“She healed Caelo, Neve, and me after we came across a band of orcs. Good healer, there’s no doubt, although I’ll admit, I didn’t intend to invite her along with us. She used our wanted status against us and said she’d be on our side for a place in the White Tower. You know, if we win the war to come.”
Lord Riis’s eyes twinkled. “So she’s tenacious. An admirable quality.”
As a son of a wealthy merchant, Lord Riis had risen in society to become a member of the illustrious Sacred Eight. He must have used buckets of tenacity to accomplish his goals. Perhaps one day, when things were calmer, I’d hear the stories of how he managed a feat that normally took families generations.
“At any rate, I’m relieved that she helped you out. Since you left Riis Tower, I’ve been worried about you and Neve.” He clapped my shoulder with a meaty hand and squeezed. “I’m glad the lads found you.”
“True brothers.” The words had barely left my lips before I winced. Lord Riis caught the motion, and his lips pressed into thin lines.
“Seeing Rhistel threaten your sister and mother.” He shook his head. “It was one of the most difficult things I’ve experienced.”
I leaned back against the wood of the pen. “I can imagine.”
“Yes, well, Inga is a strong fae, but I don’t think even she could have fathomed . . .” He trailed off with a sigh.
Stillness settled between us, until I broached the subject I’d wondered about. “Why didn’t you two marry?”
My father’s eyes, near twins to my own dark brown ones, locked on me. “It was never in the cards. Your father had learned of Inga’s powers long before they wed.”
“How?”
“He overheard Lord and Lady Vagle, Fates rest her departed soul, talking about them and howtheymight use Inga to secure some boon to the family.” He scowled at that, clearly not liking the idea of anyone using my mother. “From that day forward, Lord Vagle kept your mother in Odelia—at least he did until Queen Revna called her to court.”
“She was at Frostveil a while before wedding Magnus. And returned only for a short stay before the Rebellion, yes?”
“Yes. And during Inga’s first stint at court Magnus did not spread the word of her power, which led Lord Vagle to believe that his daughter was safe. That Magnus would stay quiet. That fantasy came crashing down the day Magnus came and asked for Inga’s hand.” He snorted. “It wasn’t like old Airen Vagle could say no.”
“You two could have run off long before that.” I ran a hand along the rough wood of a post, trying for nonchalance.
“She didn’t want to put a target on me by association. No matter that I would have accepted it.” A long breath left his lips. “And for a while after Magnus discovered her secret, we stayed away from one another.”
“Not forever though.”
He gave me an impish smile. “No, not forever. After she wed Magnus he went away, and I happened to be in the same city. That was before Inga went to court to serve Queen Revna for a second time, back when your mother lived in Aalborg. Inga and I spent a few nights together. During one of those nights, you and your brother were conceived.”
“Our lives might have been better if you were our father.”
Simpler, certainly. I suspected more full of love too.
He barked out a laugh. “Bold thing to say, considering I have many children. Most of them see me only as often as their mothers will allow, which is to say not often.”
I fiddled with a piece of wood coming off a stall. “If you were with my mother, you never would have taken another lover. Destiny favored you.”
My father looked down at my hand, at the soulmate mark there. “We might have been destined by some higher force, but the stars did not make us mates.”
“It doesn’t make your love less powerful.”
“No, it doesn’t.” He gave me a sad smile. “I worry about Inga. Always have, but especially now.”
I understood the feeling. Saga had told me that Rhistel was fighting mother’s powers when they left Avaldenn. What if he’d broken free?
My stomach tightened, and I cast about for something more upbeat to consider. It was then that I caught sight of Arie and Luccan leaving the stable. My heart warmed. I didn’t have to look hard to find joy in the world.
“Then again, if you and mother got together when you were younger, I wouldn’t have Luccan, Arie, or Thantrel as brothers,” I continued. “So perhaps things turned out as they should, and now fate is turning in your favor. After this, you should be with my mother.”
Slowly, he placed two hands on my shoulders and pulled me into an embrace. I inhaled. He smelled of the spiced tea that the rebels served in the dining hall.
“That would be my dream.” The spymaster’s voice was rough with emotion. “And speaking of your mother, she tasked me with delivering a message to Neve.”
