What was it about tonight that had sleep avoiding us all?
I stood outside the room, the vial slowly warming in my hand because of the prolonged contact with my skin, for another minute before Mother finally opened the door.
Standing between the door and its frame, Mother was gripping a fluffy robe tightly around her body.She must have thrown it on before answering the door in her sleepwear—though thatdidn’texplain why she was breathing so heavily. As thoughshe’djustranten laps around the castle.
But I was here to make peace after howI’dbehaved the evening before. Inspiritof that peace, I decided to let it go.
“I apologize for disturbing you so late—or early—but I’dlike foryou to come with me now, if you’re able,” I said, doing my best to portray myself as patient and thoughtful through the words I picked and the tone of my voice.
“Oh, alright.” She tilted her head at my attire—the same dark, malleable clothingI’dworn at training. “Have you gotten any rest, Dimitri?”
I raised my eyebrows, surprised that she seemed to have notes of genuine concern lacing her words.
“Rest is for the weak,” I responded, my tone light.
I had meant for my words to be a joke of sorts, though by the sadness that shadowed my mother’s face, Iwasn’tsureI’daccomplishedmy goal.
Clearing my throat, I motioned to her chambers. “May I come in and wait while you get dressed?”
“Of course,” she said after a slight pause, then pushed the door open as she headed toward her wardrobe.
As she picked out a fresh gown crafted ofa soft, tealmaterial, I lowered myself into the plush chair before the fireplace. My wings fit perfectly into the back of the chair, and I felt as though I could finally rest if I stayed long enough. Unfortunately for me, I had other things to do.
To keep myself awake, I took the time to look around at Mother’s chambers. The first thing that drew my eye was that the hidden door to the secret tunnels was ever so slightly ajar. Though considering she and Val had been strictly using those to get around the castle, Iwasn’talarmed. I alsocouldn’tignore the charcoal and parchment she had on the table before the fireplace—random lines and such drawn across each of the sheets. What theyrepresented, Iwasn’tsure.
Having collected all the pieces of attire she needed, Mother passed by me in a hurry, her gown and other items clutched to her chest as she also held her robe together.
My eyes narrowedjust before she shut the washroom door, asI could haveswornI had seen her wearing boots beneath the robe.
What had she needed boots for if she had only been in her chambers?
A few moments later, when sheemergedwearing the gown and a pair of small-heeled shoes—no boots in sight—I let out a breaththathad beentrapped within me.
Shaking my head, I did my best to let the anxietyroll off me. It was still dark out, and there were only so many torches and candles lit inside the room. It was an easy mistake tohave made.
“I’mready now. Though youhaven’tsaid wherewe’reheaded,” Mother pointed out as she shut the door to the washroom behind her and headed my way.
“It’s a bit of a surprise.” I stood, stretching like a griffin, before we exited the chambers and started down the corridor.
On another occasion,I’dhave us take the tunnels, but it was still dark out. Thereshouldn’tbe anybody milling about the castle just yet.
“If it’s only a bit of a surprise, can I at least know where we are going?”sheasked, her steps light beside me.
“The greenhouse.”
Mother’s gait faltered as she paused, a soft gasp falling from her mouth.
“That was always my favorite place in the entire castle,” she said softly, our gazeslockingwhen I turned back to face her. She was searching for something there, but what she was looking for, Ididn’tknow.
“I remember.” I nodded, motioning for her to continue walking with me.
As a young child, Ididn’trecognize that Motherwasn’tNorthern. I understood she didn’t have wings, but you saw thatevery once in a whilefrom those that had gone to war. They often came back withpiecesmissing or bad scars—if they came back at all. I simply knew that she was my mother. Ididn’tneed to know more than that back then.
Because of the simple workings of the young mind, I alsodidn’tnotice just how much timeshe’dspend in the greenhouse. Hours eachday, ifshe could manage it.
Nowadays, I understood it better.
It made her feel closer to her origins.
