Page 46 of The Starlight Savior

“Niana,” she whispered, tears threatening to spill over. It was such a kind gesture. She couldn’t imagine what Judith must be going through, not knowing where she was or if she was alive. “Did the king permit this?”

Niana waved a hand. “You have every right to communicate with your loved ones.”

The wooden chair creaked as Saige sat. Niana leaned back patiently against the stables, gaze drifting off towards the horses. She uncorked the jar of ink, dipping the quill in. A droplet threatened to spoil the empty space. Never thinking of sending correspondence to Denolm, she didn’t know where to begin.

I’m doing well, don’t worry about me! I’ve been taken to a magical kingdom, and I’m making plenty of friends.

Well, two to be exact.

“I don’t know what to say,” Saige admitted. “If it is intercepted, I need to make sure Judith is safe.”

“When Mayla writes home, she keeps it vague and simple. Untraceable, but we always know it’s her.”

“Mayla?” Saige cocked her head.

“My older sister. She travels throughout Opela. An endless excursion. We don’t see her much.”

“With her ice magic?”

“Gods no. Two unusual powers are rare in a family. They pass down their genes, but it is dependent on the person what comes forth. Most of Etrane is associated with storm, but my sister’s powers consist of the shadows.”

“I’ve never heard of such a thing,” she admitted. Each day it was like discovering a new layer of the magical world of Opela.

“Cloaked in the shadows, hidden by storm clouds. However you want to look at it, it makes her a damn good spy.”

Saige’s mind whirled with more questions than she could ask.

“It’ll get easier,” Niana reassured. “You’re not the first person to come to a new place for sanctuary. There is no room for learning when a life is driven by fear.”

Sanctuary, is that what this place was? When she imagined the concept, it never consisted of being dragged to a magical kingdom dominated by power. Yet, nor was Brevil, where she cowered in on herself, uncomfortable with the daily acts of living.

Maybe it wasn’t a sanctuary, but not quite a prison either.

“So, how do you know when your sister writes home?”

“She adds a piece of herself to each letter, something only we would know,” Niana explained.

Saige nodded, letting the quill drag over the paper.

Judith, she began, I know you must be worried, but I’m alive and well enough. The healing process is slow, but I hope to see you again soon.

Saige paused, wondering if she should add something about home. She didn’t feel at home in her body, let alone a place. But she continued, lingering on where she’d sign her name. There needed to be an indicator that it was her. Something Judith would recognize.

Keep my mug warm, books ready, and flowers watered.

There. Judith must know that it was Saige, a piece of her in each of those requests.

“Do you want to send mail to anyone else? There’s plenty of extra parchment.”

Saige’s hand twitched over the quill. She wished she could speak to Althea or even Hadeon. She couldn’t imagine what they were saying about her in Denholm. Did they think she was killed? Arrested? There was no way of knowing what the villagers saw the night Etrane infiltrated.

At the bottom of the letter, she wrote for Judith to send her love to all. Hopefully, she would read between the lines and seek out Althea, Baron, and Hadeon to reassure her safety. To lower their worries.

“That’s okay,” Saige said with a shake of her head. “How should we get this out? I don’t think by fire would be very appropriate.” She grimaced at the thought of Judith finding a magical letter arriving in her home.

Niana pointed towards the ravens fluttering their feathers in their cages. Each one had a different stone attached to the lock keeping them in place. Onyx, amethyst, tiger’s eye.

“These have specific routes in Opela, connected to the seven deities across the land.” Niana reached for one with an emerald glistening in the candlelight. Holding out her arm, she let the raven perch on her wrist, its sharp beak cleaning its feathers in preparation for flight.