22
The markets were slightly more interesting than the dumb village that Teag had originally brought them to, but even then, Pippa found them congested and obnoxious. People kept yelling at her and Teag as they tried to ride the hoofer through the crowds, and they finally had to tie up the little beast to one of the many hoofer stations.
"So where's your brother, jerk-noodle?"
"He'll be around here somewhere," Teag muttered. Pippa narrowed her eyes. Though she still had never mastered the art of sensing emotions, she could tell that the boy was nervous.
"You have no idea where he is," she pointed out smugly.
"Go find something else to do," Teag ordered. Pippa huffed, but instead of striking off on her own, she continued to follow the dreadlocks through the crowd. It wasn't that she couldn't strike out on her own, because she could have totally handled herself. But Teag didn't get to tell her what to do; if he wanted her to get lost, she would stick right by him. That would show him who was in charge.
Pippa found her gaze wandering as they pushed their way through the market. However, as she caught sight of a tent, she gasped.
"What?" Teag asked, turning to scowl at her.
"Tattoos," she pointed out, gesturing to the sign next to a tent. "You're the one saying that I can't be Hershel's apprentice if I don't have the tattoos."
"You're going to give yourself apprentice tattoos?"
"I'm old enough to make my own decisions," Pippa sniffed, folding her arms as the idea took root. Getting the bands herself would show everyone that she was in charge of herself, and that no one could tell her what she could and couldn't do. She waited for Teag to try to talk her out of it, but he just snorted.
"How are you going to pay for that?"
Pippa blinked, realizing she didn't technically have any money on her. "I'll just tell them that Myrah's my aunt," she said breezily. "They can't say no to family of leadership." She started heading for the tent, but she was forced to stop when Teag grabbed her arm.
"I don't know how things work in the West, but here, no one could care less who you're related to. If you don't have the money, you don't get the wares."
"They can't say no to me!" Pippa said, her eyes blazing. Teag glanced around, and Pippa scowled as he pulled her between stalls.
"Stop that," he ordered. "You're going to attract too much attention."
"So?" Pippa demanded, pulling her arm free.
"So, Hershel said that people are hunting people with power, remember? We have to keep a low profile."
Pippa remembered the people that had surrounded her and her uncle a few weeks earlier, and she huffed as she allowed her aura to fade. "I'm not leaving here without tattoos," she said angrily. "Without them, this whole trip was a waste of time!"
"You didn't come because of tattoos—you didn't even know you wanted them until you saw that tent just now."
"I'm not leaving without them!" Pippa said, and people in the market were glancing over at her now. Teag scowled, grabbing her wrist again.
"Fine, but we aren't going to that overpriced snake-pit," he growled. Pippa frowned, but she allowed him to pull her along.
"Then where are we going?"
"I know a guy."
The two young Oni wove their way through the crowds, and Pippa didn't miss how Teag was scanning everyone they passed, no doubt looking for his brother. She almost asked him what his brother looked like, but then she decided that she didn't care. It wasn't her problem, after all.
Eventually, they reached another tent with tattoo signage, but this one looked far less quality than the one Teag had made her pass up. Pippa frowned at it, but Teag didn't hesitate as he dragged her inside.
"Sauhm?" he called as they entered, and Pippa blinked as she noticed the variety of sharp tools and jars of different colored powders on the wall. It could almost be a healer's tent, with the amount of jars and sharp objects, but not quite.
A reedy figure in the back of the tent began to cough, and Pippa frowned as the Oni turned to squint at the doorway. "Teag?"
Teag didn't answer as he dropped Pippa's arm to come further into the tent. The one called Sauhm made his way over, studying the dreadlocked boy closely.
"Ancient's...it is you. I haven't seen you in years, boy! Dee told everyone you left."
"I did leave," Teag said, rubbing his arm. "I moved to the West and learned how to be a blacksmith."
"A blacksmith? What... didn't feel like pinching your earnings for the rest of your life?"
"I want to make things, remember?" Teag muttered. The other Oni rubbed his face.
"Make things, take things...what's the difference, if it gets money in your purse, eh? So, mister big-shot...what are you doing here, if you've got an apprenticeship set up in the West?"
"I'm looking for Dee. Have you seen him?"
"You said this guy could do my tattoos!" Pippa cut in, folding her arms angrily as she realized the boy had just dragged her further along on his hunt for his brother.
"Ah...seems you brought a lady friend," Sauhm realized, as if noticing Pip for the first time.
"I'm not his friend!" Pippa snapped at the same time Teag said, "She's not my friend." Sauhm raised an eyebrow.
"Then who is she?"
"She wants apprentice tattoos," Teag sighed. "The kind that wrap around the forearm."
"Healer bands? If she's an apprentice, her Master will give them to her, I'm sure."
"He says he won't!" Pippa snapped.
"Then I suppose you aren't really his apprentice, are you?" Sauhm shrugged. Pippa stiffened, but Teag held a hand up as if warning her to keep her calm.
"Come on, Sauhm. It wouldn't take you long...and you owe me for that time I got the market guard off your back three years ago."
"You always had the most annoying memory," Sauhm muttered as he scratched his thinning hair. "You're just lucky I'm not busy today." He turned to Pip. "Alright, Miss Apprentice. Come take a seat."
Pippa kept her head held high as she marched over and sat on the cushion that he gestured to. Sauhm turned and began pulling vials of dark ink off his shelf, and Pippa tried not to squirm as she also watched him select a series of sharp needle-like tools from the wall.
"Have you seen Dee recently?" Teag pressed again, and Sauhm hesitated in his preparation.
"You haven't been around, so I guess you wouldn't know."
"Know what?" Teag's voice gained an edge, and Sauhm pulled at the cork on the ink bottle.
"Word is he got caught by the guard after pinching coins from the higher-end of the markets."
"So the guard beat him? Put him in the stocks?" Teag pressed. "Is he in the stocks right now, and that's why he hasn't been at home?"
"They don't deal with thieves the same way as they used to," Sauhm countered, turning to fix his grey eyes on the dreadlocked boy. "Tala's got fortress guards combing the markets now. Any criminal they catch in action gets sent straight to the Eastern Fortress."
Pippa frowned, and she noticed Teag clenching his fists. "Why?" he demanded
"No one knows. The Fortress Guard ships them in, but they don't ever come out. Had a few buddies get sent there months back, and I haven't seen them since."
"Dee's at the Eastern Fortress?"
"Got caught a few days ago. He got cocky—you know, he hasn't really been the same since you left."
"I didn't leave," Teag muttered, but his expression was clouded as he thought. "What does Tala want with a street urchin?"
"Like I said, no one knows. It's been going on for the last year or so."
"Are they...killing them?" There was fear in Teag's voice, but as Pippa turned to look at him, she realized his expression was stony.
"I would think they would make their executions public, if they were," Sauhm mused. "There are plenty of rumors, though. Most people think Tala's locking them up somewhere in the fortress. The question is, why does she care so much now when she never has before?"
"I've got to get him out." Teag sounded like he was mainly talking to himself, but Sauhm snorted.
"Get him out? If he's alive, he's locked up in the fortress under the order of the Eastern Leader, Teag. You'd have to have some powerful friends in order to get to Dee now." Sauhm shook his head as he finished mixing the ink. "It's probably a good thing that you've got yourself a valid apprenticeship...pinching coins is a lot more dangerous these days than it used to be."
Teag didn't answer, and Pippa found herself wondering what he was thinking. However, as she felt a clammy hand grab her arm, she turned back to see Sauhm studying her dryly.
"Be prepared girl," he offered as he positioned the needle over her arm. "It's going to hurt."
Julien carefully engaged the detail welder, studying the tech wafer as he gently welded the different pieces together.
"Vat did zey feed you, all growing up?" Agatha asked from her place screwing plates into place to create the outer shell of the machine they were working on.
"They fed me food," Julien explained, a smile tugging at his lips as faint whisps of smoke trailed up from the tech wafer. "What did you think they fed me?"
"But androids don't eat...vas zat strange? Did zey cook for you to eat alone?"
"My father is actually quite the chef. If you asked his old team, they would say he made the best meals back during their time living together. He cooked for us both, all growing up."
"Your father can eat?" Agatha looked up, her eyes wide with surprise. "But he's an android!"
"He is not your average type of android," Julien reminded as he put the welder off to one side to study his work. "He has a particular penchant for lunchmeat."
"Does your mother eat anything?"
Julien Cyrus frowned in thought. "I do not remember my mother eating anything, but she was always at the table with us while we ate. She was created to be a digital assistant, so eating was probably not a function that Borg felt was necessary to include."
"Borg built your mother? Really? Dr. Zerek always said zat Borg vould never make anyzing of real value to ze realm...but he cracked ze A.I code! Zat's certainly not nozing!"
"Yes, I have noticed Zerek does not think highly of Cyrus," Julien mused. "But Borg says he cannot take full credit for P.I.X.A.L becoming what she is today. He claims that her current personality was developed after she met my father."
"But vat happened to change her from digital assistant to a true artificial intelligence?"
"I am not really sure," Julien admitted. "Even my parents are sometimes puzzled by the fact that they reached such heights of sentience, while other androids have not. I heard them talk about some kind of tech that they both share—something that my father was built with that they still don't understand."
"It's so fascinating," Agatha mused. "So, you say zat your mother vas not programmed to eat, and yet your fazer is. Vie is zat?"
"Intention," Julien said, heading over to a drawer to rummage through a pile of wires. "The scientist who built my father was not trying to create a digital assistant or a security robot or anything like that."
"Zen vat vas he trying to create?"
Julien pulled out a red wire. "A son." Agatha was quiet as Julien brought the wire back over to the hardware he was trying to finish, and he could feel her eyes watching him closely.
"So...ze scientist set out to build a living, breathing person, so to speak," Agatha finally said. "And vat is more, he succeeded, as much as he could for an android. Vere is he now? I vould love a chance to speak vith him, to discover his secrets or learn of his methods."
Julien's expression clouded. "He died, long before I was ever born," he explained. "My father did not even know him for very long before he passed. There are many secrets that may never be known. My father considers him to be the greatest scientist who ever lived." Julien used a tiny screwdriver to screw a few loose pieces into place. "I suppose I do as well. His name was Julien—I was named after him, as well as my mother's father, Borg."
"She considers Borg to be her fazer?"
"What else would she consider him as?"
"Master? Or creator?" Agatha shook her head. "It's incredible, to zink of androids having such depths of emotion and interpersonal connection."
"I suppose," Julien agreed. "It does not shock me as much, but I suppose I grew up with it all around me."
"Vith your background, you could be building A.I's yourself," Agatha pointed out. "Imagine ze possibilities! No vonder you vent into Robotics."
"I have always had a fascination with robotics...but I do not have a desire to create more androids like my parents," Julien admitted.
"Vie? Your parents are amazing! Zey are scientific feats of wonder!"
"They are people," he reminded, setting the screwdriver aside as he sighed. "Creating more A.I. would be creating people. It seems wrong to create them and bring them into this world for no other purpose than to see if I could. They would need a purpose, and a family..."
"I have never heard somevone talk about A.I like zat," Agatha pointed out. Julien's expression darkened, and he didn't risk looking over at her.
"It's the only way to talk about it," he countered softly. "I am a scientist, but I do not have any desire to play god."
The two scientists fell quiet as they continued to work on their project. When Agatha broke the silence, her tone was gentle. "In my experience vith robotics, ze goal has alvays been to build better and achieve greater things. I suppose to me, ze ultimate goal of ze Robotics field in general vould be to create robots zat could do more zan just follow commands perfectly. In all my education here in Metallonia, A.I. is ze final goal. If zat is not your desire, zen vat do you hope to accomplish in the field of robotics?"
Julien came over to click the hardware into place on the shell that Agatha had been putting together. "I want to create higher quality mechanics that better the lives of all people, organic and mechanic," he offered as he adjusted the switches on the outside of the metal shell. "There is still much to be achieved and created in machinery outside the creation of sentient androids. Better technology that handles energy more efficiently could help androids last longer on their power supply, and help Ninjagoans across the realm lessen their footprint on the natural world."
"Is zat vut zis project is?" Agatha prompted as she studied the small device Julien was tweaking. "Somzing to reduce energy consumption?"
"Exactly. Using the energy that it gains from an external source, such as an electrical outlet, this project would internally create double the amount of energy before passing it on to further hardware."
"I thought it vas just an external power supply...like a battery," Agatha mused in surprise. "But vat you're describing is boz a battery and a generaror in von."
"If I can get it to work," Julien sighed. He plugged the machine into an outlet and flipped on the switch, and for thirty seconds or so, the machine hummed promisingly. However, then something began to spark, and Julien quickly unplugged it as the internal processor started smoking. "I know I am close, but I am struggling to find a material that can hold so much power."
"I am sure you vill figure it out," Agatha assured with a bright smile. Julien smiled at her before glancing back at his device. He took off his glasses to scrub them thoughtfully, as he often did while trying to work out a problem. Agatha put a hand on his shoulder. "Have you asked your parents about zis project? You mentioned zey are boz scientists, outside of being androids. Perhaps zey vould have good insight."
"They would," Julien agreed tentatively. "But I have not gone to them with it yet. If I am to make such a scientific breakthrough, I would like to do it on my own." He opened the shell to withdraw the tech he had just added, and he frowned as he realized it was all ruined. With a sigh, the blonde boy turned and tossed it in the nearby waste bin. "I just hope I can at least find a suitable alloy before the end of the trimester that is coming up."
"Vell, Metallonia is famous for having a wide variety of metal," Agatha reminded with a smile. "Not to mention that MIRI is renowned for having the most research done on the properties of the indigenous metals of the region."
"I know," Julien said with a smile. "It is why I agreed to do my internship here."
"You have been able to finish all ze ozer projects you have worked on zis year," Agatha said. "Zis von vill be no different. Togezer, ve can crack it."
"I hope so," Julien said. "The other projects I worked on were more busywork that professors forced on me. This is the first assignment where I am allowed the freedom to create whatever I want. It would be a pity to fail the first time I have been allowed to take off on my own."
"Zere is no true failure in science, because at ze end of every experiment, you have learned somezing," Agatha countered as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "Tomorrow, ve can visit ze nearby mining institution and ask ze scientists zere about vat metal vould vork best."
"That sounds like a good plan," Julien agreed, his cheeks flushed from how close she was.
"J.C...I have von last question."
Julien Cyrus blinked and turned to meet her eye. "About the project?"
"About you," Agatha corrected, studying him closely. "You are not an android. I have not vanted to be insensitive, but I am dying to know. How did a human child become ze son of robots?"
"Oh. I am adopted."
Agatha's nose crinkled in amusement. "I figured as much," she teased. "Vat I mean is how did ze adoption come to be?" Julien went quiet, and his girlfriend's smile faded. "I am sorry if I overstepped by asking."
"You did not overstep," Julien assured, and he moved to start clearing the worktable since they would have to leave the lab soon. "I told you about how my parents used to be part of the vigilante team that protected Ninjago. Eventually, the team members dispersed and began their own lives, and many stopped their crime-fighting in favor of building families and starting new careers. My parents became scientists, but unlike most of their teammates, they did not stop their vigilante work.
"One night, there was a fire in the outskirts of Ninjago City. My parents were among the forces that came to save civilians and put out the fire. My father went into the heart of blaze because he believed his powers over ice and the fact that he would be unharmed by the lack of oxygen made him the perfect candidate to fight the disaster at its core. In his attempts to locate survivors, he found me."
"You were in ze fire?"
"Yes. My birth parents were on an upper floor and did not survive," Julien said simply. It was strange that he didn't feel worse about it, but it was hard to feel anything more than distanced pity for the couple he had never known. "My father said I nearly died as well, but the medical team on sight managed to save my life."
"How old vere you?"
"About eighteen months. When my parents learned that I was orphaned, they fought for the right to keep me. They had to jump through some hoops to be allowed to adopt—no androids ever had tried before, after all. In the end, it helped that they were well known for their time saving Ninjago again and again. They named me Julien Cyrus, and brought me home."
"Vat about your real family? Do you know anyzing about zem?"
"My birth family," Julien corrected softly. "Not much. My past was devoured in that fire...but I was too young to even miss it, really. My parents are the ones who raised me, and they are the only family I have ever known."
He finished clearing the work table, but then he felt a hand on his face. He looked up to see Agatha smiling sadly at him. "You are a marvel, J.C," she offered. "How could you have kept all of zis a secret from me?"
"It is not something I share lightly," he admitted, pushing the glasses up his nose sheepishly. Agatha leaned in to kiss him gently.
"Zen I am all ze more honored to know it."
23
Hershel came into the bedroom, and he smiled when he saw Myrah sitting at the desk. "Still working?" he asked, causing his wife to look over.
"You're home late," she pointed out, before turning back to the letter she was writing. Hershel came over as Myrah put the quill back in the pot. The Western Leader sighed as she leaned backward, rubbing her cramping hand. "Were you training Pippa today?"
"No, I went to visit the border villages." Hershel came to sit next to Myrah, and he reached out to take her hand. "What are you up to?"
"I'm trying to write to Theodynn," Myrah admitted. "I thought he would have kept in contact, but I haven't heard from him in days."
"Why would Theodynn need to keep in contact?" Hershel asked, massaging her hand.
"We were working on a project together," she murmured.
"About the school?"
"Kind of," Myrah sighed. Her letter must have dried, because she moved to fold it with her free hand before pushing it up out of her way. "I suppose I'm worried about nothing. He just didn't seem himself last I saw him."
Hershel frowned. "I think his split with Haiven hit him hard."
"I've never known Theodynn to be so closed off," Myrah sighed. "How were the border villages?"
"They should be well-stocked until my next visit," Hershel mused, reaching up to take the pins out of his wife's hair. "How was your day?"
"Busy. I need to go get Raiyn—Syn was willing to watch him today, since Pippa was gone."
"Gone? Gone where?" Hershel asked as Myrah's hair tumbled down.
"I don't know," the Leader admitted. "We both thought she was training with you."
Hershel sighed, setting the pins down on the desk. "No doubt she's been running off," he realized. "Which isn't good, considering we still don't know anything about the people who ambushed us."
"Where would she go?"
"Hopefully she's just transporting to the Hidden Village and back," Hershel mused tiredly. "I'll have to talk with her tomorrow about running off without supervision. She's not used to being cooped up, but it's too dangerous for her to be exploring out on her own anymore."
"If we could get to the bottom of who targeted you..."
"We'll figure it out," Hershel assured, leaning forward to kiss her on the forehead. "Until then, I'll have to keep a better eye on Pip. We haven't had a training day since we were ambushed, and I'm sure that's not helping."
"There are more healers in the west besides you, you know," Myrah reminded as she leaned back on him. "I would feel better if you stayed here at the fortress as well. Pippa's safer than you, considering that she can transport. If you were ambushed again..."
"That's why I've been checking in on the villages," Hershel cut in as he pulled his fingers through her hair. "I need to make sure they're stocked for the traveling healers Syn's been training. But I can't stop going to the Hidden Village—the kids there need training."
"But it takes you so long to get there...it's further than any village you could travel to in the West," Myrah pointed out. "Not to mention that you go there often enough that the attackers could memorize your travel patterns."
"I'm taking guards with me," he reminded as he cupped her face. "I'll be all right."
Myrah studied his face, and he could see the conflict behind her eyes. "I don't want to lose you again, Hershel."
"I'll be careful," he promised as he kissed her. He felt her relax as she kissed him back, and for a few minutes, they could both forget about the stressors weighing down on them. Myrah pulled back at last, looking at him with a small smile.
"We ought to go get Raiyn, now that you're back," she murmured. Hershel smiled back, pulling her closer.
"I think Syn could watch him for a little longer."
Amber stared at the dress, her stomach tying itself in knots.
"Have you even tried it on yet?" Dani asked from the other side of their shared room. Amber sighed as she sat on her bed in defeat.
"No."
"The dance is tonight, you realize," Dani teased. "That doesn't leave you much time to find a replacement if it doesn't."
"It will be fine," Amber tried. "Mia and May could probably help me fix it, if it doesn't fit quite right."
"You're still planning on letting them help you get ready?" Dani asked. Her tone became neutral, but Amber could sense Dani's underlying irritation.
"They asked if they could...they seemed really excited to hear that I was going to a dance, and begged me to let them help me get ready. I didn't feel like I could say no."
"I know," Dani sighed. "I mean, it's the same reason I'm letting June help me get ready. But that doesn't mean that I approve of those horrible twins and their toxic opinions. You'd be better off avoiding them, in my opinion."
Amber looked over in surprise. "That may be the meanest thing I've ever heard you say about someone."
"They don't make it easy to look for the good," Dani huffed. "Mia especially...it's no wonder Colby moved out." The bespeckled teen's phone began to ring, and she answered it with a sigh. "Yeah, June, I've got everything. I'll meet you out front, okay?"
Amber turned back to her dress, wishing that she could muster up excitement for the rest of the day. However, she found herself wishing she could fast forward to when the whole thing was over.
Theo tried not to be impatient as he waited at the chrome-and-glass door. After another minute, the door blinked green and slid open, revealing a titanium man. Zane smiled, looking the exact same as he always had.
"Theodynn. I was surprised to get your call, but I have a little while before I have to head to the NRF. What can I help you with?"
"Hello, Uncle Zane," Theo said, following the nindroid into his home. "I found something strange in the first realm, and I was wondering if you could help me figure out where it came from."
"Intriguing," Zane offered as he brought Theo into a spacious room with a large table. "What did you find? A skull of some unknown species of animal? Perhaps a type of plant with an unknown function..."
"Actually, it's Vengestone," Theo cut in, pulling the chains out of his satchel and lying them on the table. Zane trailed off in surprise, and Theodynn waited as the android scanned the chains.
"Fascinating," Zane murmured, and Theo could hear the nindroid's processors working.
"I've never heard of Vengestone in the first realm," Theo offered. "So when I found these..."
"I would not be surprised if a power-blocking element existed in your realm, considering the elemental and Oni power that belongs to it," Zane offered. "However, I can say with certainty that these chains did not originate in your realm."
Theo's stomach twisted. "Where are they from?"
"Further tests would need to be done to figure out the exact origins, but based on my rudimentary scans, these samples are definitely from Ninjago." The nindroid glanced up, meeting Theo's eye. "Where did you find them?"
"Just out in the desert," Theo said, trying to seem nonchalant. "I didn't bring it up with my parents, or anything—I didn't want them to see Vengestone chains and think there was some big conspiracy going on."
Zane's expression clouded. "But there could be a conspiracy. Knowing the origins of the chains leads one to wonder why Ninjagoan Vengestone was in the Oni Realm in the first place."
"I know it's strange," Theo offered carefully. "That's why I brought it here. I was hoping that you'd be able to help me find some answers without making my parents think the world was ending."
"I suppose it would be unwise to spark unnecessary concern," Zane mused.
"Do you think you could do a few further tests on these chains and figure out where in Ninjago they originated from?" Theo asked. "Maybe they have some link to a more distant past that we're unaware of. It could help me learn more about the unwritten history of our realm."
Zane's expression cleared, and Theo felt a little guilty about using the Nindroid's own love of learning and history against him. "There are legends of our realms being connected beyond just when the First Spinjitzu Master left the first realm to create ours."
"So, do you think you can help me?" Theo pressed, trying not to sound impatient. "I really would like to know where exactly our realms crossed over in the past." And, possibly the present.
"I could help," Zane started. "But I believe that Julien Cyrus would be a better asset."
"Julien? Why?"
"He is currently studying at the Metallonian Inquiry and Robotics Institute," Zane offered. "If it is research on a specific metal you need, Metallonia would most likely have the best resources. They have more metals native to their land than anywhere else in Ninjago."
Theo frowned, but he finally nodded as he slid the chains back into his bag. "I'll have to give him a call," he offered. "How is he doing?"
"He is excelling in his schooling," Zane offered, but something about the comment seemed guarded. Theo frowned, studying his robotic uncle.
"How are things with his girlfriend?"
Zane blinked in surprise. "Girlfriend?"
"Amber told me that he met someone in Metallonia," Theo offered, slinging the satchel back over his shoulder. "Are they still together?"
Zane's expression was blank, and Theo began to feel stupid. Maybe he had misinterpreted what Amber had said last night when she had filled him in on everyone's lives, but he swore she said that Julien was seeing a Metallonian girl.
"The only girl from Metallonia that Julien has mentioned is Agatha," Zane finally said, but it sounded more like he was talking to himself than to Theo.
"That's her," Theo offered, remembering the name now that Zane had put it forward.
"But I thought Agatha was his mentor," the nindroid said softly. "Based on my calculations, she is at least five years Julien's senior. When he introduced us, he made it seem like she was merely a colleague."
"Maybe I'm remembering wrong, then," Theo said, feeling awkward. "I'll try to get in touch with him to see if I can get to the bottom of this Vengestone mystery."
"That would probably be best," Zane agreed, though he seemed distracted.
"Thanks for your help," Theo tried. "And, Uncle Zane? Would you mind keeping this between us? I'm afraid of what my parents will think if they hear about it. They've been more protective than ever lately."
Zane's expression cleared as he looked up to frown. "I think you should let your parents know, Theodynn. These chains could be innocent relics, like you say...or they could allude to a bigger problem that would affect the entire realm."
"I know," Theodynn assured. "I'll tell them, I promise, but I need to make sure I know what I'm bringing them into. I don't want to freak them out."
Zane nodded. "I hope you find the answers you are looking for."
Theo gave him a genuine smile. "Thanks."
Pippa entered the Western Fortress, her heart pounding. She kept her head up as she walked through the hallways, but her hands were shaking. Sunlight was filtering through the windows—she had been gone all night. Her parents may not notice when she disappeared during the day, but she knew they definitely would have recognized her disappearance last night.
It's fine, she reminded herself as she tugged at the bandages around her aching arms. They can't tell me what to do. I can take care of myself. I can...
"Pippa?"
The twelve-year old froze as her mother turned the corner and caught sight of her daughter. Syn looked disheveled, and Pippa didn't need to be able to read emotions to know that her mother was both relieved and angry.
"Where have you been?" Syn demanded as she began rushing through the hallway to get to her. Pippa opened her mouth to explain herself. However, the speech she had practiced for hours on the way back to the fortress evaporated as Pippa dissolved into tears instead.
"You went to the East?" Hershel's tone was hard to read. It was soft, which made it so Teag wasn't really sure if he was angry or just disappointed. He kept his eyes on the ground, not wanting to meet his mentor's eye. Teag didn't answer, not sure what to say. He heard Hershel sigh from his place in a chair in the library. "Teag...I told you—"
"Nothing happened," Teag managed at last.
"But something could have." Hershel stood, and Teag swallowed as he listened to him walking over to him. "There are criminals out there who are hunting people like you. What on earth possessed you to go all the way to the East?"
"I was looking for my brother." Teag's fists clenched.
Hershel didn't say anything for a minute, but then he sighed. "Teag, look at me." Teag glowered at the ground as Hershel put his hands on his shoulders. "If you wanted to go to the East—"
"You wouldn't have come with me." Teag looked up to meet Hershel's eye at last. "You're too busy with teaching everyone else and worrying about your real family."
Something flickered across Hershel's expression. "Teag..."
"You don't own me! I don't belong here...I belong in the East with my brother. You can't keep me in the Hidden Village, or the West, or anywhere."
"I'm trying to keep you safe."
"I don't need you to keep me safe! I'll be fine on my own!" The words escaped, and Teag's face burned. This wasn't the conversation he had meant to have, but he couldn't stop the hurt and anger boiling inside. Hershel's pitying expression only made it worse.
"Then why did you come back?" the healer asked softly.
Teag felt his eyes fill with tears, and he looked away again. "Tala has my brother," he confessed. "He was arrested, and I have to get him out before they do something horrible to him." Hershel didn't say anything. No doubt the confession had taken him aback. Teag rushed to continue, forcing the words out despite the tightness in his throat. "Can you...can Myrah..." Teag trailed off, shame causing his face to burn.
"You want us to try to get him out?"
"Would it be possible to?" Teag risked a glance up. Hershel's brow was furrowed in thought as he studied the boy in front of him.
"I don't know," Hershel murmured honestly, and Teag felt like the ground was pulled out from under his feet. He couldn't stop the tears from escaping, and Hershel squeezed his shoulder. "Isn't your brother the one who abandoned you? That's why your powers ever became—"
"He's not perfect, but he's still my brother," Teag cut in, wiping at his face. "He's the only family I have."
"Teag..."
"Can you help him or not?" Teag demanded, anger mixing with his despair and humiliation. Hershel exhaled slowly.
"I'll talk to Myrah," he promised. "But I don't think you should go back to the East, Teag. The people who attacked me are still out there—until we can put a stop to them, I don't want you going anywhere by yourself." Teag scowled, and Hershel fixed him with an intense look. "I promise I'll do what I can to help your brother...but I need you to promise to stay here."
"And do what?" Teag muttered. "Work for Veneik?"
"If that's what you want to do," Hershel said. "It's just until the threat targeting powered Oni goes down."
Teag scoffed. "That's what you said about leaving the Hidden Village. You said you'd let me strike out on my own... yet, here I am." He glowered at the floor a little longer, but then he sagged. "If you can get Dee out, I'll stick around. Okay?"
Hershel looked conflicted, but he nodded. "I'll see what we can do about your brother. It may take a little while, though. Politics can be—"
"Dee might not have a little while!" Teag argued.
"The East doesn't practice execution, outside of major crimes," Hershel reminded. "I'll see how fast we can get an audience with Tala. Until then, I don't want you leaving the fortress. Even if you made it to the East and back safely doesn't mean that you didn't attract unwanted attention by going all that way alone."
Teag pushed his hair out of his face. "I wasn't really alone," he muttered.
"Who was with you?"
Before Teag could answer, the door to the library flew open with a bang. Hershel and Teag both turned in surprise to see a furious-looking Tolan seething in the doorway.
"Hot-stuff," the guard growled. "Did you take my daughter to get tattoos?"
Hershel looked shocked, but Teag scowled as he sank into the shadows at the anger in Tolan's expression.
Sure...now he's around.
24
"Come on out, Amber! You have to have the dress on before hair and makeup, or you'll ruin it all."
Amber bit her lip, looking down at the draping gauze. The dress had intrigued her on the rack, but now that she was wearing it, she realized just how fancy it truly was. It reminded her of the gaudy dress Dani had gotten her to try on when they went shopping for outfits for Tobias Bentworth's binding. M is going to think I look ridiculous.
The thought caught her off guard, and she scowled as she dusted off the dress and sent a barrage of glitter onto the floor of the Walker's bathroom. It didn't matter what M thought, because M wasn't even the one she was going to the dance with.
"Amber!"
"I don't think it fits!" Amber called at last, even though the dress actually did fit rather well, considering that she hadn't even tried it on before buying it.
"Let us see!"
Amber chewed her lip, trying to figure out what to do. It was too late to try to find something else to wear, and based on what she had heard about these kinds of dances, there was a certain fanciness required. The door opened, and Amber winced at the gasps from the identical sisters. The Oni looked down at herself, flushing. "What do you think?"
"Amber, it's gorgeous!" May told her.
"You look like a superstar," Mia assured, coming forward to grab Amber's arm and pull her out of the bathroom. "Oh, we can definitely work with this."
Amber swallowed, but she let the twins drag her down the hall to May's room, where they plopped her in front of a large vanity. Makeup and hair supplies were scattered across the young woman's normally spotless desk, and Amber scratched at the frilly ruff around her neck. "Honestly, I was just going to braid my hair, like normal," she offered. "Maybe a little eyeshadow..."
"Amber, I love you, but you need to embrace true style," Mia tsked as she turned the Oni so Amber's back was to the mirror. "Maybe all this would be too much for the everyday, but you're supposed to go all out for dances. It's your time to really stand out!"
"I already stand out," Amber sighed.
"Just let us try some things," May pressed, wrapping Amber's shoulder's in a towel. "If you don't like it, you don't have to keep it. That's why we had you come over so early."
"Are you kidding? She totally has to keep it!" Mia snapped.
May rolled her eyes as she brushed through Amber's thick hair. "I was thinking an updo would really frame your horns..."
"You can't cover her horns!" Mia argued. "That's her entire special aesthetic! We have to keep her hair down to show them off."
"Dani made these to use on my horns," Amber offered nervously, holding up delicate silver chains that ended with dangling jewels. "Do you think you could figure out how to put them on?"
"Absolutely," May offered, taking the jewelry before heading over to her makeup kit. "You're in charge of the hair then, Mia. I'll do makeup."
Amber sank back into the chair, feeling self-conscious as the twins flit over her. She closed her eyes as they pulled at her hair, and she jumped when something uncomfortably warm grew close to one ear.
"Sorry, using a curling iron," Mia said cheerfully, not really sounding sorry. Amber wrinkled her nose at the smell of burning hair, and she grabbed fistfuls of her dress as she prayed that her hair didn't get completely fried.
As the twins worked, they chatted about random things, and Amber tried to keep up with the conversation. However, the longer they talked, the more Amber realized there was a tenseness between the two sisters. They were obviously trying to hide it, but certain comments were harsher than others, and Amber chewed her lip as they fought over her.
"You need to add more of a cat-eye, May."
"Amber's eyes are already unique—she doesn't need cat-eye."
"Cat-eye is in!"
"Not everything in style is about the fads, Mia."
"I'd rather not look like a cat," Amber chimed in uncomfortably. She was rewarded by another painful yank on her hair before a pin stabbed into her skull.
"It doesn't make you look like a cat," Mia snapped.
"Just stick with her hair, Mia," May sniffed. "Makeup is my specialty."
After what felt like an eternity, the twins finally spun her around to face the mirror again. Amber's eyes were shut, and she felt May pull the towel off her shoulders. "Go ahead, Amber," she prompted. "Take a look."
The Oni took a deep breath and finally obliged. For a moment, she stared at her reflection without even realizing it was her. When the realization clicked, the reflection's eyes grew wide under the sparkling eyeshadow May had applied.
"Ancients," Amber managed, her mouth falling open.
"Isn't it great?" Mia squealed. "I knew you could look good, but even I'm shocked by how good you look!"
"You look beautiful," May agreed. "What do you think?"
Honestly, Amber wasn't even sure what to think. Her reflection was impressive, but as she studied her glittering features, she couldn't help but think it didn't look like her. She rubbed a finger along the lipstick May had applied, taking in the crisp curls that hung far too perfectly. "I don't know," she finally admitted. "I mean...it doesn't look bad, or anything, but it doesn't really look like me."
"Of course it looks like you!" Mia snapped. "Your best you!"
Amber chewed her lip. She noticed that May had decorated her horns with the glittering chains, and she reached up to finger the little jewels dripping off the tips. "I've never looked this fancy in my life," she tried. "Not even for performances."
"Let's go take pictures," Mia begged, grabbing Amber's arm. "Come on...let's have a photoshoot!"
"We can tone down the hair and makeup, if you think it's too much," May said, shooting her twin an irritated look. Amber almost agreed, but she could sense May's actual disappointment behind her words. The Oni glanced at her reflection again and finally sighed.
"It's all right," she offered. "It's just for one night, right?"
Mia grinned, pulling the Oni from the room completely. "Photoshoot!"
Colby straightened the sparkling blue tie Dani had given him, his shoes squeaking on the wet pavement as he headed for the mansion at the end of the street. It always took him aback to remember that Dani's family was loaded. His girlfriend always acted so casual about everything, it was easy to forget.
Girlfriend. Colby couldn't help the goofy grin that spread across his face, but he managed to compose himself as he climbed the stairs to the front door. He tugged the tie one last time before knocking on the pristine white door. For a few minutes, there was silence, so Colby knocked harder. At last he heard footsteps, and then the door flew open.
"You're right on time, Walker!" Dani beamed. Colby's eyes widened, and he was speechless as he took in her outfit. From the waist down, Dani's dress was flowy and simple. The bodice was the same type of sparkling blue as his tie, with a neckline that criss-crossed before wrapping around her neck.
"Hey," Colby finally managed as he flushed, and Dani laughed as she adjusted her glasses. They were teal, like her dress, and she turned to call into the house.
"Hey, Colby's here! See you all later!"
"DANIELLE!" The cry came from the back of the house, and suddenly Dani's older sister June appeared in the marbled foyer. Her hair was stick-straight, and though she wasn't dressed up for a dance, Colby knew her well enough now to know that she wasn't ever not impeccably dressed. June pouted as she marched over. "You can't answer the door when you're going to a dance!"
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard," Dani said with an eye roll.
"You're supposed to let the butler get the door so you could come down the stairs for the full effect," June sighed. "Now, leave your glasses here. They're clashing with the classic look of the dress."
"I can't leave my glasses," Dani pointed out dryly. "Then I wouldn't be able to see."
"But—"
"Look, we've got to go," Dani said, flipping her lightly curled hair over one shoulder. "I'll see you when I get home, okay?"
"Where's the corsage?" June demanded, looking at Colby for the first time. Colby swallowed at the judgment in the woman's expression, but Dani came to his rescue.
"I told him not to get one. I didn't buy a boutonniere, either."
"You have to get corsages and boutonniere. Were you not listening at all when I—"
"Love you, June. Thanks for helping me get ready," Dani cut in, giving her sister a quick hug before coming to the door. She grabbed Colby's arm, dragging him out the door. June sighed heavily, glancing at her manicured nails.
"Fine, but make sure you're back by curfew, or our parents will have a fit."
"I live at the school, not at home."
"You know you have to spend the night here tonight...just to, you know. Make sure." June's gaze flicked back at Colby, who turned burgundy. Dani rolled her eyes again.
"Bye," she said dryly before pulling her boyfriend down the path to the street. Colby wasn't sure what to say, his face still flaming. Dani finally looked up at him, and her irritation melted away as she reached up to run her hand through his hair. "Looking good, Walker. I see you're going for the wind-swept look...and is that cologne I smell?"
"Um..." Colby smiled sheepishly as he tugged at his tie again. Dani laughed, wrapping one sleeveless arm around his waist as she leaned on him.
"You're wearing it tastefully, don't worry," she assured. "So...are we walking to the dance? Don't worry if we are—I'm wearing sneakers." She tugged up her floor-length dress to expose the Reggie-Blue hightops with a coy smile. "Another reason we had to get out of the house quick—June would have a conniption if she knew."
"I actually stopped by home and got my bike," Colby said. "The restaurant is too far to walk to."
"Your bike? Old school...I like it," Dani laughed. However, as they turned the corner, she caught sight of Colby's ride and whistled low. "Wait, since when do you have a motorcycle?"
"My parents are engineers, and my mom runs a cycle shop. I've been riding since way before I was ever legally allowed to."
"Never took you to be a biker, Walker," Dani teased. Colby rubbed his neck sheepishly.
"I prefer to walk most places. Cycles are loud...they make it hard to think," Colby pointed out as he pulled off the two helmets dangling off the handlebars. "But people don't generally walk to school dances, from what I've heard." He went to hand the helmet to Dani, but then he froze as he took in her fancy hair-style. Kicking himself, Colby lowered the helmet. "I just realized that a motorcycle's probably not the best way to travel when you're all dressed up."
"Are you kidding?" Dani snatched the helmet and pulled it on over her hair. She flipped up the visor, grinning at him. "Get on the bike and show me what you got."
"Are you sure?"
"Your aunt's restaurant isn't that far away," Dani scoffed. "Besides, I've always wanted to ride a motorcycle."
Colby blinked, but then he smiled shyly. "Do you...wanna try driving it?"
Dani stared at him, and he thought he had put his foot in his mouth until his girlfriend shrieked in excitement. "Are you kidding?" she asked, hiking her skirt in order to board the motorcycle. She grabbed the handlebar and twisted it, only to realize she was twisting the wrong one. "Come show me how this works, Colby."
He smiled and pulled his own helmet on before getting on the bike behind her. "The throttle's on this side," he offered, reaching around her to put his hand on hers. "And this is the front break lever."
"Gas and breaks, got it," Dani said, turning to look at him.
"Let's take it slow," he warned as he turned the throttle with her. "We'll avoid the busy streets."
"You want to take the long way?"
"Um..." Colby shrugged. "Better safe than sorry."
"You don't trust me, Walker?" Dani teased, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "Not that you should—I don't know that I've ever even been this close to a motorcycle." She twisted the throttle, seemingly enjoying the ruckus sound. "I can't believe you've had one this whole time! You were holding out on me!"
"I'm already a misunderstood artist," he pointed out as he scooted up next to her on the motorcycle seat. "I didn't want to come across as too edgy."
"You could never be too edgy," Dani argued as she leaned back into him. "Though, it's probably a good thing you haven't brought this around until now. My parents would have a fit if they knew my boyfriend drove a motorcycle."
Colby chuckled as he kicked up the kickstand with one leg. "Why do you think I parked around the corner?"
"Hold it!" Mia ordered. "Now look at each other! Not me, Amber—look at your date."
Amber felt mortified as Mia snapped pic after pic, and she turned to Patrick apologetically. "I'm sorry—they really wanted pictures," she offered softly. He smiled at her in his dark-grey suit.
"Don't worry, Amber. It's all part of the experience. If our roles were reversed, you can bet my Ma would be taking a million photos too." Amber smiled, glad that he wasn't weirded out by Mia's impromptu photo-shoot. Patrick leaned in, moving a curl out of her face. "You look great, by the way," he murmured, and Amber felt a flush run up her neck.
"That was perfect!" Mia said, still snapping away. Amber turned to tell her to stop, but May beat her to the punch.
"That's enough, Mia. They're probably starving—let them go eat already."
"I had to capture the moment," Mia sniffed, though she finally lowered the phone. "I'll send you the pics, k, Amber? Then you can show them to your family."
"All right," Amber agreed. Patrick slipped his arm through hers, and Amber tried to calm down as they set off toward the door.
"Wow, Amber! I didn't even recognize you!" a voice cut in, and Amber turned to see Jay standing at the bottom of the stairs. Amber flushed.
"That's our handiwork," Mia said smugly, folding her arms. "Doesn't she look amazing?"
"Like a million bucks," Jay agreed before calling down the hall. "Hey Nya! Come see Amber before she leaves!"
"It's really okay," Amber tried, but she could hear Nya coming through the house.
"What are you yelling about?" she asked, but she stopped when she saw Amber. "Oh my gosh, you look amazing!"
"Thanks, Aunt Nya," Amber stammered, feeling more flustered than ever.
"Have fun," the engineer offered with a wink before turning to her daughters. "Did Colby stop by? His bike is gone."
"Not sure," May shrugged, but Mia's expression soured.
"I thought we agreed not to talk about that traitor in this house," she huffed, folding her arms. Her twin shot her an unamused look.
"Literally no one agreed to that."
"Then why did our parents kick him out?" Mia demanded. "Obviously, it's because—"
"We didn't kick Colby out!" Nya snapped angrily. "For the last time, he's training at the temple."
"He doesn't need to train! He's not the master of anything!"
Amber and Patrick stood stock-still next to the door, and Amber could feel his discomfort. Her face burned with shame, but hers wasn't the only one. Jay made his way over, opening the door and giving Amber and her date a sheepish smile.
"Drive safe," he offered. Amber returned the smile.
"Thanks, Uncle Jay."
She and Patrick slipped out as the argument in the house seemed to grow more heated, and the walk back to the car was silent as Amber tried to think of what to say. Patrick opened the door of his car for her, and it took Amber a few minutes of twisting and skirt-stuffing to get into the seat. Her face was flaming as Patrick shut the door and walked around to the driver's side.
"So, you're always telling me that I need to try out your aunt's restaurant," he said, striking up a conversation as he twisted the key in the ignition. "How about we stop there for dinner before the dance?"
Amber felt the knot in her stomach relax somewhat as she thought about going to Skylor's restaurant. She had been there so many times over the years it basically felt like home. "I think that would be great," she offered. She tried to flatten out the poofy skirt, and she was horrified as further shimmering dust rained down onto the interior of Patrick's car. "I'm so sorry," she offered. "I'm getting glitter everywhere."
Patrick laughed as they drove. "Don't worry about it," he said. "You look beautiful, Amber. A little glitter isn't going to hurt anything. In fact, it will be a fun reminder in the weeks to come." He looked over and smiled, and Amber returned it. She had admitted to the twins that she was nervous, but they assured her that she was just excited and that butterflies were normal. However, the Oni couldn't help but wonder why her "butterflies" felt so much like dread.
"So...what have you been up to today?" she asked, trying to fill the silence. She and Patrick always had plenty to talk about during practices and performances...why was it suddenly so hard to think of anything they had in common?
"I had some tutoring this morning for a few of my non-dancing classes," he offered. "Then I went home and got ready for the dance. You?"
"Um...most of the day was spent getting ready," Amber admitted as she pushed a pesky curl out of her face. "I honestly was just planning on braiding my hair, but the twins insisted..."
"Well, I'm glad you didn't," Patrick offered. "Sometimes it's fun to go all out, right?"
Amber shrugged. "Yeah, I guess." Their conversation went quiet again. "So how's the farm?"
"Doing pretty well. My pop's got some new machinery from some Metallonian company that he's pretty excited about. It's funny—my old man could be told that his children are graduating with honors or becoming doctors and he wouldn't care much...but give him a shiny new machine, and he bawls like a baby."
"Do you want to be a doctor?" Amber asked, surprised. Patrick laughed out loud.
"No way. My brother Jens became a doctor, though. Pop was proud of him, don't get me wrong, but there wasn't one tear shed. Not like when he opened his new milking machine last week."
"What is it you want to do after graduation?" Amber asked. "I'm realizing that I've talked your ear off about my plans, but I never asked you about yours."
"Don't worry about it. I like listening to your plans," Patrick said easily. "Besides, I still have an entire year left before I have to worry about all that. Not all of us are fancy enough to graduate a year early."
"Well, you could be graduating a year late, like M," Amber pointed out. Patrick shrugged.
"Yeah, I wonder if he regrets going on that tour all those years ago."
"I think it was good for him," Amber tried. "It kind of helped him find himself."
"I guess he got a snake out of it," Patrick added politely. Silence fell once again, and Amber was grateful to see the restaurant in sight. She felt a stir of relief when Patrick parked, and she threw the door open and basically fell out of it.
"Dumb dress," she muttered as she barely managed to catch herself, her legs entangled in the gaudy skirt. Patrick jumped out of his side and hurried over to help.
"I was planning on getting the door," he said sheepishly. Amber allowed him to help her up, and she shrugged.
"I can open the door...it's not a big deal."
"Well, at least let me get this one," he said as they reached the door to the restaurant. Amber smiled as he pulled the door open, and she dragged her heavy skirt inside. The place wasn't too crowded, and it had a certain smell that washed over her and transported her right back to her childhood. Suddenly, she could picture herself and her family eating in their usual booth in the corner of the room, with her brother and father competing to see who could eat the most puffy-potstickers. Her heart ached a little bit when she thought about Theo. What's he doing tonight? She wondered. Maybe he and Grandpa can catch up some more?
"Amber!" Dani's voice echoed through the otherwise quiet restaurant, and Amber turned in surprise to see her roommate sitting in one of the booths. Dani's hair was sticking up all over the place, and she was wearing a navy suitcoat over her sparkling dress. As Amber came closer, she realized it was Colby's suitcoat. The Walker boy turned and blinked in surprise as he took in the Oni's outfit.
"You let the twins get a hold of you...didn't you?" he finally asked. Amber sighed while Dani slapped her boyfriend's hand.
"Shut up, she looks great," she argued, but something about Dani's tone was strained. Amber swallowed feeling more self-conscious than ever in her gaudy attire. I'm more flamboyant than Dani, she realized suddenly. That should really have been a warning sign right there.
"Hey, Danielle!" Patrick offered, having caught up to his date. One time, Amber had asked why he insisted on calling Dani by her full name, and he had replied that they had gone to the same primary school and she had gone by Danielle back then. Dani smiled up at Patrick.
"Hey, Patrick. You've got a good-looking date there," she offered.
"Don't I know it," Patrick replied good-naturedly as he put an arm around Amber's shoulders. She felt her mouth go dry, not sure how to respond.
"Want to sit with us?" Colby offered, scooting over on the bench.
"Tired of my company already, Walker?" his girlfriend teased. Colby flushed, but then he was smiling.
"Like you wouldn't rather talk with Amber than me."
"I am aghast that you would think so," Dani said. "But I suppose if we sit all together, we can keep the glitter carnage to just one booth. That way, your aunt and uncle may actually let us come back." Dani scooted over on her side of the booth as well before patting the seat. Amber gratefully went to sit next to her roommate, and she was relieved when the awkwardness between her and Patrick seemed to fade. It's so much easier to do this in a group, she decided as she laughed at Dani's antics and Colby's occasional dry quips as the four of them talked.
Eventually, the table was littered with empty plates, and Dani hugged her middle as she groaned. "Next time, I'll get a dress two sizes too big so I have room to grow," she complained. "I need to complain to the chef about the food being too good."
"What's this about complaining to the chef?"
Amber turned to see Skylor smiling at them, and the Oni smiled. These days, Skylor and Kai were only in the restaurant half of the time, leaving other managers to run it the other half. She was glad they were there that night, though. It had been a while since she had seen them.
"Man, I barely recognized you!" Kai added, appearing next to his wife. "Skylor pointed you out and I told her for sure that wasn't you guys. But then I saw the horns...that's kind of a dead give-away."
"I promise I wasn't really going to complain about the food," Dani offered with a sheepish smile. "Everything was delicious."
"That's because I didn't let Kai in the kitchen today," Skylor teased, pushing her hair out of her face. The bright auburn was starting to become streaked with grey, and her husband put a hand to his chest in mock offense.
"I have come a long way," he argued before turning back to the booth. "How about I whip you guys up a free dessert, and you can tell my wife how good my cooking actually is?"
"Dessert?" Dani asked. "I wished I had the room!"
"Thanks for the offer, Uncle Kai," Colby added. Kai looked disappointed.
"You're passing up on free dessert?" he asked. "I've never known you to say no to my famous lemon custard with whipped cream."
Amber caught a whiff of longing come off the Walker boy, but he shook his head. "That sounds really good, but I'm trying to lay off desserts at the moment."
Dani looked over to frown. "You are? Why?"
"Probably better not to try and eat Kai's 'famous' custard in your best clothes," Skylor mused. "It's notoriously sloppy."
"It's custard! It's supposed to be sloppy!"
"How's your family, Amber?" Skylor continued, ignoring her husband.
"They're good," Amber assured. "Theo's in town, actually. He's spending the weekend here to take a break from all the things he has to do back home."
"Theodynn's in Ninjago? Make sure you send him our way. It's been too long."
"Will do," she promised.
Across the table, Patrick was making his move to leave. He caught Amber's eye as he stood. "You were right about this place being amazing," he offered. "Now, are you ready to go?"
Amber smiled and nodded, but the dread had reappeared in her now-stuffed stomach. Patrick didn't seem to sense her foreboding as he helped her extract herself from the booth.
"On to the dance!"