“Most of the healers were also considered sorceresses or witches. They need to be scrying or reading cards. Anything that could give us an advantage in the coming war.”
Thoughts of Elowen have my arms stiffening. Seers. But Odr and Freya’s conversation gives me pause.
“Does this have to do with the prophecy on the table?”
She nods, a frown marring her features.
“Then see to it.”
Luna’s eyes widen slightly before she recovers and relaxes her face. She obviously was not expecting my agreement.
“You have nothing to add?”
I shake my head while yawning. “Nope. This is your area. I trust you.”
The tiniest of smiles contort her stoic face. “Thank you.” Her words are nearly silent.
“Of course. Now, if that’s all? A bath is calling my name and I still have a mountain of books to go through.”
Luna glances over my shoulder at the pile of books on my desk. She nods and turns back to the door. But pauses with her hand on the nob.
“Can I ask one more thing?”
My shoulders shrug of their own volition. “Sure.”
“Why did you agree to let Tane continue on with your unit?” The sentence is carefully worded.
I pause a moment, trying to remember my reasoning.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
She places a hand on her hip. “He’s missing an arm now. Wouldn’t you want the best?”
I smile, understanding her words—and fears more clearly now.
“Even with no arms, Tane is still the best.”
Luna shakes her head. “I’m serious. He’s not just different physically. This has impacted him mentally now, too.”
“You are correct, but different doesn’t mean worse or less than.”
Luna’s eyes flare as she processes my words.
“This will be a struggle for him, but I will not abandon him in his time of need. No more than you all would have abandoned me in my grief. He’s much stronger than he gives himself credit for, and he’ll need all the support we can give. But I have no doubt he’ll overcome this.”
She studies me like I’m a mythical creature trapped in a cage. “You are—a veryfairqueen.”
I dip my chin, a smile lifting the corners of my mouth. “Thank you.”
Luna shakes her head, her eyes narrowing. “It wasn’t a compliment.” She slips through the door before I can retort, but I release a breath and turn back towards my desk.
Bath…or reading?
I settle on reading first, knowing that I’ll need a bath to soothe my tired neck and shoulders after I’m done.
The first book I open is about the different realms. Not just their names, but where they are.
After the first couple of pages go into detail about alternate planes of realities and the Great Tree of the World and its branches, I snap it shut. That is way too in-depth for me right now. I set it back onto my unrealistic ‘to be read’ pile and grab the next book.
