Image (Insight #3)(81)

“I trust the children,” I thought as Libby, Preston, and Allie came to my mind.

“They deserve our trust; they’ve never once told us what to do. They do as Alamos said: they guide us through the choices we make.”

Realizing that Landen was right, I felt confidence come back to me. My only concern now was how I’d protect our family from the darkness that could threaten their soul.

Feeling my father and Rose approaching the house, I pulled myself up and began to dress for the day. Landen got up as well, then pulled the curtains back and looked out the passage into the field.

“Everyone’s gone except for your dad, Rose, Felicity, and the children,” he said once he’d stretched out his insights.

The screams from the night before came to my memory, and I wondered if our world had managed to calm Delen, if Drake had managed to convince the court that he was a fierce leader.

We were dressed and waiting by the door when my father and Rose reached the porch. As my father surveyed us, his hazel eyes turned to green. “Once again, you’re restored,” he said to us.

“What happened after we left?” Landed asked them.

“Delen was scared for a few hours. Once they saw all of us, though, they calmed down and went to their homes and slept. Everything on the other side of the wall has been silent,” my father said.

I looked past them and saw Libby and Preston running in our direction. Felicity was walking behind them, carrying Allie.

“I brought food here last night,” Rose said. “I want to feed the two of you before you go into the string again.”

We led them into the kitchen, and Rose began to unload the refrigerator while my father pulled out plates. Libby and Preston crashed through front door and ran to me and Landen. I picked up Preston, Landen picked up Libby, and we spun them around, absorbing their innocent laughter.

“So, did they leave you in charge, little man?” I asked Preston.

“No. Felicity said she’s the boss,” Preston said.

Felicity came into the kitchen, a little breathless from keeping up with them. “Easier said than done,” she said, smiling at me.

I let Preston fall, then reached out for Allie. She smiled at me and reached her tiny hands in my direction. After Rose and my father set the table, I sat down, nestling Allie in my lap.

“So, everyone’s in Delen?” Landen asked.

They all nodded.

“The travelers are going to meet you in the string. Your mothers, Olivia, Stella, along with others who can’t travel, will be waiting by the passage in Patrick’s home; they want to make sure they see a friendly face when the darkness in the string passes,” Rose said.

I looked at Landen. We both knew that right then there were people who thought their lives would end soon; it made me angry that - no matter what - they’d have to live through something like that. I pushed my plate away. My stomach was turning; anticipation was eating me alive.

“This is a good day,” Libby said, pushing the plate back to me.

I reached my arm out for her to come to my side.

“Are you happy with all that we’ve done?” I asked her, looking for validation.

A smile came across her face as she looked across the table at Preston.

“We’ve just begun,” Preston said, looking at me.

I tried to smile, but I couldn’t; my mind was trying to imagine how much harder it could be.

“Well, I’m happy,” Rose said, standing to clear away the plates.

“I couldn’t be more proud of either of you,” my father said, smiling at me.

I took in a deep breath, then hugged Libby and stood. I gently handed Allie to Felicity and said, “I wish you could come.”

“My place is with them. Trust me, they paint a beautiful picture with their words; I see it all as if I were there,” Felicity said just before she kissed Allie’s head.

“Are you staying, too?” I asked Rose.

“I am. I know in my heart I’m helping you by protecting the children,” she said, walking to my side. I reached up and hugged her.

“We should go; it’s almost mid-day there,” my father said.

Preston hugged me goodbye as Libby hugged Landen goodbye. We then climbed into the Jeep with my father and drove to the passage in the distant field. When we stepped out, I took Landen’s hand.

“How many people do you think will come through?” I asked him.

“Even if it’s only one soul, it’ll be a victory,” he said, smiling down at me.

“Knowing how fond Esterious is of executions, I’m sure it’s more than one,” my father answered.

“There will be enough food and shelter, right?” I asked them.

“The land in Delen is producing faster because of the sun, so we’ll have plenty for now; but, this is only a tempory solution,” my father answered.

Landen stepped in, pulling me behind him. My father followed us. Inside the string, we could feel the emotions of hundreds of people; they were excited and eager. Travelers from Chara were lined between Partick’s passage and the passage that led to Drake’s estate. We smiled and let our hands run across them as we passed, wanting them to feel the gratitude flow through us.

At the end of the line was our family. Marc’s grin grew as we walked closer.

“Was he back before they noticed?” Landen asked him.