“Who did it?”
“Some say the other court’s high lords, though that’s only a rumor. It was so long ago, no one remembers.”
The memories of those within this court appeared selective. What other important details may have been lost?
Or stolen.
The fates did love playing their games.
“Is there anything else I can do for you, my queen?” Valera fingered the ring with a bluish-purple stone strung on the chain around her throat, making the large, finely cut jewel sparkle in the sunlight.
“Such a pretty ring,” I said.
“Oh, this?” Her smile warmed, and she lifted it from where it nestled below her gown’s bodice. She ran the ring back and forth across the chain, making a whizzing sound. “My mother gave me this, and I’ve treasured it since. She died when I was young, though I still remember sitting beside her on the sofa inside our suite.”
“What was her name?”
“Isodine.” Valera’s gaze traveled to the other side of the library. “Did you know that she enlarged this library during her time serving? This position has always been held within our family. Such an honor.”
“I didn’t realize that, no.” Though at this point, I should’ve. “And the . . . key?” I couldn’t miss it dangling alongside the ring with the blue stone.
Staring down, she twisted her hand to lay the key and ring on her palm, partly extended my way. “The color perfectly matched her eyes. She adored it, and I do as well, though she’d only worn it for a short time.” Her brows drew together. “’Keep it safe, daughter,’ she always said. “Never lose it. Because it didn’t fit any of my fingers, I strung it on this chain. I don’t remember where she got it, only that she suddenly wore it all the time. Upon her death, I inherited it. I was only twelve when she died.” She dropped the two and they slid back beneath the top of her bodice.
“I’m sorry.”
“I loved her very much.”
“Did your father raise you?”
“Sadly, no. King Theon made sure someone took care of me until I could assume my proper role here inside the library, which I did as soon as I was mature enough to handle the task.”
“Proper role?”
“Yes, as I said, the eldest woman in my family has served in this very library for each generation since the castle was built. My father died a few years prior to my mother and oddly enough, on the day King Theon turned seventeen, so my father couldn’t raise me himself.”
So many oddities at Evergorne. What I found the strangest was that the eldest member of each family served the castle in the same exact role as the prior generations.
“After my father’s death, King Theon himself came to my mother to ensure she had what she needed, and him only seventeen. Already, he showed great integrity and strength. He visited us now and then after that, which was incredibly kind of him. I could tell my mother took great heart in his visits.”
“How old was your mother then?” I wasn’t quite sure why I asked.
“Twenty-eight.”
“Much too young to die.”
“Yes.” A shadow flickered across Valera’s face, but it smoothed quickly. “Sadly, she died in childbirth, taking her infant son along with her.”
“Son? She was pregnant when your father died?” How truly tragic.
“Oh, no, this was a few years after my father’s death.” Her head tilted, and color rose into her face. “I’d never thought about it this way, but . . . Oh, my.”
“Who was the child’s father?”
“I don’t know. I doubt she fell in love with someone, or I would’ve known about it, correct?”
Perhaps, or perhaps not.
“She was incredibly lonely. Sad too often. At times, I found her crying, though I don’t believe she was aware I saw.”
