Bel looked at all of the people gathered around the food-laden table. There were humans from Satrap, semi-humans from the Golden Plains, gorgons from the Underworld, and even a few curious scrattes who were taking a break from their grove of half-buried scrattes.

  Some of the delver children were even using the long neck of petrified sea monster as a slide. As she watched, a group of semi humans – a pair of young meerkat people and a child with large ears and wings under their arms – tried to join them. Bel watched with joy as, after just a minute, the two groups had joined together and were running up and down the petrified monster while screaming and laughing.

  It was an amazing sight, and it was at least partially thanks to her that it was happening.

  “You look happy.”

  Bel turned to her brother and tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

  “You’re grinning from ear to ear. You haven’t looked this excited since Beth busted us out of Technis’ temple.”

  Bel reached up to touch her face. She realized that her brother was right. She’d been grinning like an idiot.

  Even stranger was that she felt fine about embarrassing herself.

  “Well, I just think this is pretty cool. You know, all the different types of people who’ve gathered here.”

  Her brother laughed. “You don’t have to get defensive. You’ve accomplished a lot.”

  He smiled broadly at her, but his eyes grew serious. “Are you sure you want to chase after Technis?”

  “James, how can you even say that?” Her snakes curled with frustration and she struggled with her words for a moment.

  “You of all people should know how bad Technis will be! He’s going to try to take over your world!”

  James shrugged. “Foreign interference has been a thing since humans made their first nations. Just because someone says it’s your responsibility doesn’t make it true.”

  “That someone is my mother! She’s a goddess! She knows how bad Technis will be!”

  He held up a hand. “I’m not saying that bad things won’t happen if Technis makes it to Earth, I’m just saying that I have faith that my people will overcome it eventually. You’re just one person, Bel. You can’t carry the weight of a world on your shoulders.”

  Manipule put a comforting hand on Bel’s shoulder as her snakes writhed.

  “Bel is very strong,” Manipule said with conviction. “Her shoulders can lift many burdens.”

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  Bel felt a wave of something warm – relief maybe? – at the other gorgon’s words. Bel could insist on her own path all she wanted, but that didn’t mean she didn’t doubt herself. Sometimes it was nice to have confirmation from other people.

  James ran his hand through his messy red hair and Bel thought he looked troubled rather than convinced. “I’m not saying that she can’t handle it. I’m just reminding her that if she goes and fights Technis it should be because she wants to do it, not because she feels forced to do it.”

  “Well, I want to take him down,” Bel said.

  Beth appeared from nowhere and thumped her on the back. “You’re damn right.”

  Bel eyed her adopted sister and reflexively glanced at the little shadow spirit that followed her around. It was a gift from Dutcha, who was apparently still eating a mountain rather than helping anyone. Before Bel could follow that trail of thoughts to its naturally frustrating conclusion, Bel noticed that Beth was shifting her feet awkwardly to stay upright. Bel drew her head back to get a better look at her sister.

  “Are you drunk?”

  “Just tipsy.”

  Beth leaned in close, like she was sharing a secret. “These gorgons make a mean drink, Bel. I’ve never seen anyone drink the delvers under the table and just keep on going. I can even feel it, and I’m tough as knives.”

  Bel shook her head and looked around for Orseis, just to make sure the young girl wasn’t drinking. She wasn’t, and Bel sighed with relief. The young girl had gotten involved in a conversation between Daran, the matchmaker from the Golden Plains, and Manipule. The scratte shaman was there too, although Bel couldn’t tell if the little green plant person was communicating, or just eating food and screeching from time to time.

  “I wonder what they’re talking about,” Beth mused aloud.

  “Eggs,” Manipule answered. She tapped her nails against her new copper egg. “Or at least they were a minute ago. The matchmaker was interested in our methods of reproduction, and Fortuit was fascinated by little baby Bel. I think the scratte is trying to figure out why we don’t grow our young on trees.”

  Manipule chuckled. “I have to admit that I was only there to visit the baby.”

  Adult Bel grinned. “She’s cute, isn’t she? You did a good job, James.”

  James flushed as red as his hair and grinned like an idiot.

  Manipule nodded, “yes, you and Daran have made a strong child. She will surely live to adulthood.”

  “Wow, low bar,” he responded. “I’m hoping that she’ll grow old and happy too.”

  Manipule laughed. “Are all humans so greedy? Or is that something from the Old World?”

  “Old World,” Beth answered. “But he still doesn’t want to go back even if Bel finds a portal.”

  James grimaced and Bel winced that the sore topic had come up again. Her brother had insisted that he would never abandon his wife and child, but Bel could tell that the decision hurt him. He had even given her a message for his parents that, when unrolled, stretched three strides long.

  Bel leaned over and gave her brother a crushing hug. “Don’t worry. Maybe, once we get rid of Technis, I can work with your leaders to keep a portal open between our worlds.”

  James smiled. “That would be nice.”

  Neither of them mentioned Lempo’s prophecy that Bel wouldn’t return from fighting Technis. Thanks to Orseis, everyone was just assuming that she would be going to the Old World, but Bel had her doubts. For her part, Bel had begun to hope that it was just a figurative warning and Lempo meant for her to return a changed person. Her second choice was to get stuck in James’ weird world. It wouldn’t be great, but she would adapt.

  The third option was that she wound up dead, which was her least favorite choice. It was possible that being dead wouldn’t be so bad though, if Lempo had plans for her after death.

  I guess I won’t find out which one happens for a while. Well, unless Technis just kills me the moment I get close. Then I’ll know right away.