Many had misgivings about our plan. Ash and a few of the ministers of the various kingdoms had questioned the wisdom of bringing our people out into the open, with no barriers to hold back the force of the shadows. I understood their misgivings, but I knew Tejus was right. We couldn’t wait. Every moment that we hung back, the opportunity of the entity to rise to its full power and escape the portal that led to the human dimension and then on to the In-Between grew greater.
“Rose, prepare the human children,” my father said, stopping on his way out of the banquet room where we’d just finished the meeting. “The sentries will need to build a barrier to protect them while we’re gone.”
“How many sentries do we leave behind?”
“Tejus says four.”
“And our children?” I asked quietly. I knew that Benedict, Julian, Ruby and Hazel would want to come along, and in truth, Hazel’s powers qualified her to take part, but I was afraid for them.
“They fight with us. Tejus and Ash won’t leave them. And in all honesty, I think we are better off having them with us—despite the danger. They have shown themselves to be equal to the task.”
I nodded, my gut twisting.
Tejus and Hazel emerged from the hall behind him, and I left my father to get on with his preparations.
“Tejus, can I have a word with you?” I asked the sentry.
“Of course,” he replied, politely.
Hazel shot me a warning glare, but left us alone.
“There was actually something I wanted to discuss with you,” he said. My eyebrows shot up in surprise, but I waited for him to continue.
“I gather from what Queen Nuriya says that the jinni or jinn responsible for sealing the entity may still be somewhere in Nevertide. We are investing a lot of hope in the idea that the immortal waters will end the shadow and the entity, and I want us to have an alternate plan in case this doesn’t work.”
“Go on,” I replied slowly.
“I thought that perhaps Benedict, Julian and your son’s red-headed friend—”
“Yelena,” I corrected.
“Yes—Yelena. Maybe the search for the jinn should be left to them. The shadow and the entity will be distracted; they could go about their search relatively unnoticed—there are few sentries left in the kingdoms, and fewer still who would seek to harm them.” He hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with what he had to say. “I thought, now you’re here, I should check with you before I gave the order.”
I glanced over at my daughter, talking to Grace and Benedict by the staircase. His plan was a good one, and I was relieved that at least one of my children wouldn’t be going into battle. Tejus had just risen in my estimation.
“Thank you,” I replied. “I think it’s a good plan. But I think they should be accompanied by one of the dragons or Hawks—and perhaps a jinni or two if we can spare them.”
He nodded. “I’ll speak to Derek and Ash.”
When he turned on his heel to walk away, I placed my hand on his elbow, stopping him. He turned back to me with a puzzled frown.
“My daughter and son survived a very hostile land,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “I’m starting to understand that you might well be a large part of the reason that they’re all in one piece—and happy.”
He smiled, briefly.
“Your children are impressively robust. They kept themselves alive.”
I smiled back at him, knowing that he was being modest but appreciating his words all the same. My children were robust, but he had continually protected them, putting their lives before his own. No matter what had taken place between Tejus and my daughter, and the part he had to play in their initial kidnapping, I would forever be grateful to him for that.
I watched him walk off toward Hazel. She looked up at him worriedly, wondering what I’d said to him. He laughed and shook his head, murmuring that it was about Benedict and nothing to concern herself with. He kissed Hazel on the top of her head, and she leaned against him. She must have been tired.
“Rose?” Caleb came to stand next to me, watching the couple.
“I’ve changed my mind about him,” I muttered.
“That was quick.”
I rolled my eyes. “He loves her, clearly. What else is there to do? Keep holding a grudge against him, telling her she can’t see him? She wouldn’t listen and we’d lose her forever.”
“I know,” he murmured, “and you know that’s not what I’m suggesting. It… It just feels like she’s… growing up too fast!” He exhaled a breath, running a hand through his hair in exasperation. “Way too fast.”