First Eclipse

The captain walked by Tim and pointed to Ava and Firo. He looked. They were in front of the curtained area. The fae was removing any ward that had been placed. Tim didn't ask questions. He went over to stand by them, sword ready. "I'm going to check the other tunnel. Are you good over there, Firo?" Princess Aireese asked.

"Just a warning spell. I've got it in hand." He told his princess.

Tim moved closer and held his sword ready. When Firo was finished, he was going to remove the curtain altogether. Too many things could be hidden behind it.

"Can we at least go look at what is behind curtain number one?" King Chase asked.

"No." The captain told him. "When we've checked every space for spell traps, then you can."

"I feel like we've been demoted, brother king," Chase said to his twin.

"Demoted is better than vanquished to some unknown place or dead." King Troy responded.

"Point noted. Carry on." Chase told everyone.

Tim gave his head a quick shake. The playfulness made him feel better about the way this day had gone. Firo lowered his hand and then nodded to Tim. Grasping the material with his free hand, he jerked on it and ripped it from the cord holding it up. The material hit the floor with a puff of dust.

Firo put his arm in front of Ava as she started to step inside. "Let me check and make sure there are no surprises," he said.

Ava crossed her arms over her chest and stood there. "You need to teach me this stuff."

Firo glanced back at her, a gentle expression on his face. "All in time. You've just learned what you are. The rest takes time."

Ava scoffed but didn't say anymore.

Tim watched him wave his hands around and then hold them out and close his eyes. He didn't know the first thing about magic, just that while it was in play, he stayed out of the way.

"Are there any documents or journals in there?" Chase asked.

Ava turned and looked over to where they stood. "Just hold your horses."

Chase grinned. "Horses on hold."

Firo lowered his hand and then made an elaborate gesture for Ava to enter. Tim followed right behind her. She was important to Fauna, so, therefore, she was going to be important to him. That realization made him pause, he should probably explain to Fauna that they were mates. He doubted he was going to go all caveman-like the king had with his huntress or turn into a vengeful berserker that the Justice had, but she should still be forewarned that if anything or one threatened her, Tim was going to be obligated to make them dead.

"Some maps, old ones," Firo reported. "Several notebooks."

Tim glanced to see the King nodding.

"Different handwriting in them," Firo stated. "Firo-"

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The tone Ava used had Tim snap his head back to look. She was standing by a small table, holding a figurine in her hand. She dropped it onto the cot and then bent over and grabbed her head between her hands. "Firo. Something is wrong." She screeched, and Tim thought the eardrum he wore the earbud was going to burst. "Ahhh. Noo." She wailed again. Her wings were visible and darkening.

"Aireese." Firo bellowed, dropped down to his knees, and put his hands on Ava. "What is it?"

"My head." Ava gasped. "It hurts. What's happening?" She shrieked, and Tim jolted, checking behind them and in every corner of the space for the cause. "What caused it?" Aireese came running to them. She held her hands beside Ava's head and closed her eyes. "Firo, it's evaporating."

"How?"

Ava yelled. "It wasn't my fault." And then she collapsed. Firo caught her before she hit the floor.

"Ava? What the hell has happened to Ava?" Karma yelled through the earbud.

"Ava?" That was Tera.

"Hold on. Let us figure it out." Victor came over. He looked at Firo on the floor with Ava in his lap and the Fa Terra princess as she ran her hands along the wall. He turned to Tim.

Tim shook his head. "She was holding that figurine, and then she just started screaming."

"What figurine?" Aireese spun around and looked at him.

Tim used his sword to point to the bed. He certainly wasn't going to touch it.

"Firo." Aireese went over and picked it up.

He looked up from Ava, and then his eyes zeroed in on the figurine. It was a cute fairy with red wings. "That can't be." He shifted Ava in his arms and stood up with her. "I left that for her on her fourth celebration of birth." Aireese looked at the figurine and then at Ava. "One object shouldn't have undone your barrier. It was very strong." She gave him a gentle look. "Tied to a lot of emotion."

Firo scowled at the item in her hands. "It wasn't her fault," he whispered, and his eyes darkened with hatred. "She was there that day. The evil twin was there."

Aireese put her hand over her mouth. She held out the figurine to Tim. "Firo, take her home. It will help when she wakes up. Call if you need me." Firo nodded.

Tim took the figurine and held his breath. Nothing happened.

Prince Victor pointed at Tim. "You go with them. You stand guard at their location until we can figure out what is going on."

Tim nodded. He stepped closer to Firo and put his hand on his shoulder to get his attention. "I'll use my porter and take us to the Gemini's."

Frio nodded. "Yes. Thank you." He hugged Ava closer to his chest and then put his hand on Tim's arm.

Tim gripped the hilt of his sword tight and then opened his porter and pressed the button.