“Don’t you go trying to calm me down. I’m mad, and you’re just going to have to live with it. We’ll discuss this later, because it’s never going to happen again. And Wesley, you’re grounded.”
The scowl melted away as she turned a sweet smiling face to Alora. “Are you staying for lunch, dear?”
“Uhmmm… no, thanks, Mrs. Franks.”
“You can call me Karen, dear. Are you sure you don’t want to stay? I’ve got baked chicken and rice?”
“I’ve got to go home. Uncle Charles is going to drive me back to the hospital. He doesn’t want me to do the transport thing any more than I have to. But thanks for offering.” She kept her hands clasped tightly together to hide their shaking as she backed toward the door.
Wesley pulled her to the side before she could escape. “Listen… Mom will come around. Her bark is way worse than her bite. She has a quick temper, but she’ll be over it in an hour.”
“Okay, if you say so.” She cast dubious eyes toward Karen, who was speaking in low intense tones to Brian as he nodded his head repeatedly like a bobble head doll on a bumpy road.
“I’m glad Kaevin’s going to be okay. But, I wonder… Would you mind keeping us in the loop about that other guy? The one who looks like Steven?”
“Sure. Does he really look that much like your brother? I don’t know if I’ve ever met him.”
“He lives on the other side of the world now, in Australia.” Wesley grabbed a picture from the fireplace mantle. “Look. Here he is about a year ago.”
“Wow, he really does look like that Water Clan guy, doesn’t he? Sure, I’ll let you know if he makes it or not. But if he lives, I’ve got to take him back to Laegenshire. He’s got that bloodbond thing, so he could get really violent. Uncle Charles convinced Dr. Sanders to keep him restrained just in case he wakes up.”
“I’ve got to get a picture before he goes back, so I can send it to Steven. It’s so crazy. I told Dad it’s his doppelganger.”
“Maybe we all have evil counterparts in the other realm.” She bit her lips. “I’m trying to imagine Evil Beth. I bet she’s really scary. She already scares me when she gets upset.”
“I agree. I think I’d want to avoid Evil Beth.” Wesley accented his words with a wink. “Anyway, just text me about what’s happening. Okay?”
“Sure.”
“Wesley,” came Karen’s sharp voice. “Go wash up for lunch.” Her scowl melted away as her eyes drifted from Wesley to Alora. “Thanks for visiting, Alora. Drop by anytime. It’s nice to have another girl around here.”
Alora kept a frozen smile on her face as she muttered to Wesley without moving her lips. “You know… I think your mom and her evil doppelganger are in the same body.”
“Ha! You may be right.”
*****
“Charles and Brian are both gone?” Graely clapped his hands, his clenched stomach relaxing a bit. “That could only be good news. Alora was alive to transport them, and of course she didn’t want to come back here without Kaevin.”
“There is one problem, however.” Laethan blew out a slow breath between his lips. “I believe she accidentally transported the Water Clan warrior along with Brian.”
“That could be disastrous. He’ll have lost his bindings—he could be dangerous.” His insides tightened once again as he considered all the possible complications.
“He was barely breathing, Graely. If he lived, he wouldn’t have the strength to harm a fly. And Brian is aware of his bloodbond. If the boy lives, Brian will take precautions.”
“Let’s hope you’re correct.” He noted Laethan’s disapproving glare. “It’s not that I wish any man would die, Laethan. But there’s simply no good solution for prisoners of Water Clan. You remember the one warrior, Bathisaen? The injured warrior who—”
“Yes, I remember. He killed Fraele. I’ll never forget that incident. How could I? It happened in my own healing house. It’s because of him we now bind all the Water Clan injured. Do you still blame me for the incident with Bathisaen?”
“I never blamed you for anything, but Fraele’s family has never forgiven me my policy to spare the lives of injured Water Clan warriors after a conflict. I must use all my influence to prevent a bloodlust slaughter after the heat of battle.
“Look, here’s Morvaen.” Graely nodded toward the weapons master who joined them. “Tell Laethan how hard it is to prevent our warriors from executing the wounded enemies after a fight. Am I right?”
Morvaen nodded. “And the matter is made worse by the taunting cries of the enemy warriors while we are fighting to save their lives. One would almost think they wished to be executed.”
“Yes, that thought has occurred to me as well,” said Laethan.
“What thought?” Graely spotted a look of understanding passing between the two councilmen.