The Other Prism (The Broken Prism) (40 page)

Hayden raised one eyebrow in surprise and said, “Did you actually ask their permission this time?”

“Yes, I did. Actually, Mom suggested it during her last visit. I think she’s worried about you being a
ll alone with the threat of war coming,” Zane rolled his eyes at this maternal concern. “I told her you’re not dumb enough to go wandering the coastline between Wynir and Osglen looking for sorcerers, but there’s no reasoning with the woman.”

Hayden was touched by the fact that someone thought to be concerned for his safety. Swallowing a knot of emotion he said, “Does she realize that I’m not any safer with you all than on my own?”

“You mean because no one in my family except for Sera and I can use magic, and I doubt the sorcerers are going to be frightened off by my dad waving around a rusty poker at them?”

“Well, yeah, pretty much,” Hayden agreed.

“Yes, they’re aware of that. Maybe Mom’s secretly planning it so that you can protect us, instead of the other way around,” Zane brightened. “You are stupidly powerful with prisms, and besides, she can delegate some of the household chores to you if you’re bunking with us.” Now he grinned in delight. “I think I’ll recommend you for chopping firewood; I hate doing that every year.”

Laughing properly for the first time in days, Hayden said, “In that case, I’d better start packing my bags.”

He didn’t know what waited for him in the future; whether war would come to the Nine Lands, and if it would reach Junir if so. He didn’t know when he would feel better about what he saw in the Forest of Illusions, or whether his mother would truly be disappointed in him if she could see him today. He had no idea what kind of closure he was hoping to get from touring his father’s estate this winter.

There were a lot of dark days coming in the future for all of them, Hayden knew this instinctively. But right now it was hard to dwell on the future, or even the past. Right now the only thing that mattered was that he had a place to go during the holiday
, and friends who were waiting for him at dinner. Tamon’s boa constrictor would try to eat them all, Tess would give him a shy smile every time he looked at her, and Conner and Zane would spend the entire meal furthering their debate over whether any of the Masters would look more attractive as women.

And today
that was enough.