“What? How? By who?” I demanded. “Can you send someone to check on her, since you’re in the same galaxy with her?”
Charlotte shook her head.
“I don’t need to. For her defender will find her. They will face dangers and obstacles together, much as you and your Korrigon did, but they will triumph in the end and Natalie will have the life she always dreamed of.”
“But I don’t know what life she dreamed of, other than getting off O’nagga Nine,” I protested. “And who is this ‘defender’ you’re talking about?”
Charlotte gave me a mysterious look.
“That’s not for you to know, I’m afraid. But maybe someday you and Natalie will meet again and you’ll be able to see the Goddess’s will in her life.”
“I’d like that,” I said. “Though I’d like it even better if I could find outnow.”
Charlotte laughed.
“That’s very nosey of you, Elli. But I think that’s why I like you—you remind me of my friend, Zoe.”
“I’d like to meet her, too,” I said. “And your other friends too—as soon as I have the baby.”
“It’s a date,” Charlotte said, grinning at me. “But for now, I need to get back to my own galaxy. I’ll see you again later, in your dreams. And someday, in person.”
“Someday,” I murmured as Charlotte and her throne faded into mist and the dream let me go. “Someday…”
“What’s that, my darling?” Sir mumbled, stirring in the bed beside me. “Someday, what?”
“Oh, it’s nothing,” I said, cuddling close to his side and breathing in his spicy scent. “Just a dream I had.”
“Mmmph,” he murmured, putting one long arm around me. “All right. As long as it wasn’t a nightmare.”
I sighed contentedly and snuggled up to my Korrigon husband and Master, feeling perfectly at peace at last.
“No, it wasn’t a nightmare—it was a beautiful dream. I just hope someday it will be a reality.”