Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“We haven’t screwed up yet, so I’m sure it will be fine.” Hmm. “Do we know if he’s been given English?”
The old man nodded.
So yes, and I was talking too loudly.
Again.
I managed not to look shocked or worried as we approached the man, who based on Earth aging I would’ve put at only ninety, and I hoped I could keep it up as we finally made our way up to him. “Hello, I’m Agent Murphy of Earth. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Murphy of Earth, I am Baldron and I have waited a long time to meet you. Greetings.” His voice was steadier than I expected but something about his tone or just who he was made him feel ancient and not just old. “Dragons and mages of Earth, welcome home.”
I wasn’t the only one who had to swallow past a lump in my throat, but the old man actually smiled understandingly as several in the group sniffled.
He smiled.
Naturally.
“Thank you.” Hugh actually stepped up and managed to sound polite as he greeted Baldron. He wasn’t the one I’d have guessed to take over, but it actually made sense since he was the least likely to say something offensive. “This has been an amazing experience and we can’t wait to go back and share it with our people.”
“I am glad we have given you appropriate hospitality.” Pausing, the old man seemed to think about the words before shrugging his frustration away.
He shrugged.
Had they gotten better at the transfer of English?
Was it coming with fully integrated gestures now?
“Your people have been very gracious. It’s been wonderful getting to know them.” Hugh’s words had the rest of the group nodding, but they kept their mouths shut so they didn’t say anything offensive. “We never thought we’d have this opportunity, so it’s been amazing to learn about our history.”
“I am eager to hear about your lives, but I must ask a question first.” Glancing between us, he frowned. “Who is the one called Shiloh?”
Shiloh?
“Me.” His quiet voice was nearly a squeak, but he stepped between everyone and moved to the front of the group. “I’m Shiloh of Earth.”
“Welcome.” Baldron studied Shiloh for a moment, upping the stress in everyone watching without meaning to. “I am told you are the historian of family lines.”
Family lines?
Genealogy?
“Yes.” Swallowing hard again, Shiloh straightened and seemed less worried. Did the topic make him more comfortable or was it something else? “I’ve studied as much of the family lines as we have access to.”
And that was why he’d wanted to come so badly.
Why hadn’t anyone mentioned that?
“My family was tasked with keeping track of the family records from when we were first separated.” Finally looking confident, Shiloh didn’t radiate anxiety the way he usually did. “Some lines were lost because they moved away from the gate early on. We don’t know what happened to them officially, but that doesn’t mean anything bad happened to them.”
Oh.
Should I interrupt?
Fuck it.
“I might be able to help with that.” I hadn’t expected every eye to turn to me but I probably should have. “The American government keeps track of every dragon or mage on the planet. I know it sounds intrusive but you guys create chaos everywhere you go and we need to be one step ahead of you to keep the weather working right.”
And they got it.
“Ugh. I should be pissed the government is tracking us all, but hell, I’d track us.” Wren’s honest response and slightly cheeky wave from the back had Baldron smiling again. “Oh, um, sorry.”
He really couldn’t stay quiet no matter how hard he tried.
“That is because the only families who allowed their children to go on the portal adventures were the most outgoing…the ones who had the drive to travel and explore and to create chaos as you said.” Baldron damned near laughed when we all went bug-eyed. “The lines who were quiet and thoughtful and simply wanted to stay home never crossed the portal.”
Well, that answered a lot of fucking questions.
“Shit. We’re the genetic troublemakers.” Wren just couldn’t help himself. “I can’t wait to tell Pierce and my mother.”
Only if he could keep her out of jail because bailing her out constantly was becoming a problem.
“Shiloh of Earth, did anyone of the line of Anoth come through the gate with you?” Baldron’s tone was back to almost neutral but he was searching each face too hard to be as calm as he was attempting to act. “They were five dragonlings…four girls and one boy.”
His family?
How old was he again?
The way Klynn was slowly blinking said he was thinking something along the same lines, but all I could read from him was confusion.
“Yes.” Shiloh let out a deep breath like he’d just passed his final exam. “The children all survived until adulthood and several of them moved away from the gate in the next generations. Kaden of Earth is a direct descendant, and there are still two strong family lines on the other side of the gate by the portal but they couldn’t come.”