“No,” Ivan said shortly. “The elves will not allow anyone but elves or riders to stay with them for the amount of time we’ll be there. Your family should return to Grandwood.”
“How are we going to do that?” Kirsten asked. “You don’t expect us to walk all that way do you?”
“You’ll set sail with the Rollo people and they’ll drop you off at Grandwood since it is on their way home.”
“Oh,” Thomas and Kirsten said simultaneously. They were not thrilled with the idea of going back on the ships where earlier they’d been held as prisoners, but at least this time they’d be able to leave their cabins to go to the bathroom.
“When will I see them again?” Anders asked strongly.
“You and Zahara will remain in hiding until your training is complete. We don’t want Merglan to find out where you’ve gone. By now he’ll know you’ve bonded. You’ve become a major target for him, which is why we need to leave as soon as we’re ready. The magic embedded in the capital where we’ll be training is ancient and powerful. It’s protected them from evils like Merglan since its creation.”
“How long will that take?” Kirsten asked, placing her hands on her hips and planting her feet.
“I can’t be certain, but it took me two years to complete my training. Seeing as how our situation is dire, Anders and Zahara will be on an accelerated program,” Ivan said.
“Can’t Zahara and I fly back to Grandwood on the weekends to visit?” Anders said hopefully.
“And have Merglan waiting there for your arrival? No, you would be killed,” Ivan stated.
“What about their safety?” Anders asked. “Won’t Merglan come after them to get to us?”
“It’s possible, but not likely. We’ll make sure the Rollo warriors keep an eye out for that possibility. Merglan somehow missed that you two were Anders’ kin,” Ivan addressed Thomas and Kirsten. “It’s possible that he still doesn’t know, but we’ll have to keep an eye out for that scenario.”
“Okay,” Anders said, unhappily but agreeing to the stipulations because he knew they were necessary for his duty. “And what about Maija? Will you send her away too?”
“No, Maija is coming with us. Natalia wants her to come back to their childhood home in Cedarbridge. That is if you will agree to it?” Ivan asked, turning to Maija.
Maija raised her eyebrows, looking slightly surprised, “Yes, I’d like that. Maybe I’ll find some much-needed answers about my past.”
Anders smiled, glancing over at Maija. He was glad they’d be able to continue their relationship.
“Then it’s settled,” Ivan said, clapping his hands briefly. “The elves will be ready to leave by nightfall. And you two,” Ivan pointed to Thomas and Kirsten. “The Rollo people will be ready to set sail in a matter of hours, so I suggest you find a ride.”
With that, Ivan turned and walked back toward the elf camp.
“Come on, let’s see if Britt will take you aboard her ship,” Anders said.
Kirsten and Thomas nodded and grabbed their things.
I’m hungry, Zahara said to Anders. I’m going to find something to eat.
Okay, Anders replied. Don’t venture too far though; there could be more of those airmines nearby.
Zahara nodded, leaping off the ground and taking flight.
“Where is she off to?” Kirsten asked.
“She needs to find something to eat,” Anders said as he watched her rise into the sky.
“I’m glad it isn’t us,” Kirsten replied.
“She would never eat people,” Anders said, casting her a scornful glance for thinking such a terrible thought.
“How do you know that?” Kirsten asked.
“I just do,” he said defensively. “We’re bonded now, so I can feel her emotions. She doesn’t have the desire to eat people; especially my family.”
Together they walked down to the beach where they found Max, Bo and Britt loading her ship. When Britt saw Anders, she ran to him, giving him a big hug and laughing.
“Anders, I’m so happy you’re still alive,” she said in accented Landish.
“What? You doubted I would be?” he asked with a smile.
“Last time I saw you, you were about to be slain by that evil beast, Thargon, and then a dragon came from nowhere and took you away,” she said acting out the flight by moving her hand through the space in front of her.
“That was actually very terrifying,” Anders said. Wow, that seems like it was so long ago, he thought. He knew it had only been a few days but so much had happened to him since then that it seemed like a lifetime.
“Will you be joining us on our voyage?” Britt asked. “I need a few more good warriors.”
“Unfortunately I can’t come along. Zahara and I need to be trained properly if we’re going to have a chance at taking on Merglan and his dragon,” he said.
“Aw, shoot. What about them?” she asked, pointing to the three behind him.
“That’s what I’m here to talk to you about,” Anders said. “My two cousins, Kirsten and Thomas, need a ride back to Grandwood. Ivan said you would be stopping by there on the way back to the Rollo Islands. Can you take them?”
“Of course, we can take them back. And if they’re any good at fighting, they’re welcome to stay on with me and the rest of the crew.”
“I’m good with a bow,” Kirsten piped in.
