“So you desire a smart, gifted girl who is humble and submissive?”
“Yes. Precisely.”
“I have but one question for you, Bardamen.”
“Do ask.”
“If we find a tall, beautiful, smart, gifted, humble, submissive girl from a clan other than Stone Clan, how will you convince her to marry you?”
His eyes opened wide and his jaw dropped. “But what girl wouldn’t wish to be married to Stone Clan’s next chief shaman?”
She bit her tongue. I can think of a few.
*****
“Isn’t there anyone else we can send?” Graely paced as he considered his options. And his options appeared to be few and far between. “Surely in all of Stone Clan there is someone else with the gift of gresses. Someone with more years. Someone less… less…”
“Impulsive?” Nordamen supplied.
“Yes, impulsive. Someone less impulsive.”
“I’m afraid gresses is a rather rare gift, though it’s a minor one.” Nordamen rubbed his temples. “Of course, Raelene has the gift, but she’s already left with Bardamen to search for information about Kaevin and Alora’s soulmate bond. The trip to Glaenshire will take a seven-day, and we’ve no idea how long they will remain. I suspect Raelene will need at least three seven-days, probably more, to glean all the information available on soulmates. It’s unfortunate we had no one to send along with gifting in language.”
“And with another seven-day to return… No, I suppose we cannot wait for Raelene.” Graely stroked his beard.
“The girl is our best option… our only option.”
“Perhaps one of her parents has the gift?”
“Yes, her father, Plaegus, has the gift. But you remember he was critically injured in the last battle. He wouldn’t be physically able to complete the task.”
“Couldn’t Alora simply find the portal and transport Plaegus to seal it?”
“No, only someone with the gift of gresses can find a portal and bring someone inside.”
“Perhaps it won’t be so bad. We need only allow her to travel to Montana, find the portal, and close it.”
Nordamen grimaced. “I fear I haven’t explained the most difficult aspect of the task.”
“What is that?”
“Sealing the portal in Montana works only to prevent someone in Montana from discovering and entering the portal. We must also close the portal in Portshire, or wherever that end of the portal may be located.”
Graely tried to imagine the possible dangers involved. “Can the portal be sealed from the inside?”
“No. It cannot.”
“So you’re saying she must locate the opening in Montana, travel through the portal, exit the portal somewhere in Vindrake’s province, and close the portal, remaining in Water Clan.”
“Yes.” Nordamen spoke the single word, but Graely felt the weight of emotion behind it.
“And if she were captured, could Vindrake not force her to open the portal again?”
“Once sealed, the portal can only be opened from the inside.”
Graely collapsed onto a nearby bench. I’d be sending her to her death.
“Of course, Alora and Kaevin could go with her and transport her to safety after she closed the portal.” Nordamen’s eyes didn’t quite meet Graely’s as he made the suggestion.