CH 7
Eric took Tikiez and Saphrin home to show Saphrin where he lived and so their could put their new clothes away. With them occupied, he returned to the warehouse and got the 50 pound bag of gold coins and went to the bank.
Seeing him come into the bank with the bag, the bank manager met him in the lobby. "More?" he asked.
Eric nodded. "Fifty pounds. Got your scales ready?"
"Always for you, Mr. Carvon, this way please."
Walking into a room behind the counters, the manager asked, "Instead of putting all that cash into your account, have you ever thought about investing?"
"I have investments, what did you have in mind?" Eric asked.
"I heard of a man, Henry Ford, who is looking to start an automobile company. He is looking for investors with your kind of wealth, Mr. Carvon." the manager explained.
"Ahh, I've seen those are everywhere lately. Pretty expensive toys, from what I hear," Eric told him.
"They are. See, Mr. Ford believes he can make them more affordable. He just needs the backing to get started. Say, $50,000 to get started."
Eric thought about it. "Can I put the money from this gold into a separate account wile I think it over? If he's serious, I'll be home for a little while, a couple weeks."
"We can do that, Mr. Carvon," the manager said happily. "I'll get my appraiser and he can start totaling up what you have here."
Eric put the bag on the table and took a seat. He was offered coffee and newspaper while he waited to see how much this gold was worth in dollars.
.
Not knowing Lily's real name, Duncan was slowly Charmed into wanting her badly. By the time he got back to his hotel room with her, they were both desperate to rip their clothes off. Once the door to his room was shut, they did. Duncan was anticipating sex, and he got it. Over and over until he passed out. Lily received a big charge of energy from him. She patiently waited for him to come around as she idly stroked him. He stayed out for two hours, she cuddled up and rested too. What she wanted to do was blow the roof of this place in her joy.
There was a knock at the door. Lily got up and put his robe on and made sure Duncan was covered up, then answered the door.
A stern looking, tall man with a scar across his neck who also had seemingly endless energy asked, "Is Duncan McLeod here?"
"Who are you?" she asked.
He grinned at her. "Nice bit of candy, aren't you?"
"I am. Right now, I'm Duncan's candy."
"I'll have some fun with you next," the man leered and shoved a hand out to push her back.
Lily dodged his thrust then drove a knee up into his groin hard enough to pick him off the floor and toss him back into the hallway. "I'm not done with him, yet," Lily stated.
In pain, kneeling on the floor and holding his crotch, the man glowered at her. "You'll pay for that!" he spat and jumped up to swing a fist at her face.
Lily ducked the swing and kneed him in the groin again to knock him back against the wall. She then swung a fist fast, hitting him in the cheek. He toppled over.
Grabbing a foot she ran down the hall dragging him as he tried to recover.
"Arrrgh!" he yelled in rage and tried to grab her hand.
Getting to the end of the hall, she stopped and tossed him up as she bend low. He flew over her. With a push she threw him out the window. He bellowed all the way to the ground.
Lily walked back to the room, Some men just could not wait for their turn!
The commotion woke Duncan up. She returned and shut the door to see him up and holding a sword. She eyed him with a grin and said, "I don't know if we can play 'ravish the headless maiden' here."
"What?" Duncan asked, confused. "I heard a window break."
"The one at the end of the hall," Lily explained. "This big guy who's like you wanted to come in and bother us. I beat on him a bit and threw him out the window at the end of the hallway. I don't like getting interrupted," she explained.
Duncan looked out of his room to see a few others were, also.
"Did you see what happened?" a woman asked.
Duncan shook his head. "You?" he asked another man peeking out.
The man shook his head.
"I'll call the front desk!" another man announced.
Duncan went back in his room. "Lily, you said he was like me?" he asked.
Lily nodded. "Yes, he was full of energy too, but you're my Master now, so I'm not going to let anyone hurt you."
"Your Master?"
"Yes, you have my amulet, you're my Master," she beamed. "And you only have me and an endless amount of energy, and you're really good!"
Slowly, Duncan said, "I don't want a slave."
"I am what you want me to be," Lily replied. "I'll do whatever you want. If you want to change my name, that's fine."
"A slave," Duncan said heavily.
"I'm yours," Lily said again.
"Well…. You're free. You're not a slave any more," Duncan stated.
Lily frowned at him. "You don't like me?"
Frustrated, Duncan said, "I do like you, but that's not the point, you feel you have to be with me."
"I do."
Duncan picked up the amulet and tried to hand it to her. "Here."
Lily shied back. "That's yours Master, I can't hold it. Only my Master can."
"What I so special about this?" Duncan asked.
Pointing to the amulet, Lily said, That is me. It is what binds me to the material plane and lets me have a material form here. Whoever holds it is my Master."
"What do you mean, this is you?" he asked.
"Just what I said. If something happens to it, I cease to exist. I return to nothingness."
Duncan gaped at her for a moment then said, "You really are a demon."
Lily cocked her head slightly to the side. "I am. Eric told you that, didn't he?"
"Didn't believe him," Duncan grumbled. "So I just made love to a demon."
Grinning broadly, Lily replied, "You sure did! Want to go again?" she asked happily.
Duncan rubbed his forehead. "I think I need to talk to Eric again. Do you know where his house is?"
"No. I know where my sisters are. We find them, and we'll find Eric."
.
Eric's total came out to $74,481. He had the bank manager put $50,000 in the separate account, took a $24,000 bank check, then put 400 in his account and took the last $81 for pocket money. He also wanted the bank manager to contact this Mr. Ford and see if he still wanted his investor. Automobiles were new, and thinking about it, investing in them sounded like a good idea.
Eric went and put in for another 500 pound order of carbon steel ingots. The price was a little higher than he expected, $21,480. He had the order increased to $24,000 worth and gave the man the check. His order would be delivered in two weeks.
On his way home, he passed his warehouse and looked at the high windows. He needed to keep those things shut. He went to the hardware store and got metal mesh grates and the lagging bolts to secure them in place.
Returning to the warehouse, he unlocked the door and went in to start work. He locked the door behind him after he went in.
"So good of you to come," a male voice said, then stepped out from the other side of the vault, pointing a pistol at him. "You can open this for us now." Behind the man was Amanda.
"Brought help this time?" Eric asked as he went over and set down his load by a window.
"I will shoot you," the man announced.
Eric noted while he got the headache tingle from Amanda, he didn't from this guy. He let out a sigh and said, "Fella, do yourself a big favor, get out and don't come back."
"The combinations, NOW!" the man announced.
"Or what? You'll kill me?" Eric asked.
Walking closer, then man pointed the gun at his leg.
Eric looked over and saw a window on the other side was open. "Used the back side this time huh?" he asked.
"Combos, right now!" the man barked.
Eric pulled his on gun as he turned to the man. Snapping up, he shot. The man took it in the belly and folded over. Eric shot him again, head shot. That one dead, Eric turned his gun on Amanda. "Don't even think about running," he stated.
"He made me come!" Amanda stated.
"Right," Eric replied, stretching the word out. "What are you after, anyway?"
Amanda shrugged. "I don't know what's in there," she said.
Tikiez and Saphrin came running in. "What's up?" Tikiez asked.
"Miss thief brought help this time. Sally, bury him, nice and deep." Eric told her.
"Master, I can't do that here."
Eric let out a huff. He motioned Amanda closer. "Come over, hands behind your back," he ordered.
Amanda took a few steps towards him and reached behind her. He shot her in the chest.
Eric had his demons put them side by side, then moved them all to Krynn into a lightly wooded area he knew. He had the man buried, then waited.
"Do we bury her too?" Tikiez asked.
"No, just wait," Eric replied.
A few minutes later, Amanda woke with a gasp.
"Have good nap?" Eric asked.
Amanda shot up and looked around. "Where are we?" she asked.
"Someplace else, not Earth" Eric told her. "Since you tried to rob my empty vault twice, you've got a choice. You can work for me, or I'll just leave you here. The nearest town is about sixty miles away. The nearest city, Gateway, is only thirty. You'll have to figure out the direction yourself."
Tikiez brought her wings and tail out. "Can I take a fly?"
"No time. We won't be here long." Eric stated. "Well, Amanda, which is it. We go back, and I'll be leaving you here."
Amanda eyed the two succubi. "What are they?"
"They work for me. Will you?" Eric asked.
"I can just walk away?" Amanda asked.
"Go."
Amanda paused. "What did you want me to do?"
"One job. It shouldn't take more than a couple days," Eric said. He pointed the direction out and said, "Gateway is that way, go there, check on an elf named Abby. See that she's all right then return here. She's in the inner city, by the council chamber. Tell Palin that Eric Carvon sent you. Tell him I said you can stay in my house. He'll give you food and water for the trip back."
"Either way, you're leaving me here," Amanda stated.
"I am. Do what I ask and you get to go back. Don't, and you'll be stuck here. You got three days," Eric said, then put an arm around each of his demons and disappeared.
Amanda let out a grumble and started stomping her way to this Gateway city.
.
Luckily, Eric had a long ladder to reach the windows of the warehouse. One at a time, he began bolting the wire mesh grates over the inside of the windows. He'd gotten three done when someone knocked at the door. Seeing Tikiez run over to answer the door, he got down.
Lily came in followed by Duncan.
Tikiez grinned a her. "How was it, have a good time?" she asked.
"Wonderful!" Lily beamed. "But Duncan doesn't want me any more," she added with a pout.
"Why not?" Tikiez asked and eyed Duncan.
"Would you like me instead?" Saphrin asked.
In a firm tone, Duncan said, "I don't want any slaves."
"There's a problem I take it?" Eric asked as he came over.
Duncan eyed him unkindly. "You are holding these women as slaves! Don't you see anything wrong with that?"
Eric shook his head. "No. They need a Master, and I treat them good. Duncan, you do realize if they have no Master, they have no life."
"That's wrong! There must be a way to free them," Duncan insisted.
"There isn't," Eric said firmly. "I found Tina trapped in my cellar, she couldn't leave there because she had no Master. Sally was in an old castle, struck inside for the same reason. Lily was at the bottom of a sea. Are you saying I should have left them there?"
"Here," Duncan said firmly and held out Lily's amulet.
Eric winced. "Are you sure you want to give her up?"
"I won't be a party to slavery of any kind," Duncan stated.
"You do know these amulets are what allows them to live. They cannot live without them. They also can't hold them, so they need a Master so they can even move," Eric explained.
Duncan held the amulet out a bit farther.
"If that's what you really want," Eric relented and took the Amulet back.
Duncan moved to leave, then paused and turned back. "Eric, I'm not saying you're a bad guy for saving these girls. What I am saying is that if you truly care for them, you'll find a way to set them free." He then left, shutting the door behind him.
Lily frowned. "He was a real good man, and I had him to myself," she pouted.
"I'm sorry, Reika, I really am," Eric offered. "He just didn't understand, or didn't want to."
She was looking sad, so Eric went over and hugged her. "It's not you," he assured her. "You are pretty and very desirable. Duncan's sense of …. right and wrong would not let him keep you. OK?"
She nodded. She then looked up at him and asked, "You gave me away so I could have my own man, not because you didn't want me?"
"That's right," Eric assured her. "I thought it would be best for you to not have to share."
Shrugging one shoulder, Lily said, "Thank you for trying."
"You're welcome. I got work to do now." Eric went to go back to work.
"Master! Let me do that!" Saphrin said and hurried to catch up with him. Catching up, she hugged his arm and said, "You should take Tikiez and Reika back home."
"No real names, remember?" he chided her.
"Sorry, Tina and Sally. Sally needs to get settled in."
"You watched what I was doing?"
"A bolt in each corner two in the middle, top and bottom," she stated.
"Have at it," he told her.
.
Amanda walked through the woods hating Eric. She hadn't had t walk this far since she was in Turkey! Luckily, she knew how to look ahead and pick up landmarks and keep from walking in circles. She also had to keep up a brisk pace if she wanted to make 30 miles in a day. Damn that guy!
The sun was high in the sky. She was getting tired and her legs were sore. She was also getting hungry. Amanda trudged on, picking the next landmark ahead and pushing on.
Early afternoon, she climbed up another hill and saw houses below. Great! She was almost there! Moving down the hill faster, she got to the bottom and found a dirt road going into the town. Seeing a couple women talking she waved and asked, "Is this Gateway?"
The women turned to stare at her.
Coming closer, Amanda saw both slim women had pointed ears and upswept eyebrows over almond shaped eyes. "Ahh, hi, is this Gateway?" she asked.
They talked to each other in a strange language, then one nodded. She waved to Amanda to follow her through the village. At the other end, the road forked. The woman pointed and hooked her finger left. "Gateway," she said with an odd accent.
This wasn't Gateway. Amanda figured she giving getting directions. Amanda thanked her with a nod and a smile and moved on.
Late afternoon, Amanda saw a long wall rising above the trees. This had to be it! The road went along side the wall then came to a guarded gate. There was a man outside the gate dressed in leather ring armor and carrying a spear. She went up to him.
"Is this Gateway?" she asked.
"It is. M'lady. You traveled here alone?" he asked, eyeing her.
"I didn't have much choice," she grumbled. "Eric Carvon sent me and told me to go to the council chambers in the inner city and see Palin."
The man brightened up. "I shall get you transportation!" He then yelled inside, "A messenger from Eric Carvon is here! Sargent, she needs a ride to the inner city!"
Another man in ringed leather came out on a horse. He held his hand out to Amanda. "Let me assist you, M'lady." he said pleasantly.
"Thank you!" Amanda replied and got on. "I think I was walking my legs off!" She was thinking more of a car for transport, but a horse would get her there.
Going through the city, Amanda stared. This city reminded her of medieval days. The entire place was set in that period. There wasn't a single modern thing here! Going uphill, they passed through another set of gates that was also guarded by men with spears, swords on their hips.
The man rode them on a little farther then announced, "I bring a messenger from Eric Carvon!" he announced loudly.
Several men emerged from a long building. The Sargent helped her down, then rode away.
"Are one of you a Mr. Palin?' Amanda asked the men in front of her.
"He is otherwise occupied in the western part of the city. You have a message from Eric?" a dark bearded man asked.
"Well, more of a request," Amanda admitted. "He asked me to come and see how Abby was doing. I was to find Mr. Palin to find out."
The men looked at each other. A lighter bearded one said, "Ah, she means Princess Elanza! Abby is what Eric thought her name was."
"This way, M'lady!" another man announced.
Amanda was led into the building and through it to another door. One of the men knocked. A few quick footsteps and the door opened to show a young woman dressed as a maid poked her head out. "Yes?"
"This woman is Amanda. She was sent by the Founder to see Princess Elanza."
"Ohh, do come in!" the woman said heartily.
Amanda thanked the men for their help and went in. This was a log cabin, but the grandest log cabin she'd ever seen. Over the common room was a large silver chandelier ringed with candles in three layers. The furniture was simple, but finely polished so it nearly glowed. The wooden walls were smooth and polished with beeswax by the smell of it. Again, a very fine medieval type abode.
"You have news of the Founder?" the maid asked eagerly
"Founder?" Amanda asked. "I was sent by Eric Carvon."
"Yes, he's the Founder," the maid beamed. "He build this city long ago. Gateway is his city."
Stunned, Amanda asked, "Is Abby … I mean Princess Elanza here?"
"She had yet to return from the Qualinesti. She went with Lord Tanthalas and Princess Lauranthalansa," the maid explained. "The year is not up yet."
"Oh. Do you know if she's doing well?"
"She was the last time we saw her. If you wish, we can get you a coach to …" the maid then paused and pointed a finger at her. "Are you the Demon?"
Amanda chuckled. "No, I'm not a demon. I'm human, just confused at the moment. You said Eric owns this city?"
"He does. He was to return in one year. He wanted Princess Elanza to spend a year with the elves in Qualinesti, then he was going to return for her," the maid explained.
"Then what's he doing in Chicago?" Amanda asked.
"Where's Chicago? I never heard of that place."
Not knowing how to explain, Amanda wave a hand and said, "It's in another world. You said this Princess will be back, when?"
"Should be in another month, maybe six weeks," the maid told her.
"Shit," Amanda spat. "How far away is this qual in …"
"Qualinesti?"
"Yes."
"Four to five days ride."
"Damn, I have to be back in two days," Amanda grumbled. She then threw up her hands and said, "Well, you said Princess is doing good, right?"
"Don't you want to see her?" the maid asked.
A commotion erupted outside. The maid hurried out, Amanda followed. In the council chamber room, men were at the doorway, but didn't go outside. Amanda went to see what was going on. In the yard outside, a long blue colored dragon sat. A woman in what looked like dragon scale armor got off his back and petted his cheek.
"I am not here for trouble!" the woman announced to some guards brave enough to approach. "I came to see Eric Carvon."
"He's not here," one of the men replied.
"Does anyone know where he is?" she asked.
Amanda stepped out and said, "He's in Chicago."
The woman took off her helmet to show she had dark, close cropped hair. "And where might that be?" she asked.
"In another world. You can't get to there from here."
"I am Kitiara, and you are?"
"Amanda. Can you fly me to the Qualinesti?"
Kitiara laughed. "I could, if you don't mind getting filled with arrows."
"They don't like you much there, huh?" Amanda concluded.
"We're enemies," Kitiara stated. Walked over to Amanda, she asked, "You know Eric well?"
"Not really. He pushed me to do something for him. I did it, now I have to go back."
"To this Chicago?" Kitiara asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Eventually. Eric is supposed to come back and get me after I get back to where he left me off in the middle of the woods," Amanda replied.
Kitiara grinned. "So, what did you do to piss him off?"
Amanda shrugged. "He caught me in his warehouse … twice, before I could get his vault opened."
Kitiara laughed at her. "A thief! And not a very good one, either! I'm surprised he didn't have your hands cut off at the very least."
"I am a good thief!" Amanda said with a frown. "His vault is just …. complicated to get into."
"Sure he'll come back for you?" Kitiara asked with a grin.
"Yes," Amanda stated.
Kitiara scanned Amanda's body blatantly. "I see, you're still whole because he has plans for you. I noticed he likes the bustier types. Possibly he has more intimate jobs for you to perform."
"Please," Amanda said, rolling her eyes. "I'm not a cheap whore."
"I'm sure your not cheap," Kitiara agreed with a smirk. "So when is he returning for you?"
"In another two days."
Kitiara nodded and said, "Then in two days, I'll meet you outside the gates. It seems I'm getting people nervous coming into town." She walked back to her dragon and cast a wave to say, "Been nice to meet you all!" She mounted her dragon. With a roar, it flew away.
Watching her fly away, Amanda said, "This place is very strange."
Tired from her long walk, Amanda went back in the cabin and asked the maid for a place to wash up and rest. The maid showed her the bath and promised to have a meal ready for her when she got out. To sit in the tub of hot water felt wonderful, soothing her aches. Amanda lounged in the water until it cooled. Despite the oddity of this place, it did take her back a few centuries to a more simpler time. Back when picking up other people's treasures was easier, and life in general was easier.
Hearing people in the other room, Amanda begrudgingly got up and toweled herself dry then put on a luxuriously thick black robe. Going out to the common room, she noted the man talking to the maid. She wondered briefly why Eric came after making her walk all the way here. He was dressed in leathers and had a bow slung over his shoulder and a sword at his side.
Amanda stopped. "Here to take my head?" she asked, then noted this man's ears were sharply tipped and his eyes were hazeled, not brown. This wasn't Eric.
The man shifted his gaze to her. "Any reason I should? Are you in league with Kitiara?" he asked in a hard tone.
Amanda swallowed. "She just offered me a ride," she said meekly.
"Lady Amanda has walked all day to get here," the maid offered. "She has come to see how Princess Elanza fares."
"Who sent you?" the man asked firmly.
"Eric sent me. I have to go back tomorrow. Have you seen the Princess lately?" Amanda said in a little stronger voice.
Eyeing her, the man said, "It seems strange. You say you're here for Eric, yet you were seen outside talking to Kitiara like you're old friends. It makes me wonder why."
Amanda shrugged. "She came looking for Eric too. I'm getting the feeling that Eric is a bit more influential than he appears to be. Today is the first time I've ever seen that woman, or her dragon. Are there many of those things around?"
"You're not from around here, are you?" he asked.
Frowning at him, Amanda said, "Look, I'm really, really far from home, OK? Eric dumped me in the woods and made me walk 30 miles to get here! If I'm not back to where he left me in two days, I'm STUCK here! I just want to know how this Princess is doing. So I can give him an answer so he'll take me home."
"Why did he send you?"
The maid offered, "She told the dragon woman she tried to steal from him."
The man laughed. "So, you're a petty thief then?"
Folding her arms over her chest, Amanda indignantly stated, "I'm not petty!"
"If you say so," the man agreed. "You better get some rest, we're leaving tomorrow to go find this spot Eric left you off at."
"That woman Kitiara said she'll fly me."
He let out a snort. "Don't ever trust Kitiara. If she's willing to give you something, she wants plenty in return, or she thinks you have value she can use."
"And I should trust you… why?" Amanda asked.
"Eric's my father. I'm his son, Tanthalas. We leave after breakfast."
.
On the chance that Amanda just might wander away or get lost in the woods, Eric grabbed Tikiez for an experiment. He knew that after a long love-fest that gave her plenty of power, she was able to take their minds far from their bodies.
Reika and Saphrin were a little disappointed that he paid constant attention to Tikiez the rest of the day after they got back, then fondled and teased her between love making the whole next day. Tikiez herself was loving it. She was so excited, her eyes would quiver.
Lying in bed petting her Eric grinned and said, "I'm going to try something."
"Whatever you want," Tikiez said in a lusty tone as she petted him.
"Remember when I first found you I had you take me around Gateway to see what was going on in the inner city? I want you to do that again."
She frowned, "Master, magic doesn't work here. I've tried."
"But you can merge, or whatever you call it with me, can't you?" he asked.
"We have, " she replied with a wide grin. "We can't leave our bodies though in this world."
"If we merge, can I take just our minds back to Krynn?" he asked.
Tikiez giggled. "I don't know. Want to find out?"
Eric kissed her deeply. Tikiez responded as they held each other tight. Feeling Tikiez drawing energy, Eric held tight to the feeling of her and thought hard about his house in Gateway, his bedroom in particular.
Something happened. Eric opened his eyes to see he was floating in his bedroom. Below in the bed, a woman was sleeping. It was Amanda.
We did it! Tikiez thought happily in his head.
Their minds were in Krynn while their bodies were still in Chicago.
We are ghosts here, I don't think we can interact with anyone. Tikiez thought.
No matter. We're taking a trip. Eric replied.
Though he'd never been there, Eric knew where Qualinesti was. He, rather they flew up into the mountains. It was dark here, but they could see well. They came to a gorge, and on the other side were thousands of tiny lights. There was also a tall tower reaching into the sky. Seeing this, Tikiez was curious as was Eric. They flew over and inspected the tower. It too gave off lights from within. Coming close they noted an occupied balcony with figures sitting in a line, looking out a the night.
The middle one was Abby.
Tikiez recognized Abby/Elanza and Laurana. The third elf, she didn't. Why are we here?
Just checking. It looks like Abby's doing ok. Eric thought. Abby was dressed nicely and it looked like she had friends.
Master, these are not your friends! Tikiez thought unkindly.
Then Abby spoke. "It's all right, Laurana, The only reason I came is Eric insisted I spend some time with other elves. I'll be returning to Gateway in the morning. If your father doesn't want me here, then he doesn't."
Laurana reached over and clasped her hand. "You should never have told him the truth. Father is a purist. He doesn't even truly accept Tanis and I. You coming back from the dead, and telling him you were with Eric willingly, he couldn't take that. To him, you were staining the memory of a noble elf. That's why he blew up at you."
"I HAD to do it!" Abby said firmly. "That demon was right, back then, I did nothing for Eric. Eric took care of me, even thinking I'm just a crazy elf, he still took good care of me! I had to let Solsteran know what really happened. That Eric wasn't a brigand and we were lovers. If I'm banned from here then I am. I'll just go back to Gateway where I belong and wait for Eric to return."
"We do what we must," Laurana agreed with a sigh. "Would you like me to go with you?"
Abby Eric thought with a sigh.
"If you want, I'll have ten guards with me to make sure I get there," Abby told her with a crooked grin. "They are packing up the wagon now to be sure I leave first thing in the morning."
Eric looked closely at Abby. Sitting there, he didn't see Abby, but Elanza's soul. Abby wasn't quite as crazy as he thought she was.
I've seen enough Eric thought, and pulled them back to his bedroom in Chicago.
The second Eric felt himself in his body, he sat up and growled, "That ignorant, pompous ASS!"
Sitting up with him, Tikiez said, "Yes that all are, so forget about all of them! You don't need any of them."
Eric looked at her and chuckled. Right, she wanted all his attention on her. "There's just one problem with that," he said in a softer tone. "Tanthalas is my son. I saw inside Elanza, the one I called Abby. She is his mother. I can't abandon them."
Tikiez huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "We're going there, aren't we?" she asked, not sounding happy.
Eric shrugged. "Look at the bright side. At least you'll be back in Krynn and be able to use your magic."
The bedroom door burst open. Reika and Saphrin both poked their heads in, smiles on their faces. "We're going back?" they asked happily.
"We are, and both of you will need plenty of energy built up," Eric said firmly.
"YES!" they cried and dove on him.
