Page 34 of Echoes of the Raven
Bonifacio Gómez - Human Vagrant - 1 DV
“Traitor!” I call when I see Jago descending the steps across the mezzanine on the second floor of Nido’s center building.
He stops mid-step and looks up, giving me a huge smile. “You have rejoined the living, I see.”
We meet halfway.
He looks me up and down. “And you even took a bath.”
I grab his arm and lead him aside as a group of guardias passes by. They carry a large, folded flag—the Plumanegra standard, from the looks of it—and march in unison, their movements as precise as clockwork.
“I know you told on me. Now, thanks to you, I have to talk to Don Justo,” I hiss.
He presses a hand to his heart. “My condolences.”
“I thought he was dead, or at least back in Alsur.”
“Dead? Why would he be dead?”
“It doesn’t matter.” I wave a hand in front of his face. “Since this is your fault. Youhave to help me.”
“I don’t think I—”
“Shut up and let’s go visit Nana. I want to see her.”
On our way to her quarters, I explain that Amira wants me to keep Don Justo as our ally, sans royal wedding.
“You might as well ask an elm tree for pears, or a turnip for blood,” he says.
“Stop saying such motivating things and start thinking of how we can convince him.”
We don’t find Nana in her bedchamber, which is unusual. The only other place where she normally goes is a small dining hall next to the main kitchen. There is a large fireplace there that helps keep her bones warm and allows her to visit with the cook, her friend of many years. We find her there, sipping creamy soup from a small bowl. The savory scent hits my nose and awakens my appetite.
“Nana!” I rush to her side and hug her from the side.
“Oh, mi niña!” she exclaims, her voice nearly breaking with emotion. “I was worried sick about you.”
“You had no reason to worry, Nana,” Jago says. “I told you I would get her back, and I did.”
As Nana squeezes me and kisses my forehead, I look up at Jago, a well of gratitude filling my chest. I don’t even remember if I thanked him. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. Of course, there are also Esmeralda and Gaspar to consider. I must thank them as well.
Nana composes herself. Her gray hair is up in a neat chignon, and she wears a high-collar dress trimmed with lace, simple but stately.
“Sit, child. Sit.” She gestures toward the chair to her right. “And you,” she points at Jago and to her left, “sit here.”
This dining hall accommodates no more than twelve people, and it’s mainly reserved for impromptu, informal meals. Still paintings of vases and flowers in shades of blue decorate the wall. The upholstery andthe carpet are also blue, which might be another reason Nana likes this dining hall. That’s her favorite color.
We do as she says as she rings a small bell. A servant appears right away, and Nana instructs him to prepare a feast for three, including Tarta de Santiago, my favorite dessert.
When the food comes, I can’t eat much—my stomach wants me to go slowly—but I try a bit of everything, especially the tart.
“Your mother’s necklace is truly The Eldrystone then,” Nana asks, after sipping from her teacup.
I nod. “It is.”
“What an amazing wonder,” she says.
It turns out Nana always harbored suspicion about Mother’s necklace, noticing the way Mother would sometimes gaze at it with a certain reverence. Then when Maestro Elizondo mentioned my curiosity about the jewelandThe Eldrystone, she immediately sensed that my intuition was on the mark. Now, I can’t help but wonder if there was more to her suspicions.
