“My reputation precedes me.” Eira offered a slight smile.
“Only by way of the survivors who made it back from the tournament.” A pause. “It seems you might know some of those from Solaris.”
“Yet to be confirmed,” Eira said cautiously. But who else would claim to be her mother? Who would lie about that? Was itmore likely that this was someone trying to manipulate her into a dangerous position, or that her mother was actually here? Both seemed impossible. She worked to remain focused, even when a thousand unanswered questions ricocheted across her mind. “Regardless, I’d like to assure you that those rumors about me are greatly exaggerated.” Eira released the woman’s hand.
“Glad to hear it, otherwise I would end up looking quite foolish for defending you.”
“We don’t want that,” Eira agreed with the unsaid. “Speaking of what happened at the tournament, there are a few matters I would like to discuss with your council.”
“Regular session will not begin until tomorrow—today wastechnicallyan off day, until you arrived. But I will gladly bring your matters before the hall then,” Morova assured her.
Eira refrained from being more insistent. This was the way things were done here. And one night wasn’t likely to make a significant difference.
“Who else made it back?” Varren interjected.
“Only a small group of spectators and Minister Gourdun.” A heavy frown weighted Morova’s words. The pain of the wound was still real. “There were a few survivors from Solaris, as well, who had been sitting among those with Qwint in the stands.”
There it was, a plausible explanation. Yet, Eira still wasn’t ready to believe it.
“So few survived…” The rest of what Lavette might have said was lost, no doubt to her crumpling into her own grief. The woman was doing an impressive job of holding herself together. But her brows were fighting a pained furrow. Her eyes reddening at their edges.
Her aunt seemed to notice, too. “Come, we should get you home where you can relax in comfort.”
“Home?” Lavette blinked, returning to the present. “Home,” she repeated, softer, her voice filled with longing. Then, sheturned to Eira. “Aunt, do you think you will be able to take Eira to meet the refugees from Solaris? I believe she might want to confirm the identities of a few?”
“If it isn’t too much trouble?” Eira forced herself to say. Her voice remained level even as her insides trembled.
“It shouldn’t be. I can have two of our soldiers lead you to the refugee house we have set up for them.” Morova was motioning for a nearby soldier as she spoke, quickly repeating the instruction and ending with, “Then escort her to the D’astre residences.”
“Understood.” The soldier dipped his capped and plumed head.
“We can all go together?” Cullen offered. He looked more worried about her right now than he had when they’d been skirmishing with Carsovia’s navy.
“Of course.” Eira nodded, immediately assuming he wanted to ask after his father. Her hand moved of its own volition, touching his forearm gently. Cullen had as complicated a relationship with his family as she had with hers. But that didn’t make this any easier. “Alyss, do you mind joining as well?”
“I doubt my family came to watch.” She rubbed the back of her neck. Eira held her gaze. Like always, Alyss figured out the unsaid. “But I should check.”
“Then we shall see you three at my home later.” Lavette was still working on her composure. It seemed wildly unfair that Eira would have an opportunity to reunite with part of her family—the people with whom she had a deeply complicated relationship at best—and Lavette only received confirmation of her father’s death. A father Lavette clearly loved deeply.
Fate rarely played fair.
They parted ways. Lavette went with her aunt, the rest of them in tow. Cullen, Eira, and Alyss were escorted by the soldier out a different exit and back onto the streets.
“It’ll be all right,” Alyss encouraged with a whisper, taking her hand. Eira hadn’t realized she’d been balling her fingers into a fist that was so tight she’d nearly drawn crescents of blood into her palm.
“What will I say to them?” Eira breathed. Her parents were here, even if her heart still objected to the notion.
Cullen walked a step ahead. Eira couldn’t tell if he was intentionally trying to avoid intruding, or if he was lost in his own world. Probably both.
“Start with hello, see where it goes from there,” Alyss said.
“It’s not that simple.”
“It doesn’thave tobe more complicated.”
Eira glanced at her friend from the corners of her eyes. Frustration simmering not at Alyss, but at the fact that she was right. Alyss seemed to understand the distinction and a sly smile arced her lips.
“Just…” Alyss trailed off as their feet slowed to a stop before a small building that bore the seal of Qwint over its door. Eira was vaguely reminded of the homes in the Champion Village—well made, but not overly appointed. Comfortable enough. Vaguely, she wondered if it was the same one that Varren had been taken to when he’d managed to escape Carsovia. “Be honest with yourself and with them.”
