Page 15 of Vathia
Mel elbows her and gives her a look that says ‘behave’ before turning to the male. “They are more extravagant than anything I’ve had the pleasure of staying in. Thank you for having us in your home.”
She’s not wrong. The rooms are gorgeous. Large rooms with a ton of natural light. A private balcony with the most spectacular views. A bed that I’m pretty sure is comfier than any cloud you can see in the sky.
Aemon dips his head, brushing his white hair out of his eyes. He goes to open his mouth to say something but a woman strides in, and she is strikingly beautiful. She has long white hair with violet eyes and I know this can only be our host’s mother. She heads over to Aemon and greets him with a kiss to the top of his head and whispers something in his ear.
He nods and gets up, throwing me a concerned glance before swiftly departing the room. A dragon roars in the distance and I can’t help the uneasiness I feel creeping up my spine.
She takes her seat at the head of the table and smiles softly at all of us, and when her gaze lands on me it widens. I sense no malice from her, which helps to slightly ease my nerves.
“I’m so sorry for my delay. I had to retrieve something but, fates, it’s good to see all of you again. And you’ve brought new friends! It’s so nice to meet you.” She places her hands in her lap as she speaks to my friends. “I’m Lady Zorn, but those close to my family call me Amethyst.” She then puts all her focus on me and even though she’s smiling, there’s grief there too. “You look so much like your fathers, but the stubbornness I see in your eyes is definitely your mother.”
I blink at her words, which take me by surprise. “You knew my parents?” It was one thing that always baffled everyone—that I’ve seemed to take a trait from each of my fathers but not so much my mother. It was something I brushed off as a fledgling, but now it causes this ache in my chest. It’s not necessarily bad. It just is.
“Your mother and I were best friends. We grew up together. She was my person, and there’s not a day that goes by where I don’t miss her, that I wouldn’t do anything for her. Join me for tea sometime and I’ll tell you some stories, but I think for now we have more important matters to attend to.”
I nod, unsure of what to say and focus on my fingernails.
Nero prods our bond. “Are you okay? You feel a bit numb.”
Automatically my fingers find him, bringing me a sense of comfort. “Yeah, I just don’t know what to say. I barely remember their faces.”
She continues on, letting me have my moment to process. “Now where is that other troublemaker?” she asks Jesper.
He glances at me and then Killian, who hasn’t said a word, nor has he taken his gaze off my face. “He stayed behind to deal with a few things. He should be on his way shortly, and if not, then within a month’s time.”
It dawns on me that they’re talking about Talyn, the only member of their wing that isn’t here. Well, if you don’t count Hemming and Featherington.
“Well, let’s hope he gets here safely then. There’s a storm coming in the next few days and I don’t want any of you flying in it,” Lady Zorn states. “Now where is that son of mine?”
As she goes to stand back up, Aemon comes back in the room with a small torch made of black rock that’s lit with purple flames.
“Alright mother, would you like to explain why you’ve made me fetch shadow flames?” he asks, a look of concern etched in the corner of his eyes.
She stands, pulling something out of the pocket of her dress, and I’m instantly jealous. A dress with pockets? Why isn’t that a more common thing? Maybe I would wear dresses more if it was.
“No you wouldn’t,” Nero laughs. “You enjoy pants too much, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a dress.”
Before I can respond, Lady Zorn turns to me “Could you come here, darling—best we do this out on the balcony.”
I hesitantly get up, glancing around at everyone’s face before turning to her. “And what is it exactly that we are doing?”
She smiles, holding up a small slim object that is made out of the same material as the torch. “Taking off that necklace and getting your memories back. We can’t exactly plan things if your memories aren’t intact.”
Aemon and Jesper begin shouting, while Killian glares daggers at her, still not breaking his silence.
“You knew she had no memories?” her son yells.
Jesper almost clambers over the table to get to her but is held back by Killian. “You both knew this entire time she was alive?” The heartbreak in his voice is damn near earth-shattering, which makes my feelings towards these males all the more confusing.
She holds up her hand and silences them with just the motion. “I will explain once she has all her memories back. Now are you going to let me do this or not?”
My hand instantly grips the necklace; the last thing I have from my mother. What does she mean by take it off and get my memories back?
Lady Zorn turns to me again. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s bring you truly home, shall we?”
The pounding in my chest quickens and I’m not sure if it’s with anger or excitement, maybe both. “It doesn’t come off. I tried when we got here.”
She nods sympathetically. “It’s because there’s only one way to take it off. It was a safeguard to protect you. I’ll explain more afterwards, otherwise those memories may fade as well.”
