Lana didn't wait for Quinn to return to his students. She told them it was nice to meet them and was off. She had another student she wanted to meet.
Caser carried her to the class they passed, the Earthborn class. Aden was telling them to follow him. Erlen was trailing behind. Lana had seen through the glass how he was treated for acting with honor. She wanted to extend a hand.
"Erlen!" she called out and the boy turned around. Then he promptly fell over as she saw a sparkling winged being riding a huge beast.
"Who do you think you are?" Lana heard. She had been looking at the boy. She looked up to see that angry teacher.
"Do I have to think about who I am? I'm here on personal invite from Oscar. You are welcome to ask him yourself."
She looked back at Erlen, "Your performance was exemplary and I wondered if we could talk about your future?"
Erlen looked between the two adults. "What faction are you with?"
Lana chuckled, "not Earthborn that's for sure. Guess."
"You're with the Cursed."
Lana nodded.
"Get away from my student! He is a fine upstand…"
"Exactly. He's way to good to remain with unscrupulous people who only care about strength and care nothing for the backs they stand on to get there." She had looked Aden directly in the eyes when she said that.
Lana climbed off Caser's back then heard "dadadada." She sighed and picked up Olivia, "I'm mamamama!" This got a chuckle out of Erlen.
She put a hand on his shoulder. "Come. Let's talk in less hostile waters."
-------------------------------------
A few days later, Sam called Lana. He made her sit before he told her what was happening.
"First of all, I need to let you know Sil is on his way home with Chucky. He is no longer a student."
Lana was instantly alarmed. If Sil had found the ability, Sam wouldn't be speaking to her this way.
"What happened."
"He sat down to have lunch with Shiro and someone threw something at Shiro. It hit Sil. He lost it and attacked the student with intent to kill. Peter was able to stop him before the student got hurt." Sam paused, "Lana, you need to understand that Sil told Quinn he kept asking Vorden and Raten what to do and didn't get any answers so he acted the way he did."
"SHIT!" Lana said, "I knew he wasn't getting any better. He remains normal with me but not with anyone else. When do you expect him? I'll meet him."
After Sam gave her the information, she notified Shalt and put the kids on Caser. With them in tow, including kittens on Griddlebone's back, they went to the Cursed Ship to wait for Sil. She was very restless while waiting.
It took several hours for Sil and Chucky to arrive. Lana rushed to him as soon as he disembarked his ship everyone in tow. Sil hugged her close then noticed they were not alone in the hanger bay. He noticed a man he hoped to never see again. A man from Blade Island. It was Brock, the head house keeper.
Suddenly, Sil panicked and told Lana, "get the hell out of here!" He then took up a combat stance.
Since all those present were fast, it didn't take long to get through their teleporter. Lana immediately called Sam… Who was talking to Brock who had informed Sil there was no reason for alarm. Sam barely said anything beyond "Hello Lana" when she heard Sil's voice say "I'll come when I can. Hang up."
So she did.
Lana stood looking at Shalt without really seeing him. He put his hand at the small of her back to guide her back to her house. There she just paced back and forth. She had no idea how long she paced for. She had to pause to feed the babies, change diapers, and put them to bed.
At some point, Kattie came running in, "did you know Richard Eno is Quinn Talen's grandfather?"
Lana was shocked, "excuse me?"
"That Bonnie interviewed him at some party. Quinn was with him and didn't deny it! We are also at war with the dalki now. They attacked a school outing today. Quinn was rewarded for killing more than half of them."
Lana became more alarmed and relieved at the same time. Sil wasn't in that battle but the cursed students were. Lana immediately called Fiza.
Fiza filled her in on how many students died but more would have if Quinn had not been there. There had been a general named Innu who was an idiot and was going to get people killed. Quinn had to prove he was a world leader to override him. He saved so many. Reassured her apprentices were okay, she hung up to let them rest.
Still worried about her husband, Lana resumed pacing. Eventually, Sil came home. She was tired but she didn't care. He told her Eno had a plan to get Vorden and Raten back. It involved going back to Blade Island. Lana was immediately against it. They went back and forth for a long time. He explained everything. Including that Brock was simply an undercover agent for Richard Eno on the island. He didn't know that so he made her get to safety.
Eventually, Sil was on his knees in front of her as she sat on the couch. "Lana, I need this, you know I need this."
She gulped and held back the tear of fear that her husband was going into a dangerous situation, She tried to rationalize it that the dalki war wasn't going to be safe. Fighting his father wasn't going to be safe. But this required taming a dragon and moving it to another location so the dalki couldn't find it and make more dalki with it. A tear of worry escaped her eye.
Sil stood her up and held her in his arms. He looked her lovingly in the eyes. "Would I really go there and die when I have you to come back to? I love you more than anything. I will come back."
Lana could barely breathe but she nodded.
Just then Kattie knocked on the door and opened it. Again, she was all excited, "Lana, LOOK! Richard Eno has come to visit us!" Lana had never seen her like this but more, she as staring at Eno. She could smell it. He was a vampire.
Lana smiled at Kattie, "Thank you. I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell everyone. It's late at night and I'm sure this is just a quick visit."
Kattie nodded and left them to talk.
Sil looked at Eno with alarm, "did you follow me?"
Eno shook his head, "actually, I found that secure teleporter while I was wandering earlier and thought I'd take a moment to check it out. I wasn't expecting a whole shelter much less to find you here. "
Sil was back to wearing his wedding ring and he now took off her locket and returned it. "I'm keeping your choker if that's okay?"
She nodded. "Mr. Eno, is there anything you need?"
"You can start by telling me who and what you are and who's side are you on."
Lana took a deep breath. He had an accusatory tone and she didn't like it. But this man was related to Quinn and was going to help Sil.
"Lana Plantwell, a fairy, and life." She was going to stop there when she realized something. Quinn was looking for Richard Eno… "You're the first King."
"Did Quinn tell you that?"
"Well between what Quinn and Arthur said…" she sighed and appeared sad when she thought of Arthur.
Eno appeared interested, "what do you know of Arthur?"
"I was there when Arthur shared his story with us. Also… Max, come out and share what you heard." Max came out and shared what he heard in the old settlement.
Eno didn't look happy. Lana realized she was being rude and offered to allow him to sit in the living area. When he did, he noticed a whole bunch of notebooks he wrote ages ago about magic.
"Why do you have these?" He wasn't happy about it.
"I brought them to her from the 10th castle. Since Quinn is the leader, he had no problem with Lana borrowing them," Sil replied.
"Why do you need them?" Eno asked.
Lana drew a thoughtful expression then explained everything she knew about herself and ended with "I feel I need to learn magic. When Sil brought me these I was very excited. But I don't understand it still. It's like a whole new language."
"May I see the stones you said belonged to your mother?"
Lana nodded and brought them out from her room. He didn't touch them but was shocked by what he saw. He didn't explain why.
"Lana I'd like an exchange. You've provided a lot of information but magic is extremely powerful. It can be very dangerous if used improperly. Do you understand?"
Lana nodded.
"I'd like a blood sample. In exchange, I will teach you how to use magic. I will be busy but I can put the information in a crystal and show you how to use it so you can learn slowly over time. All at once could harm our body or even kill you. Do you accept this?"
She held out her arm for him to take her blood. "Just so you know, you can't drink it."
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