When she turned to Tanek, the sadness in her eyes deepened. “I worked on the details. I saw that in my son’s early years he needed to spend time on Earth. He needed to meet people and learn things. And also, he was to talk to an unborn baby, as his words would greatly influence her life.” She glanced at Kaley, then back at Mekos. “When my son returned to Bellis and while he was still quite young, he was to mate with a Lely.”
Vian paused for a moment. “It was difficult for me to deal with the fact that I would be a grandmother before I could be part of their lives. But my vision showed me that if I made all the sacrifices, eventually, we would be a family. I would have a life with a man who, in just one splendid night, I would come to love completely and forever.”
When she and Roal smiled at each other, it could be seen that their love—and yearning—was mutual.
Kaley looked at Tanek, silently asking if he knew about this. He gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. No, he didn’t know.
Vian paced a bit, then halted. “All those many years ago, Idecided that my sacrifice would be worth it, so I set about making it happen. My son grew up without me. I wasn’t there to see my beautiful grandson tumbling about with the fox kits. When the Earth woman arrived, I had more decisions to make. For one, I had to figure out how they were to meet Zeon. He’s like me, but with a weaker version of foresight. There were things they needed to find through him.”
Kaley looked at Tanek. They knew she meant Haver’s skeleton, and he had given them gifts of magic items.
Vian continued. “My familyhadto get that mask from Zeon. That I was forced to risk my beloved grandson’s life to obtain it made me ill, but, as always, I focused on the results.” She didn’t look at her son, knowing that Tanek’s face would show his anger.
She paused, and when she drew in her breath, her face changed to what was unmistakably anger, but she kept her voice under control. “The end of my years of sacrifice was to be that Mekos would wear the mask and marry Princess Aradella. My grandson would be king! Evil Olina and Urah would know that the end had come, and they’d flee in terror.And finally, Roal and I could have a life together.”
Vian paused for a long moment and a fire seemed to ignite in her dark eyes. “But that didn’t happen.” Her teeth were clasped together. “Do you know who destroyed my thirty-five years of work?”
The faces of the four showed they had no idea. Aradella and Mekos could be married now, couldn’t they?
Vian looked at them slowly, one by one. But when she got to Mekos, she stopped. “Tell them what you did.”
Tanek and Kaley bent forward to look at Mekos and Aradella, but they didn’t return the gaze.
“My mother told me you did something,” Kaley said as she looked at Mekos. “It had to do with that lizard, didn’t it? This time, please don’t lie.” She put her hand on her necklace. “Lieshurt.”
Tanek looked at his wife. “Your parents are not here. Where are they?”
“Probably in a waterfall,” Mekos muttered. “Seems to be a family trait.”
Aradella snickered.
His smart-aleck remark didn’t have the effect he meant it to. Everyone in the room turned sharply and looked at him, waiting for him to do as his grandmother said and “tell them.”
But Mekos and Aradella were silent, their lips tight, their eyes straight ahead.
When Vian spoke again, her voice was so calm it was scary. It made them remember that this woman, as one of the Seven, had the power to give or take life. “Tell me, do you remember the guide Valona assigned to you?”
She waited for an answer, but there was none. “You two, with your I-know-everything attitude, were so contemptuous of that woman that you never even learned her name.” She glared at Aradella. “I believe you threatened her.”
Aradella kept looking straight ahead.
Vian looked at her grandson. “After what you two did to her beloved Valona, she went to Urah and demanded to be heard. She told Urah and her vicious daughter how you used that mask to dupe Valona. You used itbeforeyou were supposed to show that you had it! It didn’t take Urah much thought to figure out what you two planned for the wedding. They were ready for your clumsy little play!”
“But I kept the mask locked up,” Kaley said. “I have the only key. How could they...?” She trailed off.
Vian glared at the two young people. “They stole the mask. They found a Never who seemed to be part snake. He can slide inside locks! A mask, a pretty knife, even a picture on the wall, they took them all.” She glared at her grandson. “Tell your parents what you two did with those things.”
“We—” Mekos began.
“It was me!” Aradella said loudly. “All of this is my fault. I—”
“No!” Mekos said. “I was the one who breathed the gas. I should have protected you and Ian and—”
Vian put up her hand for silence, then looked at Tanek. “Your son stole a knife out of Valona’s house, then he put the mask on so he looked like his royal girlfriend. When Valona was about to kill who she thought was the princess, Aradella arrived on a wolf and stabbed Valona.To death!”
“She rode on a wolf?” Kaley whispered in awe.
Mekos straightened his shoulders, looking defiant. “What would have happened if Aradella and I hadnotstopped her?”
