Central,” Uncle Gabriel said. “The protections prevent it.”
After a moment, Aunt Skye nodded as if to herself. “Zachariah can. I’ll take him there.” She was referring to her ability to teleport, which wasn’t inhibited by the protections if she knew where she was going. Quincy started to speak, so she quickly added, “ After the babies are born.”
“You will be unable to use your abilities for at least a month after the babies arrive,” Jabari said. “We all know how the births drain your powers.”
Aunt Skye sighed. “I know. But it’s either we wait until then, or someone manages to convince Zachariah to allow Tate to leave for a couple of days without him.”
Everyone exchanged looks. Sophia figured they were thinking exactly what she was: there was no way they’d convince the hard-headed Mercesti to let Tate leave. He’d probably kill himself trying to get to Central.
Eventually, Jabari nodded. “It appears there is little choice. Sophia, Tate, Tiege, Clara Kate and Zachariah must travel to Central after the next Kynzesti are born and Skye has recovered her abilities.”
Sophia watched her parents exchange glances with each other and her aunts and uncles. She knew that, outside of Aunt Skye’s brief teleport, none of them would be able to travel to Central because they needed to stay with their newborn children. They were likely all exchanging thoughts about this difficult reality.
Her gaze met Quincy’s. He looked at her with quiet intensity. She blinked, uncertain of the significance of that look. Why did she feel as though she was missing something?
“Very well,” her mother said then, turning her attention. She covered Sophia’s hand with her own. “We agree. Our firstborn children will travel to Central once the babies are born.”
Chapter 8
Quincy emerged from his cottage the following day with Sophia at the front of his mind. This was hardly unusual. But the news yesterday about her traveling to Central made him fixate.
The Kynzesti had yet to be formally introduced to Estilorian society. So far, only the elders and the top ranks of each class had even met them. There were a number of reasons for this, not the least of which being that the elders wanted time to understand their abilities. In light of their elemental natures, the Kynzesti were unpredictable. Thus, putting them in the midst of other Estilorians without knowing what to expect was considerably unwise.
Now, however, it appeared the firstborn Kynzesti were deemed ready to integrate into Estilorian society. Quincy couldn’t help but equate that with his recent personal acknowledgement that Sophia was, indeed, now a mature female with the ability to make decisions about her own future. He was both thrilled and terrified by that realization.
It was time for training in the paddock, so he decided to walk over and check it out. He occasionally participated in weapons training. Today, since he had gotten very little sleep the night before and still felt sluggish, he decided to observe.
As he walked, he caught a glimmer out of the corner of his eye and spotted Nyx getting settled in the shade of a tree. Sunlight reflected off her large, black, serpentine body and her diamond eyes. Although he was getting more accustomed to the kragen’s presence within the homeland, she was still a rather fearsome creature to behold.
Tate stood on the outskirts of the paddock, so Quincy walked up to stand beside her. She wore a dark orange training tank with brown pants and boots, a rather conservative look for her. Her colorful, curly hair was bound on top of her head in a messy bun. She gave him a bright smile when he approached.
“Hiya, Quincy.” She stepped closer and linked arms with him, a friendly and familiar gesture. “Came out to make sure Sophia participates in today’s training, right?”
He grinned back at her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Lie,” she said with a wink. “Yeah, I
After a moment, Aunt Skye nodded as if to herself. “Zachariah can. I’ll take him there.” She was referring to her ability to teleport, which wasn’t inhibited by the protections if she knew where she was going. Quincy started to speak, so she quickly added, “ After the babies are born.”
“You will be unable to use your abilities for at least a month after the babies arrive,” Jabari said. “We all know how the births drain your powers.”
Aunt Skye sighed. “I know. But it’s either we wait until then, or someone manages to convince Zachariah to allow Tate to leave for a couple of days without him.”
Everyone exchanged looks. Sophia figured they were thinking exactly what she was: there was no way they’d convince the hard-headed Mercesti to let Tate leave. He’d probably kill himself trying to get to Central.
Eventually, Jabari nodded. “It appears there is little choice. Sophia, Tate, Tiege, Clara Kate and Zachariah must travel to Central after the next Kynzesti are born and Skye has recovered her abilities.”
Sophia watched her parents exchange glances with each other and her aunts and uncles. She knew that, outside of Aunt Skye’s brief teleport, none of them would be able to travel to Central because they needed to stay with their newborn children. They were likely all exchanging thoughts about this difficult reality.
Her gaze met Quincy’s. He looked at her with quiet intensity. She blinked, uncertain of the significance of that look. Why did she feel as though she was missing something?
“Very well,” her mother said then, turning her attention. She covered Sophia’s hand with her own. “We agree. Our firstborn children will travel to Central once the babies are born.”
Chapter 8
Quincy emerged from his cottage the following day with Sophia at the front of his mind. This was hardly unusual. But the news yesterday about her traveling to Central made him fixate.
The Kynzesti had yet to be formally introduced to Estilorian society. So far, only the elders and the top ranks of each class had even met them. There were a number of reasons for this, not the least of which being that the elders wanted time to understand their abilities. In light of their elemental natures, the Kynzesti were unpredictable. Thus, putting them in the midst of other Estilorians without knowing what to expect was considerably unwise.
Now, however, it appeared the firstborn Kynzesti were deemed ready to integrate into Estilorian society. Quincy couldn’t help but equate that with his recent personal acknowledgement that Sophia was, indeed, now a mature female with the ability to make decisions about her own future. He was both thrilled and terrified by that realization.
It was time for training in the paddock, so he decided to walk over and check it out. He occasionally participated in weapons training. Today, since he had gotten very little sleep the night before and still felt sluggish, he decided to observe.
As he walked, he caught a glimmer out of the corner of his eye and spotted Nyx getting settled in the shade of a tree. Sunlight reflected off her large, black, serpentine body and her diamond eyes. Although he was getting more accustomed to the kragen’s presence within the homeland, she was still a rather fearsome creature to behold.
Tate stood on the outskirts of the paddock, so Quincy walked up to stand beside her. She wore a dark orange training tank with brown pants and boots, a rather conservative look for her. Her colorful, curly hair was bound on top of her head in a messy bun. She gave him a bright smile when he approached.
“Hiya, Quincy.” She stepped closer and linked arms with him, a friendly and familiar gesture. “Came out to make sure Sophia participates in today’s training, right?”
He grinned back at her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Lie,” she said with a wink. “Yeah, I
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