The vision of the woman falling to the ground, a sword stuck in her chest, flashed through my mind. I gasped, my hand flying to my heart.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The woman was only twenty-two when she died. Though cast in bronze, I imagined her eyes burning with life, her soft brown hair flowing behind her as she ran, and her willowy body fooling her opponents into believing her weak just before she wielded her sword and each blow she threw was a strong, solid hit. She never gave up. She never lifted her guard.
The vision sped to the young woman sitting on an iron bench, seemingly lost in thought, surrounded by a brilliant array of flowers, with her sword leaning on the bench beside her. She read a letter, and her voice played in my head.
Dearest Cousin,
I know you asked that I don’t risk sending you updates, but I know if it was me, I would want to receive them. I just hope you still check your postal box. Your baby is doing wonderfully, growing strong each day, trying to crawl and keep up with Gia, even. I send you my love and hope you are doing well.
All my best, Marietta *
The woman lit a match, set the letter on fire, and dropped it in the planter beside her. The flame gobbled up the white paper until it was ash. A twig snapped behind her, and she turned. Her eyes widened with surprise when a shadowed figure skewered her with her own sword. My breath hitched as her expression froze when death took her, and she collapsed to the ground.
“Gia,” Bastien said grasping my shoulders. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. This woman”—I read the name from the plaque—“Jacalyn Roux. She died sixteen years ago. Who is she?”
“She was a Sentinel. She died when she was almost twenty-three.”
“How did she die?”
“In the gardens of Couve,” Bastien said. “The guards found her pierced through the heart with her own sword.”
“Why would someone kill her?”
“It isn’t certain. Some think she committed suicide by falling onto her own sword, but those who knew her believed she was murdered.”
“Oh, she definitely was murdered.”
He glanced over to me. “Why do you say that?”
“I’ve been having visions ever since I came to the havens,” I said. “I had one just now of her murder.”
His hand on my arm startled me, and I drew my eyes away from the statue.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s not linger on such morbid events better left in the past.” He ticked his head toward the hallway. “Shall we join the others?”
“Do you know what happened to her baby?”
He gave me a confused look. “She never had a baby.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m certain.” He led me to a door at the end of the hallway, and we eased inside the room. Arik and the others were already sitting at a long table with silver trays piled with sandwiches, fruits, and cakes spread across its center. Their faces were somber as they ate in silence.
My mind spun as we crossed the long distance from the door to the table. Who was Jacalyn? What did my mother have to do with her? And what was up with that letter she read? What happened to the baby?
There must be a connection. I just couldn’t piece it all together. A thought struck me: If Jacalyn had lived in Couve, maybe some of her belongings still existed.
Bastien escorted me to an empty seat beside Demos, and before he left, I leaned toward him. “Are there any personal items of that woman’s around? Like old photographs or letters?
“She was my mother’s dear friend,” Bastien said. “Her room has been untouched all these years. My mother is sentimental like that.”
“Do you think after we eat, you could bring me there? It’s really important.”
He gave a slight nod. “Certainly.”
I slid into the chair, and he strolled down to the end of the table, settling in at the head.
Arik sat across from me. His usual mischievous grin was a straight line of disapproval. I redirected my attention to the food tray in front of me, mindlessly adding a sandwich, vegetables, and fruit to my plate.
“You seem lost in thought, Gia,” Arik said from across the table.
“I—guess I am.”
He still wore a scowl. “Not to worry. Since Couve is stable, we’ll join the others at the shelter after our meal.”
“There’s something I have to do before we leave,” I said.