Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 64872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
No matter how painful the music, the magic in the violet oak would be sifting through him, taking away his pain.
As I leave the temple grounds, Quin’s song follows me, a jarring note against my racing thoughts. Blindly, my steps lead me back home, where another part of me waits for reckoning.
My aunt is on the bench outside, tapping her foot. Her curacowl sits beside her and her long golden hair shimmers under the hanging lanterns. Her eyes follow me expectantly, and I take my time fiddling about taking off my curacowl.
It looks like the lights inside the house are out; the others must be sleeping. No chance for a timely interruption, then.
“I’ll pay you back for dinner.”
She cocks her head.
“How do you feel about examining me on distillation and fermentation? I’ll grab some—”
She grabs a handful of my cloak and steers me around. “You’ve altered your voice.”
“Isn’t this potion a grand success?”
“What spooked you?”
I shake my head and she lets go, sighing. “I have other news.”
I look at her curiously, and she continues, “I got home to this letter. From my sister.”
“Mother—what does she say?”
“She usually writes every other month. But this one . . .” She passes me folded paper. My mother’s writing is barely legible, full of errors and different strengths of ink. She must have written this in stages, some of it with urgency, possibly while crying.
I take a lantern and sit at the outside table to slowly decipher what she’s written. There’s been a great upheaval in the royal city. Many redcloaks and officials have been dismissed from service, left near penniless without work. Akilah has returned home . . .
I read the messy, incoherent paragraphs again.
Akilah was escorted by a young man—Florentius. She was—is still—in great distress. The regent took out his anger on a third of some island where she was imprisoned, nailing them through their hearts. One of the prisoners threw himself before her and took the hit. The duke admired the devotion so much he sent Akilah home.
The paper trembles in my hands as my fingers grip its edges. My throat tightens, and I press the lantern closer, reading and rereading her words until the ink blurs. Akilah’s cries echo in my mind, making it hard to breathe.
How much you’ve gone through. I should have been by your side.
And Casimiria? What happened to her?
Almost a month has passed since I wrote the above. Akilah spends her days lying in Caelus’s bed, calling out for him like she’s lost her brother. Thankfully, Florentius comes every day with spells to help her. He even carried her into the bath himself and insisted he wouldn’t shy away from anything that helped her look after herself.
It worried me that they are this close yet are unmarried. I confronted him on the appropriateness of his behaviour and he declared, if it was the only way I’d let him help, he would marry her. I let it go, of course. I believe he truly only wishes to help her. He says my dear Caelus would have done everything to help her, and as his friend, he would do so in his stead.
Frostir’s breath, systra! I keep putting this letter away, intending to finish soon, and life takes over. It’s been another week. We’re all beside ourselves. I caught Florentius in the herb garden, weaving spring dewdrops into Akilah’s hair, murmuring to her that Caelus is smart; that he’ll find a way to survive.
I begged him to tell me what he meant.
My darling Caelus is alive—he escaped under the king’s orders and can’t return while the duke is in power.
My husband believes Caelus will travel south to Iskaldir and seek aid from our family. Please, dear systra, take him under your wing. Protect him as if he were your own.
I look over to my aunt, watching me sort through my emotions. From the start, she opened her arms, not once needing my mother’s pleas. She’d simply met me and understood. You’re family. You’re my responsibility now.
I return to the letter.
In the case he comes to you, pass this on. Let him know we are all well here. Little Lucetta misses him, we all do. Let him know Akilah is strong, and she’s being cared for.
Let him know we’ll pray for his safe return.
I fold the letter but can’t bear to part with it.
My aunt moves to my side and feathers my hair. “Keep it. Do you wish to let them know you are here?”
“It’ll lead to trouble for them.”
She hums. “You escaped under the king’s orders.” Her voice grows quieter, a knowing whisper. “His capture is what spooked you.”
I say nothing. I’m unable.
She seats herself beside me and presses her arm against mine. “You may take after your mother in looks, but you have your father’s spirit of adventure.”