Page 80 of Thorns & Fire
Wren loosed a breath between her teeth.This she could answer easily enough.‘I was an alchemist in training at Thezmarr.’
‘Apprentice to Master Alchemist Farissa Tremaine, if I’m not mistaken?’
‘That’s right,’ Wren replied with a nod.
‘And back then you went by the name Elwren Zoltaire, not Embervale, correct?’
‘That is correct.For many years that was what I believed my name to be.My sister Thea and I were raised at Thezmarr, given the name Zoltaire by our warden there.We didn’t know we were Embervales until later.’
Crane scribbled away, his quill scratching against the parchment hurriedly, flicking spots of ink across the table.‘So you were not aware that you were the heirs to the Delmirian throne?’
‘No.’
‘And how did you discover your heritage?’
‘I thought you wanted to talk about the war?’Wren countered, shifting uneasily in her chair.
‘Do you believe that your heritage is irrelevant to the war?’Crane fired back.‘You are a storm wielder, yes?’
‘Yes,’ Wren replied through gritted teeth.
‘And did that not play a role in the battles?’
‘It did,’ she admitted, moving her hands under the table so she could pick at the skin around her nails.She already didn’t like where this was going, could already feel her magic growing restless and agitated beneath her skin, reminding her that she wasn’t as in control as she should be.
‘Farissa Tremaine has already accounted for much of your work for Thezmarr in the lead-up to the war.She said you were an integral part of weaponizing alchemy against the enemy.Would you say that’s accurate?’Crane asked, changing tack.
‘I suppose...’Wren replied slowly, trying to remember those earlier days before the real fighting had begun.They were a blur to her.She had been so worried for Thea most of the time that her own contributions were murky.‘I did a lot of work with sun orchid essence,’ she supplied, recalling the golden flowers that were a natural deterrent to the shadow monsters.
‘And you were in two battles?The battle of the Aveum plains and the final battle for Thezmarr?’he pressed.
‘Three, actually,’ she corrected him.‘I was also present for the battle of Notos.Farissa and I played a role there in attempting to seal the tear in the Veil.’
‘And it was here that the Daughter of Darkness abducted you?’
Wren’s hands trembled in her lap.‘Anya was no Daughter of Darkness.She was the leader of the rebel force, yes, but she died defending Thezmarr and the people of the midrealms...’Her voice quavered.‘You do know that the Daughter of Darkness was in fact Jasira Fairmoore, Princess of Harenth, daughter of King Artos?’
‘Yes, I have heard that account.Though the recent history books refer to Anya by that moniker.’
‘Then they’re incorrect,’ Wren said, her temper rising.‘Tell me that you’re not referring to her as such in your texts?’
‘It hasn’t been decided.’
‘There is nothing to decide,’ Wren snapped.‘That’s historically and factually inaccurate.’
‘Let’s return to your role in the shadow war...How would you define your position during the conflict years?’
‘My position?’Wren blinked.‘I was apprentice to Farissa Tremaine, as you already stated.I held no other official title during the war.’
‘And yet you partook in the battles?I have several first-hand accounts of you wielding both storm magic and alchemy in the heart of the conflict, both on the Aveum plains and at Thezmarr.’
A rush of goosebumps prickled across Wren’s skin, her magic stirring once again in response.‘I fought alongside my friends and family.’
‘And yet you have no military training...’
‘I was raised at Thezmarr.We knew fighting better than the rest of the midrealms combined.What exactly are you asking, Historian Crane?’
‘I simply want to portray the war accurately—’
