished I knew what my uncle had really done to my affai, but I knew I’d get no answers from him. Maybe Aerolus could look at Ellie later and shed some light.
A subtle probe brushed my mind, and I immediately withdrew into myself, using the techniques Lexa had taught me to shield myself.
Odd that I would automatically turn to the teachings of a Dark Lord in my homeworld. Odder still I didn’t instinctively turn to Arim for help. Concern for my affai overwhelmed me, the sudden thought that I had brought her into danger untenable.
