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Kuen dropped onto the couch. Pascal crawled into his lap. “Unca Kuen, where are my da and daddy?” he asked.

“They’ve gone to get your brother and sister,” Kuen said, responding with the matter-of-fact bluntness they all agreed to use with the other children. It had been a week since Teigue had left and the clinic had called, telling Gaspare and Phelix the twins they were waiting to adopt were ready to come home.

“Is that why Gael is in my room now?” Pascal asked.

“Yes. Eli and Elian needed a room, and we don’t have a big enough house to give them their own rooms,” Kuen said.

“Are Eli and Elian going to stay with us forever?” Pascal asked.

“Well, that’s what being adopted means. They’re going to be a part of our family,” Kuen said.

“So Eli is my brother and Elian is my sister?” Pascal asked.

“That’s right. They came from a home where their ma and da were sick and couldn’t take care of them anymore. So now your da and daddy are their parents and you’re going to have to help them feel welcome. I know your da and daddy asked you to do that,” Kuen said.

“I can do it,” Pascal said. “It means more littles to play with.”

“They might be shy and scared at first,” Fiera said, coming in with Gael. “She finished her snack.” Kuen nodded. “You’re going to have to be patient.”

“I been being patient waiting for Nafi and Lao. I can be patient with Eli and Elian,” Pascal said.

“I knew you’d be a good big brother for Eli and Elian,” Kuen said, ruffling Pascal’s hair.

“They’re little like Gael?” Pascal asked.

“They’re only three, so a year older than her,” Fiera said.

“Oh,” Pascal said. “But they can still play with me, right?”

“Of course, Pascal. Again, you might have to be patient. They may not be ready to play all the games,” Kuen said.

“I can be patient,” Pascal repeated.

The door opened. Gaspare and Pascal entered the house carrying a pair of blonde-haired, blue-eyed twins. Their features were decidedly more angular than the Rezouac family features or Gaspare’s, but they still looked like they could fit in well. “Eli, Elian, this is the rest of your family,” Phelix said. “Those are your Aunt Fury and Uncle Kuen. They’re holding your brother and sister. That’s Pascal and that’s Gael.”

Pascal squirmed free of Kuen’s grasp and walked over. Kuen kept an eye on him, in case he needed to help separate the children. The two men set the twins down. Pascal looked at the other two children. “Is it okay to give you a hug?” he asked.

The twins shared a look. “Hug?” Elian asked, her voice very wispy.

“Hug,” Pascal repeated.

“Okay,” Eli said, holding out his arms. Pascal hugged him. Elian was a little less certain but copied her brother and Pascal hugged her gently.

“Want to play?” Pascal asked.

“What play?” Elian asked.

“Do you like books?” Pascal asked, looking over at the play area. “I have lots of books we can share.”

“Pictures?” Eli asked.

“Uh huh,” Pascal said.

“We like pictures,” Elian said, forming an actual sentence. Pascal held out his hands. The twins hesitated but finally slipped their fingers into his. Kuen saw the scars on the backs of their hands and wondered what kind of hell those poor children had lived through.

Fiera opened the gate to the play area and Pascal led his new brother and sister in. He sat them down on the pillows the children all used as chairs and handed each of them a book before taking one for himself. Eli and Elian opened their books and immediately were mesmerized by the pictures. Pascal grinned and started flipping through his own book.

Fiera set Gael in her spot and gave her the shape ball so she’d have something to do. Phelix and Gaspare smiled as they watched their children play. “We’ll have to watch them. Eli and Elian are still very skittish,” Gaspare whispered to the other two adults. “But it looks like Pascal is already warming up to them.”

“He was worried before you came in. You’ll probably have to talk to him some more about them,” Kuen whispered. “I think he’ll get along with them though once he realizes they’re not going to disappear.”

“He’s still struggling with Nafi and Lao not being here,” Fiera said softly.

“It’s been six months,” Phelix said. “He was hoping they’d be home by now.”

“We all were, Flicks,” Fiera said.

“If your da does have them he’s taking a lot of time to get them back to you,” Gaspare said.

“He has to,” Fiera said. “The wrong person could end up selling them right back to Michi Nakano. There aren’t many people my da trusts anymore. He could be looking for a way to sneak them back here himself. That’s going to take a lot of work. I hope they’re home by Himostava but I’m not holding my breath.”

“Speaking of, the crops are coming in better than we hoped,” Gaspare said. “We might actually make enough of a profit to have a decent celebration this winter.”

“For the littles’ sakes I hope so,” Fiera said. “Himostava was always our favorite time of year. I’m planning on doing a lot of baking. I want the house to be full of treats.”

“I’ve got the knack of making those sugar globes finally,” Kuen said. “We’ll be able to do them up properly this year.”

“That’s good, because I’m awful at them,” Fiera said.

“One hand makes it too hard for me to make them,” Phelix said. “But I can hang garlands with the best of them.”

“I’m great for holding up garlands and handing Flicks the pins to fasten them in place,” Gaspare said. “I can also help cook the feast. I’m not much of a baker and those sugar globes are beyond me.”

“It’s almost time for the harvest, isn’t it?” Kuen asked.

“Another month,” Fiera said. “I’ve already talked to ma. She’s sending Keo, Joei, Herry, and Nev over to help with the harvest so we don’t half kill ourselves trying to do it on our own. Hedric and Colin have their own family’s farms to work on and already told me they can’t help us with ours.”

“Yeah, they told me the same thing,” Kuen said.

Elian ran over to Gaspare. She tugged on his shirt. He knelt down and she whispered in his ear. He smiled. “It’s up the stairs. Let me show you where it is, Elian,” he said. He took her hand and led her off.

Eli looked up. “Elian?” he asked in a panicked voice.

“Do you need to use the potty, Eli?” Phelix asked.

“Potty?” Eli asked.

“That’s where Elian went. I’ll show you where it is so you know how to find it,” Phelix said. He took his new son’s hand and led him upstairs.

“Eli got scared,” Pascal said.

“Yes, he did,” Fiera said.

“I make sure Eli and Elian stay together,” Pascal said.

“There will be times where they have to be separate, but when you’re playing together make sure you at least ask if they both want to do what you’re doing,” Kuen said.

“Yes Unca Kuen,” Pascal said.

“We need to ask those two what happened to Eli and Elian, so we know what we’re dealing with,” Fiera said. “They didn’t explain to us just how traumatized those two are.”

“We’re going to have to deal with their trauma as well as Nafi and Lao’s when the girls come home,” Kuen said.

“Hopefully my da is helping the girls,” Fiera said.

“My hope is he’s not adding to their trauma,” Kuen muttered.

A few minutes later the other two came back down with their twins. Eli and Elian both looked much happier. They ran back over to Pascal. “Sand box?” Eli asked.

“Can we play in the sand box?” Pascal asked, looking up with some excitement.

“I thought you’d like that,” Gaspare said. “Come on. Let’s head on out. Eli, Elian, please take Pascal’s hands so you can stay together. He’ll show you where to go.”

“Okay,” Eli said. Pascal held out his hands and the twins took them. Gaspare carried Gael in one arm while leading the other three outside.

“We figured you two had questions and it was better to get them answered now,” Phelix said. “Gaspare will keep them playing outside for as long as Eli and Elian can handle it.”

“Twint, those two are badly broken,” Fiera said.

“Yeah, they’re worse than we were led to believe. The therapists have been telling them for the past month that when we came, we’d be taking them home,” Phelix said. “I took the coordinator aside and gave her a piece of my mind. I told her that if I’d known just how damaged they were I’d have suggested she send them to someone else, especially given our current situation. She apologized and said she thought we were given their full record.”

“What happened to them?” Kuen asked.

“Their ma was insane. She would punish them for being perfectly normal littles,” Phelix said. “She’d use things like thin metal strips to strike them on the backs of their hands, legs, and back. It’s where those marks come from. She’d leave them bloody on the floor and their da would just kick them out of the way so he could get to the liquor faster,” Phelix said. “They’d apparently lost their two older children to the famine, and they claim it broke them and that’s why they treated Eli and Elian the way they did. No one’s buying what they’re selling. They’re in the DC for the next ten years for the damage they did to these littles. When they get out, they’re being shipped off immediately to one of the other settlements so there’s no chance of them finding Eli and Elian. I heard that the judge gave their ma a choice. She could either get fixed now or when she got out, but she wasn’t going to be allowed to have any more littles.”

Fiera rubbed her temples. Kuen put a hand on her shoulder. “This isn’t going to be easy, Flicks. They’re going to react badly to me trying to discipline them if I’m watching the littles, especially if it was their ma who was their biggest tormentor.”

“We were told no physical punishments, and we can’t separate them as a punishment. They have to be able to see each other,” Phelix said. “At least until the therapists finish their work. Their ma would beat them and then lock them in separate rooms, telling them they were such horrible children they didn’t deserve the right to see each other.”

Fiera started swearing in Arpathi and Kwarron, using many of Alena’s favorite phrases. Kuen was impressed at her vocabulary. “Tell me we’re getting a competent therapist to work with them,” she said.

“I insisted on Thea,” Phelix said.

“Thank the stars it’s someone I can work with,” Fiera said.

“She’ll be out first thing in the morning. She already says she told Keo she might have to move in with us for a month or two, if you two are okay with that, to help us get them settled,” Phelix said.

“She can stay with us until spring planting if she needs to in order to make things easier,” Kuen said.

“I agree,” Fiera said.

“We’ll tell her tomorrow,” Phelix said.

The children stayed outside for an hour before Gaspare brought them in. Eli and Elian were drooping. “Would you two like to see your room?” Gaspare asked.

“Our room?” Eli asked. His hand wrapped around Elian’s. “Our room? Together?”

Phelix took Gael from Gaspare. “Yes, together,” he said. “Your Aunt Fury is going to go with your da to show you where it is because she’s going to help us take care of you. We’re farmers so we all take turns working in the fields. You’re going to have to get used to her helping you too.”

The children stared at Fiera fearfully. Kuen felt Fiera stiffen. She took a deep breath. “Why don’t you tell me which of you would like to sleep in the left-hand bed and which one would like to sleep in the right-hand bed?” she asked.

Eli looked at her. “Left? Right?”

“Yes,” Fiera said. “We had two beds put in the room so you could each have your own, and I just want to be sure I know which bed you’d each like.”

“Which close to door?” Eli asked.

“Left,” Fiera said.

“I left,” Eli said. “Elian right.”

“Right,” Elian said, nodding.

“Okay,” Fiera said. “Now, do you like the door open when you nap?”

“Open,” Elian said quickly.

“I think we can all work with that,” Fiera said. The others nodded. Kuen was impressed. She was letting the children make their own decisions instead of imposing anything on them. “Now, would either of you like me to hold your hand or carry you upstairs so you can see your new room?”

Elian walked up to Fiera after a quick look at her brother and she held up her hands. Fiera lifted her up and shifted her over to her hip. Gaspare picked up Eli and slung him on his hip. They carried the children off up the stairs.

“Those two are going to be a real test for Fiera,” Kuen said, looking at Phelix. “She’s going to be spending more sleepless nights.”

“Yeah, I know,” Phelix said, grimacing. “I didn’t want that for her. Not with your girls still missing. I’m hoping Thea will help her with it but that’s going to depend on if my twin opens up to her. Fury’s quick to tell others to talk to Thea, but she’s not always willing to take her own advice.”

“I know,” Kuen said. “I don’t think she’ll be able to avoid it though. Thea is very persistent.”

Phelix snorted. “I’d say you have no idea, but you actually do.”

Phelix put Gael in her swing and gave her a cup of water. Pascal came over and tugged on his father’s shirt. “Did I make Eli and Elian sad?” he asked.

“Not that I know of, Pascal,” Phelix said, kneeling beside his son. “Why do you ask?”

“We were building, and Elian started crying. It’s why da came in,” Pascal said.

“Pascal, Eli and Elian haven’t been outside very often. Elian was probably crying because the sun was hurting her skin,” Phelix said.

“Like it hurts Gael’s if she’s out too long?” Pascal asked.

“Yes, exactly like,” Phelix said.

“Oh, okay,” Pascal said. He went back to his books, looking decidedly sober for someone so young.

Gaspare came down with Fiera. “I think Elian already halfway likes Fury. But Eli doesn’t trust her at all,” he said.

“Do you blame him?” Phelix asked. “Gaspare, do you know why Elian started crying?”

“She was getting too hot,” Gaspare said.

“Okay. Pascal was very concerned,” Phelix said.

Gaspare winced. “I should have explained it to him when we came in.”

The rest of the day was very hard for the whole household. Eli and Elian struggled to eat and finally went to bed without eating enough for children of their age to stay healthy. Pascal and Gael went to bed and Gaspare had to sit in with them until they settled down because they weren’t used to sleeping in the same room anymore.

Phelix and Gaspare went to bed, but Kuen could see that Fiera was still pacing around downstairs. He went down. “You should go to bed, Kuen,” she said. “I’m too agitated to even attempt it right now.”

“I was going to work on the charter for a bit before I went to bed,” he said. “I’m not ready to sleep yet either.”

“How is it going?” Fiera asked, coming to look over his shoulder as he pulled it up on the comm. “Is that even in Basic?”

“It’s in Basic but it uses archaic legal terms. I’m having to cross reference everything I don’t understand. It’s slow going. I have, however, confirmed that the annexation was illegal. The Assembly is also supposed to advise the CAF, but they cannot give direct orders. Only the High Command can make decisions regarding the deployment of troops, and if the order is illegal based on the charter the High Command is duty bound to refuse it,” Kuen said.

“Which they haven’t bothered doing at all,” Fiera said.

“No, they haven’t,” Kuen agreed. “There’s a lot in here about how planets are supposed to be run so I’m skimming that. Technological readiness is a big thing, and apparently the destruction of nature on the high-tech worlds was something they were supposed to avoid. They were to create preserves and parks to make sure that they didn’t repeat the mistakes that led to humanity being in the Aureliya Sector in the first place. Everyone is to be granted access to them if they wish, to help remind them of the natural beauties of the worlds they inhabit.”

“Well, I know there are some parks left, but those are the playgrounds of the wealthy elite. Those without money can’t access them,” Fiera said.

“I know, which means another aspect of the charter has been violated,” Kuen said.

“This makes me wonder if they wrote up the charter and then promptly ignored it,” Fiera said.

“I wonder the same thing, my phoenix,” Kuen said.

“Kuen, do you think Lao and Nafi will be home by Himostava?” Fiera asked.

Kuen turned away from the comm and held out his arms. Fiera stepped into them, and he pulled her close. “I don’t know, my phoenix,” he said. “I want to believe they will be, but I just don’t know.”

“I am so tired of not having them here,” Fiera said. “I want them in my arms. I want to hear their laughter. I even want to argue with them about bath time. It would mean they were home and safe.”

“I know, my phoenix,” Kuen said, kissing her forehead. “I know.” Fiera buried her face in his chest and cried.

Kuen didn’t really believe the twins would be home for the winter holiday. It was too dangerous. Eire knew that and would probably keep the girls on Annorth with him until something could be arranged to make sure Michi Nakano couldn’t take them a second time. It could be another year, possibly longer, before they saw their girls again. He didn’t tell Fiera this because she was barely holding herself together as it was. Knowing they might not be home for a full year or more would break her.

Fiera cried herself out. “I think I’ll go lay down,” she said finally.

“Go on. I’ll be up in a few minutes,” Kuen said.

“Okay,” Fiera said. She headed upstairs.

“Eli, you can come out. It’s okay,” Kuen said.

Eli emerged from where he’d hidden when Fiera started crying. “Aunt Fury sad?” he asked.

“Very sad. A bad lady took our little girls away from us and now we’re trying to get them back,” Kuen said.

“Took away like me and Elian?” Eli asked.

“No. She sent people to hurt Pascal and Gael and your daddy and kidnapped our twin daughters,” Kuen said, holding out his arms. Eli walked over and let Kuen pick him up. “Your Aunt Fury and I are struggling right now because we miss our girls very much.”

“My ma not miss me,” Eli said.

“No, I don’t imagine she does. She’s sick, like my ma,” Kuen said.

“Your ma sick too?” Eli asked,

“Oh yes. She’s the mean lady who took our girls after doing some very bad things to me and to your Aunt Fury,” Kuen said. “She needs someone to put her in the DC like your ma. But no one will.”

“Bad,” Eli said. “Should go.”

“Oh, I agree, Eli,” Kuen said. “Now, would you like me to tuck you back into your bed?”

“Please?” Eli asked.

“Okay,” Kuen said. “Did you need something before we go back up? Is that why you came down?”

“Heard voices. Got scared,” Eli said.

“Ah, I understand that one,” Kuen said. “Come on. Let’s get you back in bed.” Kuen took his new nephew upstairs and tucked him back in his bed.

Gaspare was coming to check on them as he came out. “Is everything okay?” he asked.

“Eli heard me and Fury talking and came downstairs to see what was going on. I tucked him back in after telling him why she was crying,” Kuen said. “I think it’s okay now.”

“Are you going back down?” Gaspare asked.

“Just long enough to check the security system and turn out the lights. I’m heading to bed,” Kuen said.

“I’ll check the system and deal with the lights. I think I need some tea,” Gaspare said, rubbing the back of his neck. “Today’s been interesting.”

“Okay. I’m going to go lay down with Fury,” Kuen said.

“You notice neither of us really calls her Fiera anymore,” Gaspare said with a smile.

“Everyone calls her by her nickname. It’s become natural for us to use it too,” Kuen said with a shrug. Gaspare nodded and headed downstairs. Kuen joined his wife in their bed.

The next morning Fiera and Phelix decided to stay with the children while the other two went out to the fields with the field hands. “How does it feel to have a house full of littles again?” Colin asked.

“We’re glad Thea’s here to help us with Eli and Elian. They’re far more broken than we were told they’d be,” Gaspare said. “They also have a real fear of women in positions of authority – though they’re okay with Thea – and that’s going to make things hard when Fury has to watch them on her own.”

“Is that why Flicks is in with her right now?” Hedric asked.

Kuen nodded. “We figure it’s better to keep one of their fathers handy but let Fury do a lot of the work so the twins get used to her. Thea suggested it when she arrived this morning and since she had a restless night Fury wasn’t going to argue with the chance to sneak a nap in later.”

“Any word on yer twins?” Hedric asked gently.

“Nothing more than we heard before, that they were retrieved by someone and taken somewhere other than where my mother intended for them to go. We’re still suspecting Eire Rezouac took his granddaughters to keep them from being dragged into the Core, but if he’s on Annorth like we think he is you know he won’t be leaving any time soon,” Kuen said.

Hedric nodded. “Be smart of him to stay there until next spring at least. Sneak them back in the chaos that is spring plantin’. It’ll take longer t’get back t’that ketch that they’re home.”

“That’s what I’m thinking, Hedric. Fury wants them home for Himostava, and I won’t take that from her,” Kuen said.

“But you don’t think they’ll be home,” Colin said.

“I don’t know if they will or not,” Kuen said. “I can’t know. It all depends on what Eire decides to do – and that’s assuming he’s even the one who has the twins to begin with. We’re just guessing at this point.”

The lunch klaxon went off with slow, deliberate rings. “Fury must have had one of the littles ring it,” Gaspare said. “That’s the only reason she’d ring it so slow.”

“Let’s go grab some food and finish gettin’ these crops ready for harvest,” Hedric said.

They went down and ate. As they were heading back to the field, Kuen noticed a pair of Arpathi approaching the gate. “Fury, we have guests,” he called.

Fiera came out and the two walked over while the others hung back. It was very unusual to see Arpathi twins anywhere but the towns, so this had to be something important. Fiera bowed and Kuen followed her example. The Arpathi bowed back. One of them spoke in her own language to Fiera, who responded in kind. A packet was handed over and the twins left.

“We have a message,” Fiera said. “They were sent from someone on Annorth to deliver it.” Her hands were shaking. “You open it. I can’t.”

Kuen took the thin package from her and popped the seal. He shook it and three items fell out into his hand. A letter actually written on some kind of paper, a holo still, and a tiny braid made of black and silver hair. “Your father has the twins,” Kuen said, handing her the holo still.

She snatched it from his hand. Eire was sitting on a couch with his granddaughters snuggled up against him. They were reading something together and the twins were smiling. Eire had a look on his face that Kuen could only describe as pure happiness. “What else?” she asked, clinging to the picture.

“I’m guessing the braid is the twins’ hair and your father’s,” Kuen said.

“It is,” Fiera said, glancing at it. “It’s a common way to send proof of health out here. You let your hair grow out a bit and then send a tiny braid. You mind if I keep it?”

“Go for it. I’d probably lose it,” Kuen said.

“What does the letter say?” Fiera asked.

“‘Phoenix girl, I’ve got your littles. I can’t get them back to you right now. The Nakano ketch has tried at least once to snag them from me, but the Arpathi won’t let her hounds near us. The CAF is poking around so I expect you’ll get a call from them soon saying I’ve got them. I’m trying to get them back to you but it’s going to take me time. Jace won’t help me since he’s gone legit, the bastard. So hang in there. No promises as to when but you’ll have your girls back quick as I can get them to you. Tell your giant the two of you make pretty babies. Da,’” Kuen read aloud.

Fiera snorted. “Yeah, Jace did go legit and no matter how much bringing my girls home would help us, he won’t do anything that puts him in contact with my da. At least we have proof he’s got the girls now.”

“And he will get them back to us, even if we have to wait,” Kuen said. “I love his comment about me.”

Fiera grinned. “That’s how I know it’s from him.”

“Fury?” Phelix called. “Everything okay?”

“Da’s got the girls, Flicks,” Fiera called. “They brought us the proof.”

“Let’s go show them what we got,” Kuen said.

They took their treasures back to the house and showed the gathered adults what the Arpathi had delivered, and Eire’s note. “Yeah, that’s da’s writing style,” Phelix said. “I love his comment about Kuen.”

“He’s not wrong,” Colin said. “Yer girls are pretty.”

“Thanks Colin,” Fiera said, hugging the picture to her chest again. “We suspected da had them, but we didn’t have proof. Now we know.”

“Even if he can’t get them back to us for a while, I’m happy knowing they’re with someone who will love them and take good care of them,” Kuen said.

“Same,” Fiera said. “Even if – even if he can’t get them back to us by Himostava like I want, I know they’re safe and healthy. So that’s something.”

“Kuen, there is a CAF officer in a rather rumpled uniform asking fer you,” Thea said. She’d heard the comm going off when the others hadn’t and had gone to answer it.

“A young man?” Kuen asked.

“Yes. Said you knew him as Darkling,” Thea said.

Kuen went inside and sat down at the comm. “What do you have for me, Darkling?” he asked.

“I was hoping you’d have something for me, Kuen,” Captain Drake said. “We know Eire Rezouac sent a message to someone but we’re not sure to who or what was contained in it.”

“It was to us, as you suspected,” Kuen said. “It was proof he’s got our daughters and that he’s protecting them from Michi Nakano.”

“You know High Admiral Aceves wants to bomb Annorth now to get at him?” Captain Drake asked. “Thankfully all the other members of the High Command have more brains than that and countermanded her orders as soon as they were given. They don’t want an all-out war with the Arpathi, especially since no one knows just how many worlds the Arpathi actually control. We know of the ones they have in Colony space, but there are other worlds beyond the borders we know nothing about. High Admiral Seaton is calling Eire Rezouac out of bounds until he leaves Annorth, and if he doesn’t then he is no longer a threat because the Arpathi won’t let him do anything anyway.”

“I think even the Colonies would retaliate against the Core if they went after the Arpathi, because we would be the ones who bore the brunt of the Arpathi’s anger. Humans are all the same as far as the Arpathi are concerned,” Fiera said, joining Kuen. “There is no delineation in their mind between the CWA and the Colonies. We just have different lifestyles.”

“I’ll pass that along to High Admiral Seaton,” Captain Drake said. “I don’t dare let that get out to the others. High Admiral Aceves might look on it as a chance to punish the Colonies for siding with the Arpathi and attack them anyway.”

“She’s insane,” Kuen said. “Why do they let her stay in her position?”

“Her replacement died in an accident two months ago,” Captain Drake said grimly. “When it looked like we would finally rid ourselves of her. They’re training a new replacement up, but it’ll be a year at least before we know who it is.”

“Then do away with her position on the High Command,” Kuen said. “You can do with one fewer member.”

“I agree,” Captain Drake said. “So does High Admiral Leone, one of the few things we actually see eye to eye on. I think he’s still planning on having her removed even if he has to have it done in a less than legal way.”

“Just don’t volunteer for the job. We don’t need you to take the fall for his actions,” Kuen said.

“I’m not suicidal, Kuen. Whoever gets assigned that one is sure to be court martialed and executed,” Captain Drake said. “You have proof Eire Rezouac has your girls?”

Fiera showed him the picture and the hair. “The hair is a tradition out here to prove health,” she told him.

“I’ll pass this on to High Admiral Seaton. I know she’ll be glad to hear the news,” Captain Drake said. “Did he give you any idea of when he’d be sending the girls back to you?”

“No, and the one friend who might have been able to help him has refused to so da’s trying to find some way to get the twins back to us without drawing attention to himself,” Fiera said.

“What friend was that?” Captain Drake asked.

“Jacin Andreasen,” Fiera said.

“The one the rest of the Colonies are calling the betrayer?” Captain Drake asked.

“I haven’t heard him called that, but it doesn’t surprise me they’d attach that to him,” Fiera said. “Out here we might not want the resistance members causing problems for us, but we also don’t hold with turning your friends over to the CAF. My da was the only person all of Sorus agreed needed to be stopped. Jace and the rest were small timers compared to him.”

“That’s why High Admiral Aceves wanted to attack Annorth,” Captain Drake said. “I need to get going. I’m glad you have good news regarding your girls. I’ll make sure High Admiral Seaton hears this.” He ended the call.

“You don’t think High Admiral Leone would really send Darkling to kill Aceves, do you?” Fiera asked.

Kuen felt sick. “I do, Fury. Darkling is a high enough rank he could just walk in, kill her, and walk back out again without anyone questioning him. He wouldn’t have to sneak anywhere. The problem is if he does that there’s a trail and he’ll be killed.”

“There are others who have the same rank, the same abilities,” Fiera said.

Kuen nodded. “The question is going to be how much does High Admiral Leone hate Darkling. He’ll use the ones he dislikes the most to do the dangerous jobs in order to remove them. It’s a standard military tactic.”

“We should probably get back out into the fields,” Gaspare said.

“Yes, we need to get the crops ready for harvest,” Kuen said, shaking his head. “We’ve got our proof the girls are safe. That’s a relief to me. Let’s get going.”

As they were leaving, he heard Fiera say, “Eli, Elian, would you like to see a holo still of my girls? The ones that your Uncle Kuen and I are missing?”

“Lao and Nafi?” Pascal asked in an excited voice.

Kuen focused in on work and when the dinner bell rang, he felt better. Darkling was good at keeping himself out of trouble. There was no way High Admiral Leone would pick him for the job. They got back to the house and were surprised to see Eli and Pascal both helping Fiera in the kitchen. “Eli wanted to help too. He’s very good at stirring pots,” Phelix said with a grin when he saw everyone’s startled looks.

“Cooking fun,” Eli said, though he was keeping a wary eye on Fiera.

“Stir a little faster, Eli,” Fiera said. “Or it’ll get too thick to eat.”

“Okay.” Eli stirred faster.

“Very good,” Fiera said. “Pascal, stir your bowl too. We want all the ingredients mixed into the green sauce properly. We don’t want any cream left floating on the avocado.”

“Ew,” Pascal said with a giggle. He stirred his bowl.

Soon they were all sitting at the table and eating. Kuen felt like eating for a change and finished everything he was given. The farmhands left and Kuen helped Phelix bathe the littles while Gaspare helped Fiera clean the kitchen.

“Fury’s worried about Darkling getting himself killed,” Phelix said.

“High Admiral Leone might assign him to a very dangerous task,” Kuen said, scrubbing Gael down. “But I don’t think we need to be concerned, though I’ll admit I was the one to bring up the possibility. Darkling’s too smart to let himself get caught up in that.”

“You’d better calm Fury down,” Phelix said.

“I will,” Kuen said. “Eli, don’t eat the soap.

“Smells like cookies,” Eli said with a giggle. “Yes, it does,” Phelix said. “It’s still not something you can eat.”