ELRETH

They made a slow procession down the trail through the Tree City and to where the trail branched to go to the Royal meadow, or off to the Southwest towards the portal. Elreth had known of the location of the portal for years, but had never been into it.

With so many disformed, they walked in human form, but briskly. Despite her weariness, Elreth had plenty of energy—probably because she was nervous—and found herself walking ahead to speak with her parents and Gar, then dropping further back to chat with the females, then pushing ahead again.

After the third time she'd looped the party and Aaryn gave her a concerned look, she shook her head. She needed to calm down focus. So she pushed forward again, tipping her head at Aaryn to follow her, and caught up with Gar, who was walking just behind her parents, who walked quickly, but spoke quietly as if they didn't want to draw attention.

Falling into step next to Gar, Aaryn just behind her, at her shoulder, Elreth took a deep breath.

"So, tell me how you found out about all this? Why did you end up in the middle of it even though Mom said she wasn't supposed to tell anyone. You said you overheard something?

"

Gar's eyes snapped to their mother who'd turned her head to look at them over her shoulder. But she nodded and Gar ran a hand through his hair.

Elreth was stabbed by that spear of envy again at the easy, wordless communication they shared. But she swallowed it down. This wasn't the time for petty competition with her brother.

"Back… three years ago, I think, when I was partying a lot,

" Gar started reluctantly,

"I crossed by myself for the first time.

" Both their parents looked at each other, then dropped back to walk alongside them.

"I was just being adventurous,

" he said defensively, even though no one had said anything. Their father grunted, but it was their mother who spoke.

"You were being self-destructive, Gar, and you know it.

"

Gar's lips thinned, but he nodded once.

"So, I'd already been across twice, and even though the traverse was… hell, I wanted to go again. The human world was fascinating. So one evening I came out here intending to cross again. But just when I got to the cave, I heard voices. Mom was out here talking to Gahrye. I recognized their voices.

"

Their father turned to look at their mother, a sharp question in his eyes. But he didn't speak. But Gar either didn't notice, or chose to ignore it. He continued.

"I didn't hear the whole story, but I heard enough to understand that they were doing something—using the traverse, training people, that Gahrye was concerned about the risk to those who went through for the first time. When he left, I confronted Mom when she left the cave.

"

Elreth looked at her mother who's face was tight. She kept looking between Gar and Elreth's father. But when she caught Elreth watching her, she swallowed and shrugged.

"It was a horrible moment for me, realizing Gar had heard. I thought we'd breached the secret and it was all going to go to hell,

" she said, her voice shaky.

"But Gar insisted that he'd already been across and knew he could do it again. He… convinced me to let him see what we were doing with the disformed.

"

Gar snorted.

"I convinced her by threatening to tell Dad if she didn't let me,

" he chuckled. Their father growled, but kept his lips tightly closed. Elreth eyed their mother sideways. She clearly had no sense of humor about it.

"I tried to fight him on it,

" Elia said, her voice pleading. She spoke to Elreth, but El suspected the words were more for their father.

"Putting him, our son, through the traverse was the last thing I wanted to do. But once he saw what we were doing, he insisted on helping. And when I talked to Gahrye again he said… he said Gar had been brought in by the Creator Himself, so… so we just had to accept that.

"He'd already proven his heart was good. And we needed people we could trust. And he was… eager. When the others learned that he was willing, they welcomed him because there was no need to wait. We've always needed more and more people who have the strength to go through. Using a Protector as a guide was risky because if something went wrong, we'd lose two of them and we already had such small numbers. But we'd been doing it because that was the safest way.

"Usually it's a lengthy process to make sure a trainee is capable and… ready. The fact that Gar had already proven himself… well, it was a resource we couldn't deny.

"

"I started training with them,

" Gar said quietly, keeping his eyes ahead, very clearly not looking at their father.

"And I was… helpful. I could prepare them for what they were going to face because I'd been through it. I knew. And I didn't have a mate or… or anything, so if something happened to me they weren't going to lose anyone important.

"

Both their parents turned to stare at him then. The little muscles at the back of Gar's jaw twitched, but he looked at Elreth.

"I'm good at this, El. I know you think I'm reckless, but not with other people's lives. I gave them everything I could to prepare them ahead, then I made sure they were ready before I let them take anyone else.

"

"What do you mean if something happened they weren't going to lose anyone important?

" their father asked, his deep voice barely more than a growl.

Gar's lips pursed.

"I just meant I am young, I don't have a mate or family. And I don't have a role—didn't have a role in the hierarchy. If something happened to me they hadn't lost anyone that couldn't be replaced.

Elreth looked at her dad then, unsurprised to see shock and dismay on his face, but he covered quickly and stared forward again, just as Gar was doing.

Their mother, though, she reached across to put a hand to Gar's arm.

"Son, you were always irreplaceable. I told you that.

"

Gar shrugged.

"It doesn't matter anyway, does it? Because nothing went wrong. We were careful and we didn't take anyone across who wasn't ready and so far… so far we've been right. So far, no one has died or been lost crossing the traverse.

"

"Famous last words,

" their father growled, shaking his great head and scowling..

"Famous last words.

"