“Take me with you to the meeting with the sioskallos. Prove to them you plan to work with me instead of carrying on as did Volzi and Gonisa.”
“I cannot,” Drekkoril stated, but when Rorie opened his mouth to yell about playing nice only in theory, his bemollo raised a hand. “You were not there, and I am not sure the dream will allow us to alter history in that profound of a way. Go to the space above and have our clever friends use a spell to amplify the voices. You can listen in, and we can discuss things after. I believe we could both stand to keep our minds open, so we can learn more.”
“That should be easy,” Dra’Kaedan responded. “We can make sure you don’t miss a word.”
“We could even play it back,” Renny added.
Rorie offered his v’airsell nioll a grateful smile. “You are most wise.”
“Let us get some rest. Before the meeting, I will have an audience in thesiofllar’amand enter the names of everyone in the magical ledger. It will allow everyone with Fae blood to know your identities and races. That will keep people from complaining about you, and I suspect there will be a great deal of excitement,” Drekkoril explained.
“Siofllar’am?” Rafe asked.
“It is like your throne room,” Rorie said. “We should retire to our chambers.” The large group trudged down the stairs, and Rorie kept a hold on Renny. While on the Fae realm, he had no intention of allowing any distance between them. Free to learn about his mysteries, he was going to pursue his v’airsell nioll as well. It was time to get to know Renny and make sure he had his forgiveness for their spellbound dream.
When they arrived at Renny’s door, the warlock familiar gave him a half smile. “I guess we don’t have to share space since, technically, we’re already lying next to each other at home.”
“It is true that the physical demand is not forcing us, but I choose to be with you.”
Without giving Renny a chance to argue, Rorie turned the knob and pulled his v’airsell nioll along with him, then closed them inside.
“Why do we need sleep if we’re in a dream?” Renny asked.
“I am not sure if it is a necessity, but appearances must be kept. How strange would it be if we never retired? I fear we have already given the Fae enough to concern them.” Rorie tugged on Renny’s arm until he followed him over to a large mound of pillows. “Sit with me for a bit.”
“Okay,” Renny responded. When he lowered to a cushion, Rorie was forced to release his hand, but he left barely any space between them once he was seated alongside him.
“I wish to apologize again for tricking you. I know you had no desire to travel to my homeland. I hoped that if you saw it, you might understand my love for it.”
“I never said I didn’t want to visit your home. I just have concerns about how our future could work out.”
“Perhaps on our visit a solution will present itself.”
“I’m not willing to discount any possibility,” Renny assured him. “It is beautiful here. I hope we get the chance to explore.”
“I will make sure you see all the majesty of my realm. Can you feel the pulse of the magic?”
“I think so. I can’t comprehend it like you can mine, but there’s definitely an increase in my well.”
“I fear that when Drekkoril announces your family, there will be adverse reactions to those who practice dark magic. I hope it will not make them uncomfortable.”
“You don’t like dark magic either.”
“In our world, there are only two types of people. We have Fae, and we have Dark Fae. If someone commits a crime worthy of punishment, Bétea changes them to the darkness. She has selected a ruler for them. I have not met him, but he is Valiant Defender Hibozeth. A practice began long ago, before the memory of any ancient, of sending them to a separate realm. At their new home, they are sentenced to pay for their transgression. Those that have served build a life there, never to return here. I know little about their sorcery as they are swiftly found and sent away. I was taught from childhood that any Fae with hair the color of night are to be reported immediately to the Noble Protectors. My parents wished to know more of their lives, but Volzi and Gonisa did not like to be questioned.”
“I get the idea that your parents and their bemollos did not get along.”
“No, they did not. Almost from the start there were fractures, and they were summoned over eight thousand years ago.”
“What was with the Drek era thing?”
“Our calendar begins anew at the appointment of a new Noble Protector by Bétea. We base the start year number on the age of the Fae, which is why Drek or Drekkoril’s era begins with Year 28. After he meets his v’airsell nioll, the name will change to reflect both rulers like the way Volzi and Gonisa’s time was known as Vol’Gon.”
“I enjoy learning about the differences between the Fae and my home,” Renny confessed.
“I am glad to know that. I enjoyed D’Vaire.”
“You’re missing your onesies, aren’t you?”
