His mother seemed to be handling the transition better, drawing her regal composure around her to hide the turmoil that Navuh's revelation had caused.
"Nana!" Allegra squealed, running toward her grandmother at full speed, with Syssi rushing behind her.
"Sweetheart!" Annani scooped his daughter into her arms with ease. "Did you miss me?"
Instead of answering, Allegra planted a wet kiss on Annani's cheek and started to wiggle out of her arms. "Come see my fortress." She took Annani's hand as soon as her feet touched the ground.
"I have been summoned," Annani said apologetically.
The moment his mother disappeared into the playroom with Allegra, Syssi's smile slid off her face. "What happened? Your mother looks distraught."
"She is, but I should let her tell the family about Navuh's latest bombshell." He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. "I'm so incredibly grateful for having you in my life. I don't think I would survive if anything happened to you."
Syssi leaned away to look at his face, worry creasing her forehead. "What's brought that on?"
"I was just thinking on the way here how brave and resilient my mother is. I don't know how she managed to keep going after losing Khiann. I would have fallen apart and let the world burn. I wouldn't have cared about anything or anyone."
"That's nonsense." Syssi pulled out of his arms. "You might have been inconsolable for a while, but eventually, the sense of duty would have pushed you back into action. You are not the type to give up, no matter how bad things get." She took his hand. "But let's not talk about upsetting things. It's Friday night, my love, which means family time. We should enjoy it and leave all the problems for later."
"Indeed." He let her lead him to the playroom, where Allegra was showing Annani her fortress, while Evie was trying to add blocks to the structure and toppling whole sections. His mother showed the appropriate admiration for the building skills of her granddaughters, and then she and Syssi followed him back to the living room to join the other adults.
His sisters and their mates were sitting on the various couches and armchairs, with E.T. squeezed between Orion and Alena and chewing on a teething toy.
Kalugal, Jacki, and Darius were at the keep, having dinner with Areana, Lokan, and Carol, which was unfortunate. Kalugal and Lokan could have contributed insight into their father's psyche and perhaps offered advice, but on the other hand, the discussion would be easier without them around.
Their relationship with Navuh was complicated, and even though both detested him, they might get offended upon hearing what Kian and the rest of the family had to say about the monster. Not having to worry about that was liberating.
Okidu entered from the kitchen and bowed to Syssi. "Dinner is ready, mistress. When should I start serving?"
"As soon as we are seated around the table." She turned toward the family and waved. "You heard Okidu. Dinner is ready. Let's get everyone seated."
Regrettably, Andrew and his family usually didn't join them for these family dinners because they were spending Friday evenings with Nathalie's family. Syssi never complained about her brother choosing to spend more time with his wife's family, but Kian knew she was hurt. She'd even invited Eva and Bhathian so they all could be together, but it had been obvious that Nathalie's parents didn't feel comfortable joining the Clan Mother's inner circle.
Orion and Alena also occasionally spent Friday evenings with Toven and the rest of Orion's family. But they still came to most of Syssi's dinners. Andrew could have done the same.
The conversation around the table was a little stilted as everyone waited for Annani to tell them what had happened at the keep earlier, but she was in no rush.
When they were done with their meal, she made her announcement. "Navuh made me an offer." She paused and the room went silent, including the children.
"He claims that Khiann is not dead but in stasis and that he knows where he is buried."
Syssi drew in a breath. "Your suspicions were correct."
"Perhaps." Annani took a sip of wine, projecting calm and composure even though she most likely felt anything but. "Or perhaps Navuh is simply using my own theories against me, having heard them from Areana. She is adamant that she has not told him about my suspicions, but I do not know if I believe her. Areana is in a difficult position, having to choose between me and Navuh, but I know that in the end, she will always choose him. For better or worse, he is her truelove mate."
Every adult in the room knew about Annani's theory that the witnesses who had testified to Khiann's death might have been compelled to lie, used by Ahn to incriminate Mortdh and get him entombed, and that Khiann had not met his end by Mortdh's sword but had been swallowed by the same earthquake that had claimed Gulan, and just like her, he had been in stasis all along.
"I shared these thoughts with Areana and never explicitly told her to keep them from Navuh, because there was no need. She had to keep our communication secret. But now Navuh knows, so there is no reason for her to keep anything from him."
Orion nodded. "So, he might be using this information to extort concessions from you."
"Or he's telling the truth," Alena said. "It makes sense that if Khiann is not dead and Navuh knows about it, he also knows where to find him."
Kian frowned. "What makes you think that?"
Alena shrugged. "I'm not saying that he knows, but if anyone does, it would be Navuh. Mortdh might have told him."
"How would Mortdh know?" Amanda asked. "If he didn't kill Khiann, how would he know the location of the earth fissure that swallowed Khiann?"
