“Lara and Dalan are not my blood-children,” Orval started.
Roth’s eyes narrowed.
“Dalan is Amari’s true son.” Orval glanced at Amari, who gave a quick shake of her head. “His father is of no import.” Orval took a breath and said, quickly and clearly, “Lara is Xylara, Daughter of Xywellan and Queen Kara, of the House of Airion. True heir to the Throne of Xy.”
Roth sucked in a breath. “How is that possible?” he breathed out. “They are twins, you said—”
Amari rose, supporting Lara who was still suckling. She put her hand on the stone hearth, right below her small shrine. “I swear it by the hearth of my home and the harmony within. Lara is not the child of my body. Queen Kara retained me to act as wet nurse. With the aid of the marcusi I smuggled Lara out of the Airion camp when Queen Kara went to her death.”
“What’s a marcusi?” Yfin asked, darting wide-eyed looks at all the adults.
“Kara trusted Amari and I trust no one more,” Orval said. “She is a woman of honor and my Hearth Mother.”
“This is Tithanna’s granddaughter?” Roth asked, stepping closer to stare at the child in Amari’s arms. His voice was choked, tears in his eyes. “Truly?”
“Yes,” Orval said. “My daughter in name, my third cousin, once removed, in truth.” He drew himself up, trying to look as stern as he could with Dalan waving his tiny hands about. “You must swear yourself to her, and to her cause, Roth, you and Rosalind both. If you can’t swear to that, then I demand your silence, all of your silences, for if any others learn of her heritage, Xyrath and Satia will have her killed.”
Roth reached out a rough and callused hand to the babe, gently touching her shock of black hair. “How do I know this to be true?”
“Why would I lie?” Orval tried not to let his impatience show. “So I can go out and face my death? I swear it by the skies, and if you wish I will swear it under the open sky, with fire in one hand, water in the other, and my bare feet on the earth.”
Roth stared at him. Orval met his look steadily.
It seemed many heartbeats before Roth bowed his head and dropped to one knee before Amari and Lara. Surprisingly, Yfin moved as well, taking the same position beside him.
“Yfin, you don’t—”
“Swore to the old lady.” Yfin’s mouth was set, his gaze firm. “Where my cap’n swears, I swear.”
Rosalind flicked her wrists and the last of the tapestries spread out before her, showing an airion in a battle with a wyvern, its beak cutting into the wyvern’s bloody neck. The colors were vivid, the red of the blood bright where it welled on the wyvern’s neck. “Seems appropriate,” she said as she also knelt.
Roth cleared his throat.
“Please, take a seat, Amari,” Orval said softly, stepping to her side.
When Amari did, Roth reached out his hands, palms up. Yfin and Rosalind copied his gesture.
“My hand to yours,” Roth and Rosalind chanted together, with Yfin stumbling a beat behind, copying them. “Bless you, Xylara, Daughter of Xy, Daughter of Xywellan and Queen Kara, Warrior Queen.”
A thrill passed through Orval as he responded to the ancient words. “On behalf of Xylara, Daughter of Xy, my hand to yours. Blessings upon you, Warriors of the House of Xy.”
A soft murmur from Xydell drew their attention, but her eyes did not open. Rosalind rose and went to her.
Yfin bounded up. Roth climbed to his feet and wiped his face with his hands. “Command me, Lord High Baron.”
“I am going out there,” Orval said. “I will try to come to terms with them, but if I have to—” he swallowed. “If I offer myself as sacrifice for the lives of my wife and children, you will
take them, leave the Black Hills, and head to Athelbryght. It’s strong and remained neutral in the struggles.”
“Whatever you do, Lord High Baron, don’t stop readingXyson. It shall be as you command,” Roth said. “You should at least take a knife or—”
Orval shook his head. “Harmless is the best look for me.”
“We need a code and a counter-sign,” Roth said. “So we know it’s safe to open the door
when you return.” He offered suggestions and Orval listened absently and nodded, but really only paid attention to Amari. She had collapsed back on to her bench, tears in her eyes.
Orval passed Dalan to Rosalind and limped over to sit beside Amari.
