Ellis nodded. Rivka continued, bringing his attention back to her. “You are, yes, but I need you to hear the rest of it before you start celebrating.” Not waiting for him to respond, Ellis launched into a condensed version of events.
The initial joy at the news of a grandchild, of becoming a grandfather, was quickly tempered by a barely restrained fountain of fury. Evanar waited until Ellis finished before speaking, visibly needing to calm himself first.
“You are saying that Vivian planned all of this? That the child Rivka now carries is Tristan’s and not yours? That they used magic?” Gods, his head hurt.
“Yes. We do not know how they learned it, or exactly how it even works but it did and you and I both know without a doubt that Rivka and the babe are in grave danger. Vivian will not stop until she accomplishes what she set out to do.”
“I see why you do not wish your mother to know of this. I agree that her temper would ignite a war and we need to find out more of this magic, how they came to possess it, and what else they plan to do with it before making any rash decisions.”
A thought occurred to him. “Does this have anything to do with Alexandria’s absence?”
Rivka froze at the mention of Alexandria’s name. “We don’t wish her to know any of this. You are the only one we haveconfided in about the child and the magic.” She refused to meet his eyes as she spoke.
“I see,” Evanar said, watching his daughter closely. He had seen the flash of pain in her eyes at the mention of her guard and knew that now was not the time to push. “We will need a plan, a good one.”
“That is what we were hoping that you could help us with,” Ellis stated.
Evanar sorted through options and ideas for how they could handle this situation, one standing out more than the others, the only sensible conclusion, one that his daughter and son-in-law must have come to as well. “You plan to run, to give us all more time to prepare, and possibly formulate a way to take Vivian down before anyone is hurt.”
“Yes.” Rivka replied softly. “We can’t think of any other way.”
“Unfortunately, I have to agree.” This would break his wife’s heart but he persevered. “If we can keep you safely out of Vivian’s grasp, we might have a chance of stopping her. We need to gather more information on this magic. I will have my sources find what they can. In the meantime, Rivka, do you remember the stories that I told you when you were a little girl? About the Underground?”
“Yes, but what do childhood bedtime stories have to do with any of this?”
“They are not just stories, my child. They are real. Legend tells that they were built to help the healers move between provinces during the Great War. The tunnel system stretches between all five provinces, some tunnels even going far beneath the water.”
“You mean to tell me that we have a tunnel system underneath the entire realm!?” Ellis’ tone was incredulous. “Howhave we never known of this? That no other province knows they exist?”
“Only the Morrows royal family are the keepers of this knowledge. It has been passed down through each generation. We are sworn to protect this information from a very young age.” Evanar leaned forward, resting his hand on his daughter’s knee. “I am telling you now, Rivka, since by blood you are a Morrows too.”
“But what of me? I am not of Morrows blood.” Ellis said.
“Well, to be fair, I may be blurring some of the lines of my oath. You are married into a line of royal Morrows, therefore making you royal as well. The boundaries of the oath are not as specifically defined as they could be, but given the situation, I feel this is the right choice. Either way, that is for me to worry about.”
Before they could continue the conversation, there was a soft knock at the door and Maureen breezed in with the requested tea and buttered bread.
Rivka
The morning bled into afternoon, as Rivka sat listening to her father and Ellis formulate their escape plan. She voiced her opinion when it was needed, but they had a solid plan going. It would be difficult but was the safest option.
The stress of the entire situation began to wear on Rivka and she could no longer keep her head up. Her eyes were pained from crying and she could no longer fight the sleep that pulled ather. Her father noticed her drifting and suggested she lie down in his bed. Rivka refused, gently pulling herself out of his grasp and excusing herself. She wanted her own bed, her own pillow, her own comforts, if only for a little while longer. Ellis halted her, reminding her that they did not have McConnell or Wright with them. But they were at home, and she assured him nothing would befall her within the walls of her own palace. She could tell he didn’t want to, but Ellis acquiesced to her request.
Rivka wasn’t seeing the stone walls of her home pass by as she took each step to her bedchamber. She didn’t acknowledge the tapestries elegantly hung, or the sunlight that lit the bright colors of the paned windows far above her. She had grown up in this palace; there was not a section or corridor that she didn’t have memorized, but the beauty of it all never wavered. Still, she moved through them unseeing. Her vision blurred and a figure came into view. Clear gray eyes, silky braided hair, and the face and body she had longed to touch and hold for months now appeared before her.
“Ria?” Rivka whispered, afraid this was just a figment of her exhaustion. No, she was real. Alex was actually standing in front of her, and they were alone.
Alex turned to leave and Rivka felt her anger flare, bright and hot.
“Stop.”
Alex kept walking, ignoring her queen.
“You will stop when I tell you to.” She was no longer above using her position to force Alex to listen. Alex froze with her back to Rivka. She obeyed but she could see her vibrating with the effort it took.
“Face me,” Rivka ordered.
Alex turned, lifting her chin and making direct, cold eye contact.
