Finn followed on the General's heels, enduring both of their curious looks.
"He's skilled in diplomacy. He's the one who originally convinced the Cetoans to deal with Klain. He's a former soldier, and knows the Void very well. If anyone can convince the giants that it is bad to be in the Void's service, surely it would be him" She said.
"Isn't there a concern about the Void attacking him in nightmares? Wasn't that why he came back from Ceto?" The General asked.
"Well…" Finn hesitated. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all.
"The Fae protected my dreams on the way to the City. Maybe they will do so again." Roland commented. "I don't imagine we will be sleeping much, regardless."
Both the General and Finn stopped and looked at him intently. He'd made no mention of the Fae in his official report to the Council. The General walked out the door of City Hall, and then decisively turned towards Lysander's residence.
"Let us ask the man himself if he can be successful at such a mission."
"I'll have to leave quickly," Roland said softly to his wife, taking her hand. Finn's heart sank.
"I know." Was all she could manage around the lump in her throat. She got her husband back only a short time ago, and now… sending him off to Ceto was so much less heart-wrenching than to face down three giants intent on destroying Klain.
She'd slept in the skull of one. She could imagine how large a live one could be. It was a daunting thing.
"I'll be safe. More importantly, our children will be safe." Roland squeezed her hand.
"You can't know that," She protested. "If the giants get here–"
"The Fae will protect our children," Roland said quietly.
"What?" She asked. This was his second mention of the Fae in as many minutes. How much had he interacted with them?
He looked at her with concern. "The Void, it knows about–"
"Ivan?" She interrupted. "Does it want to hurt him?"
His eyes widened for a moment before his mouth set into a determined line. "Tell me what happened."
"The little girl from Ceto that Mayra sent to me, Quilina. Her bad dreams went away in Klain. We had a picnic outside the city, and she fell asleep on the blanket, and was attacked by the Void again… She was thrashing and screaming, and Ivan sort of…" She paused, not knowing how to properly explain. "He seemed to predict the dream, and started crying and trying to wiggle out of my arms. In the chaos, he hit Quilina on the head, and both of them quieted immediately. When Quilina woke up, she said a bright light had driven the Void away."
Roland didn't speak for several moments, and when he did, his voice was hushed and thoughtful.
"The Void knows that a child of my bloodline exists. I had no idea that a direct interaction had taken place." He took a deep breath. "Nevertheless, Gwen said the Fae will protect our babies 'until their day', which is not for this battle."
"That's both a relief and incredibly ominous," Finn fretted.
"I missed you," He said suddenly, squeezing her hand.
"I missed you, too." She smiled at him. No matter how bad things got, they seemed less of a burden when he was with her.
They arrived at Lysander's residence. The call had gone out that the immediate danger had, for now, subsided, and so the occupants were chatting in the parlor.
Finn rushed around to check each of her children, handing two off to Roland and keeping one for herself to cuddle. The couple sat next to each other on the settee, determined to soak up as much time as a family as possible before Roland's departure again.
The General frowned at having so many hear the plan, and most of the adults filed out, ushering the children with them.
Lysander listened carefully to everything they had to say. A heavy sigh preceded any comment.
"I have been eager to be of service to Klain since my return." He began, "I cannot predict whether I would be able to broker peace with the giants, but if you think I can be of use in this endeavor, of course I will follow orders and do so."
Finn's face scrunched. She didn't like the idea of men being ordered to do something so dangerous, even though, in times of war, all swordbearers were subject to military orders.
The man stood, sparing a glance for Finn. She felt overwhelmed with guilt over suggesting him for this dangerous mission, especially after refusing to tell him about the real way Quilina was rid of the Void's influence in her dreams.
She hugged Ivan a little tighter in her arms, still unwilling to let the secret out to anyone besides Roland.
Lysander's gaze held curiosity, but not censure, and he turned to Roland.
"How soon must I be ready?"
__________________
Peter helped Mayra to shore. She was drained by the experience on the ship, and understandably so.
Cora was waiting to meet them, and already receiving the reports of each ship's captain.
She nodded to the pair, and they waited their turn to answer whatever questions, if any, she had for them.
"Feeling better now that your feet are on solid ground again?" He nudged Mayra with his elbow.
"Much, actually. I don't think I'm meant for life at sea. It's pretty enough to look at, but floating atop it is another matter entirely." She mused.
"I'm glad." Was all he replied. It barely covered the relief he felt. Seeing her covered in blood had scared him more than he had let on.
Her face turned to examine him with curiosity, and he met her gaze openly. He had already laid his cards on the table; she knew he loved her, what could he have to hide from her now?
Her eyebrows came together, and he tilted his head. She was clearly wondering something.
"What is it?" He squinted at her, and she shrugged.
"Oh, nothing. Never mind." She blinked, and looked down, her brow furrowing further.
"I can't read your mind." He reminded her. He wished she would just tell him what was going on when he saw the wheels turning in her head.
She jumped slightly and looked at him with an accusing glare, baffling him. After a moment, her expression relaxed slightly.
"Oh."
"Oh, what?" He sighed.
"I just… I thought you were. You do that to me sometimes." Was her face turning red?
"I do what?" He pressed. This conversation was perplexing in the extreme.
"You answer my thoughts as if I said them out loud. Just now I was wondering whether you could read my mind, and then you said 'I can't read your mind' and… it seemed like you were mocking me." The redness on her face grew, and he was intrigued.
"When else do I read your mind?" He grinned mischievously.
"I'd rather not talk about this just now," She glanced around furtively. There were many people about.
"I would love to talk about this. You don't have to talk. You just think, and I'll read your mind." He teased, and her mouth pulled into a distinctive frown.
"I would rather you didn't try," She narrowed her eyes at him, but his grin just grew larger. She got under his skin so easily. This was too much fun for him to let an opportunity to turn the tables pass without taking a little advantage.
"Is that what you REALLY think?" He asked, lowering his head to stare into her eyes. "No… no, I think you actually like me being in your head."
He was completely making that up, but the way she pursed her lips and blushed…
"Wait. I'm right??" His grin was so big now it could split his face in half. "All right, what else is in there?"
He stared into her eyes deeper, and she tried to look away.
"Oh, come now, that's cheating," He chided her, putting one hand under her chin to pull her gaze back up to his.
Her eyes were wide open, and a little vulnerable.
"Why yes, I do have very nice eyes, thank you for thinking so," He said in a serious tone. "And… Oh? Really?" He paused as if listening to her unspoken thoughts, and her lips twitched. "I had no idea you felt that way! Why didn't you tell me before?"
His face was inches from hers as he stared into her eyes.
"I didn't know… before." She whispered, and he froze. He'd just been babbling along to tease her. He mentally backtracked to the last things he had said, and his eyes widened.
"You didn't know what, exactly?" He asked. Mayra's eyes softened and she swallowed.
"Peter, I–"
A commotion nearby cut off her words, and Peter reluctantly tore his eyes from her face to see that a messenger was frantically gesturing and talking with Cora. Her face turned grim, and her eyes searched until they found Peter.
"Go get Riley, and muster your troops. Klain is threatened."