Page 30 of Dragons Of Shadow and Sea

The statement takes me off guard. Her empathy radiates into me, helping shine sunlight on my wounded places. But some of it is misplaced.

"I wasn't alone."

"But--"

"I had my friends." Obi and Zahra, to name a few. "And my mother."

"But..." She repeats the word, only this time it feels different. She's biting her tongue.

Right. I let out a breath. "She was busy with the war. She had to lead our people, and yes. She was broken herself."

I saw my mother with the Witch when they were casting their spells to root out the traitors. I was part of the preparations when they readied our people to make our new home here, and let the flood waters close over what remained of our former civilization. She was a queen, through and through.

"But she was my mother. We felt the same pain. She held me, and I held her."

If it weren't for my mother's love, I don't know how I would have survived. I don't know how she would have survived without me.

"She has a softer side," I promise. One she rarely shows to others, but she's always shown it to me.

Ember nods tightly and squeezes my hand. "I'm glad."

We lapse into silence again, but it's not awkward. I've always longed for a partner with whom I can be quiet, and like a miracle, here she is.

But I'm happy that we can talk about deep topics, too.

Turning her hand over in mine, I stroke the center of her palm, prompting her, "You lost your parents, too."

"I did," she allows. "My father went missing at the very end of the war. My mother said she was going to look for him, but..."

"I am so sorry." I pull her in closer, holding her tightly and trying to give her some fraction of the comfort that she gave me.

"I just wish I knew for sure what happened."

Her eyes take on a heart-breaking gleam. With my powers, I could wash away her tears, but I don't. She may need the healing waters as much as I did.

Instead, I call on different powers. On the memories of these pools, and the warm darkness that swims in their depths.

"What can you see?" I gesture at the gleaming surface of the water.

"Oh." She sucks in a breath--a vision must appear to her. The brightness to her eyes grows. "They--I see the three of us. The way we used to be."

I give her a moment to live in the memory. Through our connection, I feel its glow. Her parents were special. Their love is written on her face, and it warms me, too.

Only once the vision has faded and her eyes come back into focus do I take her by the hand again. "You may never find the answers you seek. But those you were close to live on in your heart. Here, you can visit them."

She nods, trembling slightly. Her watery gaze meets mine. "Thank you."

"Of course." I'd give her the moon, if I could. I'd heal all her wounds.

What I have, though, is my kingdom, and the magic of this place.

I have this burning connection that flows between us.

And I have one last way to share it.

"Come." I tip my head toward the deepest recesses of the cavern.

A great cistern has been chiseled from the rock. For thousands of years, it has held our most sacred waters, tended to daily by the Witch and her apprentices.

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