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Chapter Twenty Three

Part Ten

“So what’s the plan now?” Lydia asked. “I mean we’re going after the Core and releasing the bonds on the Heart, but how are we going to do that? It seems like we won’t have much time between the two.”

“Which is why we’ll do it in two groups,” Matthias said. “Sonia, Daniel, Mela, Kyle, Darya and Lyrrekka will go with Ystelyan and Rilletta to where the Heart is, while the rest of us head to where the Core is. The moment you feel Alaryia rein it in – and believe me you will feel it – Mela will release the Heart.” He gave Alaryia a wry smile. “Did I get that right?”

“You did indeed,” she agreed. “Though we should drop Valeria off at her palace, we need her to use her throne. And consider sending Karen and Alban with your wife just in case. I think Gerian has worked out what we’re going to do and while I doubt he’ll interfere until we’re done he might go after Mela afterwards.”

“That’s a fair point,” Ystelyan said. “And keeping Kyle and the Core apart is probably a good idea.”

Kyle chuckled and looked down sheepishly. “Probably true. My temper around the Core is still very frayed.”

“And the children can stay here with me,” Dariad said. He gave Valeria a reassuring smile. “The Throne assures me it can hold anything that might attack us at bay long enough for help to arrive.”

“Ian as well,” Sarah said sharply. “Since he doesn’t have a bracelet yet and Pensura won’t want to leave her mother while she’s recovering.”

“I want to see the Heart!” Karilya protested at the same moment. “It sounds interesting!”

“No, Kari,” Lyrrekka said firmly. “We’re likely to end up in a fight and you’d be in the way. You can meet it when it’s safe. When do we move?”

“As soon as possible,” she said. “The Core has–” She paused as Ystelyan lifted his hand for silence and frowned at something. “Ystelyan?”

“It’s Naria, she’s trying to tell me something.” He frowned some more, obviously listening to her. After a moment he looked over at Matthias and Sonia and smiled. “Your son isn’t as stupid as you think. At least he realised that if Halia could talk to Alaryia then Naria would be able to talk to me. He asked her to relay a warning that Emms has realised you’re going after the Core and is moving to stop you. She’s sent me the entire conversation. I’ll show you, because it raises some interesting questions.”

It was Kyle who broke the thoughtful silence which followed Ystelyan showing them what Naria had said.

“You did say that that troll Huldre felt old,” he said. “Possibly as old as you, you said. Seems you were right.”

“But how?” Matthias began. “I’ve known Jayden since he was a teen. But what Laxmi said about you working out who he is–” He scowled at his hands. “It sounds like he is.”

“He must be like that dragon earlier,” Ian said. “I’m right aren’t I?”

“It’s not impossible,” Lyrrekka said. “You did say that he was adopted. But he’s certainly still human and a resonant that age…” she trailed off and frowned at one of the tapestries around the room. “I don’t like the implications.”

“Especially not given the effect this Laxmi had on Naria and the fact she seems uneffected by this world,” Ystelyan agreed. “There’s something odd about that young woman. We should try and capture her to find out what – it would be. What was that about his sister? I don’t like the way he said about he said he didn’t want to hurt her.”

“Catherine is his adoptive parent’s daughter. She’s an ember,” Matthias said. “And fortunately he’s too late. She’s at Sarah’s place and we’ve taken precautions to conceal her from Jayden, so I don’t think she’s in any danger.” He glanced over at Sarah. “And You were right, it was him did it that to her.” He paused. “And yes we should capture Laxmi. She knows where Andrew is and will be able to lead us to him.”

“And she seems to know what he’s up to,” Alaryia said. “If only we knew the details of her plan to stop us, but I guess we’ll find out the hard way.” She gave them a wry smile. “So are we all ready to go and spring a trap?”

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