The flare in the gray sky grew considerably smaller as the four of us and the Sarqua Djinn worked in tandem to overcome the enemy. Bit by bit, Tanselm absorbed the fallen into her grasses and earth, their Darkness feeding the land’s supposed need for balance.
I still didn’t buy into that crap, but Aerolus and our mother spouted it so often it had become second nature to just nod and agree. Anything to shut Aerolus up, at least.
“Finally,” Alandra said from behind him, appearing in a wink of light. “I have to admit, the Nocumat Sin Garu’s recruiting are too young for this kind of play.”
“Play?” Marcus stared at her in horror. “I was almost eaten by one of those things. I can tell you there was nothing playful about it.”
Obviously, Marcus hadn’t forgotten his last run-in with Sin Garu and an overly hungry Nocumat. Not that I could blame him. I couldn’t imagine being swallowed whole by a blob of red, living goo.
Overhead, a sudden flash lit the sky.
The portal contracted then disappeared. The gray sky returned to a healthy indigo-blue, speckled with stars and moonlight.
I turned to Cadmus and asked, “How about that meal you promised us?” I was tired, hungry, and furious that the Netharat seemed as strong as they’d been prior to our last major battle. Were any of these skirmishes dwindling their numbers? Or did Sin Garu continue to reanimate the dead?
Aerolus stared at the sky. “We still need to find out why they attacked now, and why here. I can’t put my finger on it, but I sense there’s a reason behind this minor battle.”
“Well, I’ll leave you four to tinker with ideas. I’m hanging with the girls tonight at Mom’s.” Alandra kissed Aerolus, waved goodbye, and disappeared.
“She’s really into that whole ‘Mom’ thing. Hell, they all are,” I grumbled, secretly pleased Samantha also loved my mother so deeply.
“And a good thing it is. Their love strengthens Mother,” Cadmus said in a burst of rare insight. “I hate to admit it, but before Samantha and Tessa started staying with her, Mother seemed a little tired to me.”
Jonas interrupted. “Remir and I will take the Sarqua back to the castle. I’ll try to keep them out of the cinarum stores, but I can only do so much.” He flashed back into his human form. “Later, fellas.” He waved to his brethren, and they all disappeared.
“You don’t find that disturbing?” I asked.
Cadmus sighed. “Not this again. Look, I wasn’t sure of the Djinn at first myself. But Jonas is trustworthy. I’d stake my life on that.”
“And the rest of the Sarqua?” Marcus asked what I wanted to know.
“Most of the others are okay.” Cadmus looked into the distance. “Sin Garu has his hands everywhere. Our territories are no exception.”
“Nor is the Church,” Aerolus said quietly. “I wish Arim were here. I’d like his take on this.”
“On what?” I asked. “Spill it, egghead. We’re not going anywhere anytime soon.”
Aerolus allowed a small frown, a major concession of emotion from a man who, until he’d married Alandra, had barely shown surprise at anything. “‘Egghead?’ I think you spent way too much time in the mundane plane.”
“On Earth. Yeah, but it was mostly in a bar with ale and good-looking women. Can’t complain.” Especially since I’d met Samantha there. “So why do you need Arim’s opinion? We’re smart enough to come up with something.” I glanced at my brothers. “At least, I am.”
Cadmus scowled. Aerolus ignored me.
Marcus flipped me a rude human gesture with his hands and said, “What’s going on with our uncle, anyway? He’s hot on Lexa’s trail. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he’s got a thing for her.”
“Of course he has a thing for her.” Cadmus snorted. “First of all, she’s almost as beautiful as Ellie, and that’s saying something. When she turns those icy eyes on you, it’s downright scary. Even for a Dark Lord, the woman can make a man lose his mind.”
“As if you had one to begin with,” Marcus muttered.
Cadmus talked over him. “If you knew anything, you’d know Arim and Lexa were a pair a long time ago. Lovebirds, in fact, until Lexa’s foster parents died, and she was blamed for killing them.”
“What?” I blinked in surprise. “I’ve never heard that.”
“No, because Light Bringer history is revisionist in nature,” Aerolus said dryly. “Especially when documented by the Church.”
“So how do you know all this?” I asked Cadmus.
“Had a weird vision where I saw the past.”
