Alora: The Portal (17 page)

Certainly not.

“I simply wished for a second pair of eyes to aid in locating a girl with acceptable qualities.”

“And how would you describe this girl? The one with ‘acceptable qualities’?”

“Were you not listening for the last four fingers? I’ve been explaining what I feel are the minimum qualifications for a potential mate. She needs to be tall, like you, and beautiful.”

“I understand why you want an attractive girl, but why must she be tall? You’re not exceptionally tall yourself.” Bardamen was slightly taller than his father, who matched Raelene’s height. And while his father was thin and lanky, Bardamen was broad and muscular.

“But of course, I’d like my offspring to be tall. I feel added height gives advantage in many gifts.”

I hope he didn’t see me roll my eyes.

“And she should be from another clan. Not from Stone Clan.”

“Why is that? What’s wrong with Stone Clan girls?”

“I thought you, of all people, would understand, Raelene. You married a man from Forest Clan and hid it for many years. Like you, I desire to have extremely gifted children and, as you’ve argued, intermarriage produces gifted offspring. Alora is a perfect example. And unlike most of the ignorant people in Stone Clan, I bear no prejudice against the other clans. Now, what was the next one on the list? Tall. Beautiful. A different clan.” He counted on his fingers. “Ah yes… extremely gifted, but not overly proud.”

“Can you clarify?”

“I’ve already explained. I don’t like women who believe they know more than I do.”

“But what if that were true? What if she had knowledge you didn’t possess?”

“I seriously doubt that would ever happen. Even if she knew some trifling tidbit of which I was unaware, she wouldn’t need to boast of it.”

“Perhaps you should look for a stupid girl. You’d be assured she would never compete with you in wisdom.”

Bardamen’s lips pursed as if he’d bitten into a green fize. “I wouldn’t enjoy being married to an idiot, and she might not produce intelligent children. My offspring must be intelligent.”

“So you desire a smart, gifted girl who is humble and submissive?”

“Yes. Precisely.”

“I have but one question for you, Bardamen.”

“Do ask.”

“If we find a tall, beautiful, smart, gifted, humble, submissive girl from a clan other than Stone Clan, how will you convince her to marry you?”

His eyes opened wide and his jaw dropped. “But what girl wouldn’t wish to be married to Stone Clan’s next chief shaman?”

She bit her tongue.
I can think of a few.

“Isn’t there anyone else we can send?” Graely paced as he considered his options. And his options appeared to be few and far between. “Surely in all of Stone Clan there is someone else with the gift of gresses. Someone with more years. Someone less… less…”

“Impulsive?” Nordamen supplied.

“Yes, impulsive. Someone less impulsive.”

“I’m afraid gresses is a rather rare gift, though it’s a minor one.” Nordamen rubbed his temples. “Of course, Raelene has the gift, but she’s already left with Bardamen to search for information about Kaevin and Alora’s soulmate bond. The trip to Glaenshire will take a seven-day, and we’ve no idea how long they will remain. I suspect Raelene will need at least three seven-days, probably more, to glean all the information available on soulmates. It’s unfortunate we had no one to send along with gifting in language.”

“And with another seven-day to return… No, I suppose we cannot wait for Raelene.” Graely stroked his beard.

“The girl is our best option… our only option.”

“Perhaps one of her parents has the gift?”

“Yes, her father, Plaegus, has the gift. But you remember he was critically injured in the last battle. He wouldn’t be physically able to complete the task.”

“Couldn’t Alora simply find the portal and transport Plaegus to seal it?”

“No, only someone with the gift of gresses can find a portal and bring someone inside.”

“Perhaps it won’t be so bad. We need only allow her to travel to Montana, find the portal, and close it.”

Nordamen grimaced. “I fear I haven’t explained the most difficult aspect of the task.”

“What is that?”

“Sealing the portal in Montana works only to prevent someone in Montana from discovering and entering the portal. We must also close the portal in Portshire, or wherever that end of the portal may be located.”

Graely tried to imagine the possible dangers involved. “Can the portal be sealed from the inside?”

“No. It cannot.”

“So you’re saying she must locate the opening in Montana, travel through the portal, exit the portal somewhere in Vindrake’s province, and close the portal, remaining in Water Clan.”

“Yes.” Nordamen spoke the single word, but Graely felt the weight of emotion behind it.

“And if she were captured, could Vindrake not force her to open the portal again?”

“Once sealed, the portal can only be opened from the inside.”

Graely collapsed onto a nearby bench.
I’d be sending her to her death.

“Of course, Alora and Kaevin could go with her and transport her to safety after she closed the portal.” Nordamen’s eyes didn’t quite meet Graely’s as he made the suggestion.

“Providing they weren’t captured or killed before Alora made the transport.”

“Exactly.”

“Will she be able to see outside the portal before they exit? Can she be certain no one is standing on the other side?” Graely knew he’d already made the decision. He couldn’t send her to close the portal with no hope of escape, though the choice meant risking his son’s life. And Alora’s.

“She can look out, but her head would be visible...” Nordamen seemed to consider this question further. “However, anyone in the area would be unlikely to notice a disembodied head. It could provide a measure of protection.”

Graely’s face fell into his hands. “It appears we have no choice.”

“None that seems palatable.”

“Will she be willing? When she truly understands the risks?”

A mirthless laugh escaped Nordamen’s lips. “She’d be willing if we asked her to fling herself from a cliff. Whether by bravery or ignorance, I cannot say. Arista knows no fear.”

“I’ve been looking into the plasmapheresis, Daegreth.” Steven ran frustrated fingers through his hair, leaving it in disarray. “It’s going to be difficult, because we first need to determine exactly what’s different in your blood and develop a filtering system to remove it. That is
if
we can find something specific in your blood that might be causing the problem.”

“Then there’s no possible method to remove the bondmark?” Daegreth’s stomach churned, but he kept his expression neutral.
Why did I let myself hope?

“I’m not saying it’s impossible. I’m just saying I don’t have enough information. All your friends are coming over here for a big meeting, so I hope I can learn something more about it.”

“I have no friends.”

“Sure you do. Every single one of them wants to help you get away from this Vindrake guy. Apparently, they have a few other things on their agenda as well. If there’s a way to get you out of this bond, they’re all in favor. I’m thinking we may have the blood thing all wrong anyway. Maybe it’s some kind of hypnosis, and there might be a way to break it.”

“Hypnosis?”

“It’s a mind-control thing, but never mind that. The best news is about the email I just got… the results of the DNA tests. I can’t wait to tell everyone.”

“I don’t understand the meaning of this test.”
I don’t understand anything you just said.

“It shows how closely related we are. We tested all of us… Mom, Dad, you, me, Wesley. Mom and Dad were convinced your DNA would match up as a child to them and a brother to me and Wes. But you’re not.”

The news stung a bit, despite the fact Daegreth hadn’t really thought it was possible to be part of a family again. Still he’d allowed himself to hope, just as he’d allowed himself to hope he could be forever freed of the bloodbond to Vindrake. “I’m sorry to be a disappointment to your parents.”

“I don’t think they’re going to be disappointed. We got some pretty interesting results. You’ll just have to wait until everyone is here so I can make the announcement.” He gave Daegreth a friendly nudge in the ribs with his elbow. “I think you’ll be surprised.”

Alora tried to ignore the throbbing behind her eyes and concentrate on Graely’s words, but when she noticed Kaevin rubbing his forehead, she elbowed him, pointing to her head and raising questioning eyebrows. With a curt nod, he affirmed her fears.

Their mutual headache had returned, despite having just returned from Laegenshire. Granted, they had come back with two extra in tow—Graely and Arista—but one such transport didn’t usually cause a headache. Not only that, but Kaevin had placed a chaste kiss on her lips only moments ago.

At her side, Arista squirmed with excitement, anxious to dispense with the formal meeting and explore the new realm. Alora couldn’t help but smile at Arista’s wide eyes as she took in the “magic” of Montana. Arista’s gaze darted from the recessed light fixture in the ceiling overhead to the window on her left to the glass of iced water in her hand.

“I love this realm.” Her coarse whisper was a bit too audible.

“Shhhh!” Kaevin frowned her direction. Arista flinched, but Alora gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Kaevin probably didn’t remember how overwhelmed he’d been when he first arrived here.

Alora pulled out her cell phone, giving Arista a quick lesson on scrolling though the picture gallery. Arista squealed with excitement and was soon totally absorbed with the new toy.

“Eh-hem!” Graely cleared his throat, throwing a wry glance Arista’s way. “As I was saying… the portal must be closed from the outside, so Arista will have to locate the portal in the place Charles first found Alora, travel through with Alora and Kaevin, and seal the portal. Then the three will transport back to safety.”

“I don’t really understand all this portal stuff, but it seems really dangerous.” Karen chewed on her fingernail. “Didn’t you say the other end of the portal was located somewhere close to Vindrake?”

Alora glanced at Uncle Charles, who stood staring out the window, probably avoiding eye-contact with anyone. Of course he already knew all about the plan, having had a lengthy discussion with Graely and Nordamen. While he’d agreed to let Alora go, she knew he was against it. Plus she could tell from the dark circles under his eyes he hadn’t been sleeping much the past few days.

Her mind wandered as the adults debated the merits of the plan, but she already knew the outcome. There was really no other option. Uncle Charles had suggested Vindrake might not know about the portal, but Nordamen and Graely said he was too smart not to come to the same conclusion.

Nordamen said he wouldn’t be surprised if Vindrake had already found the portal and sent some men through to explore. At least they knew the portal entrance was in the middle of Yellowstone National Park. Even if Vindrake found the portal, it would take a while for his people to learn enough about this realm to be able to navigate to a city without raising suspicion. The snow would also provide an extra measure of protection, hampering travel by foot.

Meanwhile, Raelene and Bardamen had embarked on a journey to some place filled with ancient writings, hoping to discover a way to eliminate the soulmate bond between Kaevin and her. Evidently her grandmother’s vehement argument that removing the soulmate bond should take precedence over closing the portal had been ignored. She was so adamant, she swore to find the answers on her own. Alora felt a bit guilty for praying Grandmother wouldn’t find a solution.

“Why don’t we wait until Spring Break to do this, so I could come, too?” Wesley was drumming his fingers on his legs. The action seemed nonchalant, but Alora had learned he did this when he was upset. Wesley couldn’t stand being left out of the action.

“The longer we wait, the more likely Vindrake will find the portal on his end. He might set a guard at the entrance, and that would complicate Arista’s mission.” Graely’s use of the word “complicate” didn’t fool anyone. The longer they waited, the less likely the three would come out of this alive. If someone wearing an iron belt grabbed her wrist or Kaevin’s, they would be at Vindrake’s mercy.

“I don’t understand how we can locate this portal you’re talking about,” said Brian.

“We know Alora’s mother, Wendelle, must have come through the portal when she first appeared with Alora.” Graely gave Charles a chance to confirm his statement, but he kept his gaze fixed outside the window. “Charles remembers the exact location where Wendelle appeared with Alora, sixteen years ago.”

“But didn’t you say Alora’s mother could transport people, just like Alora?” asked Steven, without lifting his eyes from his iPad. “Maybe Alora’s mother just transported over here from your world to ours. How do you know this portal even exists?”

“We’re certain Vindrake had Wendelle warded to stop her ability to transport. Otherwise, she would’ve returned to Laegenshire. Furthermore, a bearer can only move to people or places he or she has seen in the past, since there must be a clear image in the mind.”