Page 9 of Kingdom of Locks

She drew a breath, and once again Aurelia marveled at the warmth in her mother’s smile as she remembered such a terrible event.

“And that’s when you saved my life.”

Aurelia laughed in spite of herself. “It really doesn’t count, Mama Gail.”

“It does,” contradicted her mother firmly. “Cyfrin snatched you away from me, babbling nonsense about how he was claiming his payment.”

Aurelia nodded. She knew all about the bizarre confrontation that had occurred between Cyfrin and both the mother who gave birth to her, and the one who raised her. Mama Gail had made no secret of the fact that she hadn’t told Aurelia everything about her history, but she told her the truth where she could.

“He wanted you, not me,” Mama Gail went on. “He was going to get rid of me, there’s no doubt about it. Then you started wailing, and you reached for me. As soon as you were in my arms, you stopped crying. And the dimwit who was stealing you realized for the first time how little he actually wanted to raise a baby.” She rolled her eyes.

“So really,” Aurelia pointed out, “I saved you by stopping crying.”

Mama Gail chuckled. “My way of saying it is better.”

Aurelia stirred the soup around her bowl, her thoughts far from the simple fare. “You’ve never mentioned others in the group by the river before,” she commented. “Who were they?”

“Employees of your parents’,” said Mama Gail simply.

Aurelia looked up sharply. “You mean servants?”

Her mother shrugged. “Some of them were servants, yes.”

“Who were my parents, Mama Gail?” Aurelia pressed, as she had many times before. “They must have been wealthy to have multiple servants.”

Her companion held her gaze with a serious expression. “They were wealthy,” she acknowledged. Her eyes searched Aurelia’s carefully. “Does that make it harder?”

“What do you mean?” Aurelia asked, puzzled.

“I mean, is it harder being trapped up here with nothing, knowing that you were born to a life of luxury?”

Aurelia considered the point. “Maybe it would make a difference if I understood what a life of luxury entails. But it’s all just make believe to me.” She gave her mother a faint smile. “And I don’t have nothing. I have you.”

Mama Gail’s answering smile was a little sad.

“So were my parents merchants?” Aurelia pressed again. “Like you and Gustav? Is that how you became friends with my mother?”

Mama Gail let out a sigh. “I know it’s frustrating, Aurelia, but I think for now it’s still easier for you if you don’t know so many details. Can you trust me?”

Aurelia hesitated only for a moment. “It is frustrating,” she acknowledged. “But yes, of course I trust you.”

“Thank you,” said Mama Gail, squeezing her hand with a serious expression on her face that told Aurelia she really meant it.

They ate the rest of the meal in thoughtful silence, but as soon as they were done, the older woman rose.

“Well, he’s long gone by now. Time for my nightly snoop, do you think?”

Aurelia nodded, trying to look as unconcerned about the risks as her mother always seemed to be. “Don’t forget to return the book on botany.”

Retrieving the book in question from under the chamber pot, Mama Gail strode across the space to the study door, which Cyfrin hadn’t even bothered to lock.

“I’d love to know what he writes in those notes of his,” she said innocently. “Such a shame that he’s put an enchantment on the door to keep out Aurelia, also known as Honeysuckle, and Abigail.”

She smirked over her shoulder at Aurelia before pushing the door open and tripping lightly in. Aurelia moved slowly across the space, but didn’t bother trying to enter the study. She knew from many attempts that Cyfrin’s enchantment was effective at preventing her from entering.

“I wish I knew your real name,” she said softly.

Mama Gail poked her head back out the door. “I know, Aurelia, and I’m sorry. But names have power, it’s one of the few things I knew about magic before ever we were locked in here. And if nothing else, the enchantment on this door has proved how wise a decision it was never to give Cyfrin my real name.”

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