It was this place. There was something critical that felt off. Wrong even.
It made Elena sensitive to things she might not have noticed otherwise.
"Does Auntie know?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Uncle Jin said as he lowered the cover to the ground. "Let's go."
Elena frowned at her uncle but didn't argue, sliding out of the air duct after him. She went head first, catching herself with her hands before her face got up close and personal with the floor.
Uncle Jin put the duct cover back into place before hopping onto her shoulder.
"Where were you when I woke up? I was worried," Elena asked.
Just a little though since Uncle Jin was so awesome.
"We’re in a dangerous situation. As tempting as it is to wait for your Aunt to arrive, we can’t rely on her finding us in time. The thing that we need most is information. I left to do a little reconnaissance."
Elena followed her uncle’s directions through the halls, winding her way back to the room.
"That said, I didn’t leave you unattended. Didn’t you see the spawn I left behind?" Uncle Jin asked.
Elena shook her head. "I didn’t notice anything."
Uncle Jin’s sign was resigned. "I realized that when it notified me that you’d left the room without acknowledging it. Next time do me a favor and take a look around you before you do something reckless."
That was a little harsh. Elena preferred to think of it as her being impetuous rather than reckless. Success often necessitated risk.
"Find any ships for us to steal?" Elena asked, changing the subject.
The lu-ong swatted Elena with its tail. "Don't even think about it. You're not high-jacking another ship."
"Why not? I'm awfully good at it."
"I'm aware," Uncle Jin said dryly. "But if you recall, the only reason the Wanderer made it off Ta Sa'Riel last time was because of your aunt’s piloting skills. I guarantee you that the Tsavitee's anti-aerial defense network is no worse than the Tuann's."
"I'm not worried. I have you."
"Sweet, but the answer is still no."
They reached a set of hallways that Elena recognized from her previous passage through them.
"We might not have time to wait for Auntie," Elena whispered, afraid of drawing attention now that they were near their destination. "I overheard the generals talking. Their spies are due to check in. They might have discovered something."
If that happened, Elena would be in danger.
The lu-ong tensed against Elena's neck. "Someone's coming."
Elena darted toward the other side of the hallway as the sound of footsteps came from behind her. She rounded the corner just as the owner of those footsteps turned theirs.
Fleeing as quickly and quietly as she could, she followed Uncle Jin's terse instructions.
There! Up ahead. Her room. Just a little further.
Elena dashed toward it, sliding inside with seconds to spare.
She flew toward the bed, throwing herself into it and pulling the sheet over her body.
Elena had barely settled herself when Fyr appeared in the doorway.
"You're awake," he said, surprised.
"Where's Ajix?" Elena asked, trying to control the heavy breathing that was a result of her sudden activity.
"He had other business to attend."
"What kind of business?"
"The kind you don't ask questions about."
"Ah. Right." Elena gave a sage nod. "The whole asking invites death thing."
Fyr's eyes narrowed. "You've grown bold. Did my staff knock your senses loose?"
Elena closed her mouth. Maybe pushing him wasn't such a great idea.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught something small crawling up the sheets. It looked like a lady bug, its carapace the same salmon blush color as Uncle Jin's spawn.
Elena made a choked sound as it reached her arm and crawled up it.
This must be the spawn Uncle Jin had left for her. No wonder she hadn’t noticed it. It was tiny.
Elena went as still as a statue, checking on Fyr out of the corner of her eye. To her relief, she found him not paying any attention to her as he searched the room for her boots. Taking advantage of his distraction, she tilted her head down to allow her shoulder length hair to sweep forward to cover the lady bug's presence as it climbed up her neck.
"Almost there," Uncle Jin whispered in a tiny voice.
The lady bug made its way toward her ear, crawling into the canal once it reached it.
Elena's boots hitting the bed startled her. She jumped, staring at the boots like she'd never seen them before.