Valgrin watched Ylnah drag her feet into Izzy's safe room, dark circles shadowing her eyes. Deeah followed, stifling a yawn behind her hand.

  "You look like you slept in a ditch," he said, raising an eyebrow.

  Ylnah's shoulders stiffened. "Your exact words were 'ready at dawn.' I was."

  "So you were." The corner of Valgrin's mouth twitched upward. "Impressive."

  Deeah's palm slammed against the table. "The kid created fifteen travel points yesterday while you were lounging around. Try mocking her again and you'll leave another dent in that wall over there." Her scowl cracked after a moment, revealing a tired smile.

  Valgrin's hands shot up, palms forward. "My back's still sore from yesterday's flight lesson." He nodded toward a plate of bread and fruit. "Library's waiting. Eat something before you fall over."

  Minutes later, they trudged down the cobbled road, Ylnah's voice growing animated despite her fatigue as she traced invisible lines in the air, explaining what she had accomplished the previous day. She settled down once they stood at the top of the wooden steps of the Research Center.

  “This is a lot smaller than I imagined. I know you said it gets bigger on the inside, but this is pretty unimpressive.” She said, her hand on the doorlatch.

  Valgrin nodded, “It looks like an old one room school house from Earth. Wondered each time I come here if that is what it was modelled after, or just a coincidence.”

  Stepping through the door Valgrin called out, “Hamblaruu? Got a new researcher to register for the library.”

  The little blue creature flew out of the back and hovered in front of Valgrin and Ylnah. “Splendid, absolutely splendid. Oh, and welcome back Valgrin.” Blue wings flitted and Hamblaruu faced Ylnah directly. “Glad to have you on board, just need a name and I can do the rest while you look around.”

  Valgrin watched Ylnah with wonder in her eyes, nod vigorously, close her mouth, and stammer out her name.

  “Pretty close to my first reaction too.” Valgrin smiled and tipped his head towards Ylnah.

  ###

  “You’re back quicker than expected.” Deeah looked up from the bar when Valgrin and Ylnah walked through the front door.

  Pointing a finger at Valgrin, Ylnah answered, “He kept pushing us to get done quickly. I couldn’t really examine or read anything.”

  “Or we’d have been there until tomorrow morning or longer. And we have other items on our agenda for the day.” Valgrin walked toward the back, Ylnah, and Deeah following behind as they made their way to the safe room. “Not that I was tempted to dive in for a few hours myself.” He admitted over his shoulder.

  A few minutes later, the three were scraping chairs across the floor and taking their seat at the table. Valgrin glanced at the wall he’d been pinned to and grimaced at the memory.

  “Something wrong?” Ylnah asked.

  “Thought about yesterday’s events down here is all.” Valgrin shrugged and leaned back in his chair.

  “From what I hear, it got a little tense.” Deeah commented.

  Valgrin chuckled, “That would be understating it a bit.”

  Deeah paused, then raised her voice, “We’re here. Y’all need to come join us.”

  A few seconds later, Malcolm and Izzy came through the door that led to the rest of Izzy’s rooms in her shielded suite. The wooden chair legs scraped against the floor as he pulled one out, waiting until Izzy settled before dropping into his own seat, close enough that their elbows brushed.

  “Wasn’t sure you’d be back from Sifferal’s.”

  Malcolm looked over at Valgrin. “Got back about thirty minutes ago. Got a workout in. Can’t wait to get some extended time soon .” He turned to Izzy, “Tag, you’re it.”

  “I’ll keep it short. Tomorrow morning we head to the swamp.”

  “I want to go.” Ylnah folded her arms across her chest defiantly.

  “No!” Valgrin and Izzy answered in unison.

  “I,” Valgrin stopped, pointed at Malcolm and corrected himself. “I mean we, promised your father to not allow you to go with us on this.”

  “Same promise made from me,” Izzy added.

  “But I proved myself when we got the water.” Ylnah huffed.

  Valgrin nodded his agreement. “I’d have to give it some time, but if it was only up to me, you might persuade me to allow you to go with us. You impressed us enough for us to talk to your father about joining us here. Part of the deal was the promise not to involve you in this very thing.”

  Ylnah huffed again. “I can handle myself.”

  “She impressed me yesterday with her willingness to help us out.” Deeah added, a grin teasing an appearance.

  “Really.”

  Valgrin turned toward Izzy as she drew the word out. Her eyebrow arched as she glared. Wouldn’t want to be Deeah right now.

  “Your help isn’t needed at the moment.” Izzy almost hid her smile as she rolled her eyes at Deeah.

  “But you all agree I’d be an addition to the group?” Ylnah’s question was only a step a way from an emphatic statement.

  “I think it’d be unanimous with the group. Even then, I’d have to debate if we’d take yo…”

  “…no way we’d take you.” Malcolm’s growl interrupted Valgrin. He dropped his head. “You don’t need the nightmares.”

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  A silence fell across the room, a cascade of emotions showing on the faces around the table.

  Ylnah whispered to Valgrin, “What just happened?”

  “The nightmare is Steeyann’s death and we all have some scars from that,” Valgrin whispered back.

  Ylnah slide back in her chair, her arms falling limp at her side. “Oh.”

  “That is why.” Malcolm’s tone softened. “Sorry. But that is why I couldn’t let you go. And I know you’re going to hate me saying this, but you’re too young to deal with those types of nightmares.”

  A few seconds passed, then Ylnah broke the silence, her voice shaky and soft. “The nightmares come at you no matter your age. The terrifying parts may change, but the feelings, the fear, the anger, all of that, stay the same.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “A few days after we started our adventure, my nightmares…um…got better. It’s gotten a little better every day—I can close my eyes now and not be afraid. It’s because I’ve been accepted, cared for, and being of value—and that destroys so much of my nightmares.”

  Valgrin put his arm around Ylnah’s shoulders. Everyone else held her hands and murmured confirmations and affirmations. After a few minutes, Valgrin pulled his arm away and wiped at his eyes, along with everyone else.

  “Ylnah, I think we just showed you how much we think of you.” Valgrin paused. “Even if we took you, there’s the matter of our word to your father. If you can get us your father’s approval before we leave tomorrow, we’ll consider taking you. I’m not saying we will, since I didn’t ask anyone before telling you this. I am of two minds on this myself. Can you get your father’s approval?”

  “Dunno,” Ylnah shrugged. “He’s overprotective and stubborn. But he surprised me when he agreed I could come here. I will try to get his permission. Thank you for everything. Especially putting up with me.”

  Another round of hugs and affirmations went around the table. A few seconds in, Izzy brought it to a sudden stop with a loud laugh.

  She looked up at everyone, then turned her gaze to Ylnah. “Of course, we have to verify his approval. I recall you’ve manufactured his approval in the past.”

  Ylnah blushed, “Um…didn’t know you knew about that. I thought about it, but knew that wasn’t worth the risk of losing what I have here.”

  “Stop being so mature.” Malcolm teased, “You’re making me look bad.”

  Ylnah laughed as she stood up. “I need to go to the other room so I can talk to father.”

  As soon as she shut the door behind her, Valgrin spoke, “If she gets the approval, who votes to allow her to go.” Valgrin rose his hand.

  Deeah and Izzy’s hands went up as well.

  Malcolm sighed. “I don’t like it, but the kid made a strong case for joining.” He raised his hand.

  With that decision made, the conversation turned to planning for the morning.

  And another tie to this world. Why did I volunteer to be a mentor? Maybe I knew I’d not be able to get home? Recreate some of my world here? Valgrin’s thoughts returned to the discussion. And it’s still the plan. We’ve gone over at least ten times and it’ll probably fall apart as soon as we step into the swamp. Am I trying to replace Addy with Ylnah?

  Valgrin shot up out of his chair. He saw the others staring up at him. It looked like Izzy and Malcolm were talking. He didn’t hear a thing. He focused on the idea in his head, his thoughts tumbling all around the idea. Loophole? If they can’t send me back, could Kara and Addy be brought over here? That way, at least we’d be together.

  He dropped back in his chair, heart racing with possibility, then immediately sinking with dread. Malcolm's voice teased at his ears, but Valgrin's mind was elsewhere, tearing itself apart. Bring them here? No—yes—maybe. But at what cost? Addy’s engaged. What would Mark think about his fiancée disappearing? Only taking Kara wouldn’t be fair to her—she’d miss the wedding, being a grandparent. Loophole—each question I ask points toward disaster, not a solution. Yet I can't stop asking.

  “…okay?” Malcom snapped his fingers.

  Valgrin grunted, his eyes blinking rapidly. “Uh…oh…um…an idea hit me out of nowhere. My brain skipped a few beats focusing on the idea.”

  Malcolm pulled his hand back. “The idea?”

  “Not going to work. So back to the being a pain plan.”

  “You’ve prepared for that for as long as I’ve known you.” Malcolm quipped.

  “Time to kick it up…” Valgrin jumped when the door slammed.

  “He said no, and if I keep pushing it, he’ll make me come home.” Ylnah shouted over the echoing slam. She stomped to the table and threw herself into a chair, almost tipping over at the end.

  “Above average entrance,” Malcolm feigned an unusual accent. “Near perfect short rant. However, style point reduction at failing to stick the landing.”

  Deeah and Valgrin joined Malcolm’s laughter. Valgrin laughed a little louder when he noticed Izzy and Ylnah exchanging puzzled looks.

  Valgrin caught his breath. “Probably too much of an Earth reference. The humor would be lost in explaining.”

  Ylnah scrunched her lips for a second. “I know you were laughing at my near tumble at the end.” She paused and grinned, “and I deserve it, nearly laughed myself.”

  “So a no-go with your father?” Izzy asked.

  “Nope, he grumbled about all of you putting ideas in my head. But in the end, he agreed I could stay here but not join your swamp adventure. He conceded that he’d let me join in some of your adventures in the future.”

  “I promised nothing about anything other than the swamps.” Valgrin stated.

  “Me either.” Izzy nodded toward Ylnah. “We’ll have more freedom in the future, but it’s still not a guarantee.”

  “I understand.” Ylnah sighed. “So what can I do for you now?”

  Valgrin grinned at the sense of fatherly pride he felt. Confirming with himself that if he was stuck, he could be in a worse position. His grin faded when he wondered what the Structure or that Mavvon had done to him, if they had done anything.

  Izzy stood up, clapping her hands for attention. “I think we should head to bed, even though it’s a bit early. I’d like to leave by first light in the morning.” She turned and headed toward her bedroom, not waiting for any replies.

  Deeah and Ylnah stood, excusing themselves. Both looked at Valgrin questioningly.

  “You go on, I’ll head up a few minutes later I need to talk to Malcolm first.” Valgrin said.

  Malcolm lifted an eyebrow, “Me? Whatever for?”

  “Just need to talk to you, privately.”

  “Izzy,” Malcolm called out. “I’ll join you shortly—if you want me too that is.”

  “Take all the time you need, but you end up with me tonight—or else.” She giggled as she sauntered into her room.

  “When your done staring I’ll start with what I need to say.” Valgrin smiled as he spoke.

  Malcolm spun his head back around to face his friend, a sheepish smile on his face. “Caught me, not that I hid it. What do you have to say. Seems a little ominous.”

  “You have a strange way to respond to ominous.”

  “Pssh, it’s me and I know if it was something seconds matter with you wouldn’t have handled it this way.”

  Valgrin nodded, “That’s true on both accounts. To be honest, it could have waited, but since you shared a much more important piece of info, I felt guilty keeping this to myself.”

  Malcolm pulled a chair out and sat down, motioning to Valgrin to do the same. “You’ve gotten my attention now.”

  “No need to sit down to discuss,” Valgrin said as he took a chair. “I’m already regretting turning this into a bigger issue than it really is. I’ve kept you up to date on most of the changes, you know the stuff with my ice and cold magic. What I’ve kept to myself is something odd happened while we were facing the Gobblerins.” He pulled out his katar and showed the pommel to Malcolm. “This stylized wolf wasn’t here until we were finishing up the Gobblerins. It and my magic changes seem to be tied to the ‘White Death’ they were chanting.”

  Malcolm examined the katar and then handed it back to Valgrin. “What are you going to do?”

  “I feel the need to go back up to Plarest. It’s not a call, but a nagging in the back of my head. Could be just me or could be something else. But I’ll be going back after the Tahlur revenge stuff.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Rest a bit after the swamp and then we head back to Plarest.”

  Valgrin waved his hand, “No, not us, me. I need to do this on my own, at least at the start. I’ll take Skwilly and maybe Ylnah, they’ll stay at the inn when I ask. You, I know, may have a problem with staying.”

  “I would, especially if you were out longer than expected. But I also know if you say you need to do this on your own, then I need to step back.”

  “Once I get this initial visit completed, I may ask you to come with me the next time. But for now, it’s me wanting you to know but not take part. Like I said not as serious as what you shared.”

  “But still important. Thanks for sharing.” He grinned and looked back at the door to Izzy’s room. “Now I need to get back to Izzy and whatever she has planned to get ready for our swamp trip tomorrow.”

  Valgrin smiled back, “Whatever the plan is make sure you both get plenty of rest.”

  “No promises,” Malcolm winked, walking toward the door.