About a week and a half later, Minx got called to a meeting on the Crow planet. She arrived as quickly as possible. She didn't know what the meeting was about but she wasn't often called to meetings. This told her it was important. She hoped it was about Sil.
At the meeting were Quinn and his leadership team. Sam quickly got to the point. "We need you to convince Quinn not to go get Vorden."
Minx raised an eyebrow, "why does Quinn feel the need to go?" and she looked at him.
"He called me."
Minx stood there looking at him expecting more but that was all he said.
"Step outside with me," and she headed for the door.
Quinn proceeded to explain there were three different speech patterns and three different messages. The one he could identify as Vorden said everything was fine but wasn't convincing. Another was gruff saying they would get him killed, killed, killed. The third was softer saying he wanted to be rescued, and he wanted to see Quinn again.
Minx listened intently and nodded but didn't say anything. They went back into the room.
They entered the room just in time to hear Paul say Minx would back Quinn.
She smirked.
"Do you want me to go Minx?" Quinn asked.
"That's the wrong question, Quinn."
She looked around the room. She noticed a scorch mark on the table of a bunch of numbers. They were obviously coordinates. She listened intently for a few moments to the few remaining trees outside.
She looked at Sam, "Did Quinn invite the Graylash here to discuss the Blades?" Her fingers tenderly traced the scorched numbers.
"Yes, he did. But it's too dangerous for him to go."
Minx raised an eyebrow, "he invited the Graylash yet you think you can talk him out of this?" She glanced at the coordinates again. "What did Graylash say?"
"That Truedream attacked the Blades to get Quinn's power. The Blades took out his city." Paul stated.
Minx nodded as though she already knew this and had an expression on her face as if to ask what was new.
Sam looked at her, "the Sunshields aren't attacking factions randomly. They are running from the Blades. He and the Bree are not retaliating because they think Burnie is acting like a little child. They don't want to get involved and anger the Blades. Owen said it won't be long now and the Blades will act."
Minx looked shocked for a second then closed her eyes. "What you're saying is, the Graylash gave Quinn a window and coordinates."
Sam nodded wondering what exactly she knew and how.
"I told you she'd support Quinn in this. She has a relationship with Vorden. She would sacrifice Quinn to get him back."
Minx's eyes turned green as she stared at Paul. "Our relationship was meant to be a secret. You know nothing, old man. You have a few crumbs and think you have a whole picture."
Looking at Quinn, "He would not have said those things without reason. I think you need to listen to your gut because it's always been right. Graylash gave a window and the coordinates to Blade Island." She heard, "It's an island?" and rolled her eyes. She was angry at Paul and the idea these people seemed to have little faith in Quinn.
"If someone wants to go with you, make sure they are strong. It will still be a hard battle for you, but I think you will prevail."
"He's only 17!" Paul again.
"And he is your leader! He is the product of strong will and your shitty leadership! I understand you're trying to make up for it now. I get that. Don't hold him back."
Quinn smiled, "thank you."
"Quinn, I told you months ago. These are your advisors. They have parts of the picture. You have the whole picture. Get their advice and make the best decision you can based on what you know. If you ever want to see Vorden again, the time is now."
Quinn nodded.
Minx' eye continued to glow as she looked at the others. "If he goes during the window he has a chance. Don't take that from him."
She looked at Shalt as Caser wrapped his tentacles around her offering support and comfort. They were discussing his daddy and he knew they both wanted him home. These months had not been easy for either of them, "Please, let's go home."
Shalt offered an elbow, knowing it was the only form of physical help she would accept.
Back in her room, she laid on her bed and cried for the hundredth time wishing her husband was there. Caser lay on the bed next to her as always giving his comfort. He missed his human daddy as well.
Minx's family brought her food and such, knowing she was filled with grief at the moment. Her mind kept going over the potential outcomes. Some made her smile while others brought her to her knees.
She had spent so many months focusing on taking care of the others. Now that things were beginning to run smoothly, the absence of the man she loved attached her full-force.
She did take advantage of the time to do more studying of the files, the books she got from Quinn's library, the few she salvaged from the Agricultural area of the school. She thought she now knew where she went wrong on the energy bars and was itching to try them. These were the only things that would effectively distract her from the mission Quinn was preparing to undertake.
She wasn't sure how much time had passed when Sam called her directly. He said that Quinn was on the way back from the island and she might want to be there when he got there. She jumped up off the bed and called Shalt in as she grabbed her robe.
"Is everything okay?"
Minx looked up, "well, yes. I need to go to the Cursed Ship."
Shalt looked at her determined yet tear-streaked face and nodded. He called Dobin to let him know where they were going and escorted her.
They now had elevators in. There was one in each corner near the ramps but not too close to them. They were near the 80-foot houses. Below ground, it meant they were installed a few caverns over from the ramps.
Midas used his ground surfing skill to move her to the elevater and again to get her to the teleporter. They didn't know when Quinn's ship was arriving and wanted her there to meet him. While she was gone, he went to check on something he had Revlis working on. It was finished so he had that waiting for her when she returned.
In the teleporter room, Minx was sitting in a pacing back and forth. She had been told Quinn was really injured and would be transported straight to his room. Sil would be brought to her.
Soon the door opened as a beautiful blond young man walked through the door. He looked horrible, had been crying, and his eyes were still leaking. He had obviously been through combat and when she looked at his head, there were two auras absent.
Minx looked at him in alarm, "Sil!"
She raced to his side. Sil was so distraught he hadn't even registered her yet. Sam had walked in behind him ready to provide any help either of them may need. Minx nodded as she took in everything she was seeing with her husband.
"Does Quinn know the situation on the planet yet?"
"No," Sam replied.
Minx nodded, "can I borrow my husband?"
Sam nodded.
At the word "husband", Sil looked up and saw her. His face crumbled and he cried harder, "they're gone! Vorden! Raten!"
Minx put her arms around her husband and cried with him.
Sil held her close and his body started waking up. He kissed her passionately then pulled back to give his wife a good look. He missed her far more than he was ever willing to admit.
Sil looked Minx up and down. His hands gently touched her face while she gazed tenderly into his eyes. His tears stopped as he looked into her eyes and nothing else existed. He wrapped his arms around her, "do we have a home?"
She chuckled softly, "it's been seven months and the first thing you say is "do we have a home?" really?"
She gazed up at him as Caser stabilized her, "do you want to see it?"
Sil's eyes were leaking again and he nodded, eyes not leaving hers.
Sam marveled at how he seemed like a different person in her presence.
Shalt led them through the teleporter. Waiting for them was Midas with a modified cart. It now had 2 seats and was open at one side. The front and the back had a ledge to stand on, and it could be driven like a car.
They took their time to allow Sil to have a look at what they were building. They climbed aboard and Caser walked along side. Midas drove as slow as he could. He complained the elevator was too slow, anxious to show his brother-in-law the surface. He drove slowly to Sil could take in the splendor of the light coming through the canopy, the homes she had built and the community members acknowledging them with smiles.
Given Sil had obviously been though an ordeal, they decided it was best they go home for now and rest. Every time Sil touched her bare skin. It felt like electricity was going through her. Minx didn't understand it, but she did know she wanted his touch more than anything. She missed hi so much
They sat in the living area with Sil holding his wife on his lap, face buries in her neck. Minx savored the energy she was feeling being in Sil's arms again. This feeling had never happened before, but she didn't care. He was here now.
"Sil, could you tell us what happened? Start with the temple? The others need to understand. Just those in this room, though. It's still a secret outside this room."
Sil nodded.