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We paused to slurp some stew. It was hearty, with a brown gravy that made the fry bread extra delicious. Moments from the horrid glitch flicked through my mind. “It was Mom’s uncle who assassinated the king and queen? How could he?”

Raina scoffed. “It was not too hard. Vestrun, your grandfather’s older brother, was not a good soul. ‘Born wicked’ was what people used to say. It was almost as if Vestrun was born first, and he took all the bad with him, leaving only good for his younger brother Articus. Even though Vestrun was firstborn, the Sorcerers easily skipped over him to hand his younger brother the crown. And your grandparents were beloved and respected …”

“By everyone except the Regnas,” Revel said between bites.

“Why were they so unhappy?” I asked.

Raina put down the piece of bread she was holding. “Queen Raphaela was a Solamite. King Articus was a Valian.”

“The Regnas felt unrepresented,” I said.

Revel nodded. “Impressed.”

“Don’t be too impressed,” I said. “I came from the most politically charged place on earth, the human world.”

Raina laughed. “I do remember a lot of political news on that big light box—what did you call it—a TV?”

“Yes, that’s right. In the glitch, I saw Morga, the woman who came to see me as a baby. She’s a mage?”

“Yes, terrible woman. She’s in Tribunal Vault now. Your uncle, too. They will both spend the rest of their lives down in that dungeon, and good riddance to them both. The Regnas had allied with your uncle to do something about the Solamite Queen and Valian King, but there was no proof that they plotted to kill them. The Regnas wanted them overthrown, only Vestrun had badly wanted the throne for himself. For several years he had it, too. Morga silenced all the staff with threats, and Vestrun assured the Triumvirate that he tried to stop the assassinations, that it was some thieves who broke into the palace.”

“And they believed him?” I asked.

“He had it all planned and staged, and he wrote a letter in his brother’s script that if anything were to happen to him, Raphaela would rule and if something happened to both, then Vestrun would take the throne.” Raina got up to refill Revel’s bowl. “And he was just as wretched a ruler as anyone could ever be. Even the Regnas hated him. Eventually, the truth came out, and Vestrun and Morga were tried for assassinating the king and queen and sentenced to life. That was when the Sorcerers decided to abolish the king and queen titles. They chose a new royal line of prince for each of the three regions. Norvale decided to do away with royal lines altogether and let the people choose their ruler.”

“Smart move.” I blotted up the last bit of gravy and then something important occurred to me. “Wait, why didn’t Mom take the throne? Why didn’t she tell the Sorcerers? What happened to her? Did Vestrun kick her out of the palace?”

This question earned a quiet exchange of glances between my two supper mates. “Raina?” I prodded. “We’ve gone this far, and I just witnessed my grandparents’ murders through my mom’s eyes, I think I can handle this.”

Raina put down her fork. “Your mom was sixteen when her parents were killed. Uncle Vestrun had Morga temporarily cast a spell to wipe her memory, then he sold her to a Regna warrior, a horrid and cruel man who was years older.”

Tears pricked my eyes when I thought about Mom losing her parents and then being sent off to a strange place to marry a horrid man. “But she didn’t stay with this awful man. You told me Ortoro was my father.”

“That’s right. Your father, of Regna and Valian blood, rescued her from Regnamoor and brought her to Norvale, where they married. It was all very romantic, and your mom adored your father.”

“How nice that she got to pick who she loved and married,” I said wryly. My gaze drifted instinctively to Revel. His gaze met mine and locked there until giggles and footsteps on the front stoop broke it.

A few playful knocks landed on the front door, and a feminine voice rang out. “Revel? Yoo-hoo? We’re heading to Black Dragon.”

Raina put her napkin on the table and lifted a brow at Revel. “Friends of yours, I assume.”

Revel looked less than pleased. At least, that was how I chose to read his reaction. The floor beneath my feet vibrated as he lumbered to the door. He opened it.

“We heard you were at Raina’s. Why don’t you come with us to Black Dragon?” a woman said. “It’s no fun without you.”

Revel muttered something to them, and they flitted happily off. I sank down some in the chair realizing that he must have agreed to meet them at the tavern. Not that it was my business. He was free to meet whoever he liked wherever he liked. Made no difference to me.

Revel sat back at the table. “This was the best stew I’ve ever had, Raina.”

“That’s sweet of you to say. Why don’t the two of you go out to the fire, and I’ll get these dishes cleaned up.”

“You did the cooking,” I said. “I’ll do the dishes.”

“And I’ll help,” Revel said. “You sit by the fire, Raina.”

We realized almost immediately that Raina’s kitchen was a bit small for Revel. I found myself awkwardly having to sidle past him to gather the things I needed for washing. I held my breath as our bodies grazed each other and then was shocked to hear him release a long-held breath as well. I handed him a dish towel for drying and dipped the dishes into the warm wash tub.

“I guess you’ll be anxious to get over to the Black Dragon,” I said airily.