Chapter 40

"What do you mean they're gone?" Laidra asked her husband as they stood in the throne room. She was looking for her eldest child in every part of the castle getting angrier and angrier with each room she went in. She ended up at the throne room where her husband and the rulers were stationed.

"What i mean is." Addafor said calmly "Tyrell and Laylian are not in the castle. I do not know where they have gone." There was a look in Addafor's eyes as he spoke, though it was something only his wife noticed. The rulers didn't care too much to look for details in the little things which surrounded them, they looked at the big picture rather than finding little details such as a twinkle in the eye or a nod of the head.

"Surely they would have told someone..." Vandkin with the frantic mother . "I'm sure that they would not leave without a notice. Afterall Laylian left a note last time. " Bringing up the last time was a low blow for him, Laidra spent days crying in her bedroom the last time Laylian had left. She was not one who held her emotions in well , leaving her chambers would cause her to be bombarded with stress and questions she did not have the heart to answer.

"This is different from last time." Laidra argued. "She was accompanied by a human, i understand if she left so that he could return home. But would she return?" The thought of never being able to see her daughter again was something which terrified her, she was willing to denounce Laylian as the next advisor, no matter how frowned upon it may be. She would offer it to Acheron or Landso , and if they didn't want it then she would offer it to someone else. She wouldn't sacrifice seeing her children due to a simple job title.

"Laidra if you're going to be dramatic please do it elsewhere." Selltress requested with a hint of annoyance in her eyes. It was something which made Liadra's mouth open in surprise and shock. Her friend was brushing away her emotions and feelings as though it was nothing. "This is a room for business and consultation matters, we do not have a scheduled meeting for your emotions."

Addafor sensed the danger, he could sense the storm which was brewing within his wife and so he gently guided her out of the room before she did something that she would regret. As they exited the throne room Laidra did not notice her sons and Vansilla standing outside, listening in on the entire conversation. Addafor gave them a warning look, a sign which told them that they should not be caught listening again. It also told them that they should mind their own business, though they never listened to that look and he kenw that.

"How dare she?!" Laidra screeched as she paced around her and Addafor's bedroom. "I have been a loyal friend to her for years, years!" She started to pull at the pins in her hair. "My child is missing , with no trace!" Tears and worry laced her tone as she sat ont he bed and placed her head in her hands.

"I know..." Addafor knelt in front of his wife and placed a hand delicately on her knee, a look of adoration in his eyes."They have been rather ...sour lately ." He bowed his own head for a moment before looking back up, meeting Laidra's eyes. "We will get through this . All will be perfect."

"But how?" Laidra sobbed. "How can it all be perfect? Our daughter is missing, with no trace. She must be extremely angry at us right now!" Laidra stood up and started pacing . "We've been so busy lately and so distracted, we haven't spent any time with the kids." All of the bad parenting that she had done came back like a frisbee. "Oh Addafor what have i done?"

"Shhh" Addafor hugged his wife, stopping her in her pacing. "I know where she is. She's safe and fine. The kids don't hate you, We have been less than ideal parents recently..but we can work on it."Addafor kisses his wife's forehead, he hoped that his words were soothing as she pondered them. "We know where we're going wrong, so we cna put it right."

Laidra's eyebrows furrowed as she looked pleadingly "You know where she is? Why didn't you tell me?" She wondered if this was the twinkle that Addafor had in his eyes earlier. This must have been something he wanted to tell her, so she didn't get mad. He hadn't had the chance to do so . "Where is she? Did she take...Tyrell with her?" She wanted to make sure she got Tyrell's name right. It was rather disrespectful to keep calling him 'the human' , she was removing the mask she wore in public.

"Yes Tyrell is with her..." Addafor turned around, unable to maintain eye contact. "And they are with ...Addamak."

"Addamak?!"

"SHHH!" His eyes wandered to the door, knowing that whatever they said within he castle walls has a chance of being heard by three troublesome children. "He's got a good heart, he'll look after the kids no matter what, he's just...strange." he mumbled the last word . He really loved his brother, though Addamak didn't make it easy. "His heart is good."

"I know that." Came quickly from Laidra's lips. "After the incident though, can we really trust him?" The 'incident' was something which was frequently spoken of but never spoken about. It was something which hung above the heads of the couple , something they could never escape from.

"Yes! Laidra it wasn't his fault, you know this." Addafor spoke calmly."He was tricked, we all were. How were we supposed to know they held that power?" Shame dawned on him as he thought about the past. "All we have to do is find others, we can't have lost our only chance to save humanity."