Copper Veins(82)

As for Micah and me, we usually headed down to the village. Now that I was his official wife, I liked accompanying him as he went about his business. I’d always assumed that the daily affairs of the Whispering Dell were boring, but instead I found them fascinating. Maybe if I’d grown up in another time, I would have gone into politics instead of office work. Then again, if I’d lived in another time, I wouldn’t have met Micah. I guess a few years of spending my days in a cubicle were an okay trade for my silver elf.

I was reflecting on just that as Micah and I returned to the manor. We entered through the kitchen and found my father and brother seated at the wooden table with their heads bent over some paperwork. I sat beside Max while Micah asked the silverkin to bring us some refreshments.

“What’s all this?” I asked, nodding toward the paperwork. “Is Max finally doing all that homework he once ignored?”

Max scowled, but Dad and Micah laughed. “Actually, Sara, Max is helping me recreate some information that was lost to me,” Dad replied.

“Lost?” I repeated.

“Yes,” Dad replied, his eyes twinkling. “My captors were rather reticent about letting me keep resistance documents in my cell.”

“How did Ferra manage to capture you?” I asked, since we had yet to hear that tale. “She was strong, but not exactly a tactical mastermind.”

“Correct on both counts,” Dad said. “Once her iron warriors had breached the Institute, I charged ahead, intent upon finding Max.” Dad turned to face Max and added, “I saw you running across the exercise yard, pulling a girl along with you. The girl was Juliana?”

Max nodded. “If only I’d turned around. I would have seen you, and we would have gotten the hell out of there.”

“I am glad you didn’t.” Dad placed his hands palms-down on the table, then continued, “As I followed you across the yard, the iron warriors surrounded me. I had played directly into Ferra’s hands.”

“Ferra duped many who thought of her as an ally,” Micah said. “Only a true villain would use a man’s desire to free his son against him.”

Dad nodded, and I felt a little swell in my chest. Unlike the imposter, my real father got along well with my husband. It was looking like we’d end up a big, happy family after all.

“After your initial disappearance, Baudoin, the Elemental world was thrown into deep turmoil,” Micah continued. “Your leadership was missed, both in the Other and Mundane worlds.”

“That is good of you to say,” Dad murmured. “And it is the reason why I asked Max to assist me with recreating this information. Based on all you have told me of your time with the resistance, they have somewhat lost their way.”

“That’s an understatement,” I murmured, recalling the base in the woods and the cave we’d hidden in. “Is Jerome Polonsky really a resistance member?” I asked. Micah shot me a look, but I ignored him. It was a reasonable question, after all.

“I do not know that name,” Dad replied. “However, much has changed. I’m sure we can learn where his allegiance lies.”

“He said he was Avatar’s son,” Max offered. “I guess he did look a bit like Galen.”

Dad’s brows drew low. “It worries me that no one caught on to that falsehood.”

“Jerome believed it himself,” I said. “Oh, and shapeshifter-you was hanging out with the resistance as well.”

Dad straightened. “Was he? How did no one notice that he was not truly me?”

“Who knows?” I replied. “Maybe they have a bunch of new members. Lopez and Aregonda seemed to have their own agendas.”

“Aregonda,” Dad murmured. “That was my mother’s name.” He shook his head and continued, “Most likely that creature derailed our efforts and sowed seeds of discord. Who knows what damage he did with his presence?”

“He tried to hook Sara up with Jerome,” Max said. Micah’s hand clenched into a fist, but he remained silent. “Caused some discord there.”

“I imagine so,” Dad murmured. “What you have just shared has reinforced my plan—I must return to the Mundane realm and resume my leadership of the resistance.”

I nodded, my stomach tied in knots. I knew Dad was going to have to go back, and I understood why. But we’d only had him back for a week. Couldn’t he stay a bit longer?

“Max, are you going, too?” I asked.

“Have to,” he replied. “This new Pacifica has gone on long enough. I, for one, am sick of being treated like an animal. Elementals deserve respect, common dignity.”