Chapter 8

“I’m going to speak to my father about Alterealm’s purpose. One realm watching over all the realms may have prevented everything we’re facing now.” Prince Art nodded and glanced around at everyone standing there.

Abe was standing out of the way, mentally preparing himself to be ported to a different realm. He was both excited and anxious.

“I still have trouble seeing all of the realms working together like that. Well, not all; we’re a clueless bunch,” Daxx motioned to a few of the women.

Art smirked, “Not always at least according to my great-grandfather. He told me of a time when Hiram and his forces worked right alongside the others. It was…”

“Who is Hiram?” Daxx looked at his Uncle Troy.

“I’m not sure,” Troy’s brow creased, “the name seems familiar, I’m sure Elder Nodin can tell us.”

“It’s in the archives,” Crissy nodded, “Interealm, that’s what our realm is called, and the last leader mentioned there was Hiram,” she frowned and looked at the floor for a moment, “Clement.”

“Do you think they’re still around? That group?” Aunt Bethany looked from Leone to Uncle Troy.

“Wouldn’t we know if this group still existed?” Daxx watched all of his uncles for a response.

“How do we find out?” Aunt Paisley adjusted the strap holding her ‘just in case’ knife.

“We could go to the meeting place.” Crissy smiled and looked around at the others like they should be agreeing with her.

“The meeting place?” Leone glanced between the two kings.

“The place where the realms’ council met,” Crissy smiled, “at the circle of stones.”

“The circle of stones?” Daxx gave her a hard look. “If you say it’s named Stonehenge; I’m going to laugh.”

“No, it’s called the circle of stones,” Crissy shrugged, “Stonehenge is a different circle,” she rolled her eyes, “circles because it’s not just one.”

“Do you know where this place is?”

Everyone was silent, even the prince from the other realm. Abe focused on Crissy as she stared at the floor.

“I don’t think so. There are no instructions on how to get there.” She shrugged.

“I can look into it if you like.” Art looked at Troy, “Right after I hunt down Sem.”

Troy nodded, “let us know. We’re heading over to Solrelm right now.”

“I wish you well on your hunt.” Art bowed his head and then followed the guard out of the room.

Abe didn’t watch him leave. He was too busy trying to figure out the flash inside his mind. He was seeing stones, waist-high stones. He was riding a horse toward them, following others on horses. There was no way it was a coincidence that he suddenly saw stones when they had just mentioned a circle of stones.

“Are you okay?”

He blinked to see Aunt Kara standing in front of him. He nodded, not wanting to lie to her.

She moved closer and looked up at him, “I don’t try to hear, especially with family,” she frowned, “but sometimes you’re screaming your thoughts, and I can’t help it.”

Abe’s heart started beating faster.

“It’s not my place to share,” she glanced around the room, “but you should tell someone. I don’t think it’s randomness, if you know what I mean.” She motioned around the room, “Nothing that any of us can do, see or hear is random.”

He studied her for a moment. She was right. Everything that he’d been told since Daxx’s arrival in Alterealm was like a puzzle that slowly fit together. Could the answer be that simple? Were the years of seeing pictures in his head another part of the puzzle?

“Everything all right?” Uncle Rafael came over and handed Kara her bow.

She looked up at Abe, offering no words and leaving it up to him.

“I see fights in trees, riding horses and stones as tall as my waist,” he whispered so that the entire room would be privy to it.

His uncle didn’t look shocked, “I get visions too,” he shrugged, “maybe it’s a family deal.”

Abe sighed. He’d gone this far, might as well confess the rest. “Mine are from the past.”

Uncle Rafael’s eyebrows went up. He studied him for a tense few seconds and then looked over to where Nova and Bastian stood. “So, memories,” he turned back to him, “not visions.”

Abe shrugged, “I guess. Who’s memories are stuck in my head though? They go way back.” He didn’t know how to explain it in words without sounding like he was crazy.

“We could get Troy to look for a name.” Aunt Kara suggested.

“Maybe.” Rafael held Abe’s look, “are you good to do this now?” He turned and watched Uncle Victor come back into the room, “you can…”

“I’m going.” Abe busied himself checking his porter and then cuff, “They’ve been happening as long as I can remember, so I’m good now.”

“Okay.” Rafael nodded, “Just don’t want you distracted.”

Abe didn’t want to distract his aunt and uncle with his problems. “You as well. Uncle Michael told me about Solrelm residents,” he motioned to his uncle’s bare arm, “if they touch you…”

Kara chuckled. “No one touches anyone.”

Rafael grinned. “Let’s go over to Solrelm and find us a rat or two.”

Kara grimaced. “Better not be real ones.”

“Later, we’ll talk to Troy about taking a look at these memories of yours.”

Ave tensed, he wanted to know, but he didn’t want to know at the same time. He nodded.