Amina took in Kara's reaction with quiet calm. The desperation that Kara displayed saw the older djinn lower her eyes to the floor. "How did Tarek get so lost?" She murmured to herself.<br/><br/>Kara's tremulous pleas had Amina raise her eyes to Kara's. "My ability to dance upon the wind was stripped from me, Kara. And even if I still had that gift, I am not strong enough to cross the barrier between realms and take you to Gaia. I am sorry." The woman genuinely sorry and her grief at her inability showed in her features. "Even if the barrier that seals Janna from other realms were open."<br/><br/>"Can you not trace? Your mother's people had this gift." Amina broached the matter as the door to her chamber opened, and Tarek stumbled in. He was shirtless, and it was not for the sake of vanity. He too had felt the lash, and his back was crossed with long lacerations where it had opened his back.<br/><br/>"Amina, I . . ." Tarek began, and then saw that Kara was there. He stopped and swayed on his feet. "Kara, I . . . Kaseem told me his plan. This was never what I believed was in store for you!" The djinn said to her, imploring her to believe him with deep earnesty.<br/><br/>"Tarek, can you pass the seal between Janna and Gaia, and bring Kara's mate to her?" Amina said in a tone that held no sympathy for Tarek despite his injuries. In light of what he did and what stood to happen because of his actions, there was very little sympathy he deserved. Even if he was now suffering for his part in the scheme, he was an important part of it.<br/><br/>"I . . . the seal will not be lifted until tonight. Kaseem will have goods from outside brought into his private chambers, and then I could dance the winds to Gaia, but even with the seal open, I cannot bring an outsider to Janna. Only the king or one of the gods can allow one who is not djinn past the barrier and into Janna. Kaseem will not permit something as unclean as a Berserker into our realm." Tarek countered, his face beaded with sweat as he suffered.<br/><br/>"Then take Kara." Amina said. "Take her from this place and Kaseem's machinations."<br/><br/>Tarek shook his head. "Kaseem will not stop and after what was done to me, I'm . . . too weak. I couldn't bring another with me so far."