Page 35 of Riftborne
Ma studied me.
“So how did he react when you told him no?” She softened her tone, chuckling a bit. “I would have paid good money to see the look on his face when you humbled him. Did he–”
“I told him yes…” I blurted. The blood drained from my face.
Ma looked at me in horror. I couldn’t blame her. This reaction was to be expected. Her hatred for the Guard was unwavering.
“You did what?” she asked, her voice breaking slightly. My heart sank.
“Ma… I know it sounds crazy. I know it’s hard to understand… I mean, I would have never thought I could agree to something like this. It doesn’t even sound like me, but we both know…” I gave her a knowing look, “We both know how dangerous it can be when I lose control. If there is a way to stop it from happening, I have to try. I have to. I can’t risk hurting anyone else.” Mist formed in my eyes.
“But you’ve made such progress on your own, Fia. You haven’t had an incident since… you know.”
I winced. There was so much I had held back from her.
“It hasn’t been easy, Ma. I hope you can find a way to understand.”
Ma opened her mouth like she was going to respond, but ultimately closed it, wandering off to the stool on the opposite side of the desk. She sank down, letting her face fall into her hands. We sat in silence.
“I understand what you’re saying Fia but there has to be another way. You don’t have to sign your life away. Not tothem,” she stated.
“Ma, I already live life like I’ve signed it away,” I whispered, feeling the weight of those words for the first time.
Ma just looked at me. I knew she was trying to think of something to say, an argument that would change my mind.
Eventually, she took a deep breath and stood.
“You can place the algae specimens in the jars near the sink. I already sterilized them. Don’t forget the labels,” she said quietly.
Leaving the desk behind, I crossed the room to her side, offering a comforting squeeze to her shoulder. I considered saying something else but found myself at a loss for words. I managed a faint smile before heading toward the back of the shop.
I had finally told her a version of the truth, and that brought a sense of relief, but my heart still felt heavy, empty. The conflict wasn’t over.
But if that woman was anything, she was relentless. She would be racking her brain for a way out of this. Ma wasn’t going to surrender that easily.
CHAPTER 13
This weekreallyneeded to end.
The last two had trudged by with all the speed of a snail on sedatives. I’d managed to make exactlyzeroprogressin my training sessions with the General.
He just rambled on with his nonsense, speaking like some kind of monk, who could navigate the inner workings of my mind if Icould only concentrate,or if Icould onlyseek out the source of my focus.And there was me. Sitting like a vegetable, not feeling a single spark of energy or a single pulse of essence.
The urge to strangle one another by the end of each session had become palpable.
My mornings at the Apothecary hadn’t given me much respite with the not-so-subtle glances from Ma and the stifling feeling of words left unspoken.
I had been overjoyed when Eron stopped by for a visit–all the attention shifting to his new fatherhood.
“I’m shocked to see that you’re alive after the reaction from Ma the other day. I’d have thought something seriously awfulhappened to you.” Eron smiled as he approached my desk and handed me a few parcels.
“Well, as you can see, I’m in one piece.” I held my arms out to the side and shrugged.
Ma shot him a narrowed look and Eron let out a chuckle.
“Anything exciting in there?” He asked as I fumbled through the packages.
“Actually, there is, Ma, those bark samples you ordered finally came in!” I called out, hoping to see some semblance of joy light up her face.
