The Crow King's Wife(152)

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Zoelyn watched the door close and waited patiently for the tell-tale hum of magic in the room. Within moments of Neph’s departure she felt the first flicker of Divine power and turned her gaze to regard her mother. Her brow creased slightly as she realized Cora was alone. She had expected Fortune to be with her and his absence disturbed her.

“Just me today I’m afraid.” Cora announced in way of greeting then held up a small bag as she crossed to the table. “But I have brought plenty of puzzles to keep you entertained in the absence of the others.” She added with a bright smile.

“Oh joy.” Zoelyn replied dismally and rose from her chair once more. “Why isn’t Fortune here?” she asked and tried to keep the disappointment from her words. She didn’t want her mother to think she didn’t appreciate both of their company, but Fortune had a way of lightening her mood no matter how depressed she was. She had been looking forward to passing the day with the both of them in Neph’s absence.

“Other matters to attend today.” Cora replied too casually as she upended the bag and began sorting through the various trinkets that clattered noisily across the polished tabletop.

“Here try this one first. You should enjoy it.” Cora offered as she pushed a tiny metal box toward Zoelyn.

Absently Zoelyn picked up the box and turned it slowly over in her gloved hands barely focusing on the hundreds of tiny runes that covered its surface. Even without removing her gloves she could feel the magic rippling off of the tiny thing. Her eyes moved back to Cora and she watched in silence as her mother sorted through the puzzles and lined them up before her. Fortune had designed the items with different weaves of magic in an attempt to help her learn how to siphon off individual spells without destroying every weave on an item. He believed that if she could master his puzzles she could awaken the heroes, though she herself had her doubts.

There was a vast difference in draining magic from a toy and draining it from living creatures. Had it been a simple commoner they wanted her to wake she would have been hesitant, but they expected her to use her abilities on legendary warriors that had been in stasis for well over a thousand years. If she failed and harmed one of them there was no replacing what she destroyed. Neph believed the heroes would be the salvation of Delvay, and if he was correct that meant the entire weight of her homeland was resting on her ability to control her curse.

“You have that look on your face again.” Cora said gently and Zoelyn could hear the smile in her mother’s voice.

Glancing up Zoelyn found the woman watching her and felt her own expression soften in response. “What look would that be?” she asked in amusement.

“The I no wanna face.” Cora clarified with a grin. Reaching across the table she took Zoelyn’s hand and gave it a soft squeeze. “You can do this love. I know this is a lot of weight to put on your shoulders, but you are Delvay to the core. You may not care for shedding blood but that doesn’t mean you aren’t a fighter. Have faith in yourself.” Her voice was so encouraging that Zoelyn felt her shoulders relax in response.

Leaning back in her seat she turned the box absently in her hands and eyed the long line of puzzles before her. “He usually only sends three a day.” Zoelyn observed quietly. There were at least ten on the table and the bag by her mother looked as though it might have more inside.

“He wanted you to have plenty of practice to keep you entertained while your brother is away.” Cora returned, but her smile seemed a bit forced and Zoelyn could hear an edge to her voice that hadn’t been there before.

“He wanted me to be distracted you mean.” Zoelyn corrected gently and raised an eyebrow at her mother. “From what I wonder?”

“Such a suspicious mind.” Cora chided but the teasing seemed just as forced as her smile had been.

“Are you going to open a scry of the council?” Zoelyn asked sweetly never taking her gaze from her mother.

“Of course.” Cora answered and shook her head slightly. “I didn’t think you would want one so soon. The council isn’t due to start for over an hour yet.”

“None the less I’d rather not miss out on anything that is said just in case.” Zoelyn returned in the same sweet tones. She could see her mother’s unease growing, but she was doing a remarkable job of trying to hide it.

With a slight nod Cora brought her hands before her and spread her fingers. She mumbled under her breath and the air above the table shifted subtly. For a long moment it looked like nothing more than heated air resting inches above the wood, and then it solidified into colors that slowly coalesced to form the figures of the council seated in the massive hall of the Palace in Sanctuary.