26
ANNANI
As Annani selected Wonder's contact on her phone, her heart raced with a mixture of joy and excited anticipation. She was about to tell her that they had found Esag. After five millennia, another piece of their shattered past had been recovered.
"Wonder," she said the moment her friend answered. "Drop whatever you are doing and come to my house immediately."
"What's wrong?" Wonder sounded alarmed.
"Nothing is wrong. Everything is wonderfully, gloriously right. They have found Esag, Roven, and Davuh. They are all alive."
Wonder, or rather Gulan, had not known the other two, but she had heard their names and knew that they had been sent with Esag to search for her.
The silence on the other end stretched for several heartbeats. "Where did they find them? And how? Was it the figurines?"
"In Cairo, and yes, they followed the trail of figurines."
"I can't believe it," Wonder breathed.
"Believe it and come over as fast as you can. Kalugal is arranging a video call."
"Yes. I'm leaving right now."
"Hurry," Annani urged. "Kalugal said he would call after they had had time to shower and change, but I do not know how long that will take."
"I'll be there in five minutes," Wonder promised and ended the call.
Annani set down her phone on the coffee table and leaned back. Over five thousand years had passed since she had seen Esag's face, heard his voice, and watched his easy smile. He had been Khiann's closest friend, his squire, his confidant. In her memories, he was forever young, and she wondered if he still looked the same: that flame-red hair, that goofy smile, that irreverence.
She rose from the couch and began pacing, unable to contain the nervous energy coursing through her.
Ogidu appeared in the doorway. "Is everything alright, Clan Mother? Can I get you anything?"
"Everything is perfect," she told him. "Wonder is coming over, so please have tea and refreshments ready, though I doubt either of us will be able to eat anything."
"Of course, Clan Mother." He bowed.
Annani moved to the window, looking out at the pathway outside her home. She could just imagine Wonder running like the wind to make it there in five minutes.
True to her word, Wonder arrived on time, barely pausing to knock before Ogidu opened the door. She swept into Annani's living room like a force of nature, her face alight with emotion and her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Annani crossed to her friend and took her hands. "Come, let us sit together and wait like we used to."
They settled onto the sofa, side by side, hands clasped between them like young girls sharing secrets, and for a moment, Annani was transported back to those days in the palace when they would sit just like this, planning adventures or discussing the latest court rumors.
"Where was Esag living in Cairo?"
"The City of the Dead, of all places," Annani said. "When they found his workshop, it was filled with shelves upon shelves of carvings."
"I never knew he had such talent," Wonder said.
"Neither did I, but he has been honing his craft for millennia. They found him returning to the workshop with Davuh and Roven." Annani squeezed Wonder's hands. "All three of them thought they were the only immortals left in the world. Can you imagine how lonely they were?"
Wonder's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "We've all thought we were alone at some point. At least they had each other."
"True." Annani glanced at her phone, willing it to ring.
"If I had awakened from stasis in Cairo instead of Alexandria, perhaps our paths would have crossed." Wonder sighed. "Imagine how different my life would have been if I had run into Esag after waking up."
