“I’m not sure this is a good idea…” Rayven said hesitantly.
“Stay or go, it affects me little, Rayven. Butweare going.” I looped my arm through Matea’s and headed out of the stable.
I heard Rayven sigh, then felt his shadow clinging to me a moment later.
Itwasn’tthat wieldersneededtheir sun or moon stones to wield, or to even sense the elements around them. The stones simply helped with control and strength over whatziriliumafaewields. And as shown by his mastery tattoo that snaked over the skin of his right arm, Rayven was an expert in shadow wielding—with and without his sun stone.
Matea and I crept our way to the edge of the tavern, standing along the back wall of the building. There was a small series of windows, thin but tall, that Matea waved me over toward. Following herlead, andwishing to the Stars that she knew what she was doing, I met her next to the first window, where we both crouchedinto the shadows of theslanted roof overhead.
Rayven stirred, then quicklydeparted—he stayed near enough that if we needed him,he’dbe there, but he seemed to understand that we would need a private moment.
Matea, deliberately ignoring Rayven’s departure, peered into the window, her hazel eyes instantly catching sight of what we came here for.
Coming up to the other side of the glass panes, I followed my sister’s line of sight until I, too, saw it.
Father and Mother’s portrait was hung near the fireplace on the far wall, closer towards the entrance of the tavern. They were both dressed in royal attire—crowns, multiple layers of clothes made of silk and satin, and both had a broachpinned tothem with theHeartshirefamily crest on it. What stood out the most, though, was their expressions. Fatherdidn’tlook quite as harsh as I remembered him—as though being in Mother’s presence put him at ease, to a degree.
The opposite could be saidforMother. I always remembered her as relaxed and calm, but next to Father, she looked likeshe’drather chew her own arm off than stand beside him. She looked anxious, on edge, and knowing what I knew today about how Father was, Icouldn’tsay I blamed her.
After a few moments of us both silently studying the portrait from afar, Matea asked softly, “What was she like?”
Iwasn’tentirely stunned by the question, but I still took my time answering.
“One time, we had a wild female griffin show up just outside of the castle grounds.Herand I found it while playing in the forest behind the castle. It seemed violent at first, but upon closer inspection, we found that she was in theearly stagesof labor—she was about to welcome hergrifflingsto the world. Motherimmediatelyset off to help. She sent me to gather a small list of supplies—stuff that nobody would notice went missing—and she stayed for hours, helping the griffin in any way she could. Motherconstructed a small home, dug out from the ground, for her to give birth in, and stayed for hours even aftershe’dhad all her babies. Meanwhile, she kept me busy with small tasks, so I could feel helpful, too.
“Motherwasn’tNorthern—she had no connection to our griffins, and even then,she’dnever met this griffin before that moment, anyway. But she saw another living creature in need, and she stepped up. She did that with everything and everybody she came across—she stepped up and helped in any way she could.” I paused. “She’swho I thought of when I gave those pieces of silver to that female. She wasgentle, andkind, andso,socaring. Even after whatever happened to her for her to end up as the Queen of the North, shedidn’tlose those qualities. And I aspire to be more like hereach and everyday.”
By the time I finished speaking, a single tear had streaked down my sister’s cheek.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t—”
“Thank you,” Matea said, cutting me off and meeting my gaze. “For sharing that piece of her with me.”
She reached out and lightly gripped my bare hand in hers before standing and carefully making her way back to the abandoned stable.
I watched her go as the sun began to set, then looked back toward the portrait inside.
Iwasn’tsure how longI’dbeen crouched there, but eventually, as twilight set in, Rayven materialized next to me. He slowly, asthoughgiving me the opportunity to stop him if Isopleased, poked his head into the frame of the window and peered toward the portrait.
Looking back to me after a moment, he said, “If your sister is right, and she really is still out there, we’ll find her.”
“I know,” I agreed. “I won’t stop until we do.”
A little while later, we found ourselves back at the stable. The three of us had once again adorned our gleamingsun stonegloves, while my moon stone one took their place. And while my moon stones gained energy from the moon above, I gained energy from the determination settling into my bones. With each of our next steps we planned, my resolve solidified.
I’d find my twin soon.
And that interaction would change everything, one way or another.
ChapterNine
The release of zirilium I received after sessions with the prisoner was so addictive, it was becoming a necessary ritual of sorts. Each time I left his cell, I could think clearly again. Otherwise, I felt like my newfound abilities were trying to devour me from the inside out.
I found that it was not exactly apleasantexperience.
I tossed the small, bloodied dagger onto the table in the corner and listened as the prisoner slumped to the ground, his breathing wet and labored after allI’ddone to him.
Hugo had healed him too well after the last time I’d visited, so I’d wanted to make sure he’d remember who he was dealing with after today. He had needed a more permanent reminder.
