My eyes widen. "Leave the others?"
"For a couple of days," she nods. "They'll still travel by ship to Tronovia through the Quarters. Since it will take dragons much less travel time, there's something I'd like to show you."
Atlas and Nyx will be concerned they're not with me to keep watch over me, but they'll survive. At some point, they'll have to trust I can take care of myself when the time comes. I meetmy mother's awaiting gaze and nod. "All right. Where are we going?"
She lets loose a breath, as if she was prepared I'd deny her request, and says, "The site where the Portal to Orabelle once stood. Since your connection with your father is strong, I wondered if maybe you could find something, some trace of his magic, to possibly…"
Realization sparks in my chest. "You think if my blood can open the portal to Malvolio, I might be able to open Orabelle's?"
She sheepishly runs a hand down her braid. "A fool's dream considering there's not much evidence of the portal to begin with. But if it were possible to reforge the portal and you could open it… I would give anything if it meant I could see your father one more time."
If I was in my mother's place, I'd move mountains to find my way back to Atlas.
"If I can open the portal, I will." I snatch for her hand and squeeze. "But there's something I want to ask you."
"Ask me anything."
"What do you know of my aunt? Izara Sol?"
Sylvane's face doesn't falter. "I know her name. She fought in the war one thousand years ago. But I don't know much else about her."
"My father never spoke with you about her?"
She shakes her head. "I asked of her once out of curiosity. No one alive, except your father, knows of her fate. But he begged me not to bring her up again. So I honored his request."
"I touched her statue outside the Sol Room. I heard her screaming."
"What were you doing in the dungeons, Aurelia?" Her eyes widen before quickly narrowing. "Thrane had you speak with the demon, I take it. I told him not to involve you. He wasn't going to tell us anything."
"I couldn't get him to talk but…"
Finn's face pops into my mind and fear grips my heart.
"But?" my mother brings me back.
"Finn used his magic and the demon told us where to find the portal."
She stills. She's well informed. I don't need to remind her of Finn's affinity based on her expression.
"And this bothers you?"
"Of course it bothers me!" I scoff, irritation blooming in my chest. "Finn purposely chooses not to use his magic and yesterday he seemed all too excited to torture the demon."
"I assure you, it wasn't excitement you saw." Her eyes narrow, a sternness washing over her. "When wielders suppress their magic, or in Finn's case, refuse to use it, it can have negative effects on our bodies. What you probably saw was relief. His body felt whole, felt like he had an outlet to release everything he has bottled up for however long he's refused to wield." She slips a hand over my shoulder, drawing my gaze. "Don't look at him differently."
"I'm not – "
The lie dies on the tip of my tongue when she cocks her head to the side in disbelief.
"It's hard not to look at him differently," I admit.
She nods in understanding. "He needs your support, Aurelia. I don't know him but I can almost guarantee he's been judged for his magic in the past therefore spurring him not to wield. If he continues down this path, one day it will kill him."
"Kill him?" I choke. The thought of Finn dying forms a lump in my throat.
"Does he only inflict pain?" Her question throws me.
"I believe so," I swallow my brewing tears. "Or at least, that's what Finn said."
