Page 98 of The Explorer
“They did?”
“Yes, they thought that since this might be his last time to leave Old Europe, he should get the chance to see both the Northlands and the Motherlands.”
“Wow, that’s great. He’ll love Finn and Athena.”
Christina looked back over her shoulder and smiled. “They’re coming back tomorrow, and they might bring Linea if they can get her to come.”
“That would be a miracle,” I said because despite our parents being close friends, Linea hadn’t come with them to the Northlands for at least four or five years.
“How old is she now?” Indiana asked.
“Twenty and as wise and kind as her mother.”
“It’s a shame that she’s so sickly. It seems that every time her parents come up here, she’s never feeling well enough to come with them.”
Christina shrugged. “It’s an excuse. It has to be since she always looks strong and healthy when we go down there.”
“Maybe she just doesn’t like the Northlands.”
“Maybe,” Christina agreed. “I wish I knew why though.”
We had reached the house and I took a deep breath. “Mmm, it smells delicious in here.”
“That would be all the baking I did this morning. Now, how about you two gather Jones and Lara and then Alexander can find some wine for us. Lunch will be ready in ten minutes.” Christina stopped on her way to the kitchen. “We want to enjoy as much time with you as we can before you leave for the summit.”
“Don’t remind us. It’s going to be a lot of drama this year.”
“Because of Belle?”
“Yes, and because Victor still needs to apologize to Freya,” I said.
“That’s right. He keeps saying that it’s between him and Freya and the rest of us should butt out, but Mason, Thor, Aubri, and I are determined to show him that we’re all Freya’s protectors and no one gets to hurt her on our watch.”
CHAPTER 25
Summit of 2466
Indiana
As with every year since I was sixteen, we went to the yearly summit.
This year it was hosted by the Motherlands in a cozy beach town that was a four-hour drone flight south of us.
“Remember that you can’t tell anyone that Banni is in the Northlands,” Aubri told the others before we left our drone.
Out of the Motherland delegation, Holly, Lachlan, and Oliver had all won a seat on the Council in the spring election while Harper and Doreen were still hoping to make it one day. The five of them were kind and inclusive by nature so it was no surprise that they lit up when they saw us.
“How is Belle doing?” Doreen asked Mason. “We’ve been so worried after what happened in December. We were told by Jonah that negotiations were made that allowed her to stay in the Northlands.”
“That’s right. We’re married now and expecting our first child in three weeks.”
“Wow. And is Belle feeling well?”
“Yes, she’s tired from the pregnancy, but otherwise she’s happy.”
The first year that we went to a summit in the Motherlands, we had slept in tents. This time, we were placed in five small beach huts with three people in each.
Sitting in a large half circle of chairs on the beach, we were catching up and waiting for the French to arrive when Oliver received a message.
