The gathered elves were so silent, I almost forgot they were there. Then with a few soft gasps, they all started clapping. Allistair tossed his cane aside and attempted a little jig before almost falling over and getting scolded by Serentha. One of the others fetched his cane while Serentha steadied him, but her eyes were on her son. After a moment, she gave him an approving nod.
Feeling more steady now myself. I took his hand. “We better get back.”
He squeezed my hand. “You’re right. King Francis will not thank us for dallying.”
“Or for making a pathway two days from the capital,” I muttered, but Crispin only chuckled, then said, “Let’s go home.”
He certainly did not have to ask me twice.
18
The journey through the pathway was as dizzying as usual, but we both managed to keep our feet. It was a good thing too, with King Francis and all of his warriors watching us. Not just his warriors, but so many others had gathered too, ready in case any shadows came through.
But something still felt off. Ringo was in Elena’s hands, just like he’d been when we left. And Gabriel had not, in fact, pulled out all of his hair with worry.
“An odd way to regrow a pathway,” Mistral mused, his eyes on the shimmering portal.
“Wait.” I held up a hand while I breathed through my remaining dizziness. “Why do you all look like we just left?”
Mistral stepped closer, concern now etched across his brow. “You were gone for but a moment. I’ll admit, we were worried, but then we felt you again on the other end and knew your intent.”
I turned to Crispin, my brows raised.
He already wore an identical expression, so it was a surprise to him too. “Celestials work in mysterious ways?” he suggested.
“Um, we don’t time travel.” It was only by a day, but we had spent that entire day and night somewhere else only to return tothe moment we left from. Of course, my great grandfather had pulled the same trick when we met with him in the pocket realm, so maybe celestialsdidtime travel.
“What are you two going on about?” Sebastian interrupted, but King Francis approached before either of us could answer.
He looked at the portal like it was his long lost love, not the woman he might soon see on the other side. The king and I hadn’t always gotten perfectly along, but I was excited for him. He had been away from the woman he loved for far too long, and it was a sacrifice he’d made willingly, knowing the threat of the darkness. He’d placed the safety of his home realm above his own heart. Of course, he would have a long ride ahead once he went through the pathway…
I caught Crispin’s gaze again, and he shrugged. We would figure out later how to break it to Francis that he would need to ride for two days to the capital on the other side.
The king turned to address his people, a broad smile crinkling the slight lines around his eyes. “We will begin preparations for the first journey through the pathway. Once we’ve ensured that all is secure, those wishing to return to our home realm will be free to pass.” He looked back at me and Crispin. “What of the darkness?”
Crispin’s cheeks were looking a little bit red. “I will provide a full report. In private.”
The king’s brows lifted, but he nodded. “Perhaps that is for the best.” He looked at me. “Which pathway will you see to next?”
Sebastian loudly cleared his throat, and I sighed. “I should know pretty soon.”
Pretty soon, after Sebastian fetched Penelope. It was time to give her what she wanted, and to give Sebastian whathewanted. A completion to our contract with her, and the power to end her life.
Gabriel took my hand and gave it a squeeze, likely not actually knowing my thoughts but just sensing that I was worried. It should be a simple task, but when it came to Penelope, nothing seemed to go as planned.
I openedmy eyes as we appeared in Mistral’s sitting room within the Citadel. Sebastian had gone to find Penelope, while Crispin had gone to the palace to give the king his full report. That left me with three goblins to go check on the Bogs, one on each side of me and Ringo on my shoulder. I was still feeling pretty good after all the magic Crispin had given me in the elven realm. It was incredible how much power he had there, and it meant a lot that he didn’t intend to stay and take advantage of it.
Of course, it wasn’t just for me. He liked earth and the city, and as long as he had access to Emerald Heights, his magic wouldn’t fade. But I was still happy.
“It’s interesting that earth time did not pass while you were in the elven realm,” Mistral was saying, continuing the conversation we had started in Emerald Heights after the elves had returned to the palace. He squeezed my hand, then let go to walk toward the window. “I do wonder if it’s simply because you did not wish for time to pass while you were away. Perhaps it was not when you left that you jumped back in time, but when you returned—” He stopped halfway to the window. “Something is not right.”
I was still holding Gabriel’s hand, and he gripped tighter at Mistral’s words. “The pathway?”
Mistral finished his walk to the window, peering outside. “I cannot be sure, but the magic here feels overly active.” He lookedover his shoulder at Gabriel. “I’ll check the pathway. You go to the nearest village, make sure nothing is amiss.”
They both looked at me.
Knowing their intent, I dropped Gabriel’s hand and crossed my arms. “I amnotstaying here.”
