“Oh.”Apang of sympathy hit me.AlthoughI’dbeen watchingAnyafor many months,Ididn’t know much about her background. “I’msorry.”
Shegave me a weak smile. “Thankyou.Iwas too young to remember.”Shetook in a heavy breath and then after she exhaled, she said, “Idon’t really like to talk about my childhood.”
“Ican understand why.”Iached for her.Thatpart of her life clearly pained her.Tohave been raised alone without family.AtleastI’dhad my parents and brothers beforeIjoined theStoneSentries.
“I’dmuch rather hear about your family.”Sheleaned back in her chair.
Iassessed her to ensure she was okay.Sheasked me questions about my family, soIanswered them.Itold her about growing up the eldest of three brothers, how we were close, how my parents still live there, but my brothers andIeach ventured to different areas to start our lives.
“Idon’t have any siblings.That’sone thingIalways wondered about.Whatit would be like to have a brother or sister.Someoneto play with—and fight with.”Hersmile turned mischievous.
“Oh, there was a lot of that,”Iagreed with a chuckle.
“Isthat how you ended up inMontreal?” she asked.
“Yes, eventually.”
“Andbecoming a guard?”
Itipped my head. “Asentry.”
“Ah, right.TheStoneSentries.”Shetook a sip of wine. “Dothey all look like you?”
“Ifyou mean do they have gray skin and wings, yes.Butgargoyles appear different, just like humans do.Andsome have developed different characteristics from their clan.”Icircled with my hand. “Orfrom other arrangements.”
“Likewhat?”
Howmuch shouldItell her?Igazed into her eyes.Togain her trust,Ihad to be truthful—at least about some things for now.Shelistened quietly, waiting for me to continue.
“Likethe one we had withAdelaide,”Ifinally revealed.
Anya’seyes flickered wider. “Becauseyou said she was a witch?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Anyaglanced at a spot beyond me before she met my eyes again. “Ican’t imagine what sort of arrangements you might mean with her.Canyou tell me more?”
Afterwhat she’d already seen, it didn’t seem right to keep the truth fromAnya.Withthe way she delved into a topic she wanted to research, she’d start to figure things out quickly on her own anyway.Besides, it might be safer for her to know more.
“Weserved as protection for her, and in return, she granted us the ability to better protect ourselves.”
“Howso?”
“Withmagic,”Ireplied. “That’showIwas able to tolerate the gunshot without it tearing through my wing.”
“Magic,” she repeated in a breathy voice. “Ican’t believe it’s real.”
“Itis,”Ireplied with a solemn nod.
“Andso,” she began and then paused, “You’reat the library most the time?”
“Forthe most part, although sometimes sentries are moved to other parts of the city.”
“Includingyou?”
“Inthe past, yes, butI’vebeen at the library for six months.”
“Thatmust get boring.”
