Free Preserving the Ingenairii by Jeffrey Quyle Page A

head.
                     Their conversation was interrupted as Patrick arrived.   “Are there others in your party, Alec?” Delle asked as he looked around the table at all who had gathered.
                     “This is our full squad,” Alec answered.   “We don’t need a lot of people.   We need to move fast to get to the mountains,” he added as he saw the skeptical faces Delle and Brandeis displayed.
                     “What about the lacertii?   What are you going to do about them in the mountains?” Brandeis queried.
                     “Rather than us quiz you here Alec, why don’t you and all your friends pack up and move into the compound with us?” Delle suggested.   “ This sounds like something we need to discuss, and Johanna and Durer will skin us alive if we don’t bring you back to see them.”
                     Alec’s party looked to him.   “That’s a good idea,” Alec agreed.   “Go get anything you might have left in your rooms, and we’ll meet out at the stables,” he directed them all.
                     Soon the small entourage was within the Locksfort compound, placing their horses in the stables.   “We’ll have you all in rooms in no time,” Delle assured them.   “Why don’t you go tell Helma we’ll have special guests for dinner, and see if she can prepare something suitable?” he suggested to Brandeis as he glanced at the late afternoon sun.   “She’s less likely to throw a temper tantrum with you than anyone else,” he added.
                     Brandeis went one way and Delle led the traveling group in another, through a maze of buildings and paths that were familiar to Alec.   “I’m glad you’re friends with the Locksforts, because I’d never be able to find my way out of here if we had to escape,” Thomis whispered sotto voce.
                     They entered the housing area, and began climbing stairs in a tower.   “Are we heading to my old room?” Alec asked.
                     “Give the man a prize!” Delle replied.   “I thought we’d bring you all to the suite until I can talk to a maid to find rooms for everyone else.”
                     By the time they reached Alec’s former quarters, Brandeis had rejoined them, using a shortcut through the enclave to meet them.   “Helma says that she’ll do it since it’s for you,” he patted Alec gently on the cheek.   “She assured me there was nothing too good for her hero!
                     “Of course it will be a little later than usual, so we have time to find rooms for everyone and get you settled in,” he continued.   “I’ll go talk to the housekeeper about rooms if you want to go tell Durer and Johanna who has dropped in,” Brandeis told Delle, who agreed.
                     Upon the departure of the two Locksfort cousins, Alec walked over to throw open the shutters and reveal the view out the windows, drawing his friends around him.   “They’re pretty nice folks for being Locksforts,” Patrick said with a sniff, which led Alec to give a short history lesson on the different generations of Locksforts.
                     A knock at the door was the announcement by a maid that there were three rooms nearby ready and designated for the use of the guests, and all but Alec traipsed after the maid to find their new quarters.   Alone in his suite, Alec wandered into the back room to take off his riding clothes, feeling a sense of relief to finally have a familiar and comfortable place to spend the night.   He stared out the window, not seeing the cityscape as he thought about Bethany .   She was lying unconscious, waiting for him.   He had no idea how to help her, other than to ride and have faith.
                     And now Noranda was likewise lying