entrance of one of the large tents facing the standing stones. A jolt of something goes through me as our eyes meet, and I instantly know who she is.
“High Chief,” Tor greets, quickly dismounting from his horse before crossing his arm over his chest and bowing slightly. He hurries over to my side and offers me his arm. I don’t need his help to get off my horse, but because I don’t know the customs here, and the woman who’s obviously the chief is watching me closely, I take his arm and climb down from my saddle. Once on solid ground, I take in the woman before me and can tell she’s doing exactly the same—sizing me up. “Clarissa, this is High Chief Revna.”
She’s wearing an outfit similar to the men’s, with a leather breastplate fitted over her chest and hide pants. She’s muscled but slim like me, and she has the pale skin and dark hair of the tribespeople. This woman looks like she’s had many hardships in her life. Scars litter her skin, and as I look closer, her tattoos seem to wrap around them like frames, honouring her struggles as victories rather than hiding them as impurities. In her braided hair, she wears a headdress of feathers and ribbon, marking her status. Like every other tribesperson I’ve met, she looks intimidating, especially as she stares down at me, her dark eyes boring into mine.
Realising I should be bowing or something, I dip my head in a show of respect, and when I look back up, her eyes are sparkling with amusement and the corner of her mouth is twitching up into a smile.
“High Chief,” Tor calls again, gesturing to my elven companions, and I don’t miss the flicker of annoyance in her eyes before she schools her expression into one of neutral interest. “This is High Elf Lord Vaeril, Clarissa’s mate, and High Elf Lord Naril, her companion and protector.” As tribesman introduces them, they dismount and join me with Vaeril close at my side. I can feel how difficult this is for my mate through the bond, his instincts on high alert with all these people gathering to watch us. They might not mean us any harm, but the mountain tribes are an intimidating bunch.
“Mate and protector. Interesting,” the chief drawls, her tone dry as her eyes run over them, and I get the impression she’s less than impressed that they’re here. So much for Tor’s promise of ‘welcome honoured guests.’ Quickly dismissing the elves, she moves her attention back to me, her eyes brightening with an emotion I’m unable to place before it vanishes as she takes a step towards me. “Welcome home, Clarissa,” she starts, finally smiling. Her body language changes, and her face lights up. I get the feeling she doesn’t smile often, but when she does, it’s genuine. “As Torsten said, I am the elected high chief of the mountain tribesmen, but I am more than that.” She pauses, and I swear I see her hands tremble for a second before she balls them into fists and crosses her arms over her chest, except that can’t be right. This strong woman couldn’t possibly be nervous or scared. “Do you know who I am to you?”
“You’re my aunt,” I answer with certainty, and I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. Looking at this woman is like looking at myself in thirty years’ time. While I may be slighter in build, I have the same dark hair and eyes, and the same pale skin, all the things that made me stand out in Arhaven. My more delicate frame and high cheek bones must be from my father’s fae side, but the similarities between me and the woman in front of me is undeniable.
The leader of the mountain tribes is my aunt. Glancing across at Tor, I arch an eyebrow, silently telling him we’ll be having words later. He at least has the decency to wince slightly at my look before straightening when Revna glances over at him. When he said that my aunt was with his tribe, I assumed she was being protected by them. Had it crossed my mind that she was one of them? No. I’d not given much thought to what she would be like or held much hope that any of this would actually be true.
“How is this possible?” Vaeril looks as confused as I feel, Naril more so as he looks between me and the chief. More