“ K endall, you have a visitor.” Bourne opened the door to the terrace.
“I do?” I sighed.
I’d had a constant barrage of well-wishers after the incident.
“I have a gift for you,” a soft voice I recognized said.
“Eta?” I lowered my feet off the railing and raced to my friend, enveloping her in a hug.
Tears filled her eyes.
“I was worried about you, my queen… Kendall. The whole time you were missing, we prayed to the gods for your safe return. Then Yubwyl heard from someone in the halls our king had gone to rescue you. You’re amazing. We’re so happy you’re home safe.”
“I’m glad too.”
Eta thrust a box into my hands.
“A gift.”
I placed the box on the table and pulled off the lid.
“My tablet!”
“It works now. I think. At least it should.” Eta’s words rushed.
“If it doesn’t, I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.” I gave her another hug.
“I have to go back to the laboratory now, but I wanted to drop it off to you as soon as possible.”
“Thank you.” I walked her to the door.
“I’ll visit you soon.”
“I’d like that,” Eta said.
I wandered back to the terrace after pouring myself a drink.
Bourne sat on the ledge overlooking the city and the grotto as we’d done two nights prior before everything changed.
I climbed onto his lap and sipped at my drink, staring at the box.
“It was nice of her to come,” he rumbled.
“Yes.”
“What did she bring?” He pointed to the box.
“They think the tablet works.”
Bourne looked at me.
“You seem hesitant.”
“What if…” I trailed off.
“Bourne, do you think anyone will respond?”
“The only way to know for sure is if you try it.”
“What if they don’t answer?”
He wrapped his arms around me.
“Then I’ll take you toward the surface and we’ll try to find them.”
I heaved a sigh.
My fingers ran over the tablet and the back-light turned on.
“Promising.” I typed in the codes we’d memorized before the mission.
“Hello? Is anyone out there? It’s Kendall. I’m alive.”
Silence.
Bourne rubbed my back.
“Now you know. Worth a try.”
Static crackled from the tablet.
“Hello?” a feminine voice answered back.
I looked at Bourne, my eyes wide.
“It worked.”
“Do you want me to take you back?”
I shook my head.
“No. I belong here, with you.”