47 Seeking Aleric

She proceeded to tell him about her father's estate, the green rolling hills, dotted with sheep, freshly sheared for the summer. The stable, the paddocks where the horses would be grazing.

Past all that, there was the estate, a massive, sprawling building of stone and white plaster. The grounds would be well tended, an herb garden along the walkways and front entrance, the air fragrant with the mint, thyme and rosemary. In the back would be an even more expansive vegetable garden where Marion was likely to be working if she wasn't in the kitchen.

Elloreah smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, you need to know about Aleric," she said. "I got carried away."

"It's quite alright. All those details help," he said patiently.

"Aleric would likely be in his workshop. There is a cellar with a hidden tunnel that leads out to a sort of bunker. It's just past the vegetable gardens, on the south end of the estate. There are two entrances, one through the hall from the cellar and the one that we found as children. It was entirely grown over. Worked most of one summer working to clear it off, convinced we'd found treasure."

"And what does he look like, this Aleric?" Lokni interrupted.

She laughed, realizing she was rambling once more. "He actually resembles Mingan in a way," she said softly. "But different coloring, a little taller, more muscular build. His hair a sun-kissed brown, his eyes dark. His skin golden hued, yet fair. He's darker than most of my kind." She paused. Mingan had come to listen more intently.

"He is like myself," she said softly. "Of mixed blood. I think he may be part Mythic, from earth."

"Oh?" Lokni asked, an eyebrow raised. "You don't know for sure?"

"I know he is of mixed heritage, like myself. It was a secret we shared. Perhaps he'd planned to come himself, it is possible he has family here."

"What makes you think that?" Mingan spoke up.

"He was adopted by my father. I've never heard for sure, but I've overheard enough hushed conversations between them to have guessed. They believe his father was from Earth the final time the gate was opened during the failed campaign to change the balance..."

Lokni gave Mingan a look, and Mingan turned away, lighting another cigarette. "If that's true, then it's likely he's half Walker, like Hayeta, Lokni and I," he said.

"Mingan, you don't think?" Lokni asked.

Mingan shook his head dismissively. "No, I don't."

"But the Coyote, he hasn't returned. It's in your bloodline, isn't it?" Lokni prodded.

"What are you saying?" Elloreah asked, though she could guess.

Mingan turned reluctantly. "I'm sure Alistair has mentioned my bloodline, hasn't he?"

"Only briefly."

Mingan groaned, rubbing his head. "Another time, then." He looked to Lokni. "All the more reason to look into this Aleric, isn't it?" Mingan asked. "Before we start making wild leaps and assumptions."

Lokni nodded. "Right." He turned back to Elloreah. ��Come, now. I need to hold your hand, to feel, to see as much as I'm able. I can link to a person through their possessions, but you will have to do."

"Do you need a possession of Aleric's?" she asked. She no longer felt as if she belonged to Aleric, and found that she bristled at the thought of being likened to one of his possessions.

"Do you have one?" he asked, surprised.

"Well, kind of," she replied, and worked to pull a ring on her left hand loose. She looked at it for a moment before handing it to Lokni. "He gave this to me. In fact, he made it," she added.

Lokni took the ring, seemingly startled by this admission. "He made you this ring? I take it you were close."

She nodded, eyes down cast. "We were..."

"Well, then," Lokni said, "all the more reason to see what I can."

He placed the ring on the first knuckle of his finger, where it rested snugly. "It will take some time. And I may not find anything," he explained.

"Should I get you a pillow?" Hayeta asked.

Lokni shook his head. "I think I'll be comfortable, assuming I'm able to find my way."

He crossed his legs and settled into a meditative position. "Don't mind me," he said, giving Elloreah a slight smile before closing his eyes.

With that, she could sense he was gone nearly as soon as his bright blue eyes were closed. Where there had once been a man, his emotions, though subdued and carefully schooled, now she felt a strange absence. She stared at him, despite herself.

"So strange," she whispered to herself.

Hayeta leaned in. "What? He does it all the time," she added with a shrug.

"No, Elloreah said softly, "It's more than that. He's gone. He slipped away in an instant. I can no longer sense him. It's as if his body is just a shell."

"Sounds about right. His spirit animal takes him out of his body to travel between worlds. Depending on the situation, he can stay somewhat conscious while he travels, but since we're all here to make sure nothing happens to him, I think he put his full effort into it," Hayeta explained.

"Hayeta is his guardian during these times," Mingan added.

Hayeta shot him a look. "I don't need you to speak for me," she snapped.

Mingan snorted. "I tire of dancing around subjects. The sooner we get this business taken care of, the sooner we can move on," he snapped.

Mingan's words stuck in Elloreah's mind. "The sooner we can move on," he'd said. Move on to what? She wondered, and who did he mean by we?

"I think I would like to go to the kitchen for tea," she said, "Would either of you like some?" There was no point in hanging about while Lokni worked.

"No, I'm fine," Hayeta said.

"Mingan?" Elloreah asked when he hadn't responded.

He only shook his head.