He rolled his eyes as Alec held out his hand for me. I expected him to look a bit happier, but he looked worried.
Is there something wrong with the lichmaster that Kristoff found? I asked as Pia and Kristoff dashed upstairs to toss a few things into a bag, and alert Eleanor to our change in plans.
No.
Then why do you look so worried? If the lichmaster will summon Ulfur, we can get Diamond out. Oh, do you think he will do the same thing that Brother Ailwin will do, and try to use us?
No.
I moved around to his front, examining his expression. His eyes were a pale, seawater green, his brows pulled together. Then what? I asked as I put my hand over his heart.
It's what comes after, he said after a few minutes' silence.
After?
Yes. His gaze slid over to where Terrin was examining the pictures on one wall. But I believe I see a way through it.
Cora was uncharacteristically calm about the idea of taking a portal to Avignon, surprising Alec when, as she landed on the foam padding set up on the receiving end, she whooped and said she wanted to do it again.
"You are the strangest woman I have ever met," he said as he helped her to her feet, guiding her out of the way as the air sparked a few times, indicating another body was about to emerge through the permanent tear in the fabric of space that the portalling company maintained for the use of its customers.
"You told me that already," she answered, applauding when Pia appeared out of nothing and hit the padding with a whomp. "And the judges go wild!"
"Thank you. I think," Pia said, accepting the hand he held out to her. "I did try for a reverse gainer, but I'm not sure if I pulled it off or not."
"Seriously, tens across the judges," Cora assured her before turning to him. "Screw private jets - I want to portal everywhere from now on."
"Most people only use portals when they have no other choice," he warned her.
Eleanor appeared, screaming as she hit the padding. "Goddess above, I never want to do that again. Urgh."
He helped her to her feet, as well.
"Why don't they use portals?" Cora asked him.
He gave a little shrug. "Some beings don't like it. Dragons and elemental beings will do just about anything to avoid using a portal. Some of the Fae are opposed to it on the grounds that it desecrates their beyond. Others, like some spirits, cannot use it unless they are in corporeal form."
"I completely understand their feelings," Eleanor muttered, brushing off her pants.
Cora stared at him for a moment before turning to Pia just as Kristoff materialized and hit the padding. "One in ten words, maybe."
Pia laughed. "Believe it or not, I understood all of it. Give it time, and you will, as well."
"Uh-huh." Cora's mysteriously dark eyes considered him. "You're not any of those things that you mentioned, though. Are you?"
"No, I'm not, and I don't have an issue with using a portal per se, but it is also expensive."
"Really?" She moved aside as Terrin appeared about ten feet off the ground, arms and legs flailing as he dropped to the pad. "How expensive?"
He told her the price for all six of them to be transported from Florence to Avignon.
"Jesus wept! I could buy a house for that! A nice house!" she gasped.
"Am I here? All of me?" Terrin asked.
Alec hauled him to his feet, brushing him off, since the seneschal appeared to be somewhat disoriented by the portal. "You're here. Where to, Kris?"
"The lichmaster said she'd be waiting for us at the Chauvet caves."