Then the older woman looks to me. “You don’t have much to say, dear. Is there something wrong?”
“Oh, Ziva is just very shy, Grandmother,” Temra says.
Grandmother? That was fast.
“No matter,” Volanna says. “We have endless time to get to know one another. I’m so glad you decided to seek us out. Come, let’s get food in your bellies.”
* * *
It turns out Father has three brothers. He was second eldest, and all the others work on the estate during the day before returning home at night to their families.
“You have six cousins!” Volanna says over a meal of fresh bread and butter, salted pork, and tropical fruit. “You’ll get to meet them later this week at the service. Oh, you will of course wish to join us for church?”
Temra doesn’t miss a beat before saying, “Of course.”
Our worship of the Sisters has always been flimsy at best. We’ve never regularly gone to services held in their honor. I can’t stand to be around all the people. Temra went a few times for the social aspects, but she eventually quit attending. I don’t think she believes in a higher power.
I believe the Sisters are real. The world and all its creations had to come to pass in some way. The Sisters gave me my own sister, and for that I’ll always be grateful. But they also let my parents be taken from me.
So I suppose my relationship with the divine is complicated at best.
But Temra and I can feign interest in a religious service if it means earning the protection our father’s mother can provide us.
“I just can’t believe you’re truly here,” Volanna says. “Darren disappeared twenty years ago. He left a note to tell us he was safe but his future was in another place. We never met your mother. I don’t know if he met her before or after he left or what caused his disappearance. I am relieved to hear he was safe and had a family of his own, but I am grieved to hear of his passing.”
She takes a bite of pork. “You’re welcome to stay with me for as long as you’d like. I would be overjoyed to have you live with me. With all my boys gone to their own homes and my dear husband passed away, it’s been empty in this large house. My faith has kept me strong, but this old woman does get lonely sometimes.”
“We’d love to stay, Grandmother,” Temra says. “And we’re happy to help with the chores however we can. Ziva obviously has many skills. She can repair any farm equipment. Petrik and I are strong.”
Volanna looks close to crying. “My son raised you girls right. We’ll figure something out. For now, let us enjoy one another’s company. I’ll show you the city tomorrow. Sunday belongs to the Sisters, so we will spend it in worship and prayer. After that we can decide how best to proceed. Now, why don’t we get you all cleaned up and in bed?”
* * *
The bath was heavenly, more so since it was the first time I was truly alone in a room for so long. I scrubbed over a month’s worth of dirt from my body before changing into a clean nightdress provided by Volanna. She showed us all to our rooms and promptly took our clothes for washing. Temra has taken it upon herself to look after all the weapons, and I don’t protest. She’s clearly more capable of protecting Secret Eater than I am. I watched her stow it under her bed for safekeeping along with the shortsword, spear, and staff.
I felt rude for not saying much to my father’s mother, but I was so overwhelmed by everything, I couldn’t find any words to say.
And now. Alone in a comfy bed, all I can feel is relief.
Relief, and a little fear.
What if Kymora somehow knows where we are? Is she tracking us? What if it’s not safe to close my eyes? There is no mercenary looking out for us now. And I somehow have to make a magical blade for Kellyn. Just how does he expect me to pull that off when he also cautioned me not to mention to anyone that I have magic?
He thinks you’re a beauty.
Ugh.
That thought has a habit of poking its head through my consciousness when I least expect it. I don’t need to be thinking about him right now.
It’s only been a few hours since I last saw him.
There are much more important things to be thinking about than that mercenary.
Like Kymora and the sword. Like my sister and her happiness.
I worry about Temra. I think she’s already attached to Volanna, but should something happen—should Kymora find us—we’ll have to pick up and leave again. Leave what’s left of our family.
And it will be my fault.
Again.