Pieces of Eight (The Frey Saga, #2)(30)

I was speechless, numb, at the easy flow of words describing the horror, though a similar version I had read gradually in my mother's diary.

"Her mother's death was pivotal, though, and it is thought that she meant to resurface, return as a proper lord's daughter. And it seems likely given that upon finding her sister's plan to destroy him, she went to their father, exposing the entire plot. At first he did not trust in Francine, but when confronted with Eliza's journal detailing the plan, he'd no choice but to see it as truth. However, he did not do as she'd expected. Instead of being horrified with his successor's plan to destroy him, he was overjoyed at her power, a matchless power said to be described in her writings. Francine was confounded as he quickly began to form his own plan, which ultimately skipped over his only remaining daughter. She became incensed. She'd not the power to destroy him and his guard alone, no more than her sister did. But Francine knew Eliza would not accept her now, would not have joined her in his defeat, for she'd warned him. He'd be expecting Eliza, was aware of her entire design. Francine could only think of one other option. Grand Council."

Though I knew I was still breathing, could hear the pound of my heart, I was aware of no other feeling but the crushing pressure on my chest. My thoughts ran wild. I'd never even considered why council had been there. I had merely read that my mother had decided to destroy her father. I knew they were circling her from my own memories, knew that they'd been trying to stop her. I'd never realized he wasn't there in those visions. Asher.

I don't know how long I sat so before I saw Chevelle's face, awash with fury. He tried to compose himself as my eyes met his. He approached us and I could see the unspoken warning directed at Rhys and Rider. I wondered if that was the reason they were so often separate from the group, not because they were better watchers, but because they would tell me whatever I'd ask. I was fearful for them, but also afraid I had lost their openness, that they would tell me no more. My thought must have been obvious, because when they stood in tandem to excuse themselves, they bowed toward me. "We are here but to serve you, Elfreda." I attempted a smile.

I realized then that Grey and Anvil had grown quiet. And that I'd consumed far too much wine. I swayed and then laid my head on the table without another glance at them.

Chevelle was silent as he lifted me in his arms and carried me to my bed. He laid me down, brushed the hair from my face, and then walked wordlessly from the room.





There was no way to be certain whether it was the wine or the stories, but my dreams were fierce. The fire that surrounded my mother flamed hotter, felt as if it were scorching my skin as I watched her burn. I could see shapes in the flickers, a blaze of deep red curling amongst the orange and amber tongues, and I made out Ruby, the fire fairy, dancing in the hideous glow. The flames seemed endlessly in the background of the other images, the screaming, broken bodies as Fannie razed the village, the faces of each council member that she had butchered, the blood spilling from the mouth of the panther as she reaped a terrible revenge, her eyes finding mine, knowing. They were there as I saw Junnie, a smoldering luminosity in the background, not reaching her as she ran, her council colors flowing in the tassels that waved behind her. She wore an unfamiliar dark cloak and I felt she was hiding something, some threatening mystery. They crackled and popped, hostile and foreboding until, suddenly, they were gone and I was standing in darkness. A faint light showed me the face of Rune then, as he focused on the body before him, the one who writhed in pain and abruptly became rigid when the torment redoubled. I stood, helplessly watching, waiting for what I knew was coming, though never quite fast enough. Finally, I heard the crack but, instead of what I had expected, instead of seeing the strike hit Rune, grace him with an eternal scar, the lightning flashed bright, a painful brilliance that illuminated Chevelle in a way that was not just clear, but lucid. At that moment, I saw him more clearly than I could ever remember seeing him. And I knew that he was Rune's son.





Though drenched in sweat and aching everywhere, I woke with an unexpected calmness. That was, until I realized I was not alone. Chevelle was balanced on the edge of my bed, trying to wake me or watching me sleep, I wasn't sure. But I jerked at the surprise of seeing him, doubled by the shock of the dream, and then I was speechless.

He observed me silently for a moment and then, when he thought I'd gotten my bearings, he handed me a drink from the side table. I accepted it gratefully, my hands still trembling.

"You should take better care of yourself," he admonished gently.

He had no way of knowing the actual cause of my distress, though I couldn't be positive the wine wasn't partially to blame, but I wasn't about to tell him, now entirely aware of the reason behind his strong reaction to my other dream, when I'd mentioned his father's name to Anvil. I remembered the color drain from his face and I suddenly became paranoid he'd somehow know that I knew, which resulted in a flush, trailed immediately by Chevelle standing and swiftly walking from the room, informing me on the way out (without looking back) that I was to meet Ruby in the practice rooms.

Ugh.

I sluggishly crawled out of bed, splashed my face, and attempted to get dressed. I was suffering from the preceding night's festivities, but, in truth, that wasn't entirely why I dragged my feet. I wasn't exactly in a hurry to see Ruby, now that Anvil had filled me in on my prior issue with fairies, which was apparently causing Ruby problems of her own. I'd been sheltered from the public so they wouldn't recognize my bonds were still in place, for my protection, so I hadn't realized she wasn't free to move about as the others until she'd taken a separate route to the castle. I wasn't sure how to deal with that, though it wasn't altogether my fault, considering they'd kept so much from me, for my protection, and I was missing the majority of my memories. Like Rune... and Chevelle.