“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t laugh,” he chuckled, but instantly sobered when I shot him what I hoped was a death glare.
“Goddess, you look like her when you do that,” he said, and I softened slightly before retreating to my corner of the couch.
“All I ever wanted was to know my mother and father—to know what was missing from my memories and how I got these.” I brandished my scars in his direction. “But it seems I’ve gotten a bit more than I bargained for.”
I blew a stray curl out of my eyes before leaning my head against the back of the couch.
We were silent for another moment.
“So tell me how it is that you know my mother—gods, that’s still weird to say. Last I knew, she fled Isrun when the rebels occupied it—right before Rohak came to our rescue.” How that felt like a lifetime ago.
Torin hummed something, but I sat suddenly straight up.
“Hold on,” I said, turning slowly to face him again. “I remember you now.”
Torin flinched at my words, turning his face slightly from me, and I instantly knew I was right.
“You were there! With the rebels! One of their generals.” I frowned. “But how are you here? How do you know her?”
“The short version is that I was always working covertly in the Last Matriarch’s army. It was a . . . means to an end. We both had similar goals, so it made sense to work together. She created a loyal following that I would eventually be able to take once I left. I never wanted to kill the people in Isrun, or any village forthat matter. My issue has always been with the gods and those who would carry out their will.”
“Like Alois,” I supplied, and Torin nodded his head curtly.
“Exactly. But I also had to pretend to be her lackey for years. She wanted you captured, actually”—I blanched at that—“but your mother offered herself instead. Once Solace and Kaos came to the Stepstones and demanded allegiance, I took over half of our fighting force and fled north to a contact I had in Lishahl. I made sure to free your mother and take her with us. Nothing good would have come from staying there . . . for either one of us.”
I sat with his words for a moment. “She’s here? In the north?”
Torin nodded his head with a small smile.
“Yes. And she sent me to you for help. The second Sundering is here.”
“Yes, I read that in her letter.” I waved the offending document at Torin, much to his amusement. “She wants me to help you get Ellowyn out of Vespera.”
Torin’s eyebrows hit his golden hairline and he barked a laugh.
“Goddess really knows everything,” he mused.
“Half-goddess,” I corrected. “She wrote this months ago, Torin. How did she—you know what, I don’t care how she knew.” I shook my head. Ididcare, but didn’t have the mental capacity to think abouthowshe knew Torin would be here.
“Point still stands,” Torin said, and I rolled my eyes.
“So . . . Ellowyn?” I prodded.
“Yes. We—I—need to get her out of Vespera.”
“She’s a godling,” I deadpanned, and Torin’s lips quirked slightly.
“Yes, Rune Master. I’m aware.”
I rolled my lips. “I feel like I’m missing something important.”
“Something tells me you’ve got a large enough brain to put everything together, if given the chance.”
I hummed slightly, but didn’t disagree.
“One of my generals is in Samyr collecting . . . information. I’d be willing to share that with you in exchange for helping me with Ellowyn.”
My gaze flung to his, and I narrowed my eyes. “How do you know I’m interested in Samyr?”
