"Another one of your disguises, I did not recognize you at first.” I pressed my hand to his cheek. “How long has it been?”

“Mother insists it is easier if we do not change back and forth, less chance we accidentally reveal ourselves.” He sighed. “Ten years, it has been ten years. I am twenty.”

“I cannot wait to see what the real grown up you looks like⁠—”

“I can show you⁠—”

“No.” I grabbed his hands before he could throw magic at himself. “Your mother is probably right. Besides, gives me something to look forward to.”

He squeezed my hands. “Do you know me in the future? You know mother and father, and grandfather⁠—”

“If I met you I did not know it was you, and you did not reveal yourself. But I have to assume your mother and Everest have kept you from me intentionally.”

“I suspected so.”

I exhaled roughly. “I am not supposed to be here. I cannot seem to get out of our oasis now that I’ve found it.”

“It is a place unlike any other I’ve seen.” He frowned. “So, you have not completed your task?”

“No. Can you open the tunnel?”

He shook his head. “It is not safe. Mother and I are strictly forbidden, grandfather is terrifyingly adamant on the matter. King Atzaran would not hesitate to kill us. He fears only Lilith, which means only Grandfather is safe to enter the tunnels.”

“I suspected so.” I wrung my hands together and started to pace in front of the open windows. “Where is he?”

“The war,” he said softly.

I frowned. “Which war? Wait, what year is it?”

He narrowed his eyes. “1339⁠—”

“The One Hundred Years’ War⁠—”

“WHAT?” Rae paled and swayed into the bookshelf. “One hundred years⁠—”

“Oh shit. Do not tell anyone I told you that⁠—”

“Told him what?”

I gasped and spun at the sound of Everest’s voice. He’d asked me a question but knowing he’d just come from a war I had to run over and inspect him to make sure he wasn’t injured. Which was silly, I knew he survived yet apparently that didn’t matter. “Are you hurt⁠—”

“I am unharmed.” He took my hands in his. “What did you tell Rae?”

My eyes widened. “I accidentally let something slip out . . . but I do think it might break some rules of time travel so please do not ask me to repeat it. Rae will never speak it, right, Rae?”

“You have my word, Meemaw.” He pressed his hand to his chest. “Not until it is in the past.”

“Rae? Rae, are you all —oh.” Auryn slid through the door behind Everest. She pushed her now brown hair and half turned toward the door. “Akecheta, did you know Mother was here?”

“Is she?” He barked a laugh. “So that’s why we needed to rush home.”