of what she could sense through the heart bond, but she hadn’t shared all of what she suspected.
But Edmund’s gaze was still focused on Weylind, as if he thought Weylind would have the answer.
Weylind lifted his shoulders in a small shrug once again. “I do not know.”
All eyes turned to Essie. She breathed out a sigh. “I don’t know either. Not exactly. I know...I know he was tortured shortly after we invaded Kostaria. He blocked me through the heart bond for a long time that day. He hasn’t been tortured since.”
Was the invasion keeping the trolls too busy to torture Farrendel? If that were the case, then Essie would endure ambushes every night if it would spare Farrendel.
She had been staring at her lap, but when she raised her gaze, she caught the hopeful looks. As much as she wanted to hope, she didn’t want to hope without reason. “I’ve still caught hints of pain, and I think I would have sensed more...elation if he had escaped. He’s still a prisoner.”
Averett’s expression fell back into a frown. Julien’s jaw tightened with a grim slant to his mouth.
Edmund waved his hand, as if he wasn’t sure what gesture to make in response. “Then how...”
Essie peeked at Weylind and Jalissa. She wasn’t sure how they would react. “I think...I think Melantha has been healing him.”
Julien crossed his arms and glowered. Edmund reeled back, jaw working.
“What?” Averett straightened. “Why would she help now?”
Her brothers had never actually met Melantha in person, yet they were angry on Farrendel’s behalf.
Across the shelter, Jalissa wrapped her arms over her stomach and curled inward, as if in pain.
For a moment, Weylind’s face twisted, as if he could not figure out what expression to wear. Pain. Grief. Anger. He finally settled on a blank mask, much like Farrendel’s. When he spoke, his tone was cold. “Are you sure? If it is true, is it another trick?”
Essie’s heart ached. It must be a particular pain, to have to hold such anger for a sister they still loved. “I don’t know. I’m not even sure Melantha is helping him. I just know his pain disappears, as if someone is healing him, and the crackle of his magic is strongest during those times. But...let me check. Maybe I can confirm with Farrendel that it is Melantha who is helping.”
She closed her eyes, focusing on the heart bond. How could she communicate her question through strong emotions?
Her skin prickled under all the gazes focused on her. She grimaced, though she didn’t open her eyes. “If you all could not stare at me while I’m doing this. Go back to discussing Melantha’s motives or something. Or perhaps discuss that ambush. Something. Anything.”
The gazes swiveled away, and low voices soon filled the shelter. Essie kept her breathing even, doing her best to ignore them and not get drawn into the conversation.
Perhaps, if she focused on a strong memory of Melantha, it would carry enough emotion and sense of Melantha for Farrendel to understand.
The one memory that stuck in her mind...she didn’t want to send that one to him. The last thing she wanted to do was make him relive the moment of Melantha’s betrayal.
But that memory would convey what she wanted to ask. Maybe.
Farrendel? She could sense that he was still awake. Perhaps he had still been worried for her after what had happened. Is Melantha there and helping you? Melantha.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she thought of Melantha standing in front of them, denying that Farrendel was her brother.
Even through the heart bond, she felt Farrendel stiffen, as if he’d felt again the emotions of that same memory. Essie winced. Perhaps she shouldn’t have tried to use those particular emotions.
After a moment, a sense of hard determination replaced the pain, followed by an impression of gratitude that definitely felt like it was directed toward Melantha.
Essie frowned and squeezed her eyes shut again. What was Farrendel trying to tell her? Was this an answer to her question?
It hurt, but she had to confirm her guess was correct. Melantha. She thought of the memory of Melantha’s betrayal again.
No.
She didn’t hear the word, exactly, but the impression came through so strongly from Farrendel, she couldn’t mistake it. She felt the determined edge as Farrendel all but shoved a sense of gratitude toward Melantha at Essie. No. Melantha.
I understand. She wasn’t sure he would sense her mental nod, but some of the urgency from him faded, replaced by a sense of exhaustion.
It was the