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“I will do my best.”
“Why would your daughter, Mercy’s mother, have been in possession of a scrap of hide that pertains to the true king?”
Dolca didn’t answer directly. She seemed to pause in thought before she finally spoke. “The truth is best left for those who need to know it.”
“You know more about the true king than you share,” he said, his own revelation surprising him. “How?”
“It is safer for the true king that I do not answer that.”
Though bursting with questions and curiosity, Trey knew that the older woman would say no more, and while he wished she would, he understood that she did so to protect the true king. And he could not argue with that.
“I think it is time I met my granddaughter,” Dolca said with a smile. “May I accompany you and Bliss when you return home?”
“I would be honored to have you travel with us.”
“It will be good to see Mara again.”
“You know my mum?” Trey asked.
“We are old friends. She visits me from time to time.”
That bit of news surprised him and for some reason nagged at him, as if somehow it should connect something, but he didn’t know what. Though it did bring a question to mind, and so he asked, “Does my mum know that Mercy is your granddaughter?”
“She knew only that I had a granddaughter.”
“You’ve never met Mercy?”
“Briefly, when she and Duncan happened by my home one day,” she said. “I knew who she was right away. She resembles her mother though I also saw some of her father in her.”
“But you said nothing?”
She shook her head, and her face saddened. “It wasn’t time yet.” She reached out and rested her slim hand on his arm. “I know you are anxious to hear more, but let it be for now. As I’ve advised, it is best for the true king.”
Trey nodded. He had been taught the importance of keeping information private until the time was right, and so he would honor her request no matter how curious he was.
“We have spent much time conversing. Surely, Bliss must wonder where you are?” Dolca said.
He liked how wisely she had brought their time together to an end, by giving him a strong reason to leave.
He stood. “Thank you for your gracious hospitality, and we shall talk again.”
Dolca gave him a nod, and he left.
His thoughts were heavy as he walked to Bliss’s cottage. While he didn’t learn as much as he would have liked to, he had learned something. His mum knew Dolca. Why that surprised him, he couldn’t say. She had many friends, and sometimes would be gone a few days visiting with them. But for some reason the knowledge nagged at him.
It hit him just as his hand settled on the door latch. Just because Dolca had never met her granddaughter didn’t mean that her daughter hadn’t visited. And if his mum visited Dolca...
He shook his head. How could he think that his mum would be the one who had stolen the scrap of hide that was kept hidden in the solar and passed it on to Mercy’s mum? It was a crazy thought that made no sense, yet he knew that it would continue to nag at him.
He entered the cottage, hoping that Bliss had woken. He was eager to see how she was feeling and to talk with her.
The cottage was empty, and, in a heartbeat, a chill of fear raced through him. Then he recalled what Dolca had told him about the cave and the directions. He smiled and left the cottage, thinking he could use a good swim.
He found the place easily enough and made his way to the belly of the cave though he stopped as soon as he saw Bliss. She stood waist high in the water, her hands stretched upward, her breast perfectly round, the nipples hard, and a slight bruise marring the creamy flesh just above her breasts.
His fists clenched, recalling how she had gotten the bruise, but the image soon vanished when she brought her arms down, her hands going to her mouth as in prayer, her eyes closing as she then pressed her hands to the bruise and healed herself.
Quietly as possible so as not to disturb her, but with every intention of joining her, he made his way to where she had discarded her clothes. His garments soon joined hers.
