Hope squawked.
Mandoran shook his head.
Hope then squawked up a storm.
“...he wants me to give this to you,” he told Kaylin. “Teela says no.”
“What does Sedarias say?”
“Yes—but she cares less about you than she does about us.”
“Then do what you normally do. Listen to Sedarias.” Kaylin released one of Terrano’s hands and reached out to Mandoran, her hand palm up and cupped. “If Hope thinks it’s fine, it’s fine.”
Squawk.
“He says that’s not what he said.”
“What exactly did he say?”
“It’s safest—not safe—if you take it.”
“Fine. Hand it over.”
Hope squawked. Mandoran shrugged. He dropped the condensed ball into Kaylin’s palm. To her surprise, it wascold. Cold as ice, but softer, as if it were already melting. She gritted her teeth.
If whatever this amalgam of familiar’s breath and Shadow was could be taken to the High Halls, it could be contained in Helen. But she had to get there, and a small war was occurring just beyond her reach.
Mandoran put an arm around Kaylin’s shoulders. “Ready?” he asked.
“No, wait—if Terrano wouldn’t move because of... whatever this is, maybe we shouldn’t, either.”
“Hope breathed on it. Whatever it was isn’t what it is now.” Mandoran exhaled. “You have a better idea? Terrano can navigate this plane; he knows how to avoid things that don’t belong where we normally live. He can get where he needs to go without attracting attention, or worse, getting lost.”
“But he was injuredhere.”
Mandoran nodded. “Annarion’s crossed over.”
Kaylin wanted to shriek in frustration.
“I didn’t say Annarion was coming here—he isn’t leaving his brother’s side. But he’s prepared for possible attacks.”
“So is Helen.”
“I didn’t say it was smart. But to be frank, we could use him. I suck at fighting in places like this. So does Terrano—but Terrano’s way better at running away.” He looked to Hope. “Can we leave?”
Hope squawked.
“Terrano? Sedarias wants you at home. Now.”
Terrano nodded.
“Are you sure he’s healed?” Mandoran asked—of Kaylin. Asking Terrano wouldn’t give him any reliable information.
“He lost blood. He needs to drink, and he needs to sleep. Or whatever Barrani do to rest. I can’t do more than that. He can step back into reality now.”
“Terrano—was the Shadow preventing your return, or did you decide you wouldn’t while you were somehow containing it?”
“A bit of both. I could force myself free—but it would follow. There’s too much going on here for that to be safe—and if Bellusdeo could sense it at all, I figured I’d be ash.”