“Is that safe?” Meria asked, keeping close to my side as we cut behind tables of rowdy fae who were growing tipsier by the minute.
“She’s the historian,” I said. “Lore told me. And the Truth Teller said I’d be safe with her.”
Eve nodded. “I’ve heard of the historian. She’s been around a long time. I think it’s fine.”
We exited the dining room and headed down the hall to the main entry. The historian waited in the middle, a small smile curving her lips when she saw me.
“I thought you might come,” she said.
I stopped in front of her. “You can tell me about my parents now?”
She nodded. “It is time.”
I looked at my friends. “Come along?”
They both nodded.
I turned to the historian. “Where to?”
“There’s a place in the garden I think you would like to see.”
“Lead the way.” Normally, I’d be suspicious of someone leading me out in the garden, but there was something about her that I trusted. I’d done well on my instincts so far, so I’d continue to follow them.
She led us out into the cool night air. Overhead, the clouds roiled low. I looked up at them. “Do you know anything about the clouds that won’t rain?”
Lore had said we shouldn’t talk to others about them, but the historian was a neutral party.
“I don’t.” She looked up, a frown on her face. “But they’re very strange.”
“No kidding.” I shivered.
“This way.” She led me toward the maze, and we entered.
It had been dark out on the main lawn, but at least we’d had the glow of the palace windows providing a bit of light to see by. Once we were within the hedges, it was nearly pitch black. The clouds concealed the moonlight and starlight. I could still feel the stars, and hopefully, I’d have a bit of power if I needed it, but it was impossible to see anything. Someone stumbled into me.
“Sorry,” Eve whispered.
We separated, and I brushed against the hedge wall, cursing when it snagged my dress.
“Hold a moment.” The historian’s voice sounded from close by. “Illumination.”
Lamps burst to life, glowing balls that hung in the air overhead.
“Wow,” I breathed.
“Incredible, isn’t it?”
“Beautiful.” The glowing orbs provided enough light to allow me to unsnag my dress.
“This way.” She led the way through the maze, taking a different route than I had earlier. We passed several pretty open spaces that were filled with fruit trees, fountains, and small ponds.
“This place is lovely,” I said.
She nodded. “It’s one of the best places at High Court Palace. The oldest, too. Been here longer than the any of the buildings. Some fae believe it is the true seat of our power.”
I whistled low, impressed.
A few minutes later, we stopped at the entrance of a square clearing. In the middle, a tall white statue rose ten feet in the air. It was a modern piece of art, two swoops of white stone that twined around each other. They appeared to be embracing, and I was drawn to the statue. My friends stuck close by my side, and I appreciated it.
I walked forward, almost in a daze as my heart beat harder inside my chest. “What is it?”
“An homage to your parents.”
I turned to her, surprise dropping my jaw. “What?”
She nodded. “I don’t think anyone else realizes who you are, but I recognize them in you.”
“You knew them.” Shock lanced me. My friends looked just as surprised.
“I did. Many of the people here did, although they have forgotten much, I think.”
“Who were they?” Excitement made chills race over me.
“Your father was a fae, your mother a witch. They were both extremely long lived, like many of the most powerful fae. It’s rare for a witch to reach that age, but she did. They were more than seven centuries old by the time they disappeared.”
“What do you mean, disappeared?” My heart thundered as I turned to look back at the statue. “Did someone hurt them?”
“Perhaps. No one knows if they were killed or left of their own accord, but it happened about twenty-six years ago.”
“Right before I was born.” A shiver ran over my skin. “Did my mother know about me?”
“She did. She confided in me before she left, but she didn’t tell me where she was going.”
“And you recognized me because I look like her?” I touched my cheek, wishing I had a picture of her.