“I still don’t like not telling the girls,” I muttered quietly as I trotted back down the hallway toward Rieka’s rooms. I’d taken the time to shift back to normal and change to fresh clothes.

  Now, I was hurrying down the well-appointed corridors of the family wing of the castle while the System’s answer blazed in my vision with neon hues.

  System understands Traveler’s issues. System would not have requested this of Traveler if not for the danger involved. Keeping Traveler’s bonded companions out of the situation means that they cannot be implicated and protects them from more extreme options occurring.

  “What sort of extreme measures? You danced around it earlier but wouldn’t tell me,” I said under my breath. “I think you can at least elaborate on that.”

  System is charged with protecting the stability of dimensional membranes. Now that it is aware of the survival of such research in the modern age, System will be searching world designated as ‘Cortha’ for more examples.

  Protecting other dimensions is of far higher priority than preserving a single world, let alone a kingdom.

  That sent another chill down my spine, but I pushed forward to demand more information from the System while I was still alone.

  “I thought you weren’t allowed to directly intervene in the day-to-day existence of a world.”

  System is not allowed to. But there are other agents that can and do, and their methods can be considered catastrophically out of proportion.

  Trust that this is the best of bad options. System has not outright deceived Traveler. At worst, System has not volunteered answers or simply declined to speak.

  “Just like the fae,” I sighed. “Can’t lie, so they just won’t answer. Whatever. I am trusting you because you haven’t deceived me in the past and have given me the ability to protect those I love.”

  Trust has been extended for worse reasons.

  The last message the System sent me flared with golden light before fading away. It was oddly reassuring, despite the fact I knew that I was talking to what amounted to some kind of computer.

  At least this computer hasn’t gone all HAL9000 on me… I thought grimly before giving myself a full-body shake and focusing on what lay in front of me. Namely, the door to Rieka’s room.

  I could hear the girls talking on the other side, the excited chattering from Kassandra being very recognizable, even when Jane’s higher-pitched voice joined in.

  Taking another moment to compose myself, I knocked sharply on the door. When Rieka called for me to enter, I turned the handle and pushed the door open.

  “Liam!” Kassandra crowed and slid from her cushion to rush over, arms wide with a hug.

  Jane beat her to the punch, though. My little scholar was already up and standing at the tea cart that was by the door, so she set her cup down and leapt into the air, arms and legs wide.

  Laughing, I caught the excited mouse girl with one arm, tucking her into my left hip as she wrapped her arms as far around my chest as they would go.

  “Dibs!” Jane giggled, burying her face in my chest and rubbing furiously.

  “Awwww,” Kassandra whined, aborting her own attempt before she launched herself into the flying hug-tackle.

  I was thankful for Kassandra’s restraint, as Jane would have been the one to suffer from the impact. That or I would have had to dodge and let Kassandra end up in a heap on the floor. Neither option was one that I was really willing to accept, so I was very glad that I didn’t have to make that decision.

  Looking around at the others, I saw that they had moved about and some of them had changed clothes. The reason was easy enough to spot with Rieka’s hair being damp and unbound currently.

  “Welcome back, Liam,” Rieka said with a smile. “Did you enjoy your walk?”

  “Yeah, did you work out those kinks you mentioned?” Kassandra teased, the serpentine woman not even hesitating to jump in and stir up mischief.

  “Yes, I did,” I said with an exaggerated eyeroll while hefting Jane higher on my hip and making the giggling mouse woman squeal. “I hope you didn’t cause too much trouble while I wasn’t around to try and stop you.”

  “The key word in that statement was ‘try,’ ” drolled Valda, earning her a laugh from the other girls.

  “He succeeds sometimes, it’s much harder for Kassandra to cause problems when her mouth is full,” Shayla said, and everyone stopped laughing to turn and stare at the normally quiet and demure moth-woman.

  Shayla took a sip from her steaming cup of tea, wings folded behind her as if what she’d said was entirely normal. As the cup descended, she paused, blinking rapidly when she realized all eyes were on her.

  “What?” Shayla asked, her antennae wafting back and forth in confusion. “The few times that I’ve seen Kassandra behave without question were when Liam brought those treats from his world. She was so busy stuffing her face with pastries that she stopped teasing for a bit.”

  “Ah,” Valda said, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. “I thought… Well, I should have known better with you, sweet Shayla.”

  “What?” asked the winged woman, her brow furrowing in a mixture of concern and confusion.

  Kassandra burst into laughter, doubling over while clutching at her stomach. The length of her serpentine tail flailed against the polished floor while Shayla stared on. Jane buried her face in my chest, stifling her giggles against my shoulder.

  Rieka stared down into her teacup with an accusing look on her face before giving it a sniff.

  “No whiskey in it this early in the day,” Rieka muttered before sighing and looking at Shayla. “Regardless of what you meant with that statement, Shayla, it does work just fine with both interpretations of the words.”

  “Both inter—” Shayla said before cutting off suddenly. Her face went bright red and her antennae shot upright like someone had plugged her into a light socket.

  “There it is,” Valda murmured, still shaking her head.

  “Yup, that’s our mostly innocent Shayla,” I replied, walking past the still-laughing Kassandra with Jane on my hip.

  Shayla managed to set her cup down before covering her furiously blushing features with both hands.

  “Oh gods,” Shayla whined piteously. “Why did I say such a thing? I didn’t even consider…” She trailed off with another whimper that was only partially muffled by her hands.

  Reaching the winged woman, I gently prised her hands from her face before bending to kiss her lightly on the lips. Shayla stiffened, but didn’t try to escape or cover her face again. Shayla’s wings fluttered furiously, almost as if she was trying to take off. The breeze stirred my hair and clothing, but otherwise didn’t do anything to stop me. In fact, her hands knotting in my shirt to pull me closer told a story exactly opposite of her trying to escape.

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  “That’s one way to perk her up,” Jane giggled in my ear, her long tail gently swaying above our heads. “I know that it works every time with me.”

  “Thank you,” Shayla whispered when she finally pulled back from me. Her blush was still there, just not burning as heavily as it had before.

  “You were right, though,” I whispered back to her, kissing the tip of Shayla’s nose gently and making the moth-woman giggle brightly.

  “I’m glad that you made it back,” Rieka said a moment later, still smiling while watching me. “I wanted to take our suspicions to my mother and present them, along with the rumors. It would be best if we did so as a group.”

  “I still think it should be unnecessary,” Valda interjected, gently but firmly. “Your word should be more than enough for Queen Gemma on a report like this, and having all of us present could feel like we are attempting to gang up on her. I know my mother prefers her reports to come in that manner, which is one reason why it was just myself and Liam who spoke to her before we left.”

  “Mother won’t care,” Rieka said, shaking her head firmly enough that her pointed wolf ears flapped back and forth. “She’s used to holding court with dozens of nobles and advisers present. Me bringing the rest of you along won’t matter to her at all, and it’ll also lend credence since we can vouch for each other.”

  While the two of them talked, I focused on soothing the still-slightly-blushing Shayla further, running the fingers of my free hand through her long hair while being careful of her antennae. The winged woman purred happily and leaned into the touches. Once I was sure she’d gotten past her embarrassment, I stepped around her to the empty spot on the couch that I figured had been Jane’s.

  My scholar saw what I was doing and obediently slipped free to settle into her spot once more, stealing a last kiss on the way by.

  “I’m happy to come along and talk with Gemma about the situation,” I said, walking back to the tea cart to retrieve Jane’s cup and make sure it was prepared just how she liked it. “The sooner she knows about the rumors, the sooner she can figure this out. Though, I wouldn’t be surprised if she asks us to look into it.”

  “That is… less likely,” Rieka said with a frown. “Given the location of the rumors and the powers involved. But still possible. Anyway, I sent Lorelai with a message for mother and she should be returning shortly with an answer.”

  I nodded and carried the cup back to Jane, getting a smile of thanks as my scholar accepted the streaming drink. Returning to the cart, I made myself a fresh cup and was walking toward an empty seat between Valda and Shayla when Kassandra caught me.

  The curvy dwarf lamia didn’t throw herself at me, which was a change from normal and why I hadn’t expected it. Instead, she grabbed my sleeve and pulled me down for a quick kiss. As soon as I was bent over, both her arms went around my neck and she pulled herself tight to me. From there, it took only a moment for her lithe tail to wrap around my waist and haul herself up to steal Jane’s spot.

  “Got you,” Kassandra whispered hotly once she had me trapped, smiling like a fiend.

  “You definitely do,” I replied with a smirk, bumping the tip of her button nose with my own.

  Of course, that was the moment that Lorelai chose to bustle back into the room without knocking. It was a testament to the maid’s professionalism that she only paused to blink at Kassandra clinging to me for a second or two before she turned her attention to Rieka.

  “Lady Rieka, your mother requests your presence in the council chamber in twenty minutes,” the maid said with a slight bow.

  “Understood, thank you Lorelai,” Rieka said, sighing heavily and setting down her teacup. “Either she’s already heard about this and wants to get it dealt with, or she’s busy and this is the only opening she has today. I almost wish I’d waited another hour before sending the message.”

  “No you don’t,” I said, leaning back up with one arm tucked around Kassandra’s hips to hold her in place. “You are too responsible to actually mean that.”

  “No, I don’t,” Rieka agreed with a soft laugh. “Let me get my hair braided up and we can head over to meet with her. Kass, you are going to have to let go of Liam…”

  “Awwww,” whined Kassandra, pouting furiously while still squeezing my waist tightly with her coils.

  <><><>

  Despite the rest of us being there, by the time the report was done I was in agreement with Valda. Not because Gemma might have felt threatened, but because it was entirely unnecessary.

  The smiling mother was gone and in her place was the stern and thoughtful queen of the realm. Gemma listened to the report from Rieka, asked a few questions of Valda as she was the one who had heard most of the rumors, then lapsed into silence.

  “The fact that these sightings are so similar to creatures you have encountered in a human-era ruin concerns me,” Gemma said at last, rubbing her chin with her delicate fingers while studying the large table in front of her.

  The council room that we came to was familiar enough to me, it was the same place I’d made my show of power for Gemma to intimidate her ministers months before. Now, it only held the queen, her husband, a scribe, and a trio of advisers that were muttering amongst themselves.

  “Which is partially why I wanted to ensure word made it to you,” Rieka replied.

  My princess stood at the head of our group, back straight and tail schooled to stillness while she stood before her mother and father.

  “Yes, and I can imagine the motivation behind the other part,” Gemma said, still frowning down at the table in thought. “I had been hearing some of the rumors, but that specific detail had escaped me up until this point, and it makes all the difference.”

  While the queen thought, her husband spoke up next.

  “The concerns about it happening on one of our high nobles’ lands means that it will need to be handled delicately. Thank you for bringing this information to us, daughter.”

  “Of course, Father,” Rieka said, her posture softening slightly and her tail beginning to sway behind her.

  “I would like for Liam to stand by for this in case something comes up that requires his unique skills,” Gemma said before her husband could continue. “As you and your friends are, frankly, some of the best prepared and practiced in handling human-era ruins and their dangers, I will have a need for you if things turn out how we are suspecting. If it is something else, then we can have my agents handle it.”

  “Should we delay returning to Juneau then?” Rieka asked, her tail still swaying faintly behind her. “We were preparing to head back soon now that the party business was resolved.”

  Gemma frowned at that, and I half expected her to complain about Rieka wanting to run off so soon. But what she said next reminded me of just how level-headed a person Gemma was.

  “I would request that you extend your visit by a few weeks… Two or three weeks should be enough time for my spies to scout the area out and get an idea of what we are up against. I am loath to interrupt more of your schooling at this point but…”

  Gemma trailed off, her brow wrinkling heavily in thought.

  “It is fine, Mother,” Rieka said when it was obvious that Gemma wasn’t going to continue. “We are at your command, and understand the duty that comes with the knowledge we have accumulated delving these ruins in the past.”

  “Duty is good, but I still regret that it is interfering with your studies,” Gemma admitted a moment later, her tone level. “I have sent a message to the Juneau headmaster already, explaining your delay in returning from the border posting. I will ensure that a second missive is sent so that you are not punished for this, either.”

  “I’m not worried about the delay being an issue,” Rieka answered, head still held high.

  “But you have missed enough classes this semester already that you might be forced to take it over,” Gemma said, holding up a hand to stop Rieka. “I know that Juneau has some allowances for combat and practical training like the activity on the border, but there is still a requirement of classroom time. Especially if someone is working toward a mastery in one of the more esoteric studies. I will ensure that you and your companions are properly compensated for the loss of time if such a thing occurs.”

  I saw Rieka shift faintly and was reminded of the girls talking before about dropping out of Juneau. It had been just something that had crossed conversation in general, since their situations had changed and the adventures with me had led them down a path that didn’t really require schooling. But knowing my girls, I wasn’t entirely sure if they would go through with it. Especially with the group working together, as one of them deciding to leave Juneau would mean that they were leaving their friends behind.

  But Rieka didn’t comment or protest. Instead, she just nodded to her mother before glancing back at me with a questioning look.

  I blinked for a moment before parsing what she was asking with her eyes. Gemma had asked for me, specifically, to be on standby. And Rieka wanted me to confirm that it would be okay.

  “I’m happy to assist however is needed, but my primary job is protecting them, as always,” I said, gesturing to my girls with the sweep of one hand.

  Gemma’s stern features cracked and she gave me an earnest smile and a nod.

  “I would expect nothing less of you, Liam,” Gemma said, inclining her head toward me. “I still have the other issue we talked about before that we need to resolve, but that is something that can wait.”

  I realized immediately what she was implying: my bonding with her other children to act as an emergency bodyguard for them. She’d asked before and I’d tentatively agreed, but we still hadn’t gotten around to officially doing that.

  And I’m not sure if I’m willing to bond with all of Rieka’s siblings anymore, I thought grimly, remembering the insults of the one that had challenged me to a duel before.

  Gemma must have read something in my expression, because she nodded and pressed onward.

  “But that is for another day. I appreciate you bringing me this information, my daughter, and I will act on it. You may return to your day and I will let you know should the considerable skills of you and your friends be needed.”

  “Thank you,” Rieka replied formally, dipping into a bow at the waist.

  The rest of the girls mirrored her, either bowing or curtsying depending on their preferences. I didn’t bow, but I almost never did. Gemma understood why, and instead we shared a nod with each other. As a Traveler, I wasn’t her subject, and so it wasn’t expected of me.

  That done, Rieka turned and ushered us out of the meeting room, returning to her rooms in the castle with a thoughtful look on her face.

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