Page 154 of Between Soul and Vessel
“Never mind,” Kaleb muttered under his breath, turning his attention to the food on the table. He plucked a grape and popped it into his mouth.
Naia turned to Von. “Earlier, you said you do not have any memories from your life here.”
“That’s correct,” Von confirmed, a muscle feathering in his jaw.
“Is that why you have traveled all this way? To see if I can help you find them?” she inquired gently, tipping her head back.
“Not quite, although if you know anything about our pasts—” Von glanced at me. “We’d both like to hear it.”
Naia’s intelligent eyes shifted to mine. “Ah, so is that the same for you? No memories?”
“Some have started to come back, although the gaps are vast,” I answered honestly.
“Well, perhaps we should start with what you do remember,” she said. “Then, we’ll go from there.”
“Alright.” I set my glass on the table. “I know I was the daughter of Herulf and Luna, that Artemesia is my sister and the—”
“If I may?” Naia interjected.
“Of course,” I answered.
“Although Luna was your mother, your father was not Herulf.”
Artemesia and I looked at one another, both equally confused.
I leaned forward, trying to process what I was being told.
“That can’t be,” Artemesia denied. “Her mannerisms are just like our father’s. From her posture to the way she talks—so much about her reminds me of him.”
“Naturally, she would act similarly to him; he spent a great deal of time grooming her to become the future chieftain of your clan,” Naia pointed out. “But Sage is not of Herulf’s blood, and although he was a kind man, his pride for his lineage meant more than anything to him. He would not have raised Sage to become the future chieftain had he known the truth.”
“Which is?” Von asked.
There came a pregnant pause before Naia answered, “Sage is the daughter of Alaric, the primordial God of Creation.”
A faint ringing sounded in my ears, as if I had been struck upside the head.
“The Creator?” Folkoln asked at the same time Artemesia said, “The emperor?”
“That’swhyyou have silver ichor coursing through your veins, as well as mortal blood,” Von stated. I could tell by his expression that some great puzzle piece had just clicked into place, not that I could say I felt the same.
My head swirled with so many thoughts. Alaric was the Creator, the first of everything.
And I was his . . . daughter?
But how could that be?
Naia’s voice was an ax, severing me from my chaotic mind. “I was there on the day Alaric plucked your star”—her eyes shifted between me and Von—“from the heavens. When he cracked it apart, the half that belonged to Sage—her soul—lifted from the anvil all on its own, something that had never happened before.” She looked at me. “Your soul was radiant—a brilliant, shining crystal, forged from silver light, so beautiful it brought tears to our eyes.” Slowly, she shook her head, as if she were still in disbelief. “There was only one other soul that glowed with such vibrancy, and that belonged to Alaric. In that moment, he knew you were destined to be his daughter. And although he was filled with great joy, he also knew because of your relation to him, it would put your safety at risk. People would seek to use you, take advantage of you, and those with jealous eyes might seek your power for themselves. Swiftly, he covered you with a cloth and made me swear an oath not to tell anyone what I had witnessed that day, unless it wasyouwho came to me, seeking the truth.” She raised her arm, showing the underside of it. Inked into her skin was a crystal, bursting with light, cradled in a pair of hands. Lowering it, she continued, “He crafted a silver locket and placed your soul inside, so he could wear you on his neck, where you would be safe. But he knew he would not always be able to protect you, and so he turned to the other half of the star and went to work. He did not leave his workspace for months as he made you, Nockrythiam. Painstakingly, he forged you, crafting you into the greatest warrior he had ever made.Protective and cunning. Powerful and fast. Lethal and loyal. You were one of the two achievements he was most proud of. Sage was the other.”
I took a breath. I needed it.
Reassuringly, Von rubbed my hand. I leaned further into him.
“So then . . . how did Sage come to be?” Artemesia asked, curiosity raising her brows.
We all looked at Naia, waiting for her to answer.
“Alaric met your mother,” she said with a smile. Her eyes slid to mine. “Who is not my sister, by the way. Empress Avena is my sister.”
