Page 47

ANNANI

A nnani stood next to the floor-to-ceiling windows in Kian's office, surveying the transformation Amanda and her army of volunteers had wrought.

Strings of lights crisscrossed between tree limbs and poles that had been installed just for that purpose.

Tables were dressed in white cloth and stood ready for the feast, and a stage had been erected at the far end.

The two banners stretched overhead made her heart swell.

Welcome Home, Carol & Lokan, and Welcome to the Clan Esag, Davuh & Roven .

"The lettering is perfect," she murmured to Ogidu, who stood attentively at her side.

"Mistress Amanda bought a special printer so she could print banners on demand. It seems like there is always a need for new ones."

Annani laughed. "Indeed. I hope this printer will get a lot of work. The more newcomers, the better."

After five thousand years, more survivors had been found. The threads of fate were weaving together in mysterious and hard- to-follow ways, but Annani trusted that the Fates had a plan and were working toward finding her Khiann and ensuring the clan's survival.

Those were her goals, though, and she had a feeling that the Fates had a much grander plan in mind, but they were not sharing it with her.

Toppling the Eternal King could be one of their goals, but he seemed too powerful even for them.

Besides, if the lore was correct about the Fates and what they were allowed and not allowed to do, they were restricted to assisting in individual growth and matchmaking, but they were using their limited roles as a means to shape the destinies of entire societies, instead of just helping individuals find fulfillment.

No wonder they had to work in such roundabout ways.

Amanda entered the office. "So, what do you think? Lovely, isn't it?"

"Yes," Annani said as Amanda leaned to kiss her cheek. "You get better with every party you organize."

Amanda grinned. "I had a secret weapon this time, or rather four. Kyra's sisters are incredible. They cooked the entire feast, and they are going to serve it."

"That is wonderful. Are they being properly compensated?" Knowing Soraya, she had volunteered not only the labor but also the supplies.

"Of course." Amanda leaned a hand on her hip. "Soraya tried to argue, but she is no match for me. I told her that if she wanted to get more catering jobs in the future, she would need to issue an invoice for an amount that I deemed fair. If it came out short, I wouldn't give her any more jobs."

"You are a tough negotiator, daughter of mine."

"What can I say, they don't make them like me anymore. I broke the mold."

She was teasing, but Annani thought it was apt. Amanda was one of a kind, and since she was her last child, the mold was indeed broken.

The soothsayer had promised Annani seven children, but since she was not taking on human lovers anymore, that prophecy was not going to materialize unless Khiann was found.

"Has Ingrid finished preparing the house?" she asked to divert her thoughts elsewhere.

"A three-bedroom house is waiting for the new members of our community, and Kalugal instructed his men to make room in his storage area for Esag's stuff."

That left only one concern—finding Esag a suitable workspace.

He needed to begin carving Khiann's figurine as soon as possible.

Annani had hoped that Esag had prophetic dreams about Khiann like the one he had about Wonder, and she had been very disappointed to find out that his dreams did not reveal any clues as to Khiann's whereabouts.

Still, her gut was telling her that they were close to finding him, but the Fates seemed to be taking a circuitous route toward that goal.

Why the delays, though?

Why bring together all these pieces unless something larger was at play?

The answer whispered at the edges of her consciousness. It was as if they were assembling an army in preparation for Khiann's arrival.

Her heart sped up as the implications crystallized. The battle between her and Mortdh's line had begun with Khiann's assassination, so it made poetic sense that it would end with his resurrection.

"Mother?" Amanda's voice pulled her from her reverie. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," she said softly. "Just thinking about patterns and purpose."

Her phone chimed with Kian's ringtone, and she pulled it from her pocket to answer. "Yes, darling?"

"We're in the underground tunnel. Is everything ready, or do I need to stall?"

"Everything is perfect. Bring them to the green."

After ending the call, she turned to Amanda. "It is time."

They made their way down the stairs and walked toward the green, which was already packed.

"Quite the turnout," Alena said, approaching with E.T. in her arms.

"It is a joyous occasion." Annani kissed her eldest daughter's cheek and then her youngest grandson's before shrouding herself and her Odus in invisibility.

As she made her way to the stage with Ogidu and Oridu flanking her, no one saw them approaching. She liked to make a dramatic entrance—not for her own ego, but to give the proper weight to the event. She climbed the steps and waited for the right moment to drop the shroud.

She saw Kian leading the group out of the pavilion and toward the green.

Carol and Lokan looked tired but happy, and Carol's hair was brown instead of blond.

Behind them came the Egyptian contingent, with Kalugal gesticulating wildly as he no doubt regaled everyone with tales about the artifacts they had just passed in the pavilion.

But it was the three warriors who captured her attention. Esag walked between his companions, his tall frame and flame-red hair impossible to miss. His eyes darted everywhere, taking in the crowd, the decorations, the sheer number of immortals gathered in one place.

When they were close enough to the stage, Annani dropped her shroud.

The effect was immediate. Esag, Davuh, and Roven dropped to their knees as one, heads bowed in the ancient gesture of fealty. The crowd murmured at the sight, as such formality was no longer practiced in their modern world.

"Rise, my friends," Annani said, her voice carrying clearly across the green. "We do not kneel here. We stand together as family."

Esag looked up, his eyes glowing from within. "Princess Annani... I never thought..."

"Rise," she said again, more gently. "Come up here and join me so I may properly introduce you to your new family."

Kian helped guide the overwhelmed warriors to the stage, Carol and Lokan following.

"My beloved family," Annani addressed the crowd, her voice carrying without the need for amplification. "Today, we celebrate two homecomings. First, my nephew Lokan and our brave Carol, who risked everything to keep us informed of our enemies' plans."

The crowd erupted in applause. Carol performed a perfect curtsy and smiled at her crowd of admirers, while Lokan waved like the prince he was.

Annani waited for the applause to die down before continuing.

"We are also welcoming three newcomers, who have carried the flame of memory through five thousand years of solitude.

Esag, who was my Khiann's best friend, has turned into a master artist and keeper of our history.

Davuh and Roven, both Guardians and loyal friends.

They believed they were the last of our kind, yet they persevered.

They honored our memory in stone and in their hearts. "

The applause was thunderous, and Annani waited for it to subside before turning to Lokan. "Would you speak?"

He stepped forward. "Carol and I are just glad to be home. Thank you for the warm welcome."

"Home," Annani repeated. "Such a simple word for such a profound gift. Esag, Davuh, Roven—this is your home now. You need never be alone again."

"Thank you." Esag bowed, and his companions followed.

"Do you want to say a few words?" Annani asked softly.

He nodded and stepped forward, clearly overwhelmed.

"I... we thought everyone was gone. For five thousand years, we lived among humans as ghosts.

I carved figurines to remember the faces of those we believed we'd never see again.

To stand here, to see this..." His voice broke.

"Our people survived thanks to you. You built a community.

A family. You carried the torch that had almost been extinguished.

" He paused, collecting himself. "I carved figurines of the dead while you created life.

You preserved not just memories but our entire culture.

You gave our people a future when we thought there was only the past. Light in the darkness, hope against despair. "

"We all did our part," Annani said. "You preserved our history in stone. I preserved it in flesh and hope."

She turned back to the crowd. "Let me introduce you to some of those who make our future possible. My daughter Amanda, who organized this beautiful celebration."

Amanda waved, smiling brightly.

"My daughter Alena, whom I call the true Clan Mother, for blessing us with fourteen children."

Laughter rippled through the crowd as Alena lifted her baby. "And perhaps more to come."

"Fates willing," Annani agreed. "We are not merely surviving. We are thriving. Each child born, each Dormant discovered, each refugee given sanctuary—they all add threads to the tapestry of our future."

She raised her arms. "Family found, hope sustained, future secured. These are not just words—they are promises we make to each other. We are all family."

She paused, letting her words sink in. "Now it is time to enjoy the feast prepared by four incredible sisters who are newcomers themselves. Soraya, Rana, Yasmin, and Parisa. Thank you."

The crowd surged forward as music began to play. Annani watched with satisfaction as clan members approached the newcomers, introducing themselves, offering welcome.

Esag stood slightly apart, still looking overwhelmed. Annani made her way to him.

"It is a lot to take in," she said.

"I keep expecting to wake up," he admitted. "To find myself back in my workshop, alone except for stone faces and these two." He smiled at his friends. "I would have gone insane without them."

"You are not dreaming, my dear Esag, but I hope you will soon dream prophetically, once you begin carving again."

He nodded. "As soon as I'm settled, I will start working on Khiann's figurine. I couldn't do it before. Every time I thought of him, I saw him…dead." He shivered. "You have given me hope, Princess Annani. I no longer feel like a huge weight is crushing my chest every waking hour."

"I know what you mean. That is how I felt until recently, when clues started to emerge that changed the narrative I believed in.

Now I know Khiann is alive." She put a hand over her chest. "I feel it in here.

I hope that carving his image will trigger visions of him in your dreams." She hesitated before continuing.

"The Fates seem to be preparing us for something big ahead of Khiann's discovery.

It seems like they are assembling the chess pieces, gathering forces. "

Esag frowned. "For what?"

"This conflict began with what we believed was Khiann's murder. It seems fitting it should end with his return."