Sun's Heart

Chapter 27.1 - The Fate of the Voran

"The barrier is back to normal?" Dain skeptically repeated. "Are you positive?"

Gale winced and waited for the upcoming verbal lashing.

Tuli scowled down at him. "Do you believe me a liar?" The silvery streams of black smeared across her exposed face and hands lent her a fearsome appearance. Well, more fearsome than usual, anyway.

"Don't you know it's rude to answer a question with a question?" he fired back.

She glowered, fists clenched. His grin dared her to smack him. Tona stopped in the doorway. He looked fresh in a clean shirt and pants, all marks of the battle above the Rift washed away. His sand veil was gone, leaving his platinum hair glimmering. He gestured at her to leave. Tuli straightened, nodded to him, and stormed out of the room.

Elah sighed in exasperation from her seat at the head of the oblong table and snapped, "Would you believe us if I told you the barrier is fine?"

Dain considered her. "Where'd all this confidence come from? Weren't you just clinging to your boyfriend a second ago?" Tona looked at him, his face a mask. "Seems to me you know as much as everyone else about how your barrier works. Can you blame me for asking?"

Elah snorted and shook her head. "You are an ignorant brat too old to be throwing a fit about things you don't understand. This barrier you've been fussing over is linked to my soul. Inside the Rift, it was weakened. Outside the Rift, it's fine. Understand? Or should I bring out the drawings?"

"Yes, I understand, now that you've finally deigned to explain it to me properly."

They glared at each other through air so tense it could have snapped.

"What is your name?" she asked hotly.

"Dain Hill. I'd say it's a pleasure, but I know how you Voran feel about liars."

She lifted her chin and stared frost down at him. "I am Elahya. I believe we will be good friends in the future."

He crossed his arms. "Oh, do you really?"

"We'll find out, won't we?"

"I look forward to proving you wrong."

"Likewise."

Gale shook her head. They were a terrifying pair. She cleared her throat. "Elah, are you feeling better?"

The priestess smiled. Tona moved to sit beside her. "Concerned for me? Adorable. I'm fine. According to Talaris, nausea is a typical side-effect of leaving a 'Joining' with another soul too fast." Wil grimaced in sympathy. She looked at him. "Do not expect thanks for what you did in the Rift. It was my intention to remain inside forever, if it meant keeping Adjinn from escaping."

Talaris, silent until then, gently reminded her, "It would've been years at most before you were absorbed into his soul. Besides, you shouldn't have been in there in the first place."

She rounded on him. "You blame me for being drawn to it like so many others?"

"No," he continued, unfazed by her habitual acidity, "I blame my own ignorance for being unable to explain why you were drawn in at all. It shouldn't have been possible. You and he should share an equal amount of power, yet you are weaker." He rubbed his chin. "Puzzling..." The hand on his chin rose into a dismissive wave. "Whatever the reason, it looks like the problem was fixed. Now the barrier stands strong, and the Elahn have their priestess again."

Dain said, "Something's bothering me. Gale and Wil escaped easily enough, so why didn't you just...leave?"

Elah hesitated. Tona looked at her. They shared something in that glance. He looked away and crossed his arms. She said slowly, "It's difficult to explain. It felt like I was...where I was supposed to be. Whenever I tried to leave, I could always find reason not to."