Pieces of Eight (The Frey Saga, #2)(47)

"I have since located only carnage and two stillborn," Junnie explained. "In addition to your most recent find, have there been any other indicators?"

"Three servants for certain," Chevelle said, "and four others that could not be verified."

"We have removed those threats," Rider added. "No others remain within the walls."

I floated away from the terrible exchange, mindlessly scanning the patterns on the edge of a wall hanging. From there, I traced the lines of stone as they spoke, their words merely background noise as I found an interesting design on the floor and followed it through the room. I tracked it until it ran under someone's boot and I trailed up the boot to pants, unthinkingly upward, over a shirt, slowly reaching a strong chin, lingering on lips that I knew, upward still, finally reaching his eyes, sapphire.

Sapphire. Suddenly, it was right there, the name I'd tried so hard to recall, Chevelle's mother. All that struggle and there it was, so simply. I laughed out loud.

And they all turned to stare at me warily. I attempted a sheepish grin but that only seemed to make it worse. A minute gesture from Chevelle and I could feel Ruby pulling me from the room. I hadn't realized how heavily I'd been leaning on her.





When we were nearly to my room, she asked, "Are you going to pieces, Freya?"

"No," I answered, but I didn't recognize my own voice.

We turned through the door and she led me to the bed, sliding a chair to sit beside me. "No need to worry, you are in good hands."

Ugh, hands again. I forced myself to concentrate on something else, but my mind didn't get far from the scene before my mouth opened. "Ruby, why would Fannie do such a terrible thing?"

She knew what I meant somehow, but her reply surprised me. "Is it so terrible?" I stared at her, stunned. "I cannot say that I'm not satisfied that it is done." She could see that I was lost so she clarified, "Fannie is merely removing the... foul," she was struggling, hesitating as she searched for useable terms, "... things that Asher is... producing."

I considered that. I couldn't argue that it didn't make some sense, to Ruby at least, but it was so hard to think of without seeing the bloody mess in the hidden chamber and knowing what had been before. I felt my eyes flutter so I moved forward with the conversation, or at least sideways. "Why did Fannie go to council when she discovered my mother's plans?" I asked.

Ruby looked puzzled. "I thought that was explained to you?"

I nodded. "But why council?" I thought of how much I loathed them now, how they had hunted me down, though it was apparently only part of them. I noticed Ruby was waiting as I reflected so I continued, "Why would she think they would help her?"

I could tell she was deliberating whether or not to tell me. Finally, she answered in a careful tone, "You don't understand that Grand Council is a birthright." I stared blankly at her. "Oh, you are missing so much," she sighed. "Fannie didn't trust that council would help her, she knew that by rule they must defend her." My vacant expression only slowed her words. "The laws of council have been in place for centuries, there was no foretelling of such a problem arising, no one could have imagined. But your Vita was a member of Grand Council, as was her family before her. Therefore, by default, Fannie, and your mother, were also components."

She let the information sink in. It took longer than she expected and I could see her getting irritated by the time comprehension came.

"So, Fannie was a member of Grand Council?" I asked.

She was exasperated. "Yes." I stared at her incredulously. "Well, she didn't attend meetings or anything," Ruby explained sarcastically, "but she had the right to request protection."

"I don't understand," I said, "if they had to protect Fannie, why didn't they protect my mother?"

Ruby nodded. "You see why Junnie took issue with the outcome."

It was all getting too complicated to grasp. I decided on a new direction. "So, Junnie is starting a new council?"

"Yes, quite skillfully, as a matter of fact."

I wasn't sure about her tone. I'd started to ask when Chevelle came in.

He motioned to Ruby and she leapt from her seat and out of the room, probably to meet with the others to be informed of what she missed. I sat up as Chevelle took her chair beside me.

"Are you well?" he asked.

A moment passed before I realized what he'd meant, having completely forgotten I'd been escorted from the conference. "Oh, yes." I answered. And then I remembered. "Where's Junnie?"

"She's just departing."

"No," I complained.

He didn't comment but I saw him glance at the window. I was on my feet and to it in a heartbeat. I scanned the grounds below and finally found her, already too far from the castle. I squinted to see her better, she was being escorted by someone, Grey I thought. And what was that dark mass beside her? A large black dog...

Snickers. My chest tightened as I watched her carry on, the animal running contentedly beside her as Grey started to slow and then, finally, turned to head back toward the castle.

I slumped as I slid away from the window and found a seat on the edge of the bed. Snickers.

"Freya?" Chevelle asked, leaning close to me.