"They are all well, Master. The Clan Mother escaped with all of us. You will see four of my brothers in the village."
"Where are the other two?"
"In the clan's other locations," Kian said. "Let's get everyone on the bus and I'll tell you about it on the way to the village."
"Of course." Esag motioned for Davuh and Roven to come with him.
What followed was a careful procession as the three retrieved crate after crate from Kalugal's plane, and the others joined in to help them, handling each one like spun glass and passing them from hand to hand in a chain that ended at the bus's storage compartment.
"How many are there?" Camden asked, hefting another crate.
"Many," Roven replied. "Five thousand years is a long time to be carving."
"Each one is a memory," Esag added softly. "A person lost forever."
The solemn moment was broken when Din emerged from the jet's cargo hull struggling with something large and ungainly wrapped in paper and blankets.
"Need help with that?" Max called out.
"I've got it," Din grunted. "It's not heavy. Just difficult to carry."
For some reason, his entire group burst into laughter.
"What's that?" Grant asked as he made room for it in the bus storage compartment.
"It's a lamp," Din said defensively.
"That's being generous," Fenella said.
Even Esag was smiling. "In five thousand years, I've never seen anything quite like it."
"And you won't for another five thousand," Max predicted. "Because there can't be two of those in existence. The universe wouldn't allow it."
"Everyone's a critic," Din muttered, but he was smiling too.
With the cargo taken care of, they began boarding the bus, and as Kian followed Syssi inside he glanced at where Wonder was seated together with Esag, clearly wanting to continue their reunion. Anandur sat across the aisle from them with Brundar, close enough to be present but giving them space to reconnect.
"That can't be easy for him," Syssi whispered.
"Seeing your mate reunite with her first love would test anyone," Kian whispered back.
Lokan and Carol claimed seats near the front, with Grant and the other two Guardians sitting behind them, and the Cairo contingent filling the middle section. The energy in the bus was electric—joy, relief, and anticipation all mixed together.
Kian and Syssi sat across the aisle from Lokan and Carol, and as Okidu started the engine, Kian leaned forward to look at his cousin. "Ready to settle down in the village?"
Lokan nodded, but there were shadows in his eyes.
It couldn't be easy for him. He'd been forced to leave behind everything he'd worked for and sever his contact with the island and its people.
His dream of liberating the island seemed farther away than ever.
