Page 121 of The Study of Fire
Leif answered a bunch more questions. Opal shrank back into the cushions of the couch as her family discussed the situation, circling around and around with the same concerns.
Valek finally lost his patience. He stood and the room went silent. “Opal, Yelena needs your help to return to this world. She’s my love and I promise that I will protect you with my life if need be. Will you help her?”
“Yes,” she said softly.
Her parents immediately expressed more concerns. They demanded to come along, which would considerably slow down their return trip.
“Yes, I’ll help,” Opal said louder.
“You can’t go alone,” Jaymes said.
Valek should have just kidnapped Opal.
“Mara can come with me. She’s eighteen.” Opal turned to Leif. “You have two horses, right?”
Leif glanced at Valek.
“This isn’t going to be a holiday trip,” he said. “We’re covering a great deal of ground each day. If she can sit on a horse for that long, then Mara can come along.”
Both girls looked at their father.
Jaymes sighed. “Leif, I’m holding youpersonallyresponsible for the safety of my daughters. Understand?”
In that instance, he sounded just like the Commander. Valek hid his grin.
“Yes, sir,” Leif said. His expression turning queasy.
“And you.” Jaymes turned to Valek. “I expectyouto keepyourpromise.”
“Yes, sir.”
Vyncenza insisted they eat a hearty lunch before setting out. It was a good idea, and the horses needed to rest, yet every part of Valek yearned to get going. After the delicious meal, the girls each packed a small bag of essentials, and Leif updated Opal’s parents on the Daviian situation. Valek strode out to the plains to check on the horses. He groomed both and fed them some grain.
Finally, everyone was ready. They mounted. Opal behind Valek on Kiki; Mara holding onto a blushing Leif on Rusalka. A couple of things clicked, and Valek realized Leif was sweet on Mara. Ah, young love.
The horses broke into their gust-of-wind gaits. Despite the extra weight, it took them almost the same amount of time to return to the Keep. They arrived in the early evening. Kiki headed straight for the glen. Irys, who had been overseeing the installation of the glass making equipment, hurried over.
“That’s amazing,” she said.
Leif said, “Well, it took a bit to convince Opal’s parents?—”
“Not that. You were only gone six days.”
It took five days for a normal horse traveling on the road to get to Booruby from the Citadel. To go there and back…. Valek patted Kiki’s neck. “Extra peppermints, apples, extra everything for the magic horses.”
Opal and Mara slid from the saddles. They inspected the equipment. All Opal’s hesitation, worry, and uncertainty during the last two days disappeared when she picked up a blowpipe. It was fun to watch the fifteen year old give orders to the older glassmakers.
“Yelena said she wanted to test her theory,” Irys told Valek and Leif.
“How?” Valek asked.
“Before we execute the others, she wants to send the Fire Warper into the first glass prison. If it works, then she knows she can do the others.”
No one said, “And if it doesn’t,” but Valek could tell that they all thought it.
“When?”
“When Opal and Yelena are ready.”
