Grounded

Chapter 8

Katia

Disappointment doesn't even begin to describe how I feel.

Embarrassment might be a good start. I haven't had a lot of opportunities to use my powers, and the few chances I have had were in defense or when they were being coaxed to reach my dragon, which is non-existent.

Of course, my nose starts to bleed the first time I use them. How can I be of use if I can't even help myself?

When we arrive at Firnen's estate, after he, his father, and Coatl redress, he immediately shields me.

"Do you sense that?" Coatl questions, to which Firnen and his father both nod.

"Stay behind me," he tosses over his shoulder, and I nod. If there's one thing I know now, I need training on my powers. I don't need to be valiant when I have Firnen, who has proven he will care for me.

We advance near the slightly ajar door we came out of before, and there's a silhouette of a person's shadow echoing against the floor.

Coatl and Firnen's father are the first to rush the door, and they almost apprehend the first person, but they're quick. The shape of a woman comes into view next, and Coatl grabs her around the neck.

When she raises her hands, and a blue hue bleeds from her hands, I'm reminded of something. I know those hands.

"Mother?"

I wiggle away from Firnen's grip, and Coatl releases her. The woman removes the hood from her head, and my mother's face appears.

"Katia?" Her eyes gloss with tears, and I rush into her arms, much like when I was a little girl.

Geralt finishes sparring with the other hooded figure, who, when revealed, turns out to be my father.

He smiles at me and then joins my mother and me for a hug I never believed I would receive.

"How is it possible? How did you find us?" Firnen fires off question after question.

My father kisses me on the forehead and then turns to Firnen to answer his question.

"When you entered the tunnels, we were immediately alerted. The spell we have placed as a barrier warns us when there are intruders. We could see the pink hues of Katia's magic miles away. She has an even brighter light than I believe she knows. She was able to breach the barrier partially.

"We decided it would be worth following you here. We know the city even better than you do, and you believe your home to be the safest place in the realm clearly because your house staff is still none the wiser to our presence."

I look over my shoulder, believing I will witness embarrassment from Firnen, yet he only laughs, places his hand over his heart, and bows.

"King Heston, Queen Katrina, it is lovely to see you," he is the first to say, and Coatl and Geralt are the next on their knees. I bow in reverence but do not kneel. I remember it's not customary for royalty to kneel to other royal members.

"Please, rise. Had it not been for you, we would never have seen our daughter again. We've heard the rumors about the slave trade being broken up because of Maloch. Our inside sources say you rescued a "fugitive" with glowing pink hands. Few have seen this, according to our source. We knew right away it had to have been Katia. Please rise.

"Firnen, for your bravery, you will be rewarded. Geralt, it's nice to see you're still leading the royal guard and Coatl, how you've grown," my mother speaks, and it's as though she has not missed a beat.