Chapter 26

I'm falling, trying to grab something, anything, but I just can't find anything because everything is open air and nothing is solid.

The air rushes out of my lungs and everything is fuzzy and I'm falling because I can't do anything but fall and no one and nothing is going to catch me and I am going to hit the very, very, solid ground and I am going to die.

I am going to splat on the ground and someone is going to find me and someone is going to scream as they see my broken body splattered upon the hard packed dirt.

I will be nothing but broken edges and bones gone awry.

I can see it now. The dirt. I can see the rough spot of where I am going to die and everything I have ever done is for not because I am falling and I am going to die.

I am so sorry.

I frantically flip through a book titled The Great Eulus O'Quinn, this was his flame damned fault and now I have to fix his problems because he isn't alive to fix this himself. Oh how I wish I could have been the one to drive a stake through his heart for all the trouble he's caused.

I come to a stop when I see the chapter heading Ley Lines of the Upper Ether.

I read the first few sentences then flip a page, another one and a few more. I see my name and I start to read.

It says how I was going to vomit black goo, how lovely, and how I had to be the one to fix this, again, how lovely. At least the man is accurate, if nothing else.

I look at the time and feel as the clock strikes the twelfth.

I'll just have to set this aside. An issue for another time.

I'm twisting air around myself, leaving a plume of smoke in my wake as I disappear and reappear in a dark oak meeting room.

The tavern had been carefully selected. We had all decided that we would rent the place for the night and then take the upstairs room and readjourn in the morning if needed. I have no doubt that we will.

My clothes are drab. I'm wearing a dark blue slip of a dress, nothing fancy. I'm sure earth girls wear something similar. I pull the hood of my cloak down as I sit at the corner booth at the back of the side room in the tavern.

It's dark in here, the only thing that lights the room are four torches that span the wall across from me.

Another cloaked figure approaches the table and pulls her hood down, I smile as I see her older, slightly withered face. Even in such old age she has this classic beauty about her. It's not a glaringly obvious beauty, but her features grow on you. The sharp jawline, the crinkled face, the fiery eyes.

She sees me and grins. The smirk immediately takes me back into every good memory of the two of us and I can't help but match the expression as I stand and hug her. We break apart just as three others walk in, shortly followed by a fourth. With everyone here, we all say our greetings and go to sit down.

With all of our hoods off, I am seated next to Gislee, acros from us is Karina and Phinnaeus, to my left is Aera and to Gislee's right is Mary.

Aera is the first to speak in her silky, refined, slightly accented voice, "What is it you have called the Elder council for, High queen?"

I lean back, "Elder Lee. It is a pleasure to see you in good health. I invited you here today to request that you allow me to open Lunata's doors for Varsillian refugees."

Aera's face tightens, her eyes, far apart as they are, turn to slits as her gaze burns a hole in me, "Last time you opened our gates to strangers, the Battle of the Sands, followed by the Sector wars happened. I have no faith in those you wish to poison our city with." She is calm, unnervingly so, but she stares me down like I am the scum beneath her shoe.

Phinnaeus is the next to pipe in, equally as serious and I ready myself to hear him for the first time. I wonder how he handles himself in front of the other Elders. "While I have to agree that this is a risk, I am to believe that it is a risk worth taking." He holds his hand up for dramatic effect and I can see the youth in him showing, it's almost startling, "Right now we have four baker's spread out between the five sectors, two woodworkers and only seven metal workers. We are very limited by what we can do because we have plenty of resources, but not enough people to support us."

Karina nods, "letting more people in would benefit us if Evelyn can properly vet them."

Mary is more hesitant to give her opinion, but she can't hold it back, ever impatient as she is, "while I understand the benefits, I am hesitant to agree to anything. After the Sector wars we are all nervous at the prospect of outsiders. I am all for taking in refugees. I don't want to keep out those in need, but it needs to be done properly. In this moment I side more with Aera."

Gislee continues the thought, "Let's have a trial run. Bring a few of them. Lets test them against the people."

"Put them into the shark infested waters, so to speak," Phinnaeus says lightly.

Aera looks like she wants to say no, to say to Hells with it and bar me from entering the city ever again, but it's her moral obligation to not leave so many for dead, "We can try a trial run, but I want them monitored. This needs to be in a controlled setting. I offer my Sector up for this trial to be in."

Gislee waves her hand at Aera, appalled at the idea, "nonsense. My Sector always hosts the guests. This time will be no different, because they will be guests." She says pointedly, giving Aera a knowing look, "and treated accordingly. I won't let Lunata's reputation go down because of your paranoia, Aera."

"Then it's settled," Phinnaeus says, nodding along. "How many are we bringing in?"

I tap my fingers against the table as I go through a list of names, "Three should be sufficient."

"What measures are being put in place to keep Lunata safe?" Aera says by way of response.

"I'll come with them, that will be adequate enough."

Karina bobs her head up and down at me, "this is for the best. We have been isolated for too long and although it has offered us protection, it is doing us more harm than good these days."

Aera nods at last, "There is founding in your opinions and reasoning I can't argue with. If it is the consensus that we want others in Lunata borders, then that is what we shall do."

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