“Don't give up,” Desmond answered, putting a hand on her leg. “Don't. We'll figure this out, I promise.”
Mariah said nothing, and Desmond realized she had a tear rolling down her face.
“Mariah,” he said, his own heart breaking a little. Nathaniel stepped back as he took her hand. It was risky to exhibit such closeness, but Nathaniel figured it didn't make much of a difference right now. They wouldn't be able to deny the physical connection between them. It was whether they could justify it that would make all the difference. “I promised to take care of you, did I not? I was thirty years old, and I swore the rest of my life to you, didn't I?”
Nathaniel reacted in shock, but stayed silent. Pledging yourself to someone was the ultimate in commitment – intertwining magic and connecting their life forces. It was almost impossible to live without your pledge once it happened. It wasn't a romantic connection, but it was a lifelong one.
“Yes,” Mariah answered.
“Nothing has changed,” Desmond assured her. “Nothing.”
Nathaniel saw such a deep connection between them that he felt guilty being in the room. Desmond's strength seemed to help Mariah stand, and he let her take his arm. She was trying to be strong, but she gripped his arm tightly.
Nathaniel's eyes suddenly blazed. “Sienna's awake,” he said to Desmond, who nodded.
“I know. I felt it,” he said. For the first time in his life, Nathaniel saw his Maestro unsure of how to proceed.
“Let's go to her,” Nathaniel suggested. “No one can fault you for going to your sick Tiro.”
“Of course,” Desmond answered, leading Mariah into the hallway.
It was there that Laura caught them, a book in her hand. “I have to talk to you,” she said. “Both of you. Alone.”
“About what?” Nathaniel answered, confused. “We're–”
“This is important,” Laura said. “And it's urgent.”
“Anything you have to say, you can say in front of Mariah,” Desmond said.
Laura took a deep breath. “It's about Sienna,” she said. “Brace yourselves. I think your Tiro is more talented than you think.”
“That we know,” Nathaniel answered. “What do you know?”
“That she can open a door between the living and the dead,” Laura said. “But not forever.”
Chapter 19
“This can't be happening,” Nathaniel said as Laura explained everything. They were sitting around Sienna's bed, listening in shock. “No, no. She can't be dead.”
“All I'm saying is that the Queen of Jeffro got here ridiculously fast,” Laura said. “Either she left before the explosion or–”
“Don't say it,” Nathaniel warned Laura. “Don't say it. Is this because you know I'm involved with her? This is your revenge?”
Silence fell over the room as Laura gasped in shock. “What?” she asked. “No. Why would you think that?”
“I think that because you didn't bring this to me until now,” Nathaniel said.
“I just found it,” Laura protested. “Christa, didn't we just find out together?”
“We found a few things,” Christa admitted. “Nathaniel, I don't think this is the time to be pointing fingers. It's the time to get to the bottom of things. Especially if you have limited time.”
“I would bring her back,” Sienna suddenly spoke up, her eyes darting around the room. Devon was on one side of her, and no one was stopping him from holding her hand. There were so many emotions flying around the room that no one knew which to deal with first. “I would.”
“It would kill you,” Nathaniel lowered his voice. “Especially now.”
“How long?” Dorian suddenly broke into the conversation. He had been sitting silently throughout the conversation, but now, he drew everyone's attention to him. “How long before the last one died again?”
“A few days – a week, I think,” Laura said, “according to the report.”
“So, in short, any moment now,” Dorian said with a soft smile.
“No,” Desmond said. “I refuse to believe that!”
Nathaniel had never seen Desmond so distraught. He didn't blame him; they were all between a rock and a hard place. But Desmond was always known for keeping a calm demeanor, no matter the situation.
“Desmond, what do we do?” Nathaniel asked him. He was looking for direction; for instruction; anything.
Sienna coughed, and Nathaniel reached out to her sympathetically. He knew that she needed to be back in the med bay, but that wasn't an option right now.
They were running out of options.
“I don't know,” Desmond admitted, his voice broken.
“Desmond,” Dorian said softly, “send Nathaniel to find evidence of when Eliza's ship left. He needs to find peace with that to know whether the clock was ticking. Ask for an outside doctor to just stabilize your Tiro for the time being. And then,” he took a deep breath, “we can focus on the matters of the heart.”
“You will serve the magic first, your Tiro second, and the universe third. And if Eliza is in there, fine. But she is not your priority, is that much clear?”
Nathaniel remembered Desmond saying similar words when they were on Jeffro during Sienna's first mission. In that moment, Nathaniel had lost sight of his path, blinded by his love for Eliza. Desmond's words had brought him back to the correct way of thinking.
Now, Dorian was doing the same thing for his former Tiro.
“Yes,” Desmond said. “Yes, that is the right course of action.”
“I can help you,” Christa said. “No one knows a ship's navigation system better than me. Even if they've deleted the navigational data, I can probably find out what happened.”
“Thank you,” Nathaniel said, turning to Sienna. “Little one, you're all right?”
“Yes,” she said. “But I…I'm sorry, Nathaniel.”
“Don't be sorry,” he said softly. “If Eliza is dead, and you've brought her back to me by opening the door, then I am forever grateful for the extra time.”
“But the door I opened also brought Ladd back,” Sienna said. “So, it's my fault.”
“No,” Nathaniel assured her. “You have done nothing but good, do you understand?”
She nodded, but she looked unsure. Nathaniel couldn't stay, though, his heart pounding as he went with Christa. He had to know whether Eliza was part of the ripple effect that would eventually wear off, or whether she had truly escaped in record time.
“We have to go, too,” Laura said to Devon. “Come on.”
“Can I have a moment?” Devon pleaded. “Please?”
None of the adults in the room could deny them the chance to potentially say goodbye, and so they allowed it. Devon waited until they were alone before he kissed her on the cheek.
“I will be back,” he promised her. “And I will see you again. This is going to be our life, all right? Seeing each other in between quests, trying to snag twin quests or support missions, sneaking in reasons. This is what we are going to do until we can't anymore.”
“And then what are we going to do?” Sienna asked, wide-eyed at Devon's bravery and his confidence.
“When we can't take quests anymore?” Devon grinned. “We're going to run away.”
She gasped. “We can't.”
“We can,” he said to her, trying to keep the smile in his eyes. “But Sienna, we don't have to make that choice right now. All we have to do is promise that we're going to see each other again. Can you do that?”
“Yes,” she said softly. “Although, I don't know what is going to happen with any of us.”
“We're just Tiros,” Devon said. “Let the Maestros worry about where we are going. We will just try to find a way to see each other once we are there, all right?”
She smiled, accepting a kiss on the head.
“I'll see you soon, all right?” he said, looking deep into her eyes.
“Yes,” she said, wanting him to stay forever. But Devon's strength and his confidence
gave her no doubt that they would see each other again. She wasn't even afraid of the potential for death now that she knew how to beat it. She just had to find her way to see him again. When it was laid out like that, she knew it would be easy.
“Good,” he said, jumping off the bed. “Keep smiling.”
***
Outside in the hallway, Desmond leaned against the wall with a long sigh. Mariah had settled into a chair, her head against the wall, her eyes closed. Dorian stood guard, as if he would prevent anyone from so much as blinking in their direction.
“Thank you,” Desmond said. “For back there. I didn't know what I was going to do.”
“Isn't that what Maestros are for?” Dorian answered.
“It seemed you returned just in the nick of time,” Desmond said. “As if the universe knew what door to open.”
“Or your Tiro is more powerful than you think,” Dorian said.
Desmond glanced at him. “What do you mean?”
“Sienna is a very special Tiro,” Dorian said. “She has been damned by the acridid gene, yes. But without it, what would she be?”
“Without it stopping her?” Desmond shook his head. “I have no idea. I can't even begin to imagine the power she would have if it wasn't fractured.”
“She may be one of a kind,” Dorian said. “The kind of witch whose name we never forget. But every good witch needs a good Maestro. Or two.”
“You think she knew that I needed you?” Desmond asked. “That I was starting to have no idea what I was doing? And bringing the Ronan back was just baggage?”
“Anything is possible,” Dorian said. “But you'll have to be around to find out. There is no one more equipped in this entire school than you to be her Maestro. Your experience alone is unprecedented.”
“Don't forget that my success rates from start to finish with Tiros so far is one,” Desmond said. “Christa was a year, and Reynolds…”
“You've dealt with unprecedented power before in Reynolds and in Tiros with special needs, like Nathaniel and Christa,” Dorian said. “Most Maestros have boring Tiro after boring one. Where your energy lacks, Nathaniel picks up. Even you, Mariah, have been working with Tiros with disabilities for years from what I understand. They fly you around the galaxy for that specific purpose; you're an expert. You all could be the difference between her being consumed by her magic or changing the course of the world as you know it.”
“As I know it,” Desmond picked up on his words. “But not you.”
Dorian smiled softly. “Not me,” he said. “I have felt the pull of magic for a day or two now. Laura is right. I think all of us effected by this ripple will return shortly. You'll have to be the strong one, the protector. As I knew that you would always be.”
“That's our case,” Mariah suddenly spoke up. “There.”
“What are you talking about?” Desmond asked. “My dear?”
“We serve Nature first, and Sienna's case is special,” Mariah said. “If we tell the Jurors what we think she can do, they will not take you away from her, at least.”
“And you neither,” Desmond said. “But is that for our selfish reasons? Or because it's the best thing?”
“Desmond,” Dorian said softly, “look inside yourself. Look at what Christa suffered. Losing a Maestro is terrible. If Sienna is taken away from two…”
“Yes,” Desmond answered. “You're right. I know you are. Just sometimes, I feel like I am drowning with her, with all of this.”
“You think I didn't feel the same?” Dorian answered. “You were so smart, Desmond, in so many ways. You made me feel like an idiot.”
Desmond laughed at that, shaking his head.
“We all feel like that,” Dorian said. “But it's our actions that make the difference, not the thoughts that keep us awake at night.”
Desmond smiled. “Thank Creator, you came back when you did,” he said.
“Thank Creator, she brought me back,” Dorian said as the door whooshed open. Devon stood there, looking a bit lost.
“My Maestro?” he asked.
“She went back to her room,” Desmond said, trying to lighten the mood. “You're off for quite a while, aren't you, Devon?”
“A few months,” Devon answered. “And I hope to take a few medic courses while I'm there.”
“Medic courses?” Desmond said, surprised. “Online?”
“Yes,” Devon said, “so that when I come back, I'll be better prepared.”
He held Desmond's gaze, and the Maestro nodded. “That you will,” he said. “At least for one path in life. Good luck to you, Devon.”
“You too,” Devon answered, and headed off.
Desmond watched him go. “To be that age again,” he said to Mariah, who smiled.
“And give up all the memories that we've made?” she said. “Never.”
“Whatever happens, would you do it differently?” Desmond said. “If you were his age again?”
“Not a chance,” Mariah answered with a smile. “You?”
Desmond glanced between Dorian and Mariah, and then back again. “No,” he said. “I wouldn't.”
“That's how you know you've made the right choice in life,” Dorian said to him with a smile. “No matter what the consequences.”
Desmond felt comforted by that fact. Mariah moved to get up, and he reached to take her hand.
“But Maestro,” he said, suddenly, thinking of something else. But when he turned back to the spot where Dorian was, he wasn't there anymore.
Desmond felt a sudden rush of magic that he knew too well. It felt like death – like loss.
“He's gone, isn't he?” Mariah asked, squeezing his hand.
“Yes,” Desmond said, stunned.
“But he left us with a plan,” she said.
“Maybe she did know, somehow, that I needed him. That without his guidance, I'd be lost.” Desmond glanced toward the door where Sienna rested inside.
“Thank Creator for your choice of Tiros,” Mariah leaned on his shoulder. “Shall we go and save our Sienna any way we can?”
“Yes,” Desmond said. Despite Dorian's disappearance, he felt stronger than he had in a long time.
Chapter 20
Nathaniel felt like he couldn't breathe as Christa lay underneath the navigation panel, tinkering with it. Being a royal ship, there was security measure on top of security measure. They took the utmost care on Jeffro to protect Eliza, her whereabouts, and her plans. But luckily for Nathaniel, Christa wasn't bothered by any of this.
She simply calmly slid under the panel and started working with the internal computer.
“How's it going?” Nathaniel asked, trying to calm his heartbeat. If Eliza was only here because of a ripple effect, he wanted to spend every spare moment with her. And right now, she was potentially wasting those moments inside the Jurors' room on his suggestion.
“Have patience, Nathaniel,” Christa said. “These things take time.”
“Creator,” Nathaniel hung his head. His com-link beeped, and he hit it half-heartedly. “What?”
“Maestro Nathaniel?” he recognized the voice of the outside doctor they had called. They had used him once or twice before when they had brought back non-witch refugees from quests. “I've examined your Tiro. I'm just calling to give you a report.”
“Yes?” Nathaniel answered anxiously. “Is she okay? Do you need me to come there?”
“She's all right for now,” the doctor said. “And I can maintain her levels for a while. But she really should be in some sort of advanced med bay. How long do you think you will be?”
“Less than half an hour,” Nathaniel said. “Please, if you could just stay there a bit longer, that'd be great.”
“Of course, Maestro,” the doctor said. They had always gotten along, and he didn't mind staying longer. But his call put Nathaniel on edge.
“Thank you,” Nathaniel answered as he hung up. He tapped his fingers against the navigation panel, nearly driving Christa insane. She was tempted
to magically bind him, but she realized he was quite nervous. She gritted her teeth, bypassing more security systems as she put every skill that she had ever learned to good use.
Finally, she slid out from under the panel, her tablet getting a readout.
“Where's Eliza's pilot?” she asked Nathaniel as she looked at the numbers that scrolled through.
“She didn't have one,” Nathaniel answered. “Which is common on Jeffro. The pilots tend to pre-program the ships and then send them off. It's one less person that could be a threat to the queen. The guards can fly, but they don't unless they need to.”
“Well, that explains that,” Christa said. Nathaniel felt like he was going to throw up.
“What? What does it explain?”
“How they made a twelve-hour trip in less than six,” she replied. He gripped the navigation panel. “And why they don't remember.”
“Why?” Nathaniel answered. He prayed to the Creator for an answer that didn't end with death.
“The pilot made a mistake in the navigation,” she said. “It got them here, but at double buoyant speed.”
“Double buoyant speed?” Nathaniel's eyes nearly popped out of his head. “That would knock anyone out.”
“He must have been in a rush to get them off planet,” Sienna said. “It slowed down just outside the planet's atmosphere. The speed would have knocked them out, and they would have come to just as they entered.”
“So…” Nathaniel asked, looking for a solid answer.
“The navigation was programmed just seconds before the bomb blew,” Christa said. “As far as I can tell, it's all explained. Eliza is not part of a ripple effect, according to her ship. She's really here.”
“Oh, Creator,” Nathaniel let out a huge sigh. “Thank you. Thank you.”
“No problem,” Christa answered. “But you owe me one.”
“I will literally give you anything that you want,” Nathaniel answered. “It doesn't matter how far I have to go to get you a rare candy or some stupid jacket. I will get you anything.”
“You could answer your com-link,” Christa said, annoyed by the buzzing he seemed to be ignoring.
“Right,” Nathaniel jumped back to reality, hitting the button. “Doctor?”
The Dragon's Gold (Exiled Dragons Book 12) Page 37