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Before I think better of it, I tuck the books under my arm and shift to the landing outside her room, dismissing the wards and locks before pushing through.
She yelps, spinning to face the door with a knife in her hand. She relaxes when she sees me, but not by much. Amused, I set the books Kaia gave me on the little table by her bed. She’ll need a lot more than the knife on her breakfast tray to get past me.
The door closes behind me with a wave of my hand, and she steps back when I move further into the room.
“That won’t do much for you.” I nod to the knife still clutched in her grip. “If your goal is to kill me.”
She flips the blade deftly through her fingers but doesn’t set it down. “Not kill, catch off guard. What are you doing here?”
“I’m visiting my charge,” I say, irritated by her tone. “Lady Kaia visits.”
“Kaia knocks.”
“Lady Kaia does not rule this realm.” I grip my hands behind my back. “I do.”
Elora snorts. “What does ruling a realm have to do with manners? Although, considering how you’ve trapped me here and refuse to let me go, I gather manners are not your strong suit.”
“Careful, little one.”
She scowls, and the knife twists through her fingers again. “What do you want?”
Her question is cold, dismissive, and I take another step forward. “I have some things I’d like to ask you.” I pull out one of the chairs at the table with a flick of my wrist. “Sit down.”
Glancing at it, she shakes her head. “I’d rather stand.”
I briefly consider forcing her into the damn thing but think better of it. She’s more likely to answer my questions if I’m civil about it. And I want to size her up before I make my decision.
“Where were you born?”
“Dremen.”
“And is your mother a witch?” It’s Kaia’s theory, not mine, but I want to see Elora’s reaction to it all the same.
She jerks at the question. “My mother was a farmer’s wife, not a witch.”
The two aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive, but her use of the past tense does not escape my notice. “Was?”
Shifting on her feet, Elora breaks eye contact, staring at a distant point over my shoulder. “She died many years ago.”
The pain in her voice is genuine, and the next words out of my mouth surprise even me. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Her spine straightens and her gaze snaps to mine. “It was a long time ago.”
“And you have no idea how you were able to cross the veil?”
“No,” she says, exasperated. “I’ve told Kaia this already. If I did know, I’d have gone right back out again.”
“And you think you can?” I step closer, lips twitching in a barely contained grin when her back hits the stone wall behind her as she tries to flee from me. “What if you’re trapped here forever?”
Her throat bobs when she swallows.
“How old are you?”
“Eight and twenty. Is there a point to these questions? Or are you just bored today?”
“Such a mouth on you, little one. You’ll want to take care not to try my patience.”
“I’ll take my chances. My lord.”
