46 Half-Breed

Dinner went as smoothly as possible, Elloreah squirming under Hayeta's intense scrutiny and Lokni's attempts at charm. She was somewhat flattered by the attention, as uncomfortable as it was.

The evening was warm and there was a slight breeze coming in through the open French doors. After the meal was finished, Sitala retired to her rooms, Liwanu at her side.

Hayeta followed Elloreah out to the porch with the promise of seeing her glamour free. Lokni joined them, much to Elloreah's relief, hoping that perhaps he could look across the worlds as soon as that very evening.

Mingan followed after, making his way to the far end of the porch to sit on the railing and light a cigarette.

Elloreah was relieved he'd come, fearful that after his near silence during dinner that he would have retired as Sitala had. With the intense attention of Hayeta and Lokni, his presence was a comfort, and she believed he would come to her aid should she truly need it.

"If I show you," Elloreah said, "Lokni has to make at least an attempt to see my home."

Hayeta turned to Lokni. "Promise her, Lokni. All you have to do is try."

He inclined his head. "I would anyway," he assured Elloreah with a flash of perfectly white teeth before he went to where Mingan was sitting. "Got an extra smoke?" he asked.

"I figured you'd ask," Mingan grumbled, handing him one and holding up a lighter.

"Thanks," Lokni chuckled. Once the borrowed cigarette was lit, he turned his attention back to Elloreah and Hayeta. "Alright then, let's see it."

Elloreah put her hand over the runes and deactivated the glamour. She felt tired, suddenly, using the spell sapping what little energy she had.

Hayeta was leaning close to her, studying her features, the shorter woman's fingertips less than an inch away from her cheek. Elloreah laughed nervously and stepped back. Hayeta snatched her chin, holding her still.

"Remarkable," she was saying. "I hadn't expected."

"Hayeta," Lokni snapped, striding towards them. "She's not some sort of show pony. You can't go about checking her teeth." He slapped Hayeta's hand away from Elloreah's face.

"I was admiring her skin!" she protested. "Look," she said, still staring at Elloreah and Lokni joined her, despite his protests.

"The texture," he said, as if realizing what had fascinated his sister so. "But it's smooth, isn't it? Just a sort of mottling?"

"She's part dryad," Mingan said from where he sat. "What you're seeing is the veining of faint tree bark markings."

"Huh," Hayeta said, sounding disappointed. She stepped back, taking in Elloreah fully.

"No wonder she's not nearly as stunning as I expected. She's only a half-breed."

"Hypocrite," Mingan snapped.

"Well, I find her quite enchanting," Lokni said, and then turned to Elloreah. "I mean, the glamour doesn't change who you are. It's rather silly to focus on such things." He took her hand. "Come sit now that Hayeta has that out of her system."

Elloreah nodded allowed herself to be led to the large wooden double chair and sat down beside Lokni.

"It's fine, really," she said softly, though truthfully, she'd felt rather uncomfortable at Mingan's mention of her heritage and Hayeta's dismissive comment. "I had to keep my mixed heritage hidden all my life. Here, though," she smiled. "I don't have to worry so much."

"At least something good has come of it," Lokni replied, still holding her hand. "Now about the business of looking into your home world."

Elloreah nodded, her gaze dropping down to her hand in his, wondering if he could sense the poison, if the prolonged exposure to her touch would give her away. He caressed the back of her hand lightly with his thumb and she looked back up, meeting his intense blue eyes.

"Yes?"

"What is it you were hoping to learn exactly?" he asked, drawing her away from her thoughts and back to the matter at hand.

"If you could find the man who sent me here, and perhaps get a glimpse into why he did. It would answer so many questions. At first, I'd thought it an accident, but it was too... too..." she paused, distracted once again by the gentle caress of his thumb stroking the back of her hand. "It was too convenient, the way it happened," she added.

Lokni nodded gravely. "I can see why this would trouble you." He took a deep breath. "Tell me about the place you wish me to go in great detail, and I will do my best. I cannot, though, promise that the one you seek will be there."

She nodded, unsurprised but nonetheless disappointed. "If you find nothing, but succeed at finding your way to my realm, could you try again?"

"It depends," he answered. "I'm afraid I cannot dedicate too much of an effort to this. I have many other duties."

"I understand," she said quickly, drawing her hand from his. "I apologize for asking so much of you."

He smiled. "I will do what I am able. Now, tell me about this world of yours. More specifically, where your…. what was his name? Aleric? Might be."