Page 101 of Fate of Echoes and Embers
And now came the more difficult question.
For a brief moment, when Draven was injured but not down, I had only one thought.
It was not of the vow I’d made to my father but one of never having Marek embrace me from behind asTidechasercut through the water, open seas and blue skies before us…
“You have a strong claim to Hawthorne Manor,” I rushed to finish, seeing Adren’s hesitation. “This is my home. These are my people. But it was never my dream to remain here, something Edric, and my parents, knew well. But they became sick and…” I swallowed, thinking of them. Of Warren and the others. “You’ve served Hawthorne well this day. And can bridge the divide between our clans, I believe, and re-shape its future. Along with that of Estmere and Elydor too.”
He understood, even if Edric did not. Yet.
“Do not give me an answer until you think it through. But if you’ll have it, Hawthorne Manor is yours.”
Edric gasped.
Adren simply stared at me as if I’d gone mad.
“I love this land, and my people,” I rushed to add. “But I also love Marek of Thalassaria. Remaining here was my parents’ dream,” I repeated, “but never my own.”
Edric looked from me to Adren. “I will say, this is most unexpected.”
A heavy ache pressed against my ribs. Would he, and the others, not be able to look past the fact that Adren was Gyorian? Would they feel abandoned by me?
“Although Warren would not have thought so,” Edric continued. “He knew, we all knew, you were in love with the Navarch. He worried for you, while you were away, but I think he knew this might happen. You stepped into your parents’ role here, and did Hawthorne Manor well, my lady. We will miss you.”
“He didn’t yet accept,” I reminded Edric as we turned our attention to Adren. “Perhaps being lord of a border holding is not your dream.”
Adren appeared thoughtful. “I do not need to think it through, Isolde. I serve Kael of Gyoria, but there is no longer such a person now that he’s pledged himself to Aetheria. I’ve no notion of what comes next— for Mev and Kael, the Gate, for Elydor— but if your people would have me, I would honor my grandmother’s memory by protecting Hawthorne Manor and the humans.”
“You would?” I asked, incredulous.
“I would be honored.”
“Does Marek know?” Adren asked.
“Not yet. If you’d said no… there are few that Hawthorne would accept in my stead. But a rightful heir… They are a proud people, their customs old.”
“I am Gyorian.”
“And Draven was human.”
Neither had an argument to that. With luck, the people of Hawthorne would see it that way too.
42
ISSA
“There you are.”
“Oh dear,” I said at the sound of Marek’s voice.
Edric and Adren exchanged a glance.
I explained to them. “Marek asked that I remain abed, despite that I am not injured.”
“Your head—” Marek said.
“Hardly hurts. I fell, not for the first or last time.”
“Your wrist?—”
