The First Kaiaru (44 page)
Motekeru stomped over, knelt, and touched his forehead against Turesobei's. “I know, master. I know.”
“I don't think I’ll ever be the same.”
“I don't think you should be, master.”
“Does it ever get better?”
“Over the years the pain will fade, master.” Motekeru stepped away. “But not the memories. And love…love never dies. This I know.”
Iniru knelt and hugged him. Her eyes were red from crying. “Sobei, I’m so sorry. I wish there was something I could’ve done.”
He stroked a hand across her cheek. “We loved her. I think…I think that’s the best we could have done, given the circumstances.”
“The cave behind the waterfall at the center of the realm would make for a good camp,” Awasa said. “And it would get us halfway to where we need to be.”
Enashoma wiped tears from her face. “Let Sobei rest.”
Turesobei gathered himself. The best way he knew to block things out and move on was to focus on what must be done. “No, Awasa is right. We should get going. But first, I need to check out the gate.”
He walked around the arch, examining it with his kenja-sight. “No signs of damage on this side. I think the gates in the Nexus failed because of the damage to the Nexus heart stones. The gate leading from here back to Okoro should still work, though it will probably require more effort to activate than before. Nothing I shouldn’t be able to manage, though.”
“Then let’s get going,” Iniru said.
As Turesobei prepared to cast the teleportation spell, he noticed someone was missing from the group. And then he heard high-pitched sobs coming from behind a thick shrub nearby. Turesobei pulled back the branches and found Lu Bei, with his wings tucked over his face, crying.
“Sorry, master,” the fetch sobbed. “The weight of losing Mistress Kurine fell suddenly and heavily upon me, and I just needed a little time to myself.”
“Oh, that reminds me,” Turesobei muttered.
Then he poked the fetch in the belly.
“Ow! Watch it!” Lu Bei choked back his tears. “What—what was that for?”
“That's from Kurine. She sent it with love.”
“Argh! That girl’s going to vex me forever!”
Lu Bei wiped the tears out of his eyes and smiled.
Then Turesobei began the teleport spell.
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