Daughter of Tide and Illusion

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Even before they reached the council chamber, low voices sounded from inside. It didn't take Jai long to know it was his parents, Bridget, and Alberich, even his sister Laurel. There was a rustling of papers and the sound of one being gently folded up, followed by silence.

Four pairs of eyes found him when he pushed open the wooden door and went down the steps inside. Laurel was content and quiet just like she was most of the time now, wearing a familiar red jacket that she'd had tailored to fit her. Of course, she was the one to take Destan's death the hardest and was still coping with it. She'd gotten a little better in the last few weeks, coming out with them and her mate Michel a few times.

Jai looked between Bridget and Alberich with a forced smile, a small twinge twisting his stomach into a knot. Gods above, seeing them again after a few months only had him thinking of Lyv, especially since she looked so much like them both. And it wasn't even like he'd had time to really get to know her new features. He'd barely seen her in the two weeks before she left after her glamour had broken to reveal her true heritage with her silver streak, burgundy hair, and pointed ears.

When Bridget stepped forward to wrap him in a hug, even though he'd known her all his life, it was still strange seeing her and knowing Lyv had been her daughter all along.

"It's good to see you again. It seems like it's been forever," she told him, kissing his cheek before pulling back. "How have you been?"

"All right," he answered. "And you?"

"The same," she nodded in agreement.

Alberich smiled as he met him then with a handshake and hug.

"You two got here early," Gideon said as he greeted them as well.

"Doesn't take long when the winds were on our side," Alberich told them.

"And you're going to Escarral afterward."

"Yes," Bridget nodded, looking over at her mate and husband. "We'll be meeting with the king and his daughters in two weeks' time. I don't know why, but I'm nervous and excited at the same time. I mean, this is the man who had taken such good care of our daughter without even knowing who she really was."

Jai nodded. "Bence is one of the best humans I have met in my life."

They continued talking about what they were going to be doing in Escarral while they were there for two months. The first week would mostly be just getting to know each other before getting down to a more diplomatic matter of hammering out a trade deal, followed by travel between the territories and then up to the main access point for trade between the two lands. And which point would that be? The little port town Jai and Lyv had spent those few days at before he almost left to go back to Dalcaine.

The maps they had spread out on the table were Jai's...well, the ones he'd made as Amory. Gideon was telling them more about Escarral, having lived there for over a year himself, while Jai hung back and sat down beside Laurel. She had yet to say a word, but was still listening intently. She finally looked over at him when he reached over to grab her hand, giving her a small smile, which she then returned as he kissed the back of her hand.

Jai's focus snapped back to those around the table when he heard one name.

"What?" he asked, looking over at Bridget, who held a light brown envelope in her hand.

"We got word from Lyv right when we docked," she said, her fingers tracing over the handwriting on the front. She passed it over to him, but he didn't even take it out of its envelope to read it. Jai was more focused on the foreign postal markings of Filwey. "She's good. Still traveling."