“Because I learn people’s names?”
“Because you think of learning people’s names.”
“The queen knew everyone’s name,” I point out. “I got it from her.” I pause, not knowing how far I can go with Lyra on the subject of her mother. It’s always difficult for Lyra to put her emotions about her mother into words.
She put most of her thoughts and feelings down on paper in the letters she sent me.
I had been away at university in Toronto when I got the news about the accident. I don’t remember anything about the flight back, just that I managed to get to the Island Airport and somehow there was a plane waiting for me.
The magic of my father—organizing a ride home for me at the same time he was supporting his best friend and grieving for the queen.
All of us gathered at the hospital had been… grim. And then I had been in Lyra’s room when she woke, and I was the one who told her that the queen had died.
That her mother had died.
“I miss her,” I say softly.
“I miss her every day,” Lyra says matter-of-factly. “I talk to her sometimes,” she admits. “I don’t know what that makes me.”
“It makes you a daughter missing her mother. What do you talk about?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Life, the stupid stuff I do. Boys.”
“Do you talk about me?”
There’s a long pause, then, “She loved you.”
“You said that.”
“So, yeah, I talk about you. Especially since you showed up to mess up my season.” But she grins as she says it.
I open my mouth to reply, even though I’m not sure what to say. Do I tell her that I talk about her? Because I don’t. I rarely mention Lyra to anyone.
But I think about her.
A lot.
Lyra stops. We’ve reached the summit of the hill, which feels more like a mini mountain to me. I really wish I’d taken up Kalle’s offer to work out more often. “Newfoundland.” She points to the sliver of land visible in the distance.
“This place is really beautiful.”
“It really is. I had no idea why Odin would agree to give up everything and move here,” she marvels. “Now I get it.”
“Because he loves Camille?”
Lyra shakes her head. “You can love someone and still not drop your life for what they want. At least I don’t think you should. There should be compromise, not just giving up. Odin gave up a lot.”
“Would you ever give up your spot in the line of succession?”
“No way. I love being a princess.”
I laugh. “You’re a good one.”
“Even though I don’t know everyone’s names.”
“There’s always something to strive for.” I take her hand, her fingers soft and cool in mine.
She looks down at our fingers entwined. “I have a lot to work on.”
