He waited for me to take it from his hand.
Once I had, he cleared his throat.
“I believe it includes a letter from the Obeah official who took him formally into their custody,” he said. “It should also explain what will happen for Arcturus next, as well as give you a way to write and ask questions. I encourage you to do so, cousin,” he added seriously. “Do not be shy. Ask them anything you want to know. You have therightto ask. You should be able to send letters to Arcturus himself in not too long a time.”
My heart lightened enough that I took a deeper breath.
I closed my eyes, opened them.
I turned over Valor’s words, but I was thinking now, biting my lip.
“Do you have that right, too?” I asked. I met his gaze. “You were his guardian after my aunt died, weren’t you? You and your wife, I’m guessing?”
It was just a hunch. I wasn’t even sure why I believed it, much less why I said it.
I suppose it was partly to hear his answer.
Valor surprised me, breaking out in a real smile.
“I was,” he said musingly, his eyes sharper where they studied mine. “We were. And yes, I absolutely have that right, just as you do. I’ve already annoyed them with a large number ofquestions. I’ve never had a family member in the Obeah before, either.” His expression grew serious, and he gripped my arm back in a warm, friendly way. “I am quite fond of your brother, Leda. So is my wife. Feel free to writemeabout anything, as well. In care of the Praecuri. If you address it to them, and to me, it will reach me. I will tell you anything you wish to know about our time with Arcturus this past year.”
I nodded, feeling my face warm.
I was relieved I’d been right, that it had been him.
I only half-heard him, though, even now.
I fought to picture my brother’s face, how he’d looked that night, when I stood over his bed, covered in our aunt’s blood. I felt sick about what he must have woken up to, with the Praecuri flooding the house, blood all over the downstairs rooms.
Now, with this new development, I felt sick for a different reason, but strangely relieved, too, and worried all at once. The truth was, I had no idea what to feel. I already knew I’d head to the library that night and check out every book I could find on the Obeah and Sanctum Occulus.
I was still lost in thought when Valor released my arm, and stepped back.
“Be well, cousin,” he said, giving me another of his graceful bows. “I’m very happy to have met you finally, even if the circumstances are not ideal. And I apologize our initial meeting did not occur earlier. Given my temporary connection to your brother, I was restricted in contact with you, and very limited in what I could say. We can speak freely now, so I hope we will both take advantage.”
He paused, as if waiting for me to respond.
I was still tongue-tied, but I managed to nod.
“I do, too,” I said. “But really, don’t apologize. I didn’t expect to have any family here. Much less visits from important praecurus cousins.”
He winced as if what I’d said pained him.
I flushed, realizing how it probably sounded.
“I didn’t mean that in a bad way,” I added hastily. “My mother, Clotide, always told us she was an orphan. As far as we knew, she had no family at all, not until we met her sister. The idea of having relatives, or cousins…” I paused, at a loss. “Well, it’s new. I should have asked someone, I suppose. I should have written someone when I got here.”
Valor smiled, but his expression remained taut.
“The blame is all mine,” he assured me. “Of course you could not be expected to think of something like that. Not in your first year in a whole new world.” He touched my arm. “I do hope you don’t mind if I reach out for a more friendly visit in the future. I’ve been reassigned this year, and should be in the area of Bonescastle more often. And I know my wife would very much like to meet you. We heard about little else from Arcturus, of course.”
“Oh. Okay.” I flushed, struggling for words. “Yes. We could do that.”
Eye of Ra, what was the matter with me?
Before I could thank him properly, or even tell him that I would very much like to see him again, and meet his wife, Valor La Fey was already walking away. As he reached for the iron door handle, he glanced back and smiled at me.
“Oh, and incidentally, Ididn’tgo here, to Malcroix,” he said, smirking a little. “My marks weren’t nearly high enough, Leda Rose Shadow-La Fey. And I was an undisciplined, rebellious, incorrigible rogue and embarrassment to my family in those years. Nothing at all like my magically and intellectually talented young cousin.”
