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“That was what I wanted to talk to you about,” I said. “Seren. This fire wasn’t a fluke. Someone is trying to kill me because I’m getting close to figuring out who killed Liltra. They’re trying to keep it a secret.”
I had no idea who was Liltra’s murderer. But I needed Seren to be brave and strong. Still, as her lips quivered with fear, I wasn’t sure if she could.
“Why do you need to talk to me about it?” Seren asked, but I could feel there was something, something she wasn’t saying.
“You have to tell me what you know,” I said. “I know that you want to protect your friend. But I need you to... They killed Liltra. They’re trying to kill me. We don’t know what they’re planning or who they are, and I need you to be honest.”
Xira stood behind Seren, watching silently. Seren’s expression tightened.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with this,” Seren said cryptically. “I mean... How could it?”
“We don’t know what is important until we do,” I said. “Please.”
She looked down and bit her lower lip.
“I thought Liltra had killed herself because of Lanny,” she said softly. “That’s why I didn’t think it was important. Since he’s gone too.”
“Who is Lanny?” I asked.
Something was bugging me. The name felt familiar, but I couldn’t put my finger on it yet.
“They were courting each other in secret,” she said. “He was wounded in the monster attack at the ball. He was asleep for weeks, and then he died. Two days after that, Liltra killed herself. I thought... I mean, she loved him. I thought she couldn’t handle his death.”
It made sense.
“Lanny?” Xira asked behind Seren. “The son of the Lord of Saastree?”
“Yes,” Seren replied, looking over her shoulder. “It was a secret. His father would not approve of them courting each other, of course. They could not even tell them about it. But Lanny told Liltra that there was a way for them to be together, that he would make it happen. She believed him. She was so happy.”
Seren covered her face with her hands as she started sobbing. Xira and I exchanged a glance.
I remembered Lanny. His mother had blamed me for her son’s death. The Lord of Saastree had been beside her at the great hall when she accused me.
“Lanny,” I started. “The boy who died a few weeks back... He was working for...”
“Lord Lugh,” Xira finished my thought.
