“Yeah, yeah.” Sawyer waved her off. “I’m only saying she could at least try to see our perspective.”
“Her entire world changed overnight,” Cas reminded from his place by a window. He looked toward the beach. “Give her a break.”
The front doors opened and Lora Yarrow strode in, her honeysuckle eyes instantly finding Sawyer. The woman silently gestured her aside, and Sawyer followed to the empty side of the tavern.
“Sawyer,” Lora whispered. “I have something for you.”
Sawyer watched her reach into her pocket to retrieve a thin, worn note.
“Irene left this for you—for her niece.” Lora outstretched the folded paper; small specs of dust falling from it. “In case she was unable to return to Rimemere and the burden fell to Sol…” Lora met her gaze. “Because she was going to return, Sawyer. I don’t know if you knew that.” She hadn’t.
Her mother, Mel, had filled her head with all kinds of stories about Irene—mostly negative—but with an expression that gave away the longing and pain their strained relationship had caused. Mel had only ever praised Irene’s skills in Warding and Dark Magic while at the same time blaming those skills for Rimemere’s burdens.
What those burdens were, Sawyer never figured out, and her mother killed herself before she could ask.
Sawyer sighed and took the parchment from Lora. “What are we to do with Sol? She clearly won’t come with us.”
Lora just smiled. “She will.” She gestured to the letter. “Read it. Alone.”
Sawyer made to walk outside, briefly meeting each of her companion’s curious gazes. The sun instantly greeted her, prompting her to walk to a small shop with a cloth roof.
The shop owner gave her a glare as she ripped open the crimson seal.
Dearest niece,
If you are reading this, then I have failed. I am so sorry. It’s up to you and Sol now.
I love your mother so much, Sawyerlyn. Mel is everything to me, but she doesn't see. She is blinded by him.
You have to make her see, if she is spared by our terrible fate.
Please take care of Sol, Sawyer. Keep her court—your Court—close.
And please….
Burn them down. -I. Yarrow
SOL
SOL HAD NEVERnoticedhow blue the ocean in Yavenharrow was. It was the blue of sapphires and butterfly pea flowers.
It was the blue of her mother’s eyes and the moment right before sunrise.
She traced the lapping waves with her gaze, welcoming the sprinkles of salt water that landed on her cheek.
At least they camouflaged the tears.
Sol wondered which god her family had offended to be condemned to such a fate. Well, she supposed it was the god of Wards.
She gripped her mother’s note tighter, then brought out the book she had grabbed from the Archives. One last time. One last reading.
Sol opened the book to a random page, then read aloud:
“In the beginning of time, four gods wandered Erriadin. Bored, they forged four items from their respective elements and then hid them amongst the land.
“They dared each other to find them all, and the winner would inherit all elements into their magical arsenal. After centuries of searching, Aquarene had found Emberdon’s Relic, and Flora found both Aquarene and Winderlyn’s. However, Winderlyn grew tired of the search. And from water and clay, Winderlyn constructed humans, convincing Emberdon to grant them life with his almighty flames.”
Sol wiped a tear with her sleeve, then turned the page.
