“We were there when it all went down.” Delilah leaned in. “Camille and I had to fight our way out that night. Menolly was able to escape through the Ionyc Seas, along with Sharah and Chase, thanks to Shade, Rozurial, and Smoky.” Her voice caught. “We witnessed Telazhar’s storm firsthand.”
Darynal shook his head. “Storms will happen, but to create a sentient one, and to use it as a weapon? There is no forgiveness for that. Trenyth told me about the dragons. That you vanquished Telazhar. So we have hope.” He leaned forward then, looking battle weary and worn.
Hanna brought over a fresh batch of biscuits, butter, and honey. “There will be dinner soon, but you get a start now. I’ll slice you up some cheese, too. You need food.”
Darynal nodded. “I haven’t had much to eat the past few weeks, true enough. The elves fed me, but I didn’t want to accept much from them—they need every scrap they’ve got.” He looked around. “May I wash my hands?”
Hanna led him to the hall bath. Darynal had been over Earthside before; he knew about the technology here.
Trillian let out a long sigh. “We can learn much from him—he’s the only one of the scouting party who managed to come through. But does it really matter now, given Telazhar’s dead?”
“Don’t be so sure.” I decided to be polite and take a seat rather than hovering up in the corner like I usually did while the family gathered for meals. “Maybe something he saw or heard can give us some idea of what else Shadow Wing is up to. We know he’s trying to create an evil clone of the Keraastar Knights. What else is he up to? And what is he going to do now that his right-hand man is dead and his armies in Otherworld decimated? We need to brainstorm just what we might be facing.”
“Give him a night to rest up, though. He’s tired. He’s been on the move for months. He’s been through hell—you can’t tell me the Shadow Lands were a piece of cake.” Trillian shrugged. “If there were anything vital—that he knew was vital—he would have told us first thing.”
“Why don’t you make up the parlor for him?” I glanced around. “Is Nerissa home yet?”
“No, she called and said she and Chase were heading out on a call. That was shortly before you got up. I gather that the Freedom’s Angels and the Earthborn Brethren are doing their best to become Seattle’s major pain in the ass. She said she’ll be home as soon as she can and to tell you she loves you.”
I must have blushed because Shade grinned at me and added, “I don’t mind passing love notes. The world needs as much love as it can get.”
As Darynal returned to the table and dove into the biscuits, there was a shimmer in the air. I glanced over at Camille’s wards. Nothing was going off—no danger in sight, that we could perceive. The next moment, Smoky appeared in the room, holding Camille in his arms.
“You’re back! Is everything okay?” Trillian swung Camille into his arms and kissed her soundly the minute Smoky let go of her. “Look!” He spun her around without taking a breath.
She saw Darynal and let out a squeak that almost pierced my ears. “Darynal! Lavoyda!” Even though Camille was not bound by blood to Darynal the way Trillian was, the fact that they were married made the pair brother and sister.
“Camille, beautiful Ahn shivya.”
I cocked my head. That one I hadn’t heard. “Ahn shivya?”
Darynal grinned, his smile infectious. “Moon priestess.” He returned his gaze to Camille. “I have never been so glad to see a woman’s face as now. You . . . you let your husband go hunting me down. Trenyth told me.” The smile vanished. “I owe you my life—and don’t even try to protest. He may not have been able to track me down, but the intent was there. Loyalty offered is loyalty earned. Whatever you need . . . wherever and whenever, call and I will be there.”
Camille blushed, but she reached out and took Darynal’s hands in hers. “You are family. You are my husband’s brother. You are my brother.”
Delilah glanced at the clock. “Hate to break this up—but we need to head to the Community meeting. We should all go. Darynal, you can stay here. Hanna will make sure you eat and are tucked in for the night. You look tired.”
“Don’t you want to hear our news first?” Camille slumped into a chair. “And I need to change.” She grimaced. “I’m still wearing my clothes from the battle.”
“Tell us, then go change and shower. We can wait that long.” I shook my head at Delilah. “The meeting won’t be over by the time we get there. We’ll be a little late but not that much.”
Camille glanced up at Smoky, but he nodded for her to speak. “The dragons—Vishana said that they are going to send workers from the Northlands to help speed up the rebuilding of Elqaneve. And they have offered, if we need them against Shadow Wing himself . . . they will do what they can.”
The thought of a thousand dragons winging their way into the Demon Lord’s lair and taking him on with us made the night a whole lot brighter. As Camille and Smoky went up to shower and change, and Darynal ate his weight in Hanna’s home cooking, for a little while we were able to sit back and just enjoy a little peace.
Chapter 8