"Murph, you're not an alchemist."
He looks over at me, bewildered. "This I know, that does not mean that I am incapable of learning a new skill."
No,I think to myself,it doesn't."Just don't blow anything up, alright?"
"He's done that enough already." Marjorie's gravelly voice cuts through the room like a knife.
"The Lady returns."
She gives us all a disapproving look, but settles on me. "A-hem, I was wanting—"
"I know what you want,child." She hisses, crooking her fingers for me to follow.
I take a step forward, obeying, as Caz speaks up behind us, "forgive me, my lady, but is he not yourking?"
Her hands flex out at her sides, not too dissimilar from the way that Eveera does when she's frustrated. "I gave him that title. I will address him however I bloody please."
"Well, go on, I won't stand here all day, boy." She barks, standing against the edge of her balcony.
I blow out a long breath, "whoareyou exactly?"
"You've interrupted my schedule to ask me that?" She jeers, her green eyes piercing right through me.
"I mean—"
"You mean, who am I toyou?" I nod, and she hums, “Did you know that Eveera's mother spent time in Valen's Court?" I tamp down the surprise on my face, waiting for her to continue. "Ayla was my apprentice, a talented one too. She and my daughter were quite the pair running around the castle in her free time — not that I gave her that much. Many people found it odd, an Obsid of noble birth coming to our humble kingdom, wanting to learn a Wield that wasn't her own.”
“Did Eveera's motherhavea Wield?"
She inclines her head, her face lighting up. "Oh yes. Both her parents were strong Shadow Mages, but where Killian was gifted — Ayla was exceptional. So well versed in reading the wisps and so dutiful in worshipping the Fates that her power grew beyond its natural capacity. My sweet Lala was a visionary. She knew a fair bit in regards to apothecary, which is what led her to me; she shared her Wield in return for my lessons."
My forearms drop onto the balcony edge, my torso leaning over it. “I don’t see–”
“Shush.” She snaps, pinching my lips together. “Ayla saw an opportunity to mix her skills with mine, to introduce Obsidian to a new way of healing. But I was not an easy woman to win over, despite her charms and wit. Luckily for her, she found a companion in my daughter, who helped sway my stubbornness."
"And how did you end up here?"
Her face grows dark, her lips pursing, "Ayla needed my help. She was close to her delivery with Eveera at the time, and things were not going well for the two of them. Killian begged for me to see her — to save both of them." She turns in her spot, facing me fully, "there was some truth to Eveera's birth. The girl was close to death when she was born. Her face was dark blue, heartbeat was slow and faint. I brought them both back, and when she finally cried out, the whole castle was made aware. Not even stone could smother that girl’s cries… powerful from the day she was born."
I don't doubt that.Pictures of Eveera fill my mind, and warmth spreads through my chest.SMACK!"Ow!" I shout, bringing my hand up to my cheek.
"Don't grow moon-eyed on me now, boy. I thought you wanted answers."
The sharp pain from the slap spreads down into my jaw, twinging as I talk. "Why didn't you go back? Once they were alright?"
"During Ayla's apprenticeship, she taught me her way with the Fates, and my daughter — as kind as she was — was not the most open-minded individual. One day, she walked in on one of our lessons, newly pregnant and worried about every little thing." Pain flickers through her eyes as the story brings her back. "She'd seen Ayla Wielding and… misunderstood."
Marjorie glances up at me, making sure that I'm still listening before taking a deep breath and moving the story along, "anyway, Eveera's mother left shortly after that, while things were still frosty between them. She left, I stayed, she married Killian and became the Queen of Obsidian."
I bob my head up and down. "That's a wonderful story, but… that still doesn't answer my question…"
"As I said, yourmotherwasn't the most open-minded." The words ram into me, and I feel my stomach drop. She looks over with an irked expression as if what she said was not life-altering information. "I was your mother's healer, as was Ayla in the beginning of her pregnancy with you. Years down the line, when your Wield presented itself and showed that you were a Bane, something that had not been recognized in Vellar for centuries, she conveniently forgot that the magic running underneath our feet is older than time itself and blamed the two of us for 'tainting' you."
Bane…I knew what I was, a stain on the purity of Vellaran's history.
"You were not a mistake, boy. Everything must have a balance, and that kingdom you claim as home? Has been out of balance for as long as I can remember." Tears burn behind my eyes as she looks at me, her expression fierce as she grips my chin. "Youare a better fit here.Youare her family now. When you face your father again, do not let her fall.”
I felt stripped bare after my conversation with Marjorie. I didn't know that by wanting answers, I'd be getting a family history lesson.
