“We have to do this, right?” Ellyn’s voice shook as much as her hands did holding her daughter. “Otherwise . . .”
“He’ll mold her into something hideous. All other paths lead to this.”
“Alright, then.” Ellyn lifted her daughter, and Vera took her, gently cradling her in her arms.
“Sleep if you can,” my Aunt Vera said. “I’ll be back once it’s done to share what I can.”
“Thank you.”
Aunt Vera blinked back her tears.
“Before you flit.” Ellyn’s fingers stretched out to touch her daughter one last time. “Would you tell them her name and ask them to keep it?”
Vera paused. “Of course.”
“Love you, sweet,” Ellyn told her daughter. “I’ll always love you, my Reyla.”
56
TEMPEST
Iwas pulled back to my bedroom at Lydel with early morning sunshine streaming in through the windows behind me.
Reyla was Vexxion’s sister.
Drask sat on his perch, flapping his wings. I gaped at him; my breaths coming in shallow gasps.
“Reyla is Vexxion’s sister,” I whispered. I still couldn’t believe it. She gave her life not only to protect Vexxion, but to hide her daughter’s identity.
“And you . . .” I stared into Drask’s eyes. He’d always been more than a simple bird. She’d planted a spark of herself within him, but I sensed, like the finger bone, she was already gone. She’d remained near her son until I needed her more, and then she’d found me at the fortress—in crow form. She’d protected me as much as she could, like she had him, and she’d given me the love I was denied.
And she’d been there to watch over Reyla.
Before I told him, there was one thing I needed to see, a confirmation of sorts.
After magically dressing in leathers, I flitted to the shed beside Bledmire’s aerie and crept to the door, peering out through the tiny gap I created. When I didn’t see anyone around, I raced from the shed and up over the bridge, the slap of my braid on my back whispering,hurry, hurry,hurry.
I took the path to the right that wound through vegetation and ended near the back door. After sending out my senses to make sure I remained alone, I strode to the door and slipped inside the back hallway.
Voices echoed from the kitchens, but no one cried out, asking me why I was here.
I took the back stairs, passing no one, and poked my head out into the open hallway.
Now came the dangerous part, but I had to see.
Closing my eyes, I traveled down the hall to Ivenrail’s door.
Cloaked in magic, I passed the guards standing stiffly outside and into the king’s sitting area. Finding no one there, I flitted, landing beside the fireplace and the chair of draining.
Voices echoed in the hall, and I froze until they passed, before tiptoeing over to stand beside the Wraithweave board.
As I suspected, the high lady’s white defender—Vexxion’s mother and the spirit haunting Drask—was gone.
My sad sigh leaked out.
If only I’d had more time with her.
A bit of mist swirled around the high lady, catching my eye, but when I stared, it fluttered away.
