Like home on Kalymnos, I think with a rush of breath.
Weaving through the four bungalows, and forming a protective barrier around the whole embassy, is a wide stream of water, winding like a serpent made from the Cancer Sea. There’s a plank bridging the stream, but two members of our Royal Guard are removing it for the night. I recognize their faces from Oceon 6. I sent them here the night I took my Guardian’s oath.
“Westky! Bromston!” Mathias calls out to the two Lodestars, and they stop what they’re doing.
“Lodestar Thais!” one shouts back, recognizing Mathias. “Are you here with Holy Mother?”
“He is,” I say, running up behind Mathias, a little out of breath. A smile spreads across my face. Home, at last . . . kind of.
The Lodestars reset the plank, and the three of us cross over. The ground floor of the first bungalow is the only place with lights on, so we go inside—which is easy, since it has no doors. From a quick glance, none of the four bungalows seem to offer any privacy on the first floor. Doors and walls are only for the higher stories.
The lobby we step into is designed to be a waiting area. Half the room is decked with hammocks and rocking chairs, each equipped with an embassy Wave for checking news and sending messages. The second half is taken up by a saltwater pool for swimming.
The only person here is a man seated at an official-looking desk. When we get closer, I realize he’s a hologram.
“I’m Lodestar Mathias Thais,” says Mathias as we approach. “Holy Mother is with me. We are looking for Amanta and Egon Thais.”
The holographic man’s eyes widen. They linger on me. Then they turn to Hysan. “Who is the Libran?”
“He’s—”
“Diplomatic envoy Hysan Dax,” says Hysan, cutting Mathias off mid-answer.
The explanation irritates Mathias because he clarifies, “He has been chauffeuring us on our journey. Do you know where my parents are?”
The hologram nods. “I was just shutting off for the night. I’m transmitting from bungalow three. Your parents are only one floor up. I’ll tell them you’re here.”
The hologram disappears. Just seconds later, two people run in toward us and fold Mathias up in their arms.
Hysan and I step away to give them privacy, the absence of my family suddenly hurting like real physical pain. This whole journey, I’ve tried to be strong, to focus on the mission, to put aside my own needs . . . but the truth is, I’ve never felt lonelier. Maybe I can try Waving Dad and Stanton from here. There might be a way to reach them by now.
Mathias brings his parents over to introduce me. Their eyes are rimmed red, but they smile and bow together. “Holy Mother.”
“Please, you needn’t bow,” I say, reaching out to them for the hand touch instead. “And please, call me Rho.”
It’s clear Mathias gets most of his features from Amanta, his mother, who’s tall, pale, and blonde. The wavy dark hair comes from his father, Egon. They seem happy beyond words to see their son . . . but there’s also a deep sadness that’s impossible to ignore. They’ve just lost their daughter in the attack.
When their eyes land on Hysan, he says, “I’m the chauffeur.”
I have to look to make sure it’s him speaking. There’s no attempt at magic in his voice, and sunlight is even missing from his features.
He meets my gaze and tries to muster some of his usual liveliness, but it seems forced. For the first time, charm fails him. “It’s late, and I should find lodging at the Libran embassy. I’ll see you tomorrow, my lady.”
“You can stay—”
“I shouldn’t.” The moment he leaves the lobby, he vanishes from sight. He must have slipped on his collar.
Mathias’s parents usher us toward their private quarters. As he fills them in on the highlights of our journey, my mind lingers on Hysan. I wonder who hugged him when he had nightmares as a child. Who waits for him when he comes home from his travels. Whose faces he sees when he thinks of his people.
As Cancrians, caring after our loved ones is our top priority. When Mom left, it caused ripples through our whole community. Broken families are rare on Cancer, runaway mothers unheard of.
But I had Stanton and Dad. I can’t even imagine what it’d be like to have no one.
“My parents are helping with the resettlement,” Mathias tells me, after they’ve gone to bed. I’m staying in their guestroom, and Mathias is going to sleep in the den, but for now, we’re both on the hammock in my room, talking.
“They’re negotiating with other Houses for temporary housing and food. My dad’s trying to establish an orphanage.”
An orphanage. Is that where Hysan was raised by the robot Miss Trii? Is that where generations of Cancrian and Virgo children will be raised after Ochus’s attacks?
“Rho?”