Annani released a breath, and Alena tightened her hold on her hand. "Soon, Mother. You will have him back soon."
She nodded because she was too choked up to speak.
Instead, she listened to Yamanu narrating the extraction. "We are getting the first one out now."
On Annani's right, her hand tightened around Amanda's, as Alena's had a moment ago on her left.
"For someone as tiny as you, you sure have a strong grip," Amanda murmured.
"I am so sorry." Annani let go of Amanda's hand. "I did not realize I was crushing your fingers."
"It's okay." Amanda shook out her hand. "I'm immortal, so no lasting damage done."
"I caused you pain." Annani patted Amanda's arm. "I am sorry for that."
Across the room, Ogidu was fussing with the platter of sandwiches he had prepared for this morning's war room meeting.
When he was done rearranging the small triangles of soft bread to his satisfaction, he lifted the silver carafe and started refilling cups that did not need refilling.
Her Odu was glad to be here. She could tell that it gave him pleasure to be included, or at least satisfaction. The Odus' sentience was growing, and with it their ability to truly feel emotions and not just mimic their appearance.
They remembered Khiann, probably better than she did because their brains retained everything precisely, while her memories had been fraying at the edges for centuries.
The Odus also remembered her mourning.
They had carried her through the long years after she fled, when she had wept for everyone and most of all for Khiann, but they had no capacity then for comfort beyond keeping her safe, warm, and fed.
"One," Yamanu said. "Four to go."
The one they had secured could be Khiann, or it could be one of his guards. There was no way to know, not even if they were allowed to open the chests during transit. The bodies were completely emaciated, and all identifiable features were absent except for height, and Khiann hadn't been remarkably tall or short. He was average height for a god, an inch or two shorter than his namesake.
Kian was six feet and four inches.
"It'll go faster now," Turner said. "The hard part was getting through the debris, and they did that in record time because they brought enough muscle to move a mountain."
"My Onidu is helping," Amanda said. "Donating his services is my small part in this mission." She chuckled. "Well, not small for me. I have no one to cook and clean and keep Evie occupied when I want a few quiet moments with Dalhu. It has been really difficult without him."
Kian nodded. "I know what you mean. I can't wait for Okidu to return."
Annani smiled at her children. "You have grown spoiled because of the Odus. I gave one to each of you for your protection, not realizing how dependent you would become on their services." She turned to Amanda. "You did not know how to clean a bathtub or how to launder your clothing."
"I still don't." Amanda grimaced. "And that's how it's going to stay. There are more important things to learn than how to properly scrub a tub. I'm okay with being domestically challenged."
"Two," Yamanu reported on the comms. "Three to go."
Two chests meant double the odds of Khiann being in one of them.
Annani had never been as impatient as she was now, listening to Yamanu report on the progress of retrieving the chests.
"Breathe, Mother," Alena murmured.
Annani had not realized that she had been holding her breath. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, filling her chest cavity. "The waiting is very stressful."
"It is," Alena agreed. "Perhaps you should eat something."
Annani turned to look at her eldest. "I do not think I can, dear. Perhaps after all five chests are out."
The next chest came out, and the tightness in Annani's belly started to ease. They were almost done. She even remembered to breathe.
