They all took their much-needed baths, the tension of the trip slowly washing away with the grime. After hearing about the near-miss with Shan, they weren’t taking any chances. Guards were posted at the bathing room door. A few figures passed by, casting suspicious glances, but no one lingered with the added security in place. It was enough to keep the lurking dangers at bay, at least for now. Once Jahan was clean and looking somewhat more presentable, he prepared to scry Nalli. His heart pounded with anticipation and a little bit of anxiety. He had missed her more than words could express. Shri was in the corner of the room, playing with a small charm that Loka had given her, but Jahan knew the girl would come over once she realized what he was doing. The others in the room, however, were a different matter. He couldn’t ask them to leave, not after everything they’d been through together. He’d just have to work around it. As the scrying spell activated, the shimmering outline of Nalli’s face appeared in the mirror, her familiar features soft and comforting. Jahan felt a lump in his throat. “I’ve missed you so much,” he said, his voice thick with emotion as her image solidified. Nalli’s eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, she seemed too shocked to speak. “Jahan? Is that really you?” Her voice wavered, but then her expression turned into one of relief. “We’ve been so worried about you. Where are you?” “I’m sorry,” Jahan said quickly, trying to ease her concern. “We had a little... issue. But it’s nothing to worry about now.” His brow furrowed. “Where’s Gallin?” “He’s in the other room, playing,” Nalli replied, glancing over her shoulder before returning her gaze to him. “Did his brace get fixed?” Jahan asked, his tone gentle but insistent. He had been thinking about it for days. Nalli nodded. “Right on time. And there was no deterioration, thank the stars. He’s fine, Jahan.” “Good,” he said, exhaling a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “Can you get him? I’d like to see him.” Nalli moved to the doorway and called for their son. Jahan could hear the excited patter of little feet rushing toward the mirror, and his heart warmed. Before Gallin even appeared, Nalli’s expression shifted, her eyes narrowing as she turned back to Jahan. “Now, what’s going on? You’re being vague.” Jahan hesitated, glancing briefly at the others in the room. Shan and Loka were talking in low voices, and Tellic was sharpening his blade, seemingly oblivious. He couldn’t tell her the full truth, not yet. “It’s nothing major,” he said as lightly as possible. “We’re just heading south for a while.” “Why? What’s going on, Jahan?” Nalli’s tone grew sharper, clearly sensing his avoidance. Before Jahan could answer, Gallin came running up to the mirror, his face lighting up when he saw his father. “Daddy!” Jahan’s tension melted for a moment, and he smiled warmly. “Hey, Gallin. I’ve missed you.” From the corner, Shri’s head popped up, noticing the scrying. “Gabbin?” she called excitedly and skipped to the mirror. “Hi, Shri!” Gallin beamed, waving at her. “We’re coming to see you,” Shri announced, puffing up her chest proudly. “We’re taking a boat.” Jahan tensed and shot her a quick warning glance. “Shri, hush.” Across the room, Shan and Loka exchanged uneasy glances. The girl had no filter, and Jahan knew how easily information could slip through if the wrong ears were listening. “What’s going on up there?” Nalli’s voice cut through sharply, her suspicion deepening. Jahan opened his mouth to deflect again, but Shri was faster. “They made a magic eater out of Jahree’s blood, and no one can cast, so we’re escaping,” she declared confidently as if explaining the weather. “Shri!” Jahan exclaimed, groaning inwardly. Shan face-palmed while Loka sighed, whispering something to Shan that made him nod grimly. “What?” Shri asked, her brow furrowing. “Everyone knows about the magic eater.” “But not about us,” Jahan pointed out, trying to keep his frustration in check. “They won’t tell. They’re your family,” Shri said as if that solved everything. Jahan sighed, rubbing his temples. She didn’t understand the complexities. “Yes, but still—” Nalli’s expression was a mixture of concern and disbelief. “What about...?” she started, but then her gaze landed on Shri, and she stopped herself. “I ran away,” Shri declared proudly, evidently guessing what Nalli had been about to ask. “The magic eater thinks I’m a bad mage, and Jahan’s pretending to be my dad.” “He’s my dad!” Gallin shouted defensively, his little face scrunching up in frustration. Jahan felt a sharp pang of guilt. He had acted more like a father to Shri in the past few weeks than he had to his own son. He opened his mouth to say something, but Shri beat him to it again. “He’s not my real dad. He’s too nice, and he doesn’t take all the ladies to his room.” Nalli’s expression darkened instantly. “Your dad did what?” she asked, her voice going cold. “He takes the ladies to his room,” Shri repeated innocently. “Jahan doesn’t do that. Only Loka does.” “And Shan,” Jahan added quickly, pointing across the room where the two awkwardly waved at the scrying mirror. “We’re sharing rooms. To protect the women from unwanted advances, we’ve divided into pairs for safety.” “To protect them?” Nalli’s voice softened slightly but still held an edge. “What’s really happening, Jahan?” “I’m telling you the truth,” Jahan said, feeling torn between the need to reassure her and the fear of revealing everything. “Tellic and I are the only ones without ‘wives.’ Shri’s pretending to be my daughter to keep her safe.” “Where’s Uncle Marn?” Gallin asked, his curiosity brightening his eyes. “He’s in a different room, but I’ll tell him you said hi,” Jahan promised. “But I have to save the magic for now. I won’t be able to scry you again until we’re on the boat. Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.” “I’ll stop worrying when you’re stationed somewhere close,” Nalli insisted, her eyes still full of concern. Jahan smiled softly. “I love you too. I love you both.” “I love you, Daddy. I love you, Shri,” Gallin said earnestly. “Be a good daddy and a good sister.” Jahan glanced at Nalli, his heart heavy with the unspoken truth. He was watching over Shri for now because she needed someone, but he didn’t know what the future held. Fostering her seemed impossible with his past, and leaving Nalli alone with two children wasn’t a fair burden. “I’ll talk to him,” Nalli said softly, sensing his inner turmoil. “I love you. Be careful.” “I will,” Jahan said quietly. “And Gallin, be a good son.” “Yes, Daddy.” Reluctantly, Jahan ended the spell. The shimmer of the mirror faded, and the room felt emptier without Nalli’s presence. He stood there for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He’d need to tell the others about Shri’s slip. He could only hope no Yarbs had been able to intercept the spell. #fantasy #magic #dragons #hiddenlands