Page 21 of Dark Witch: Twin Destinies

He explained how they worked, the different machine voices that were now available, and how that made using the earpieces less awkward. "I've sent each of you a video explaining how to mold these to your ears. It's meant for those of you who are using them for the first time and those who need a refresher. Ensuring the earpieces are correctly inserted and perfectly molded to your ears is critical. The smallest gap will expose you to compulsion and make you a danger to everyone else in your group. Is that clear?"

As everyone nodded, William shifted his gaze to Jasmine, and his expression softened. "If you wish, I can assist you with your earpieces."

"Thank you." She smiled at him. "After that preamble, I'm terrified of doing it wrong."

Margo lifted her hand. "I need help too."

"No problem, ladies."

Kian waited patiently for William to be done with their earpieces, all the while aware of Aru's stare. The god was questioning the presence of Julian and Ella and waiting for an explanation.

When William was done, Kian rapped his fingers on the table to get everyone's attention. "I know you are all wondering why Julian and Ella are here."

When there were nods all around, Kian continued. "While going over the details of this mission with Toven and Turner, I realized how perilous the conditions are in the Tibet region where Aru will start the search for the pod. I'm not concerned for the gods and immortals, but Jasmine is human, and we can't risk her getting hurt without medical intervention available to her."

Aru cleared his throat. "It's not necessary. Julian can give us a crash course in first aid, and I'm sure Edgar has some medical training since he often works with the Guardians."

"I do," Edgar confirmed.

Jasmine canted her head. "Did I hear you right? Did you say 'gods'?"

Kian looked at Edgar. "You didn't tell her?"

The pilot cringed. "I didn't know if it was okay. I was waiting to ask you today."

Kian groaned. "Let's make this short." He turned to Jasmine. "Aru, Negal, and Dagor are not immortals like the rest of us. They are gods who came directly from Anumati, the planet on which our ancestors were born. They were sent to locate the missing pods and perform other clandestine tasks. You can ask Edgar or Margo later if you have more questions."

Looking shell-shocked, the woman nodded.

Aru cleared his throat. "I don't mean to question your judgment, Kian, but adding two more people to our team complicates things, and it does so unnecessarily."

Kian knew what Aru was trying to say. If Jasmine needed medical help, Aru was assuming that a donation of blood from one of the gods would heal whatever was wrong with her, but he was wrong. The blood couldn't reset broken bones, and that was a big concern given the terrain they were going to traverse.

"Julian is not a Guardian, but he has military training, so his value is not only as a doctor. You are traveling with a human, and if she breaks an arm or a leg, someone will need to reset the bone and secure it. That's also true for the immortals and perhaps even for you. If the bone is not reset correctly, it might fuse in a way that would disable the injured person, making it difficult or impossible for the team to continue the journey. Also, if you find the Kra-ell, they may be in bad shape and need immediate medical attention. Ella has undergone emergency medical training, and she can assist Julian. Besides, they are fated mates, and it's difficult for them to be separated for more than a few days. As a mated male yourself, I'm sure you understand."

"Fair enough," Aru said. "But how are we going to fit everyone into one helicopter?"

16

EDGAR

That was an excellent question, and the answer was they were not, not unless they could access a large-capacity specially designed military helicopter, which might attract too much unwanted attention.

The region's high altitude meant thinner air, which reduced lift and impaired engine performance, making it difficult to operate typical heavier, larger helicopters safely. Landing would also be challenging because of the rugged and uneven terrain. Larger crafts needed a corresponding sizeable flat area to land safely, and in these mountainous regions, that might be challenging to find. While larger helicopters could carry more crew and equipment longer distances, their size limited maneuverability and made them more susceptible to adverse winds and turbulence, which were common condition when flying in the Himalayas among large peaks. It could compromise their response time in critical situations.

Edgar's experience showed that smaller craft that could perform tighter maneuvers and land in confined spaces were more effective in navigating demanding conditions like those they were going to face.

"We are not," Kian echoed Edgar's thoughts. "We are getting a small craft specifically fitted for higher altitudes that will carry your team and Jasmine. Everyone else will have to stay behind." He smiled. "It explains Syssi's vision. After all, she saw only the four of you standing over the crater, not everyone on the team."

"Makes sense," the god agreed. "Can we use a large truck to transport the helicopter if there are still paved roads?"

Kian shrugged. "We are still working out the details. I hope that everything will be set up by the time you land in Lhasa, along with a licensed local tour guide."

"What do we need a tour guide for?" Edgar asked.

"It's a requirement of the Chinese government," Dagor said. "When it was just the three of us, we could go undetected and thrall our way through the bureaucracy. But with a group this large, we will need a cover."

"Thank you, Dagor," Kian said. "What else can you tell the others about the conditions in Tibet?"

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