ZEDD
Really? That's the reason? Not because he could have died or been paralyzed or brain damaged, but because it was interfering with school? I take another breath. Stop it, Zedd. At least he stopped, no matter what the reason.
Before I can comment again, Pina's cuff goes off. She glances at it, frowning. The frown changes to puzzlement and she stands up. "Excuse me. I need to take this."
She leaves the room quickly. Hopefully, it's nothing too serious. It seems like we haven't had a quiet, uneventful week since I left to get Thomas. The three of us eat as we wait for her to return.
We've all finished eating and have fresh cups of coffee and the dishes are done before she comes back. One look at her and all three of us are on high alert. She's pale and fidgety, twisting her fingers as she enters the room. The female warrior takes a deep breath. "I have to have a meeting with - some people about - something."
"What's wrong, Scorpina? Why are you worried about this?" With my tone alone, I'm once more in command, something that her warrior training should have her responding to. "Will it help if you have the meeting here?"
"No - yes - I don't know."
"Pina, love, talk to us. We're your family and we'll help you" Dar says. Thomas and I wince at his choice of words. When Pina and I went to help Essa, she finally told me about her past so comparing us to family might not have been the best move. Fortunately, Dar saves himself. "Tommy's like your brother, right? I'm your mate, my one. Zedd - well, I guess through Tommy he'd be like your brother-in-law. Come on, talk to us."
She smiles weakly. "Well, since you mention it-" She takes a deep breath. "I just found out that my father just died. A few days ago. This meeting - they want to meet with me about his estate and his legacy."
I can feel the puzzlement on my own face even as I can see it on the others. "His legacy? I know you said that he was from a prominent family, but I thought you said that they disowned him."
"They did, but there are - circumstances - that could still potentially force me to return to the family." She's trying very hard not to say something.
"Scorpina, if you don't want to go, then that's the end of it. Turn down what ever you have to and stay with us if you want. If you want to go, then do it. If you want us to go, let us know and we'll figure it out."
"I don't know what I want. I want to tell them to just shove it all, but I'm curious about what they're offering."
Suddenly, Thomas speaks quietly. "Pina, who was your father?"
And now she looks unmistakably guilty. "Elan."
I can see Dar's mouth fall open even as I nearly fall off the stool I'm on. Thomas speaks first. "So?"
Pina laughs weakly. "Thank you, Tommy."
"Wait a minute" Dar says. "Elan was your father?!"
She nods warily. I can barely speak. "Your father was the disowned crown prince of Eltar? So - you're the bastard princess? I thought she was just a myth."
"Apparently not" Thomas says dryly. "Pina, do what you have to do and I'll back you up. So will these two idiots when they get over their shock. In the meantime, I needed to ask you about a few things that might help me with my research. I've apparently lost a chunk of my biology classes and you have the most medical knowledge."
"Wait a minute" she says. "Why aren't you freaking out too?"
He looks confused. "What for? You're still Scorpina, aren't you? Now you're just Scorpina with a title. Big deal. Unless you go into the family business so to speak, I don't intend to treat you any differently. Well, that's not entirely true, but trust me, you're still my sister, Iso. It'll be fine. So do you have time to talk about this now or would later be better?"
"I think now would be just perfect" she answers. She grabs her coffee cup and leaves the room.
He takes his as well, turning at the door and hissing at us both. "Pull yourselves together!"
Stunned, Goldar and I turn to each other, still trying to absorb this bombshell that she's dropped on us. I'd never really paid that much attention to the myths and rumors. After all, being from a prominent family myself, I know how these things get started and - often - are nothing but smoke. My attention is completely diverted when he sighs. "What else do you think she's not telling us?"
"Probably quite a bit. We all have our secrets, Dar, or things in our past that we've not discussed. With as long as we live, that adds up to quite a bit. Even Thomas, as young as he is, still has several secrets."
He nods soberly. "I suppose so."
"I'm sure she would have mentioned it if she ever thought it would have come to anything." Actually, I don't know that she would have, but hopefully, it'll make him feel better.
Suddenly, he straightens up, looking slightly worried. "She said that they might be able to force her to go back."
"If she doesn't want to go, we'll take care of it." I'd almost rather cut my tongue out than say what I have to say next, but- "If we have to, we'll call Zordon for help."
"I can't lose her, Zedd." I'm puzzled, but that's cleared up quickly when he continues. "With what they pulled trying to control her father, I've no doubt that they won't find me a suitable mate for her - bonded or not."
"Considering how worried she was that she'd lose you just by telling you her past, I very seriously doubt she'd allow them to separate you. The first thing we need to know is when this meeting will be so that we can research and plan. Perhaps you and Thomas can look into the laws and whatnot. I'm sure he can leave whatever he's working on for a few days and with his grasp of the language, I'm sure he'd be a great help to you. Plus, between you, if there's a loophole, I have no doubt you'll find it."
"I hope so."
