Draconia Offline vol. 2

90.1. Finally Face to Face - Part 1

I bite my lip, but something in his voice and choice of words makes me pause. I don't want to let the Divementis enter the mansion when I can't even check their intentions, but the urgency in my father's mind is apparent. It's just my intuition, but... I don't think that he's lying.

"Your Majesty!!!" Liana gets desperate at this point. She knows that I must be negotiating with my father telepathically, but the flock got extremely restless in the meanwhile.

I take a deep breath. I need to make a decision. Trust my father and let him in... or not?

"Be careful when descending, the ship is invisible to your eyes, but it's physically there so don't bump into it!" I shout an order. "Follow my lead closely!"

I fly around at a reasonable distance so that nobody is in danger of accidentally colliding with the ship. I feel a tiny bit safer when we get inside, but the barrier can repulse only physical objects that don't emit mana. I don't think it's effective against telepathic attacks.

My first concern is to find Erik so that I can shield him with my mind. Fortunately, I don't have to look for him. He was waiting for me in our apartment the whole time and ran to the patio when he heard my father's telepathic message. We get reunited immediately and I hug him with my wings, making sure our minds are fully mingled.

"Where is it?" Erik is breathing frantically, panicking. "Is there really an invisible spaceship?"

"Just above," I point upwards.

"Can you make us see?" Gotrid lands just a few seconds after me. He quickly folds his wings and I welcome him into my embrace, mingling our minds thoroughly. My partners should be safe from the Divementis telepathic influence now.

"I can show you the image, but I'm afraid that I can't dispel the illusion for you," I have to disappoint them.

"Show us then," Liana lands as well and touches my feathers.

I send them a mental image of the ship, a bit like sending a telepathic photograph. The image is crystal clear and makes them gasp.

"Damn!" Gotrid lets out, astonished. "A real fucking spaceship!"

"Are we safe?" Erik is worried.

"If they could descend on their own, they would do it already," I say firmly, but I'm well aware that it's just my wishful thinking.

"Your Majesty, how should we handle it?" Liana cries, not knowing what to do which is rare for her and she hates it.

"Give me a few minutes to negotiate the terms," I decide and quickly head to our apartment. Wasting time could offend the Divementis which we can't afford to do.

"Love, do you need anything?" Erik asks when I grab my favourite meditation pillow and land on it.

"You can caress my wings, that's always welcomed," I shrug because there's nothing any of them can do right now. Still, I need to distract them with something so that they stop panicking.

Gotrid puts a folded blanket under my knees so that I'm comfortable and they both start caressing my wings to make their hands busy.

I close my eyes to focus better and take a deep breath. The ship is shielded, but I'm sure that if I focus really hard, my father will take notice. I send my mind to the Divementis ship.

Do you hear me? I try.

Yes, he answers immediately.

I need you to promise me that you won't hurt my people in any way, I demand. I'm not sure what your word is worth so I count on the Divementis honour, hoping you have one.

We do, he answers in all seriousness. You have my word, son.

I'll create an opening in the shield just for your shuttle and I'll seal it off immediately so don't you dare sending more than one, I set a condition.

I'm sure you understand that my people won't let me come alone, he says. I'm just as anxiously guarded as you are.

Just you and your envoy, I do understand that. For the record, I'll be protecting my Consorts and several other subjects from your influence so the moment you or any of your people try anything funny, they won't hesitate to use the most destructive spells in their arsenal.

Noted, he agrees, his tone slightly amused, but not in a bad way. It seems he's content that I'm cautious.

Give us a few minutes to prepare, I conclude and end the telepathic connection.

"Your Majesty, how did it go?!" Liana asks eagerly the moment I open my eyes again.

"Luvi," I call my adjutant who's nervously stepping at the door. "Go prepare the meeting room immediately."

"So we're doing it?" Liana makes sure, all tense.

"We're doing it," I nod. I can't run away from my alien heritage any longer.