Page 82 of Riftborne
“You were going to write to them?” I eyed her hesitantly.
“Well, one of them. Lady Soleil. She was the one who really seemed to like me.” Osta sighed.
I paused for a moment, turning the words over in my mind. Soleil was the one she told me about at the ball, but I hadn’t yet connected it with…
“Baelor’s mother?” I asked with wide eyes. The thought of Osta working for people of such prejudice was nauseating. I wasn’t sure I’d even allow her to do it, knowing how nasty their opinions of Riftborne were.
“Lyanna Soleil. She’s the wife of Lord Soleil. They don’t have children from what I was able to gather.”
Lord?I knew Baelor came from generations of Nobles turnedmilitary heroes, but I wasn’t aware that any of them still maintained their Noble status. Being a general, even aretired general, in the Sídhe Guard well outshined a title of Lord or Lady.
“So not the wife of General Soleil?” I questioned.
“Ysabeau? Oh, absolutely not. She wouldn’t give me a second glance.” Osta huffed a small laugh, shaking her head. “She practically turned her back to me any time I opened my mouth to speak. Her and Lyanna seem like polar opposites.” She twisted her lips, looking down at her blank parchment. “Their husbands must be brothers.”
“You didn’t tell me any of that,” I said, leaning back into the sofa.
“It wasn’t important. I wanted to focus on the positive.” A half smile crept up her lips.
“Well, don’t worry too much. Write to her, even if you don’t send it out.” I reached for the quill and ink, pushing it closer. “I would stay with you, but I’ll be late to the Apothecary. Don’t want to give Ma any more reasons to be upset with me.” I sighed, standing.
“She still hasn’t come around?” Osta eyed me gently.
“No, and I don’t expect her to. I think this is just the new normal. At least until I get stationed out West, which seems certain now that–”
I winced, an unfamiliar pain shooting through me, stopping the words from coming out of my throat.
The blood oath.
I couldn’t tell Osta anything about the Wraiths or the impending doom that now seemed to be spiraling rapidly towards Sídhe. I whispered a curse under my breath.
Osta shot her eyes towards me. “What are you talking about?” she asked quickly.
“I just assume, being in the General’s faction, I’ll probably be stationed where he spends most of his time.” I shrugged, trying to play it off.
Osta paused for a moment, realization setting in.
“I guess I hadn’t thought that far ahead,” she whispered.
“I don’t think any of us expected me to make it this far, if I’m being honest.” I chuckled, looking around.
The room went deathly silent.
“But I could be wrong. I don’t know what his plan is for me…” I lied. “Even if I’m deployed, it’s not forever. I’ll have to come back to Luminaria sometime.” I swallowed hard. She stared at the wall with glassy eyes. “And I’ll still be able to send back money for my half of the rent…” My words seemed to have no effect on her.
After a few moments, she sighed. “I did say I’d support you through all of this. I just can’t imagine being here without you.”
“There’s no reason to be upset about it now. Let’s save that for when we actually know something definite. Anyway, I’m sure you’ll be living your best life at some noble estate soon enough.”
I walked over and wrapped my arms around her. “Seriously, focus on you right now. Don’t worry about me. I’ll see you after work, okay?” I raised an eyebrow and gave her a reassuring smile, waiting for her to acknowledge me before making another move.
She nodded. I turned towards the door and escaped into the hallway before the tears in my own eyes could start to swell.
I lookedup as Ma slammed the back door of the Apothecary, hobbling over and dropping a plant box onto her desk, causing dirt to spatter across the floor.
“How is this even possible?” She nearly yelled, throwing her hands on her hips and sighing loudly.
“What is it, Ma?” I asked, rushing over to see what she was so upset about. I peered into the plant box to see that our collection of rare flowers had died. Not a single shred of life remained in their petals, which fell to the ground around us. Even the soil looked devoid of color.
