Jeri got out of the van and looked around. She was thankful for the loan of the van from the Alterealm royals. Eleni’s car was very small, and it would have been a very uncomfortable ride with Bastian, Trendan, Reagan, and Quinton all smushed in the back seat.
They were outside of the city. Jeri didn’t know where because she rarely went exploring. The house was small and in need of repair. Jeri wondered if it was given to them by those responsible or how they ended up with it.
Eleni got out on the other side and looked at Trendan. “That elixir helped. She’s sitting up, but she’s still weak.”
Trendan stood, his hands behind his back. “Have you told her who we are?”
Eleni glanced at Reagan for a second. “I told her Elyas’ brothers were coming.”
“What was her reaction?” Jeri walked over and stood beside Reagan. She wasn’t exactly sure why she was here. Reagan could heal people. What Jeri could do wasn’t exactly something that was needed at this moment.
“She’s very emotional.” Eleni glanced at the door. “She never expected to live this long.” She frowned. “She doesn’t look her age, but she doesn’t look as ageless as she did for most of my life, either.”
Jeri looked at Trendan. The guilt was plain to see on his face. “Did they give you this house? The people that caused all of this?” She used the word on purpose to remind Trendan that he was not responsible for this situation.
Eleni nodded. “But like I said before, we haven’t seen them.” She looked at the house and then at Trendan. “I don’t want her to stay here anymore.”
“We are prepared to take both of you…”
“No. I’m staying. If they come back—” Her expression changed to anger.
“We’d like to station someone here—” Quinton stepped forward. “Out of sight, to watch if someone comes back.”
Eleni eyed him for a moment. “You want to get them.”
“Every last one of them,” Bastain said quietly.
Jeri was surprised with how quiet and composed he seemed to be. She wasn’t going to question it.
Eleni nodded and started for the front door. A few steps later, she paused, turned around, and looked at Reagan. “You can heal her?” The doubt was clear in her voice.
Reagan nodded. “Of course, she should be examined by a doctor from Alterealm to be safe.”
Eleni nodded. “No doctor’s from Solrelm.” She gave Trendan a hard look. “I’m not ready to trust others from there yet.”
Trendan inclined his head. “We understand.”
“Okay.” She looked at each of them for a second and then started walking again.
When they stepped inside, Bastain and Trendan exchanged a look. Jeri didn’t know what it meant, but the air was stale and old-smelling, if that was actually a thing.
“Mom,” Eleni called out.
“Leni? I’m in the kitchen.” A woman answered. “Sitting at the table.” She sounded amused.
“I’ve brought them with me,” Eleni said when she stood in a doorway.
“They’re here?” The woman sounded excited. “How’s my hair?”
Eleni scoffed. “You look fine.”
“Fine? That’s not good enough.”
Eleni went into the room. “Mom, they don’t care about your hair.”
Jeri moved over and stood beside Trendan. He gave her a quick glance but continued to stand there stiffly. She stood closer and reached and put her hand on the back of his belt, just so he knew she was there for him. The immediate tingle was there. Of course, he’d know.
He reached behind his back and held her hand there.
Eleni came slowly out of the kitchen. An older woman had her hand hooked in her elbow. She wasn’t as old as Jeri had expected her to be. Yes, she had aged from the image of the woman she’d seen in Elyas’ souls’ life, but in reality, she looked like she was in her late forties, not hundreds of years old. Her dark hair had streaks of white through them, and her face had fine lines, but her eyes. Jeri was so happy to see the pale eyes she had seen with Elyas beside the river. Trendan squeezed her hand, and she wasn’t sure if it was for support or if he was asking her if that was her. She looked up at him and nodded. Turning back to look, she saw that her soul was intact but not strong. She didn’t want to think what would have happened if they hadn’t gotten the elixir to her when they had. “Her soul is weak.” She whispered.
Reagan looked at her. “She needs medical attention.”
Jeri didn’t know how what Reagan could do worked, but the urgent look in her eyes was good enough for her.
Trendan released Jeri’s hand and stepped forward. “Please,” He held out his hand to her. “Sit. There’s no need to exert yourself.”
Inara stopped and looked at him. “Show me.” She said in a hoarse voice. “Your mark of Solrelm.”
Trendan withdrew his hand and stood at his full height. He slipped his jacket off, hooked it over his elbow, and then bent his arm and pushed the sleeve up on his left arm.
Jeri had seen the tattoo on his arm and, for some reason, had just assumed he’d gotten a tattoo. She didn’t know it was a mark for their realm. She needed to add that to the things she needed to ask.
Inara took small steps and moved closer. She studied his arm. She closed her eyes for a second, a small smile on her face. When she opened them, they were watery with unshed tears. “You really are from there.” She looked at the others and then stopped at Bastain, her eyes growing wide. “You look so much like him.”
“Come, sit, Mom.” Eleni took her elbow and guided her to the chair behind them.
Inara sat down and then looked at Trendan. “Is he all right? Did they hurt him?”
Trendan shook his head. “No. they didn’t. He’s suffered all these years, but his health is good.”
Inara closed her eyes. “They told me he left me,” she shook her head slowly. “I knew he wouldn’t have. I kept hoping he’d find us, but they moved us often.” She looked at Eleni. “I was right.”
Eleni squatted down beside her. “You were.” She looked at Reagan. “Can you help her?”
Reagan blew out a slow breath and exchanged a look with Quinton. “I can help her temporarily, but even I can’t magically heal everything. It’s going to take time.”
“I don’t care how much time it takes,” Eleni said, her voice quivering.
“I can’t see him until I’m well,” Inara stated in a firm voice.
“Mom…”
“No.” Inara held her hand up. “I will be standing on my own when I see him again.” Her eyes teared up. “So when he holds me, I can hug him back.” She nodded her head and then looked at Bastain. “You must be Bastain.” She smiled and then looked at Trendan. “And Trendan. He told me much about you both.”
Quinton was looking at his phone typing. He stopped and looked up and noticed everyone was looking at him. “Alona is speaking to the doctor right now.” He turned to Reagan. “Porting to Alterealm is rough for any with Solrelm DNA.” He looked at Eleni. “I’m not sure if we’ll need to keep your mother in the acclimation chamber or…”
“Of course. You’re from Alterealm. The realm of giant men.” Inara said with amusement. “Elyas told me of the other realms.” She leaned forward in the chair. “To think all of us humans walk around without a clue.” She chuckled. “Probably a good thing, that.”
Jeri saw Trendan pull his phone out and look at it. He must have it on silent mode. He glanced quickly at Bastain and then nodded to Inara. “Excuse me. I need to take this call.” He bowed his head to her and then turned for the door.
Jeri smiled at Eleni and followed him out.
He was walking quickly toward the van. “Yes.” She heard him say into the phone, and then he nodded.
She caught up to him. He looked at her and then hit the speaker button on his phone.
“You’re sure it’s her? She’s all right? When can I see her?”
“Elyas.” Trendan used a firmer tone than Jeri would have in this instance. “She’s not well. Jerika and Reagan, both see it.”
“What do you mean? Not well, how? Does she need more elixir? I can send a case over if needed…”
“Elyas. It’s Jerika.” Jeri stepped closer so he would hear her.
“Jerika. Is it really her? You saw her.”
Jeri put her hand on Trendan’s wrist because she didn’t know if he needed the contact, but she did right now. “It’s really her. She’s aged…”
“They starved her. The bastards.” He growled.
“That’s the problem, Elyas. We need to get her to Alterealm to the doctors there, but we’re worried about porting her.”
Elyas was sputtering on the other end.
“Elyas. I think the plan is going to be.” She looked at Trendan to see if she should continue because she didn’t know if what was going to come out of her man was the truth. He nodded. “Princess Reagan is here; she can heal people. Not completely. But I believe she can enough that we can safely get Inara to Alterealm…”
“Yes. Yes. Do that. I will go there immediately…”
“Elyas.” Trendan interrupted. “She doesn’t want to see you until she’s well enough and can stand on her own two feet.”
“I don’t care if she’s standing.” He barked and then blew into the phone. “That’s-that’s- whatever she wants. I don’t care if I have to look at her through a window. You must get her to the doctor.”
“We’re going to, Elyas. I promise.” Jeri assured him.
“Yes.” He sucked in a breath, and Jeri imagined he was pacing around his office. “My daughter—Eleni.” He whispered the name like he was afraid to say it too loud. “She is well, you said?”
Trendan nodded. “She is the picture of health, brother.”
“Good. Good. That’s good.” He sucked in more air. “I can’t wait to…”
“She wants to stay here, Elyas, in case those that did this come back…”
“What? I can’t—you can’t let her do that. They’re dangerous…”
“Elyas.” Trendan cleared his throat. “I’m pretty sure she’s a force to be reconned with. She’s very–” He looked at Jeri for help.
“She’s very strong-willed, Elyas. I think anyone would have to think twice before messing with her.”
“Yeah? She’s a force, huh?” She heard him inhale a deep breath. “That’s good. That’s good. Uh, can-can you tell her I would like to see her.” He cleared his throat. “To-to meet her.”
Trendan nodded. “I’ll tell her. We need to go. I want to get back inside and see what the doctors told Prince Quinton about taking Inara to Alterealm.”
“Yes. Yes. Yes. Go. Call me when you’re there. I’m going to find Father and get over to the acclimation chamber.” They heard a door slam.
“Okay. See you soon.” Trendan stared at the phone until it went quiet when Elyas hung up. He closed his eyes and lifted his face to the sky. “I can’t imagine what he’s going through.”
Jeri put her hand on his arm. “We should get back inside. We left Bastain…”
Trendan jolted and hurried toward the door.
It had been the only thing she could think to say to prevent him from punishing himself again for things that hadn’t been his fault. She smiled and followed him. She just knew that poor Bastain was going to be used a lot to help distract Trendan—even if neither of them knew about it.