Page 28 of Dark Destiny: The Turning Of The Loom

"It's too short," Zalag said. "We need to tell the people living here who we are."

Adaluh snorted. "Do you know who you are? Because I don't know who I am."

Khiann and the other three nodded in agreement.

"You will create new you's," Esag said. "But until then, Hildegard can post about the places you want to see."

"I want to see the ocean," Adaluh said. "Hildegard says it's not far from here."

"I want to take one of these apart," Michael said, slapping the armrest of his chair. "The kunga inside. I want to see how it works."

"Ubhar?" Esag asked.

"I want to see everything. Gertrude told me there's a machine in the village that can show me everything worth seeing without going anywhere. It sounds like magic."

"That sounds exciting." Khiann looked at Hildegard. "Is it real?"

"Very. You boys are going to love it, but you need to wait until your bodies are in better shape."

Ubhar looked disappointed.

"How about you, Zalag?" Hildegard asked. "What do you want to do?"

Zalag looked at Esag. "I heard you have hundreds of carvings of people we used to know in your shed. I want to see them. Maybe I will remember someone."

"You are all welcome to my shed, but only one at a time. It's not a big place." Esag rolled the carvings back into the cloth. "You know how to find me on your phones. Call me before you come so I can clean up a little. And don't wait too long. My mate is going to have a baby soon, and my shed will be closed for a while."

As the others offered their congratulations, Khiann wondered why Esag had phrased the announcement that way. He should have said he and his mate were welcoming a baby into the world, not that she was having a baby, as if he had nothing to do with it.

11

SULLHA

Things were starting to look up after two days on the elixir.

Last night, Sullha had slept eight hours straight through, and this morning she had gone for a walk with Yaaf, which was very pleasant until she'd started to stress over all the things she still needed to do before she could go out to the bar with him that evening.

Now that all the day's tasks were done, she stood in her closet with a towel wrapped around herself and debated what to wear. She'd never been to a bar, and she didn't know what the appropriate attire was.

"When in doubt, ask Margaret." She walked over to her nightstand, picked up her phone, found her mentor's contact circle, and typed a message.

What should I wear to a date at a bar?

The reply came almost immediately. The bar is casual. Jeans and a T-shirt. A little makeup. Jewelry if you have any. Fake is fine.

I don't have any jewelry, she sent.

I can lend you some. I have a box full of costume jewelry, which is a nice word for fake. You can have your pick.

Sullha looked at the clock. Maybe next time. Yaaf is coming to pick me up in twenty minutes.

Then go with what you've got and don't overthink it. It's just the Hobbit, and it's the middle of the week. Have fun.

Sullha smiled. Thank you. Good night.

She put down the phone and returned to the closet. She had two pairs of jeans, both loose and baggy, and she chose the baggier pair, cinching it with a belt.

That didn't feel right.