When the train finally came to a stop in the Tingis station, Taziri was the first to climb down and feel Mazigh soil under her boots and see the Mazigh stars overhead. She quickly found the yardmaster and oversaw the uncoupling of the Halcyon, and watched a small steam tram shunt the special locomotive off into a siding where it would be safe and out of the way. By then, everyone else had woken up and disembarked.
Kenan and Shifrah wrangled their semi-conscious prisoner onto the platform. The detective paused. “Thanks for your help, captain.”
I guess he found his place in the world after all. It definitely worked out for me this week, at least. Taziri nodded. “Thanks for yours. Just keep her out of trouble.” She nodded at the one-eyed woman in white.
Kenan grinned. “I’ll try. Be seeing you.” And they left.
Taziri found Qhora and Mirari waiting at the end of the platform. “Come on,” she said softly. “Someone’s waiting for you.”
“And you,” the weary princess said.
They walked the long mile from the train station uphill across four intersections to the quiet old neighborhood where the Ohana house stood at the end of a paved street dotted with slender elm trees. Taziri opened the front door and saw the men in the living room.
Alonso was snoring in the armchair in the corner. Little Javier lay sprawled across the young man’s chest, drooling and whimpering.
Yuba sat on the sofa with Menna curled up in his lap. They both looked up from the book they were reading. “Mommy!” Menna dashed across the room and Taziri scooped her up and swung her through the air before crushing the little girl to her chest.
Qhora quietly picked up her baby and Mirari gently woke Alonso, and Taziri backed out of the room with Yuba to give the others a moment alone.
“You’re back.” Yuba smiled and wrapped his arms around them both.
“It took a little longer than I thought. Sorry.”
He kissed her. “You’re here. That’s all that matters. Did it go all right?”
Did it go all right? Flying across the entire continent, chasing criminals, hiding from the authorities, meeting a goddess, and fighting off a cult of assassins with burning swords full of enslaved souls? Did that “go all right”?
Taziri smiled. “Yeah. It went all right. We got the bad guy and came home in one piece.”
“Good work, honey.” He kissed her again.
“I missed you, Mommy,” Menna said. “Did you bring me something?”
Taziri laughed. “No, I’m sorry sweetie, I didn’t bring you anything. But I do have a story for you.” She looked up at Yuba. “And I have a new invention that’s going to pay for all the new greenhouses you could want.”
He smiled. “Sounds nice. How long are you home for?”
She shrugged. “I’m home for good, or until someone else needs my help to save the world.”
“Fair enough.” And he kissed her again.
“Mommy! Tell the story!”