Page 7 of Reborn

“Long stories,” Gullie said, “Well, actually, not long stories at all. We’re your godparents.”

“Godparents?”

“It’s a human tradition. Your mom insisted you have them—”

“—not withoutsignificantpushback from the nobility,” Melina interjected, rolling her eyes. “Apparently, we’re the first set of godparents in all of Arcadian history. The court lost itsdamnmind.”

“They did, but that’s besides the point. The point is, your mother chose us to take on that role for her. As far as we can figure, that protected us from the changes Fate made to the Winter Kingdom.”

I took a beat. “Wait, you know about all that?”

Gullie and Melina exchanged confused looks. “Uh… it’s all we’ve been able to talk about for the past year.”

“Oh… right.”

“You’ve been gone for a long time, Amara. Colbolt… he saw you fall off the back of that cliff and into a portal. As far as anyone knew, you were never coming back. But we never lost hope, and now you’re here!”

“Colbolt has been patrolling the forest, looking for you,” said Melina. “Every day he goes out, sometimes he comes back injured. We’ve tried, and tried, and tried to get him to stay here with us, but he’s—”

“—stubborn, like me?” I asked. “I’ve heard.”

“Worse than you,” Gullie said, “Worse than even your father. I’m sure Colbolt could give him a run for his money.”

“What about my parents?” I asked, “And Radulf? Where are they?”

Gullie’s smile weakened. “That’s… well, we should talk about all that.”

“After you tell us whothatis,” said Melina, and she pointed across my shoulder at Valerian, who was standing a few feet behind me.

“Oh,” I said, my cheeks flushing with warm blood. “That’s Valerian. He’s my… friend.”

Valerian remained silent, and stoic, his arms folded in front of his chest.

Melina’s eyebrow rose. “Friend?” she asked.

“It’s a long story,” I said. “Anactuallylong story.”

“I hope you’re ready to tell it,” Gullie said, “It seems like we need to get each other up to speed on what’s happened to us.”

I nodded. “Right, but just… what happened to my parents? Are they…” I paused, then dared, “Alive?”

Gullie sighed, then nodded. “They are.”

I frowned at her. “Why do you say that like it’s a bad thing?”

“Because… they’ve been exiled. They were sent away a long time ago, forced never to return.”

“Wait… they’re gone?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know where they are, and I lost contact with them a long time ago. Your brother, too, but his story was a little different.”

“Radulf? What happened to him?”

“He remembered you. As soon as that happened, his pack turned on him. They rejected his story that the Princess was an impostor, and they drove him out. I’m not sure where he went. No one is.”

“Formerprincess…” Melina put in.

Gullie shut her eyes. “Right. Former.”

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