De'Vas Chronicles Book 4: Chapter 20

“Forgive me, warchief,” Eva said as she bowed before him on her hands and knees. “If this is my punishment for my failure, I will endure it!”

Ash sat at the round table used for his advisers’ meetings, Selena and Haylee sitting beside him. Sparky was on the floor where Eva groveled, batting around her black braid as if it were a cat toy.

“Eva, I’m not punishing you,” Ash said. “Stand up and take a chair.”

The orc woman looked up at him, her head tilted as Sparky’s paws held her braid.

“But, I failed. Someone slipped past the guards I posted,” she said.

Ash nodded.

“And this meeting will cover that, but I’m not punishing you,” Ash stated. “Now, stand up before Blake gets here.”

Eva cast a side glance at Sparky, a worried look on her face at spoiling the elemental’s fun. Selena saw it as well and let out a sigh before standing.

“Come here, Sparky,” Selena said as she made her way toward Eva.

She scooped up the elemental cat and returned to her seat. Sparky made no fuss, and when Selena placed him on the table, he stretched before curling up into a ball as if to sleep.

“Thank you, Lady Selena,” Eva said as she stood and took a seat.

Ash tapped the table nervously with his fingers as they waited for Blake. The sun was setting soon and he would be returning from tending to his children graves in the north. Grace had promised to bring him to the meeting room as soon as he returned.

“So what have you girls been up to?” Ash asked to pass the time.

He looked at Selena first, already knowing she had something planned from what she said back in Riverbend.

“I discussed blueprints with the castle blacksmith for my project. It will use a decent amount of steel and iron, which I need your approval for,” Selena said.

Ash nodded.

“Going to tell me what it is?” he asked.

Selena smiled and shook her head, to which Ash laughed.

“Fine, you have my approval,” he said.

He turned to Haylee next.

“Some of the folks in the castle have been asking me about Magic, so I’ve been giving them lessons. Really, it’s just repeating things from Ember’s videos to them,” Haylee said before she shrugged. “I think some of the beastkin see me as more approachable than Blake, so that’s why they are asking me.”

Ash nodded, he could see some finding the old bear intimidating.

“Do we have some potential spell casters?” Ash asked.

Haylee lifted her hand, tilting it back and forth.

“A few have been able to move a pebble or start a small fire, but nothing combat capable, at least yet,” she answered. “Given some time, maybe.”

Ash knew Faylen would be proud of Haylee and the knowledge that her Ember persona had taught magic in two worlds. He would need to tell Haylee as much when they were alone.

“Good work, Haylee,” Ash said before turning to the orc woman.

Eva was currently staring at where Sparky lay sleeping, at least until she caught Ash facing her. Eva’s eyes widened, and she sat a little straighter.

“I boosted the number of guards stationed at each entrance and patrolled the castle grounds,” she said, repeating much of what she had told him while groveling.

Ash gave a slow, approving nod.

“And I’ve thanked you for doing that already. I’m not asking about your duties at the castle, what did you do today in your leisure time?” Ash asked.

Eva froze, as if she were unsure how to answer the question. Ash was about to say something when she finally spoke.

“Well… I read a new book. One I requested Augustus to pick up for me when he went to Riverbend,” Eva said. “I also sparred with Blake in the yard. I-I’m not a trained warrior, I only know the basics of what my father taught me, but I want to improve. As your herald, I need to improve.”

Ash smiled at Eva.

“I can give you some pointers on swordsmanship. I’m a novice myself, but my teachers were pretty good,” Ash offered.

Eva seemed surprised by it, but smiled a second later.

“Thank you, Warchief,” she said.

Haylee wore a mischievous grin as she looked at the orc woman.

“The book Augustus picked up wasn’t the latest Human Prince and the Tavern Maiden was it?” Haylee asked.

Eva turned a shade red, which prompted Haylee to laugh. Before Ash could chastise the otterkin, a knock came at the door.

“Warchief, may we enter?” Grace’s voice asked.

Ash drew a deep breath; finally, the meeting would begin.

Time to find out if they believe me or think I’m nuts.

“Come in,” Ash replied.

The door opened, and Grace stepped through with Blake following behind her. They took one look around the room and moved to take a seat near Eva, which put them as far from Sparky as the round table would allow.

“Thank you both for coming. How are the graves? If you need anything from the castle to tend to them, feel free to take it,” Ash offered.

Blake gave him a grin.

“Thank you, Warchief. They’re just a pile of stones covering the few possessions we could find of my daughters. The Vanishing is cruel in that it doesn’t leave bodies for those to mourn,” Blake said.

Ash’s eyes widened.

“The vanishing was what took them?” Ash asked.

Blake had always been quiet on the subject of his children, and Grace more so. It was clear both were still mourning the loss, so Ash never pressed for information on what had happened.

“Five years ago. Our daughters were living independently from us. Neither had taken a mate, so we kept tabs on them. One day we found their home empty, warm food still over the hearth and on plates, but the girls gone,” Grace said. “We tried to track them down, but their scent never left the house. We heard of similar situations happening and knew it was the Vanishing that must have taken them.”

Ash nodded in understanding.

“Then I’m sorry I didn’t tell you this sooner,” Ash said before taking a deep breath. “The Vanishing doesn’t kill, it transports people to another world. My world, the human world.”

Grace, Blake, and Eva fell silent as Ash explained the Rifts that struck Earth five years ago. He then discussed the formation of the Nation of De’Vas and how he was exiled there for having magic. Finally, he went into the Thin Veil Theory and the odd parallels between their worlds.

“So our daughters are alive?” Blake asked, nearly jumping out of his chair, only Grace holding his arm kept him from standing.

Ash smiled at the old bear.

“There’s a good chance they could be in De’Vas right now, living their lives,” he answered.

He saw tears well in Grace’s eyes.

“Our Faylen and Luna are alive,” she said, turning and grinning at Blake.

Ash froze, his jaw hanging open. Haylee let out a gasp, and Selena dropped the tankard of wine she held. All of them were staring at Blake and Grace.

“Faylen and Luna…” Ash said. “You’re Faylen and Luna’s parents?”

Blake and Grace turned to look at him.

“You know our daughters?” Blake asked.

Ash pulled out his phone, swiping through until he found a video with both Faylen and Luna. The first one he came to was Luna’s birthday party at the Twins. He smiled at the memory and tapped the screen to play the video.

“Happy Birthday to you!” Faylen’s voice sang out from the phone.

Grace’s ears perked up, and both she and Blake stared at the phone as Ash slid it across the table to them. The gray-haired wolfkin took the phone with shaky hands, letting out a gasp.

“Sis, you’re an asshole,” Luna growled as Faylen ended the song.

Faylen laughed.

“Just want you to have a happy birthday, little sister,” Faylen teased.

Tears poured down Grace’s face as she sobbed while holding the phone. Blake wore a smile as he placed a hand on his mate’s shoulder, pulling her close as they watched together.

“Thank you, Ash,” Faylen said.

He knew instantly it was when he brought over a slice of cake to her, which she took as she kissed him. How many times had he watched that video since coming to Vas? He felt an ache in his heart, wishing Faylen were here with him.

“You’re her mate,” Grace gasped.

Blake looked up at him with a massive grin. Grace, though, bit her lip and set the phone down.

“Why are our daughters not with you?” she asked.

Ash let out a sigh.

“Because I didn’t choose to come to Vas,” Ash said. “I, along with Haylee and Selena, were rifted here against our will by Councilman Victor, the stone dragon I was fighting. He’s a member of a coalition that’s been causing trouble for Cleo and me. We don’t know what they’re up to, but they worked with a human arms company to create a way back to Vas.”

He glanced around at the table just to make sure no one was looking at him as if he were crazy. Blake had a serious gaze as if he were ready for a fight. Grace was focused back on the phone, a longing look in her eyes as she watched the rest of Luna’s birthday party. Eva stared wide-eyed at him, but she didn’t look skeptical.

Good, at least I won’t have to convince anyone I’m not crazy.

He let out a deep breath before continuing.

“We don’t know what the coalition is up to, but they are in this area. We spotted an oni in Riverbend with a cellphone and I think the stalker elf is also working with the coalition to keep tabs on me. That’s why, if you see her again, don’t confront her, just come find me.”

He debated about bringing up the machine found next to the dead zone, but he wasn’t quite sure they were ready for the revelation that Vas was dying.

“Now that you know, are there any questions?” Ash asked.

Eva cleared her throat.

“So there’s a world full of humans, is it like the books?” Eva asked.

Ash shrugged. He had never read any of the books Eva was referring to. He was also a little concerned that she might have stopped listening after he mentioned humans populated Earth.

Haylee chuckled.

“Those books are pretty far off the mark. They do get right that humans like their machines, which they call technology,” Haylee answered. “That cellphone, for instance, doesn’t use any magic.”

Eva glanced at the device in Grace’s hands. Ash caught Selena smirking out of the corner of his eye.

“Read a lot of elvish human romance novels?” she teased Haylee.

The otterkin smiled.

“After a certain someone rescued me from a kraken, I may have read a few copies,” Haylee admitted.

“Anything you need us to do to deal with this coalition?” Blake asked.

Ash shook his head.

“Just be observant and work to improve the castle’s strength and forces. The oni made it very clear where he will be in three weeks. Until then, we keep watch and grow stronger,” Ash answered.

The video finally went silent and Grace lifted the phone. Her blood red eyes met his, and for the first time, Grace looked timid.

“Can you show me more of my girls?” she asked.

Ash stood and made his way over to the wolfkin, holding out a hand for the phone. Grace gave it to him with some reluctance, but her eyes shone as Faylen’s voice came through.

“I have a few videos I can show you and several pictures,” Ash said as he took a seat beside Grace.