“I’ll take an earth blessed with me,” Liz says.“I need a blessed with me to identify which humans are able to be bonded, anyway.The first bright we find who’s willing, we’ll bond to that earth blessed—if it’s possible—and have them try to eat.”
I’ll go with you.Phileas isn’t the blessed I expect to squeeze his way through the gathering, straightening and shaking the frill that frames his reddish-brown head once he finds the space.
As will I,Agrippa says.She slides right past the gathered blessed, easily twisting through the open gaps, her bright green coils gathering next to Phileas.I believe she will find humans who are willing, if she says she can.
I’m especially surprised the two of them came forward, because they never get along.
I’m sure plenty of earth blessed would volunteer to go, if it makes it more likely they’ll ensnare a human,Hyperion says.
As if he was giving them permission, they all start to clamor for the chance.
But she can’t go without me,I say, turning toward Liz.Unless you’re traveling somewhere on this island.You need a portal.
“You can open one and then return to gather us later,” Liz says.“I would never impose on you to come.”Standing on the top of the platform, entirely surrounded by the blessed, she doesn’t even look frightened.
She must be.
But she doesn’t look it.
She looks like a warrior.For the first time, I actually think a pitiful, tiny human looks...regal.Not in most ways of course, with her soft, vulnerable body, but with her hair blowing in the icy wind, and with her defiant expression, I can almost understand what I might have admired about her before.
You should bond Liz again, Agrippa says.She might have gotten you killed, but I think she’s learned, and I liked you better when you were entwined.
Entwined?I glance at Hyperion for confirmation.No one told me we were entwined.
My brother nods, but doesn’t elaborate.
We have a lot of work to do,I say,and Liz has some kind of connection to the volcano where we believe the heart is hidden.No one will harm her, but we won’t bond her either—the pain when that bond is broken would be too great.
Although, apparentlyIwas entwined with her, and I feel no pain at all.Perhaps the impact of such a thing has been exaggerated.
Where will you go to search?Hyperion asks.
Liz turns toward Gordon and Rufus.“I’d like them to take my siblings somewhere safe and keep watch over them while I’m gone.”
Of course,Gordon says.
Asteria, who has kept quiet for quite a while, and whose wedding day was just destroyed, says,I’ll keep watch over them, too.
Liz bows her head.“I would very much appreciate that.Thank you.And I’m sorry that today’s celebration was interrupted.”
Asteria’s eyes narrow, but she doesn’t say anything else.
Where are we going?I ask again.
Liz may need to sleep first,Asteria says.Humans need time to recuperate each day—down time.They usually do this at night, when it’s dark.Since it’s dark here most of the time, I can’t keep track of their rest cycles as easily.
“I’m fine,” Liz says.“I think we should go now—we have no time to waste.”
To where?
“To a small town in Utah called Pleasant Grove.”Liz smiles.“I made a friend a few years ago, and he owns a shop there.I think he’ll be able to help us find people who will help.”
You really think you can find humans who will be willing to have a blessed bond them?The blessed has all the power in the bond.We can force the humans to do anything we want.
“I think the deciding factor will be whether we offer them a choice.”Liz appears to be serious.
You think they’ll choose to allow us to bond them...because we’re allowing them to choose?How is that different than forcing them?I ask.
