“As angry as I want to be at Ramsey,” he turns to glare at me. “I can see that he was worried about the Penticari, which is better than him loathing them.” He smiles, trying to make light of the situation, though I know his fury is still great.
“Asha?” Grixis says softly.
She looks up at him with red-rimmed, which breaks my heart.
“You have proven yourself strong, and if there were room enough on the council, I would recommend that you be on it.”
She sniffles, shaking her head. “No, it’s fine. I don’t need to be on a council.”
“Again, I must ask that you keep what was said here quiet.”
“Of course.”
“I reserve the right to brag that I am friends with a real and true princess,” Meg says haughtily.
Grixis sighs. “You may discuss Penticari politics as you like, but say nothing of our ability to bring you home or any worries you may have regarding,” he looks at Elena, “children.”
Elena gets up from her seat. “I think I’ve had enough talk and wish to return to the village.”
Grixis nods, and the women exit the cave.
Four sets of silver eyes glare at me.
“Why did you not speak with me first?” Grixis grinds.
“Because I knew how much you loved Elena, and I worried it would cloud your judgment.”
“Never again?—”
“There is more.” I swallow hard, knowing I have to tell him the whole truth. Things I did not say when the women were still present.
“Speak now and pray you do not cross me.”
Eddard chuckles, though his expression is nervous.
“I received a message in The Tomb.”
“What message do you speak of?”
“It was from the Great Princess Kasmina, who I was promised to before my exile.”
“How did she give you a message?” Grixis asks in a worried tone.
“It was input into our ship before we were exiled, and the data transferred to The Tomb, to be given to us after a milestone with the terraformer.”
“What did she say?”
I take a big breath. “At this point, our success is inevitable, and she should be arriving in a handful of years to claim the planet as hers.”
Grixis slowly walks over to his seat and falls into it. “Great Tempest…” he whispers.
Eddard pales, and Ulof also looks troubled, despite not being mated.
“I debated whether I should tell you, as I know how much you love Elena, and how much she loves you.”
“What will we do?” Eddard growls.
Grixis’s eyes scan to the table in front of him, hardening. “We got the terraformer running because we are men of Tempest, dedicated to our mission, because we honor Tempest above all.”
