She inhaled an exasperated breath. “Why would my existence be of any importance to them anymore?”
Rawn blinked at her. “My lady, you are the High Queen of Hilos and the Four Celestial Realms. We know now that Lord Raziel is the perpetrator behind your attempted assassination, but we know nothing of what happened to Lord Hallel and Lord Jophiel once the Celestials retreated. The Realms may very well be in chaos as they fight over the throne, which could still hold repercussions for you. Due to, well, for…”
“Because of whom my mate used to be?” Dyna scoffed and shook her head. “I’m not part of that world anymore. I amnothisQueen. He left me, so he can deal with it himself. I don’t care about who sits on the throne. I was never supposed to have anything to do with their conflict.”
She gathered her arrows and slung the quiver’s strap over her shoulder. What became of the Realms had nothing to do with her now.
“I appreciate your concern, Lord Norrlen, but as far as the Celestials know, I’m dead. And I plan to keep it that way. The only thing I need toworry about is retrieving the Sol Medallion from Mount Ida and returning to North Star before the Shadow returns by the next winter. I have no time for anything else. I have lost too much of it already.”
Rawn bore her curt response in stride. “I understand.”
It was wrong to allow her agitation against someone else to fall on him. Anything that reminded her of the past only seemed to fuel her deep resentment. Still, it wasn’t his fault.
“Thank you for caring about me,” Dyna said in a softer tone. “There is no need to worry, though. I’ll be fine.” Rawn nodded, but she sensed his concern remained. “Well, I am all finished here. Shall I help you bring in the gear?”
“No, it’s all right. I will see to it,” Rawn said as his horse cantered over to them. He stroked Fair’s white mane, murmuring to him in soft Elvish.
The wind swept through the courtyard, rippling his loose green tunic. It lifted one end, and Dyna glimpsed a marking on the right side of Rawn’s lower back. A tattoo of an open bloom that matched the sigil on the pommel of his sword.
A dynalya flower, the emblem of Greenwood.
She recalled Elon’s scar on the back of his hand.
“That tattoo…” Dyna said. “Do all elves have one?”
Rawn adjusted his tunic. “Yes, my lady. It serves to represent which kingdom we belong to, as there is nothing else to truly distinguish us. Most red elves tend to have dark hair, but such a thing is easily disguised with magic. Therefore, the Vale came up with the means to … mark us.”
He seemed uncomfortable speaking about it, though, so she didn’t ask more.
As if sensing his restlessness, Fair bumped Rawn’s shoulder with his head, making him smile. “Ot’norp asac’ne someratse, Osom’reh.”
Whatever he said seemed to make the Elvish stallion happy. She went on, listening to Fair’s cheerful neighs as she strolled toward the manor.
“Good morrow!” Gale said, coming through the courtyard doors. She carried baby Gwendolyn on her hip.
“Good morrow,” Dyna replied, smiling at the wee thing.
Gwendolyn had grown. She had her father’s gray-blue eyes, and they lit up when she saw him.
“There’s my big girl.” Eagon took her from Gale’s arms, swinging her up in the air.
“Be gentle with her!” his wife chastised, going after him.
Dyna passed through the doors and made her way down the hall. The sound of soft sniffling caught her attention. She found Edyth in the grand hall. The older woman looked out the windows with tears on her lashes.
“Edyth?” Dyna called. “Everything all right?”
The woman jumped a little at the sound of her voice. Her cheeks grew rosy, and she chuckled, wiping her eyes. “Oh yes, I’m fine. I’ve been feeling a little sentimental as of late.”
Dyna hesitated to go to her. That room … It held too many memories as well. But she ignored the thought and went to stand by her.
Edyth gazed at her son as he sparred with Klyde in the courtyard. “As long as there is a sword in Tavin’s hand, he’s happy. He lives for it. My first son was also a knight, but he hated it. I thought him too soft, that perhaps I had spoiled him. But I see now his heart wasn’t in it. I sometimes wonder if our lives would have been different if we didn’t force him to serve. But Von died out there defending the town, alongside his father and sister.”
Dyna stilled at the name. She met Edyth’s sea-green eyes, and it all became clear. She wasn’t Tavin’s mother, but hisgrandmother. It shouldn’t have shocked her the way it did. She merely had not considered who the woman was to the boy.
“I’ve been told you know who Tavin’s father is.” Edyth faced her. “Can I ask a favor of you, Dyna? Please … please make sure he never finds out.”
The woman gently squeezed her hand without waiting for a response and went outside to join her family.
