Gabriel gaped, trying to hold his tongue and nearly failing.
"How significant is this discrepancy?" Riley spoke first.
"The height of a goodly sized hill, rocky and jagged. Not something a person would be likely to miss. It was thought that one or the other had miscalculated their location and mapped it incorrectly, but now I fear much worse." Roland closed his eyes.
"You fear that a portal the size of a mountain is going to drop something horrible out of the sky. Again." Riley accused.
"Or perhaps already has," Roland mused.
"The wave was sudden. Are the movements always immediately before the portal opens?" Gabriel asked.
"The one I observed began somewhat slowly, and then suddenly increased its expansion just before the portal appeared." The King stroked his beard as he thought.
"So we're not sure if the portal already opened and closed before the land was surveyed a second time, or if the ground is still changing because an enormous portal WILL open?" The Treasurer joined in the discussion.
"That seems to be the case." Roland sighed. "I wish I could know for sure."
"I as well, for one of my favorite librarians is heading towards that very place!" The Treasurer was not one to usually show emotion, in Gabe's limited experience, but he seemed very upset now. A sudden thought hit his own mind as he turned it over.
"Victoria! She's in danger!" He looked around the room with concern. "I have to–that is–may I have permission to ride after them and call them back?"
Gabriel wasn't sure whether to beg, plead, stand firm and stoic, or some alternate option. She only went on that stupid journey because she was mad about what he said to her! It was bad enough just being a journey into the wilderness, but heading straight toward what might be enormous danger?
His soul rebelled at the thought. Maybe he didn't even need permission, perhaps he could just… go.
He had no idea what expressions might be running across his face as Roland pursed his lips.
"Please!" Gabriel asked, feeling like a child again. It would be better to go with official permission than to sneak off by himself. He needed a copy of the map they were talking about to have much hope of finding the group.
"There is no guarantee there is danger. The portal may already have opened and nothing of consequence came through it. Or perhaps it will open, but it will be to Faeland or some other world that poses little threat to us." Roland spoke in a low, soothing voice.
"She's your sister! Let me ride out and make sure she's safe!" Gabriel tried again. Roland's expression darkened a moment.
"They left almost two weeks ago. Would you be able to catch up before they arrive?" His words were reasonable. "Even if you could fly there and arrive instantly, could you make a difference against whatever they may face?"
Gabriel bit back a retort. Brash words would only prove that he was too hotheaded to be useful to the situation.
"A single rider can move much more quickly than a wagon and passengers," Riley put in, and Gabriel threw him a grateful look. "We could send him with messenger birds to receive updates about signs and dangers of more large portals."
Gabriel turned hopeful eyes to Roland, who looked deeply conflicted. While his adoptive sister was in danger, sending his young brother-in-law to help might not sit well with his wife or father-in-law.
"There are others who would be better suited to this responsibility," Roland said with an air of finality.
The younger man opened his mouth to argue, but the king raised his hand for silence.
"However, with the rest of the Council's approval, I will consent to your going. I think you share enough qualities with your sister to recklessly charge into danger with or without my permission."
No one was sure whether the statement was a compliment or condemnation, and no one dared ask. The Treasurer and Peacekeeper nodded their assent, and Riley shrugged his.
Roland sighed. "If you're going, you should know I heard from Gwen. Since she also spoke with you, I should apprise you of the situation. We're headed for war. The worlds are colliding. I don't know what that might entail, but I don't imagine it will be pleasant. Gwen told us to prepare. I surmise that the portals will come more often, and larger, until the worlds fully merge."
"Fully merge?" Gabriel blinked at him, and the King regarded him seriously.
"I have a recurring dream." Roland began softly. "I cannot remember it, but it gives me a sense of... joining. Making something complete again. There's something more to the dreams I cannot recall."
Riley was studying the king with a complicated expression, uncharacteristically silent until Roland continued.
"When Gwen spoke to me through the portal, I asked her about what was happening. She seemed confused, and asked whether the Sorcerer had not already told me. I think he has, and I have been ignoring it, or willfully refusing to understand or remember. The worlds are merging. It will be difficult, but I hope, that is… when it is complete, I think it will be more beautiful than before, if we survive to see it."
A solemn silence fell over the group.
"If we survive to see it? What kind of ridiculous statement is that?" Riley burst out.
"An honest one," Roland eyed him. "We are to prepare for war. The Final Battle, Gwen called it. I don't imagine that all of us will survive."
"Oh, entirely not ominous at all! Thanks Gwen!" The General tilted his face up to call out to the Fae, whether she could hear him or not.
"It's my fault, I think," Roland pressed his lips together before continuing. "All of this is a consequence of me destroying the portal-makers. Gwen said they held the worlds apart, and without them, everything will come back together. I set into motion something that will cost us all dearly."
"What you did was provide us with a decade of peace and prosperity," The Treasurer interrupted. "I cannot fault your actions, as they saved us from the goblins and the gargoyles. There was no other course of action open to us that would have saved us all."
The Council fell quiet again, and Roland turned to Gabriel. "Come by the house to see Serafina before you go. She will be unhappy with me for sending you out."
Gabriel grimaced, but his sister was not his keeper. She couldn't stop him. Father and Amelia could have no possible objection when the lives of Shayn and Kyler might be at risk.
He would be free to go. Amelia loved and valued all her children, but Kyler in particular provoked a protective instinct in his mother.
He bowed, and made his exit after some final instructions from the Council. He should leave today. He hadn't slept in a real bed, or even seen anyone yet except for Roland and Riley, but that didn't matter in the face of his new mission.
There was nothing to do about it. He needed to go. His first stop was Dr. and Mrs. Sherman's house, to trade out his travel-worn clothes for fresh sets, quickly unpacking and repacking. The matron tutted at him softly.
"I can take my laundry to my stepmother if you don't want to bother with it," He offered. "Or you can leave it for when I get back."
"No, I want you to come home to clean clothing when you're done." Mrs. Sherman insisted.
The subtle emphasis on the words 'come home' weren't lost on him. She was clearly worried about the danger he was going into, despite the fact that he had shared no details with her about the nature of his journey.
She didn't know Victoria was potentially in danger, and he didn't know whether it was right to keep it a secret from her. The Council Meeting had not been public, and so Gabriel wasn't sure he even had permission to tell her.
If word got out about the enormous portal that either had opened or would open soon, panic might ensue. One freak occurrence over the ocean was one thing, and the populace seemed to be dealing with it as best they could.
Impending danger and repetition of the event was something else entirely. He kissed the woman's cheek as he finished repacking his bag. A knock at the door indicated the military horse Roland had ordered for him arrived to take him on his journey.
The water to the North should be clean and free of acid, but he packed some extra just in case. It was a fine line between being prepared for what may come and traveling lightly enough to catch up to his friends as quickly as possible.
He could only hope they were ok, and beg Gwen to help them, if she was able and willing.