They all ate for a moment in contented silence.
“I saw Eira when we arrived,” Arin said to her parents. “She said you had a surprise?” Perhaps they’d sold the house and were going to move to Mittriel to be closer to her and Daleina!It would be nice if the four of us could be together again, wherever we are. Maybe it would make Daleina happy.Her sister looked perpetually tired and worried. But Arin would miss Threefork. They’d moved here when she was four years old.I didn’t even realize how much I missed it here.Lately, she’d been too busy to even think or feel.
Both her parents grinned as if they were little kids about to open a present, and then they began speaking at the same time: “You’ll never guess—” And “It was extraordinary luck—” Then they stopped, laughed, and Daddy said, “You go first.”
“Honey, do you remember the old bakery that you and Josei planned to buy and fix up? The one in Fawnbrook? You two were saving up enough money on your own, and we were so proud of you. It was so grown-up of you to have a plan and pursue it.”
Arin felt a lump in her throat. Of course she remembered. It had been her and Josei’s dream. As soon as they’d saved enough and as soon as they could, that’s what they were going to do: buy the old shop, fix it up, and start a bakery. She’d do fancy cakes for weddings and festivals, and he’d run the front of the shop and deal with the customers. They planned to marry too, when they were old enough, and live together in a home behind the shop. They’d talked about it all the time.
Mama beamed at Daddy. “You tell her. You were the one who did it.”
“We both did,” Daddy said. Reaching across the table, he squeezed Mama’s hand. “Arin, we bought the bakery. It’s yours! Your mother and I have been working on fixing it up, according to your plans.”
Arin felt as if bees were swarming inside her head. She opened her mouth but no words came out. Their bakery. It was a dream from what felt like years ago. Her and Josei’s dream. But he was gone, and she’d thought the dream had died with him. But now... Now... She looked from Mama to Daddy and back again. Both of them were beaming at her. “Really?”
“Really truly,” Mama said.
Arin felt tears on her cheeks. “That’s the most...” Words failed her. She couldn’t think of any that went far enough. Jumping from her seat, she ran around the table and threw her arms around her parents. “Thank you!”
Her parents beamed at her.
And then the memory of why she was here and where she was going crashed into her. “But I can’t. I have to... Please understand, it’s not that I don’t appreciate it or want it. I do! It’s just that... I can’t right now. It will have to wait until I come back.”If I come back.“I’m sorry, Mama, Daddy.”
Calmly, Mama picked up the ladle. “Don’t you worry, baby. I have faith everything will work out. Would you like some soup, Your Majesty?”
Arin jumped, but neither Queen Naelin nor Ven seemed at all surprised. “You know? You’ve known all along? I was right! Daleina told you!”
“Of course,” Mama said, patting her hand.
Arin felt a burst of love for her sister and her parents, for believing in her.
As the girl Arin babbled happily to her parents about her plans for after Semo, Naelin chewed on a sweet slice of nut bread and tried to keep herself from thinking,I shouldn’t be here. I should be in Semo already.
Suddenly, the room felt stifling. “Excuse me. I just need a little air.”
Arin’s mother nodded, understanding in her eyes. “Your family will be together soon.”
The sentiment didn’t help.
Naelin burst out the door and drew in a breath of night air. It tasted sour as she breathed in the smoke from the chimneys of the village all around. The sun had set, and dusk shrouded the trees in shadows. Lights from the other houses glowed warm amber. Firemoss twinkled from the bridges and ladders.
Naelin heard the door open and shut behind her. “I know I was rude. It’s just... They’re waiting for me. I want to be there already.”
“I promised Daleina I’d bring Arin home,” Ven said. “Given all that’s going on, she felt it was the safest place for her sister.”
“She’ll be angry at being left behind.” She thought of how gleefully Arin had made the potion-laced charms—this felt like a betrayal after how kind the girl had been to Naelin.
“Angry is better than dead,” Ven said. “Young people should have their childhoods and not be asked to save the world. We should at least be able to spare them that.” He was frowning, and she wondered if he was thinking of the heirs who’d died over the years. He’d been a part of training those young people to risk themselves—she hadn’t realized he ever felt guilt over that. “Besides, her parents will keep her from noticing when we leave. I’m planning on being miles away when she figures out we’re gone.”
Naelin snorted. “The big, strong champion afraid of a child’s temper tantrum?”
“Terrified,” he agreed. “But more terrified of what would happen to her if Merecot decided to use her for revenge or leverage. Here she’ll be protected against anything Merecot tries to do. In Semo... It’s not right to take a child into such obvious danger.”
“Like I took mine,” Naelin said.
“That’s not what I meant!” Ven said. “It’s not your fault.”
Of course it is!“I became queen. I made them targets. If I hadn’t done that, Merecot never would have taken them. We’d all be safe at home.”
