Chapter 19 of 19. Insanity. I really hope I did Blood Ties justice, i honestly debated quite a bit over whether or not to do it for the re-write, as there really isn't much that changed.

Next week I will begin to post Fire and Ice, so keep an eye out for that next Friday!

-owl


Lucette watched as the Tellun's Pride sailed into the Greenhaven port. Rollan had sent a messenger bird ahead to let her know that they would be returning imminently. She had been overjoyed to see the letter as she hadn't heard anything since the letter he had sent her in Xin Kao Dai. As much as it had been a good thing that she got a break to be able to begin to deal with Nicolai— no, she would not lose her head and start again — it was also lonely and depressing with Rollan and the others gone.

The note that Lucette had received the day prior was clutched tightly in her hand.

Lucette, we got the Slate Elephant. But it was at a great cost. We found Meilin in the jungle, or rather she found us, and she was with us when we spoke to Dinesh. There was a battle, because of course there was, because the Conquerors always seem to know. Anyway, Meilin's father was there, at the battle, she he died in front of Meilin. She's taking it hard, and I wanted to give you a heads up before we come into port in the next few days. -your honorary brother, Rollan.

She could tell when Rollan spotted her. He was up in the crow's nest, and was waving at her. Just then, Essix swooped down onto her shoulder, startling her.

"It's good to see you, Essix," Lucette said, stroking the bird gently.


When the ship was tied to the dock and the gangplank was laid down, Lucette was ready for Tarik and the kids to disembark the ship. Tarik came first, his face giving nothing away, though he gave her a smile as he passed. He was talking to Lishay, who looked broken. Abeke and Conor were next, and they both gave Lucette big hugs.

Then came Rollan and Meilin. Meilin looked almost as broken as Lishay, and Rollan had a hand on her back. Lucette didn't want to even think about how traumatic her father's death was to mess with Meilin enough for her to let Rollan comfort her like he was.

Rollan offered a wane smile, and Meilin fell into her arms.

"I'm so sorry, Honey," Lucette whispered into her ear.


That night when Meilin had been settled into her bed in her and Abeke's shared room, Lucette settled in the tower's common room with Rollan, Conor, and Abeke. Bryer had been left with Meilin, curled up against her while Jhi had been on the floor, Meilin's hand settled in the panda's fur. Uraza and Briggan sat by the window, watching the moon in the sky, Essix perched on the window sill.

"Has she been like this the entire time?" Lucette asked.

"Like what?" Abeke questioned, sitting on the ground in front of the fireplace. "Silent, non-confrontational, and in shock?"

Lucette nodded.

"Yes," Rollan responded. "I'm glad you were able to help her like you have."

She smiled. "I'm glad, too."

"You've recovered from the news about Nicolai, I see," Conor commented.

Lucette's smile fell. "I'm doing better. And it was good that I was able to pause and take a step back, but I wish I was with you guys. I worried so much." She took a deep breath and turned to the animals by the window. "What did Dinesh think of them?"

"He wasn't impressed, especially as Uraza scratched him on purpose to get him to stop hiding. But he supposes they'll grow."

"What happened to Lishay?"

"Her brother died a few weeks before we met up with her. Then Zhosur died in the battle at the lake." Rollan said.

The shock struck Lucette like an arrow. Lishay and her brother had trained her and Nicolai, and to lose a spirit animal? That was a pain that Lucette couldn't even comprehend. But still, she took a deep breath and resolved to speak to Lishay the next day.

"So, where to next?"

Rollan grinned. "You'll like this: North, to find Suka."