Akira should have known that Grandpa Mavi would come looking for them. They hadn’t returned home from the town hall that night and he’d obviously noticed. The fact he’d noticed when he was completely plastered just made things worse.

“Grandpa Mavi!” she shouted. “Gods, close the bloody fucking door! It’s fucking cold and Askel doesn’t have the right clothes to deal with this shit.”

Mavi looked at her with his bloodshot eyes.

“Stay out of this Akira,” he slurred. “This is between me and my sister.”

“NO!” she screamed.

The sound echoed around the cavernous room.

“We were about to head for home when Askel had another one of his episodes,” she told him. “Besides, we didn’t know so much time had passed.”

“Bloody hell woman, stay out of this!” Grandpa Mavi thundered.

Akira didn’t flinch at his tone. She’d delt with him like this before and was the only one who could.

“Oi! I don’t care what you say, I’m not staying out of this. This is my fight whether you bloody well like it or not. So, get the fuck over it and let’s go home. I’ve had enough excitement for one day to last a bloody fucking life time.”

Grandpa Mavi stared at her for a moment. Then he bowed his head in shame.

“Forgive me, Akira,” he said. “You have only just burried your family. And now you’ve found the ship that has been the subject of your studies for nearly 7 years.”

“Aye, I’ve found her, but I haven’t found all of the information I need,” she replied.

Grandpa Mavi nodded and sighed.

“Get your brother and let’s go home,” he finally said.

Akira looked back to where Ehren was kneeling with Askel. Askel was now sitting up but he looked disoriented. Akira left her grandfather near the door and went to him and Ehren.

“Kel, you ok?” she asked when she was in front of him.

Askel gripped his head for a moment.

“I’ll be alright just give me a minute,” he murmered.

Akira knelt next to Ehren and stared intently at her brother. She put her hand on his forehead and when that told her very little, she pressed her lips to it.