Of Thorn and Thread (Daughters of Eville #4) - Chanda Hahn Page 0,81
She had specifically forbidden me from going to Rya, and I had done absolutely nothing to help Liam in his quest to end the blight. In fact, all I had accomplished by my presence was to delay him and cause him problems. Even when I figured out that the blight was another vengeful sorceress, I still didn’t have a way to stop her. I was nowhere near powerful enough to be of help.
I had returned a failure.
When I saw the silhouette of our tower, I felt a moment of dread. I slowed my steps and took my time limping the rest of the way home. When I came to the threshold, I paused, gazing at the straw mat on our stoop, the old wood door painted with symbols of health and healing, and the iron latch that had worn down from years of use. I pushed the door open and stepped inside, the smell of home hit me: the wood oil we used on the floor, the faint smell of herbs and potions that always hung in the air from our potions room, and the faint crackling of the fire.
Time had stood still. I had been gone for weeks and discovered so much about myself. I felt different, my world had changed, and yet here it hadn’t.
It was like a dream. I moved to the dining room table and picked up an apple from the bowl.
A flutter of wings followed, and a crow flew in through an open window. A trickle of power rushed over my skin as Maeve transformed and came to stand near me. Her internal questions prickled at my mind, but she was doing her best to squelch them. She moved around the table to be across from me and placed her palms on the tabletop, looking me dead in the eye.
Maeve stared at me unblinking, the corner of her mouth turned down. “You’re back already. What happened?”
The back door slammed open with a thud. Rhea came in, her hair a mess, her apron covered with soot from the forge.
“You’re back,” Rhea breathed out, wiping her face with the back of her hand, smearing more soot across her cheek. “We’ve been so worried about you. Are you okay?”
That simple question snapped me back to reality, and I slumped into the wooden chair at the table. I stared at my hands and fingernails, still coated with dirt, proof that it wasn’t a dream.
“I don’t know,” I answered truthfully, and buried my face into my hands.
Over the next few candle marks, I told my story. Neither Rhea nor Maeve judged me. They sat and listened. Rhea filling up my cup with my favorite lavender tea while the fire in the fireplace slowly died down. A chill filled the room, but no one moved to add another log, as they were so enthralled with my tale.
Maeve kept interjecting with wry comments. “Liam, is that his name?” she teased. “I would have pegged him for a Nolan.”
“Not now,” Rhea said. “Can’t you see she’s confused.”
“How am I supposed to know? I’m not the one who reads minds.”
“It’s fine,” I told Rhea. “She’s only trying to lighten the mood.”
“Is it working?” Maeve asked, hopefully.
“No.”
“Drat.” She snapped her fingers.
“What are you going to do now?” Rhea asked. “It’s not like you can get back there in time to help. My spelled traveling bracelet broke, and it will take many moons to create another one.”
“I don’t know.” I looked down at my hands cupped around my now lukewarm tea. The teacup had a pattern of thorns and roses around the edge. Another reminder of my failure to help Liam. “I don’t suppose Mother would use her magic to send me back?”
Maeve shook her head. “I wouldn’t mention it if I were you. She’s quite in the mood right now.” She looked out the window at the setting sun. “And will be back any minute.”
Rhea added, “Plus, you know, using magic like that would leave her in a weakened state. She’d be vulnerable for days, and it would take quite a while to recover.”
“And I doubt she will want to help me save the kingdom of Rya.”
Rhea took a sip of her tea. “Mmm, that too.”
“But I wonder what it is that set her off about Rya,” I said.
“You should ask her right now.” Maeve grinned, her eyes flicking toward the door.
Mother Eville stood in the doorway, a wicker basket filled with lavender and mandrake in her arms.