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“Will you really help us go to the farm, cousin?” Patti asked. “Could we stay there forever?”
“Patti,” her father said warningly.
“I don’t know,” I told her. “That would depend on my parents. But—” I hesitated. “I’m never going back there to live. So they’re going to need help from someone.”
“Oh, Father, please may we go?” she begged.
The sound of the front door opening presaged a stream of new arrivals. A middle-aged woman was the first to appear, followed by three tall lads. All four of them stopped as soon as they reached the back room, regarding me with astonishment.
My uncle seemed to forget me for a moment, however, his eyes focused on his wife. “Did he agree to…?” His question trailed off at the sad shake of her head.
“Never mind that!” Patti exclaimed. “This is our cousin Delphine. She’s a healing mage!”
“Actually I’m still an apprentice,” I said uncomfortably as the new arrivals stared at me with even greater astonishment.
“And!” Patti added with increased enthusiasm. “She’s been telling us about Da’s family farm back in Tarin. She said we can go there!”
“I can help you pay for a visit at least,” I said hurriedly. “Whether you can stay would be up to my parents.”
The three boys remained silent, but their eyes lit up with the same light showing on Patti’s face. Their mother turned to her husband.
“Your parents’ farm? Could we really…?”
“Apparently my brother only ever had Delphine, and she’s not sure she wants to live there,” he said slowly.
“Actually, I’m quite sure I don’t,” I said firmly.
My uncle had bid me think about my future, and that was one thing I was sure on at least. But neither did I want to follow his advice and make connections in the capital with a view to settling at the Guild. It had only been a few hours, but I already felt the weight of the large city pressing on me. I missed the freedom of life on the road where I could focus on helping people instead of worrying about what impression I would make at court.
When my apprenticeship ended, would Amara be willing to let me continue on as her companion? We worked well as a team since we had different affinities and could cover different needs in the towns and cities we visited.
“Let me properly introduce you all,” my uncle said. “This is—”
But before he could say the first name, the latch on the front door popped off, falling to the floor with a thud. The door was thrust forcibly open, bouncing off the opposite wall.
People poured into the cramped building, rushing down the hallway toward us. Patti screamed, two of the boys shouted, and the room became a chaotic muddle of movement and noise.
I remained frozen in place. The stream of arrivals were dressed in the blue and gold uniform of the royal guard, but I couldn’t think what they were doing in my uncle’s house.
Ember growled, going stiff in my arms. Her muscles tensed, as if she meant to leap down and attack the intruders, but I shushed her. In this chaos, she would only get stepped on. And if she did manage to bite someone, it might get my uncle into further trouble.
But the guards showed no interest in my uncle. They herded all of the house’s residents against one wall with stern instructions to remain still. Only I was left in the center of the room, the remaining guards forming a wary circle around me.
Slowly it dawned on me that the guards weren’t here for my uncle. They were here for me. Had Nik been worried about my safety and sent them out looking for me?
“You are Delphine, the healing apprentice of Master Amara?” the lieutenant asked formally.
I nodded, mystified.
He stepped forward, his stern expression not quite managing to mask what looked like nerves.
“In that case, you’re under arrest. You need to come with us.”
ChapterTwenty-Three
My uncle and his family all gasped, but I was too shocked to pay them any attention.
“Under arrest? Me?”
