“Eagal,” Fern murmured. “He wants to know where Mor is.”
Alar glanced at his sister. “You’re touching minds with the raven?”
She nodded.
“Have you told him?”
“Aye.”
Eagal gave a raspy croak and took wing, disappearing over the edge of The Shattered Crown.
Alar watched the bird go, his gut hardening. “So, you knew what Mor was planning?”
“I did.”
“And you had no problem with it?” He looked Fern’s way then to find his sister watching him, her grey eyes shadowed.
“Not initially.”
Silence fell between them. Fern lay the last rock on the top of the cairn.
“I’ve spent my whole life hiding,” Alar said eventually. “Ashamed of who I am … but I’m done with that now.”
“Good,” she said softly, surprising him. “You shouldn’t suffer because of other people’s prejudices. I’m sorry, Alar … you deserved better.”
His throat tightened, and he swallowed. Fern’s words disarmed him; he wasn’t used to being apologized to.
Their gazes met then before a wry smile tugged at her lips. “I’ve been jealous of you, you know?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“Our father crossed lines for your mother … and intended to leave Sheehallion forever to be with you both. He’d never have made such a sacrifice for me.”
Alar huffed. “You don’t know that.”
Fern sighed, her gaze returning to the cairn she’d just built. “I used to visit him at the mine sometimes. We both thought he’d never leave it.” She broke off then, tension rippling across her face. “But then Mor discovered a better punishment for him.”
Cold washed over Alar. “His presence on this journey waspunishment?”
“It was. As was mine. I was tainted by association. Mor never forgot a slight.”
Alar’s pulse quickened. “She used us all.”
“She did.” Fern’s voice caught then. “But no one disobeys the Raven Queen … to do so is unthinkable.”
“And yet our father did.”
Fern’s throat worked. “And paid with his life.”
They fell silent once more, listening to the gently rippling water stirred by a crisp breeze.
“Where will you go now?” Fern asked eventually.
Alar sighed. “I don’t know.” Something tightened in his chest then. “But I’ll stay by Lara’s side … unless she sends me away.”
Fern observed him for a few moments, and then, to his surprise, she smiled. “You have the Sablebane loyalty, I see.”
He huffed a laugh. “It would seem so … and you, Fern? Will you return to Cannich as you promised Vyr?”
