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Alone at the particleboard desk in my room, I cleared my mind of fears and worries as I wrote to Calixta. I took care with my phrasing, wishing Meg could check behind me but knowingI didn’t have the time for a consult. Plus, she and Mom already had their hands full. All I could do was pray my offer to loan Asa to her as an ambassador would pique her interest enough to prevent her from harming him if she learned I had let him go on ahead without her blessing.
With that done to the best of my abilities, which wasn’t saying much, I called a courier and waited with a stone in my stomach until he arrived to accept his parcel with a guarantee of next day(s) delivery.
For messages crossing realms, that was about as good as it got.
After I tipped the courier, I sought out the others, eager to get moving to block out my fears for Asa.
“I’ve got the map on standby.” Colby stood over the tablet, ready to pinch the screen. “We should be able to narrow it down quicker using this app. There’s a better overview of streets too.”
While Dad prepped his crystal and began his spell, I hoped this thing with Isiforos was about to turn into a blessing. I didn’t want to square off against Bjorn again, but there was no doubt in my mind he could lead us right to the director. Just like last time.
As the crystal swept over the screen, Colby panned out, watching for the first hint of a location.
Within seconds, the point stuck to an area south of here, and Colby used her hands to zoom in until the magic wobbled with uncertainty from the exactness she was attempting to extract from it.
“They’re in Sweetwater. Near D Bar D Ranch.” Dad kept his hand fisted above the screen. “Three hours or so away.”
Derry and Marita had done the bulk of their packing last night, and Colby hadn’t been far behind. She didn’t have much, just her blanket, the laptop, her phone, her tablet, and…okay. So, the girl didn’t travel light. She was a one-woman IT department, so I didn’t complain as I shoved my clothes into a duffle.
“Dad?” I waited until he put away his crystal. “Can I talk to you outside?”
A hint of wariness crept into his features. I was certain he could guess what I wanted to ask him.
“You want me to remove another anchor.”
Yep.
Right to the point.
“I do.” I worried a fingernail. “If something goes wrong for Asa in Hael, I won’t wait and hope. Iwillgo to him, and I’ll need to be able to protect him. Against Calixta and anyone or thing else.” I quit before I tore a nail. “Magic would be a big help in that department.”
“We don’t know for sure what this process is doing to you.”
“It’s freeing me.”
“But at what cost?” He speared me with doubt. “Each time, you require healing.”
“I’m aware.” I could still taste a faint char in the back of my throat. “I’m also more than willing.”
“What about Colby?” His concern tipped over into mine. “Does she experience your pain too?”
“Goddess, no.” I barked out a laugh. “I would have never left my house in Samford if she did.”
As much as I missed my magic, I didn’t need it enough to put Colby through the suffering I had chosen.
“Your mother and I have a lot to learn about theloinnirbond.”
“You’ve had familiars.” I thought someone had mentioned a cat Mom gave to a friend after the wargs chased it up one too many trees and it scratched out someone’s eye. “The bond is like that but more.”
“And if you die,” he said, eyes boring into me, “theloinnirbonded to you also dies.”
“Think of this as a controlled burn.” I wasn’t thrilled with risking her either, but this was bigger than Asa. I was coming unraveled as my magic sought its own way free. “The only way to prevent the wildfire that will sweep through me when your binding fails is to start digging trenches to slow the spread.”
“I assume you want me to remove another before we depart?”
“We have a few hours. Marita or Derry can drive to Sweetwater while I recover.”
Chin dipping to his chest, Dad gave it a moment of thought. It made me wonder if he struggled for the right answer as often as me. He was a better man because of Mom’s influence, but it wasn’t the same for people like us. She was innately good, like Colby, while he and I had to stop and think first. Always.
