Crusade Across Worlds (12 page)

I am happy to assist in your transportation.
Where is the destination?

The FH Docking Station, please
, I
swing my leg over the base of her neck and Clarence climbs on
behind me. He wraps his arms around my waist and I lean forward,
squeezing the nubs on Lalu’s neck, holding on as tight as I can.
It’s been awhile since I’ve ridden on a Millix, but I remember they
go fast. Really fast. And the important thing is having a firm
grip.
Thank you, Lalu
.

She dives the next second and I’m instantly
thrown into Clarence. Squeezing Lalu’s Bairs, I manage to pull
myself back toward her neck as she jets us down into the dark
water, a light appearing far below. The castle. Glowing golden
coral, it’s only a faint light at first, and then it grows and
grows until the entire ocean floor is lit with the vibrant hue,
illuminating the thriving metropolis of Pryncbia, the water
planet’s royal city.

We don’t have time to take it all in because
Lalu directs us straight for the Foreign Headquarters—a division
specifically designed for off-World, air-breathing guests. It takes
up a third of the castle and offers a Docking Station, Great Hall,
Dining Hall and separate sleeping wings available for male and
female guests. I really wish I could take in more of the bustling
city, but Lalu is already rising into the dome-shaped Docking
Station and after a quick scan, I find we’re the first to
arrive.

Well that was quick. Thank you,
Lalu
.

It is my pleasure. Shall I see you again,
Fallon?

I hope so. I think we’re going to be here
for a day or so.

Call for me if you have any more
transportation needs.

I will. Thank you.

Clarence dismounts and I follow just before
Lalu sinks back into the opening in the center of the room. The
Docking Station looks the same—enormous, open and crafted from
glowing golden coral that wraps around the wide space and up to the
domed ceiling. The station is nearly empty, except for Salva and
Chancellor Keller who stand together just a few short feet away.
It’s strange, as I don’t know either very well, but a sense of home
washes over me at the sight of them. Salva helped situate the girls
the last time we were here, while the chancellor, who fell sick to
Perio’s plague, was in dire need of a high-risk rescue mission—one
we couldn’t refuse. Seeing both of them reminds me of everything
I’ve been through… and everyone I’ve been through it with.

Removing his helmet, Clarence heads toward
the pair. I do the same just as the other Millix start to arrive.
“Chancellor,” my great-great-grandfather throws his hand out. “Good
to see you again.”

“Likewise,” Keller takes it and then turns
to me. The blue-haired chancellor smiles. “And Fallon, I am
delighted to see you again. I have been informed you have done some
traveling. The queen and I look forward to hearing all about
it.”

“Do you know when that might be?” Sampson
appears next to Clarence, removing his headgear. “I am notified
that she will not be attending the breakfast.”

“Unfortunately not. Queen Ravan regrets
missing the breakfast as she has been detained with pressing
matters. She looks forward to greeting you all at the lunch feast
later, which has been prepared in anticipation of your
arrival.”

“Wonderful,” Sampson moves closer, “but
surely it won’t foster the atmosphere for an intimate reunion of
friends. Perhaps we could establish a breakfast with the queen
tomorrow?”

Chancellor Keller’s smile falters. “I will
see what I can do. I do know several important items have surfaced
that require her immediate attention.”

“Of course,” Sampson nods, “we would only
need a few minutes of her time. Surely that is something that can
be accommodated for her honored guests for which a feast will be
held?”

The chancellor turns to Salva. “Our guests
must be hungry. Would you escort the females to their quarters so
they may dress for the Dining Hall?”

The orange-haired Mayan nods and turns to
me, Mae, Pratt and Vix. “It is wonderful to see you all again.
Please, if you will follow me, I shall take you to your wing.”
Salva leads us out of the Docking Station, through the Great Hall
and into a narrow, glowing passage.

“So,” Pratt runs her fingers along the bumpy
wall, “are we staying in the same place as last time?”

“Yes—your accommodations will be as you
remember them.”

“And what about our clothes? Are we wearing
the shell bras and skirts again?”

“Yes. So you may be suitable for the Dining
Hall and the feast later.”

“There must be some pressing matters if our
meeting has been postponed…” I muse aloud. “I hope everything’s
alright.”

Salva glances back at me. “Everything is
fine. When you are queen, you tend to hold a busy schedule and
sometimes, due to circumstances, it may change abruptly.”

“I hope we’re not inconveniencing her.”

“Of course not,” Salva leads us into our old
space. It’s the same rounded room lined with shelled mosaics and in
the center of the floor, the enormous circular bed with crimson
linen. “Here we are. Your formal wear has been laid out,” she
gestures to the sole piece of furniture. “There is a set for each
of you. I will wait for you to change.”

“I never thought I’d say this,” Mae selects
the long lavender skirt, “but at least it’s less revealing than our
other clothes.”

“Yeah,” Pratt laughs. “Able will be
disappointed.”

Red-faced, Mae begins undressing, her focus
on the floor. I do my best to stifle a chuckle and work on removing
my jeans. Once I have the skirt in place and I’ve swapped my
baseball tee and bra for the shelled underwear, I turn to
Salva.

“Will Princess Ariana be joining us?”

“She will be present in place of her
mother.”

“And later? Will we be able to speak with
the queen?”

A slight hesitation. “It is possible,
however, Queen Ravan will be extremely busy.”

“Are we eating that eye thing again?” Pratt
makes a disgusting face. “Or the tongue?”

“I believe both are being served. If you are
ready,” Salva turns and we follow her out of our wing and through
the narrow tunnel again.

After passing through the Great Hall and
into the Dining Hall, we find the others already seated with bowls
of clear liquid around the table. Mayan attendants line the walls
with rust-colored jugs in their hands, patiently staring off at
nothing ahead.

Except Mallup.

The rose-haired mayan glares at me the
second I enter the room. Probably because I almost kicked her ass
the last time we were here. She hit on Reid multiple times and even
after being well-informed that he wasn’t available, she wouldn’t
stop. I trust Reid, but it wasn’t a matter of faithfulness when she
started questioning his choice in front of me. At that point, I
didn’t care about being polite. I went after her with everything I
had. But before I could do any real damage, Reid carried me out of
the room and Pratt felt it was her responsibility to carry on in my
place. Looking back on it, the whole thing seems immature. I
probably shouldn’t have acted that way. But now that I’m here, in
the same room with her again, I feel oddly justified.

Mallup stiffens, but her rose locks remain
perfectly draped over bare sage shoulders and down her arms, which
pinch the sides of her bra so ample cleavage is visible. It hasn’t
escaped the notice of nearly all the Rogues and Walker, who are
openly gawking at her.

Clarence clears his voice and the boys look
away.

“Ladies,” Sampson beckons, “please, come in.
Take a seat and once Chancellor Keller and Princess Ariana arrive,
we can begin.”

Pratt, Mae, Vix and I all select the last
four of the six open seats and I end up sitting between Pratt and
Qippert. Mallup still watches me, her cool orange gaze flickering
between me and Reid, who sits on the opposite side of the
table.

“Are you guys drinking Hunnis?” Pratt
asks.

“Yup!” Jace takes a hearty swig. “It’s good
to be home.”

“This time, let’s remember to take some back
with us. Uh…” Werzo glances toward Mallup with a wide grin. “Can I
get a refill?”

“Already?” Able raises a brow. “We just sat
down.”

“I’m thirsty.”

“Me too,” Jace holds out his cup as Mallup
makes her way over and pours the clear liquid in both their cups.
“Thanks.”

“How about you?” She leans toward
Walker.

“Sure,” his smile is wide and flirtatious.
She mirrors the expression and fills his cup higher than the
others.

“Ladies?” Blovid waves his hand, as if
offering to pour some himself.

“None for me, thank you,” Vix shakes her
head and Pratt follows.

“I’m fine too,” Mae shakes her head.

“Fallon?”

“I’ll stick with water, thanks.”

“Not a fan?” Walker reaches for his cup.

“It’s not my thing.”

“But it’s delicious,” he takes a swig of the
Mybyncian booze. “How is that not your thing?”

“I’ve tried it. It’s not for me.”

“You really don’t know what you’re missing,”
Walker winks just as Princess Ariana and the chancellor enter the
Dining Hall.

Everyone immediately stands but Chancellor
Keller shakes his head, gesturing us back down. “Please sit.”

The same knot of excitement flutters at the
sight of the lavender-haired princess. I’ve missed Ariana just as
much as the others. Like Mae and Pratt, the youngest daughter of
Queen Ravan has grown to be a close friend, and being around her
reminds me of how long I’ve been away. Ariana scans the room and
after settling on Tucker, the corner of her mouth lifts. A soft
pink lights her sage cheek until her eyes fly to mine.

“Fallon!” She rushes over and without a
second’s hesitation, throws her arms around me, bringing me into a
tight hug. “It is so good to see you again!”

“Hi,” I laugh, squeezing her. “How are you?
How have you been?”

“Busy!” she giggles, pulling back. “But
well. I have missed you so much! During each of my visits to
Nerwolix, I continued to ask of your return but no one was able to
tell me. Where did you go?”

“She went to Arosin,” Pratt says.

“The desert moon?”

“Yeah,” I scratch the back of my head. “I
uh… sort of went to train with the Lost Princesses.”

“The Spirits?” Chancellor Keller’s orange
eyes flare before gesturing toward the open chairs. “Everyone
please, sit.”

Once Ariana has taken her seat, the rest of
us follow, the chancellor being the last to sit. Mallup and the
other attendants move around the long table, placing heaping bowls
of pink mush, and thick green tubes in front of everyone. After
Ariana nibbles on the Glippis heart, she opens her hands in gesture
for the rest of us to start eating. Most of the Rogues go for the
Hunnis while Mae starts feeding herself tiny portions of the
Jiji.

“So, Fallon,” Ariana smiles, “I am sure you
are tired of telling your adventures, but please do me the honor of
recalling them one last time. You say you went to Arosin?”

“And to see the Lost Princesses?” Chancellor
Keller nods, glancing to Sampson and Blovid. “I beg your
forgiveness, but I do not believe I recall a time when that has
happened.”

“It was definitely a shock to us,” the
Arizal Leader agrees. “The Mother presented herself to Fallon
before the invasion and told her that she would need to leave for
three months to study with the Lost Princesses.”

“Fallon,” Sampson begins, “unbeknownst to
us, was receiving visions from the Mother for some time. In fact,”
he shifts forward, “she located the Vermix experiments on Harrizel
because the Lynzees led her to them.”

“Interesting,” the chancellor nods, raking
me with a curious look.

“And you were alone on Arosin?” Ariana
frowns, glancing briefly at Reid. “How lonely that must have
been.”

Before I can answer, Chancellor Keller
starts again, “And you say you trained with the Spirits? May I ask
what it was that you were training?”

“Combat in the morning mostly. I meditated
and studied the history of the Three Worlds in the afternoon.”

“You will remember,” Sampson interjects,
“that it was revealed to Fallon that she shares ancient blood.”

“Yes,” Ariana sighs. “How terribly
surprising that must have been. To learn your past is not what you
thought it was. This all must be such a shock for you.”

I glance at Clarence. “I’ve gotten pretty
used to it by now.”

“I would’ve lost my shit,” Werzo downs
another hearty gulp of the Hunnis. “For real.”

Able scoffs. “As if you could be that cool
to have Dofinike blood in you.”

“Why couldn’t I?” he looks to Clarence,
raising his eyebrows with hope. “Anything you want to tell me?”

“Yes, quiet down,” he sits forward and
threads his fingers in front of him. “Unfortunately, Fallon’s time
spent with the Lost Princesses didn’t give us much of a lead with
the upcoming invasion.”

“Oh no?” the chancellor reaches for his
Glippis heart, directing his focus to me.

“I’ve had some… visions… but nothing that
will help.”

“Visions?”

“Of the past. Mostly.”

“Mostly?” Blovid interjects with a quick
glance at Sampson. “Have you—”

“Blovid,” the Fychu shakes his head. “She
may not be able to—”

“I looked into the last piece of the Glass
Chamber.”

Silence fills the room. No one moves. No one
says a word for the longest time; they keep staring at me, watching
and waiting for something to happen. But I don’t know what to say.
What I should say. So I wait with them until the quiet is finally
broken by Qippert, who whispers in astonishment. “You saw it?”

I nod.

“The last piece… you actually saw it?”

“Yeah.”

“Fallon,” Sampson clears his throat, “what
you saw in that reflection is meant for you alone. I know you never
asked for the responsibility, but you must respect what the Gift
means; the power it yields.”