Page 91 of The Wolf and Her Shadows

“Because she had a vision that I would come here with Mariane.” Still a bit dazed, I carefully take the daggers from her hand as well. “I’m assuming she gave them to you recently?”

She nods. “Yes. About two years ago.”

Mariane sucks in a breath. “When I escaped. She gave them to you knowing I would run into Vannaria at some point and wanted you to have them so you could give them to her.” She holds up her new sword. “The same way she told you to have these made for me.”

“But why?” I ask, voice trembling.

Suddenly the front door opens, and all of our gazes snap towards it as the seer in question steps inside the room, Stephan and Kali following behind her.

“Because you two have an important job to do.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Mariane

Old Greyva turns to Vannaria, an intensity in her eyes that I’ve never seen in them before. “You’re not shadowing you all to Zaris. Or whatever other cities you foolishly intended to hop, skip, and jump to. This isn’t a child’s game.”

Shooting to my feet, I cross my arms, fresh anger rising in me as I step between her and the woman I love. “No. It isn’t. But how the fuck else are we supposed to get all the way to Cyrel? We barely made it here.”

The old woman crosses her arms as well, her eyes narrowing further and voice taking on a dangerous edge. “You think I’m not aware of that, child? If the two of you hadn’t shadowed off without a word earlier–”

“Do not…” A familiar strong hand grips my shoulder, gently pushing me to the side. “...speak to her that way.” Vannaria crosses the room in three long strides to stand toe to toe with Old Greyva, glaring down at the shorter woman. “If you wish for us to listen to anything you have to say, you will show Mariane the respect she fucking deserves. Do I make myself clear?”

To my confusion, the seer merely smiles, uncrossing her arms so she can reach up and pat the furious elf on the shoulder. “Of course, Your Highness. I apologize for letting my emotions get the best of me for a moment.” She lowers her hand, a look of pain flashing across her wrinkled face. “There’s…a lot more at stake than you know.”

“Care to enlighten us then?” I ask, my own anger still simmering just beneath the surface. “Or do you intend to just spout off more cryptic bullshit and expect us to figure it out ourselves?”

Old Greyva lets out a heavy sigh, gesturing to the sofa. “Sit. Trust me, what I’m here to tell you is far from cryptic.” She glances back up at Vannaria. “But, it will be hard to hear.”

“Of course it will,” Vannaria mutters, spinning on her heel and moving back to my side. “As if today hasn’t been enough of an emotional whirlwind already.”

I let out a half-hearted laugh, dragging her with me as I sit down on the sofa once more. She leans into me, putting her arm back around my shoulder while toying with one of the daggers my mother had given her a moment ago. Or well, I suppose they were likely intended to be for Rayne.

Stephan and Kali stay by the doorway, their expressions unreadable as Old Greyva moves to stand in front of us. A raised eyebrow from the old woman has my mother scurrying into our kitchen to grab a chair for her.

Once she’s seated, she pulls an old leatherbound book from the bag slung over her shoulder. “This was also saved from the fires. You may recognize it, seeing as how it once belonged to–”

“Our mother,” Vannaria breathes, her hand trembling as she takes the book from her.

“Yes. It and the weapons Sera gave you were all found locked in an enchanted chest.” Grevya hesitates a moment, then slips her hand back into the bag and removes a folded-up piece of parchment, its size and shape instantly reminding me of my own bounty notices. “As well as this. But, I must warn you, Vannaria, you cannot open it until after Mielviroth is dead.”

“Why?” I ask, leaning forward so Vannaria can pull her arm free and take the letter as well. “What difference does it make when she reads it?”

The old woman gives me an annoyed look, as if I should know better than to ask such a foolish question. “She’ll know when she reads it.” Her head tilts slightly. “Or I should say, Aren will.”

“Aren?” Vannaria’s violet gaze bounces between the book and the piece of parchment. “Is it because they hold the majority of our childhood memories? Or because you’ve seen that they’ll be the ones to read it?”

One corner of Greyva’s mouth lifts into a hint of a smile. “Smart girl. Perhaps it’ll be both. You’ll have to wait and see for yourself, though.”

My mother clears her throat. “Before we get any further away from the subject, you said they won’t be shadowing to Zaris. What did you mean by that?”

Stephan steps forward, crossing his arms over his bare chest. “The scouts smelled a few unfamiliar wolves while they were doing their patrol earlier. If they’ve realized Mariane is here, then we need to let them know she’s leaving.” He focuses his gaze on me, dark eyes filled with sympathy. “And we need to do it now.”

“Now?” I gasp, panic rising in my chest faster than I can force it down. “But, I thought we had a few days left? I haven’t…” My eyes dart to my mother. “We haven’t… I only just got here.”

My mother clears her throat a second time as tears begin to pool in her honey-colored eyes. “It’s alright, Little Wolf. We’ll have plenty of time together when you get back. I promise.”

Whipping my head back towards Greyva, I snarl, “Will we? Is that a promise she can keep?”