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“What?” I asked. “What does that mean?” I studied her profile. Her jaw was set, her eyes serious when she glanced at me.
“It means that she doesn’t know anyone. She doesn’t remember anything at all. I asked Vanya to come see what she could do to help her. I needed someone who could help her the way Nylah always helps everyone else, but so far…”
I shook my head, struggling to understand. “How is that possible? Does she not know anything at all?”
“Nothing,” Ellie confirmed. “Aside from her own name, she has no idea who she is, who any of us are. She doesn’t know that she is supposed to be a high priestess, either.”
“But how?” I still couldn’t wrap my mind around it.
“I don’t know,” Ellie said softly, and her face crumpled a little bit, like she wanted to cry. “I was hoping we could get some answers with Vanya here. Terra won’t talk to her; she won’t tell Vanya anything. We have no idea what happened to Nylah or why she can’t remember who she is.”
This wasn’t possible. How could it be? If Nylah didn’t know anything or remember anyone, did she know what we were? Did she remember what we’d become?
“What about me?” I asked, exasperated. “She doesn’t remember me?”
Ellie stopped walking and turned to face me.
“I tried, Dex. Believe me, I tried. I ran through everything I could possibly think of to see if she remembered, but she doesn’t know anything.”
She started walking again, and I fell into step beside her.
“Let me see her,” I said. “Maybe it will help.”
“No,” Ellie said curtly. “I’m not letting anyone see her. It will only bewilder her more. You have no idea what she looked like when I found her.”
“How did you find her?” The more I learned from Ellie, the more I panicked. How could I protect Nylah if I couldn’t even reach her? How could I protect her from something like this? I was completely helpless.
I was a warrior. I fought for others, I fought to keep the peace. If I couldn’t fight, what could I do?
Ellie glanced at me like she was trying to decide if she should tell me what had happened. Clearly, she decided it was a good idea, because she told me how she’d found Nylah on the floor in the library, old scrolls and tomes scattered all over the place, as if there’d been a struggle.
“What if someone broke into the palace?” My anger flared up again. Could it have been that I’d missed something, that there had been a weak spot yet again?
“I don’t think that’s what happened, Dex.” Ellie’s voice was controlled, as if she were trying very hard to keep her emotions in check.
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” I reminded her. “And after how involved Nylah was with previous battles, maybe someone wanted to—”
“It’s nothing like that, I’m pretty sure of it,” Ellie interrupted me. “Calm down, Dex. There is nothing we could have done to prevent it.” Her eyes shimmered for a moment, and her lip trembled as if she was going to burst into tears.
Ellie took a deep breath and let it out slowly, collecting herself again. When she spoke, her voice was stable, and there was no trace of her nearly losing control of her emotions. She was a powerful queen and a strong person.
“I don’t know what happened, but I have a feeling it was something magical. I don’t think she just passed out and hit her head.”
“Maybe seeing me will make a difference,” I urged. “If you’ll just let me—”
Before I could finish my sentence, Ren appeared. His lips were pursed, and his eyebrows drew together. He rubbed his palms against his thighs.
“Where is she?” he demanded. “I heard from one of the guards that Vanya arrived from Palgia. Has she found anything out? What’s going on?”
“She’s in the cathedral, and Vanya is with her,” Ellie said. “She’s in good hands.”
“I’m going to see her,” Ren said, determined.
Ellie stepped in front of him and put her hands on his chest. She was a slight thing compared to Ren’s muscular form, and he could have easily pushed her aside, but he stopped when she stepped in front of him, listening to his queen.
Ellie’s voice was gentle but firm. “I’m not letting you see her.”
“What?!” Ren cried out. “I need to see her. This is Nylah, Ellie. We’re not going to leave her when she needs us.”
