Ashna’s heart clenched as she recognized her father in the forming statue, and her mother’s grip on her wrist tightened. At length, Sylvia withdrew her hand and nodded to Petra. “You … do have the fire our … mother sent with you, don’t you?”
“Of course,” said Petra, stepping forward and pulling the folded brown lunch sack out of her pocket. “I’ve had it on me permanently since Mum entrusted it to me. It’s just one of those things that you wouldn’t like to have fall into the wrong hands.”
She unfolded the lunch sack, opened it, and tipped it over Father’s head. A torrent of fire streamed out, covering him, and she immediately withdrew.
Father staggered backward, his color restored. “Petra,” he breathed, focusing on her. He smiled. “You did it. You freed Rizkaland.”
“Yeah, something like,” said Petra. She glanced at Sylvia. “You can put the temperature back. No point freezing him any longer.”
Sylvia nodded and placed her hand on the stone again. The temperature returned to normal. Then the former Dragon took a deep breath and turned to Father. “She freed more than Rizkaland,” she said. “Petra accomplished a feat far more challenging. She freed me.”
“Amber?”
“She’s going by Sylvia now, but yes,” said Petra. “The reason the two of us share one face is that she’s my identical triplet. Once Reuben and I figured that out, it was just a matter of destroying the Dragon within her. Which wasn’t easy, but we accomplished it.”
Father slowly nodded. “And your husband, Granite?”
“Proved to be Reuben’s brother, Richard,” inserted Petra. “And, yes, he’s very glad to have her back. And speaking of reunions, Sylvia wasn’t the only sister I managed to free.” She grabbed Mother’s arm and pulled her forward, surprising Mother enough that she let go of Ashna’s arm.
Father’s eyes widened. “Sarah?” he breathed. He took a step forward. “Sarah, is that really you?”
A smile tugged at the corner of Mother’s mouth as she pulled her hand from Petra’s.
“Yes, it’s me,” she whispered. “I’m the Multigifted, after all. It takes more than a bit of poison to kill me.”
“But you…”
“Hush Ritis, and take a moment to remember,” said Mother, laying a hand against his cheek.
Father blinked and took a slow breath. “But I…”
“Ritis, one of my gifts is disguise, would you please care to remember.”
She disappeared in a burst of glitter, and a moment later, Rintaya stood in her place, still wearing the same outfit.
Ashna gave a strangled gasp. “She’s…”
Petra laid a hand on Ashna’s shoulder. “Yeah, she is. Honestly, I knew there was something familiar about her from the moment we met. Just couldn’t put my finger on what.”
“But that means…”
“Yep,” Petra confirmed. “Now, Sarah would you like to meet us at the bottom of the tower? You know, have a moment alone?”
“Yeah, sounds good,” said Rintaya, even as Father laid a hand against her cheek. It didn’t actually sound as though she’d heard what Petra had said.
Sylvia exited the tower first, as Petra leaned over to whisper in Ashna’s ear. “I know you have a lot of questions for your mother, and it’s been three weeks since you saw your father, but let them have their moment first. Come on.”
Ashna nodded numbly and allowed Petra to turn her around and guide her through the door just as her parents met with a kiss.
“Today’s been an interesting day, hasn’t it?” said Petra, after a while. “So, now that your mother’s out of earshot, what do you think of your other aunt?” She nodded to Sylvia, just a few steps below them.
“I had rather hoped that your … that you wouldn’t be right about her,” Ashna admitted. “She … is Amber after all.”
“I know,” said Petra. “But from the moment all of the details clicked together, I just knew I was right. Laura only confirmed things for me when I got here.”
Sylvia paused and turned back to face them, her eyes narrowing as she stared at Ashna. Ashna instinctively drew back.
“Bookdaughter,” Sylvia said at length.
“Y-yes?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you sooner.” Sylvia pressed a fist to her heart. “But we only met once, and I was rather distracted that day.”
“And Ritis forgot her following your attack on Sarah,” Petra added. “It’s understandable. But, yes, Sylvia, this is Ashna, our niece, who just so happens to be the Queen of Plants, and a Bookdaughter.”
“Bookdaughter and queen?” Sylvia arched an eyebrow. “A powerful combination. Take care that you don’t let the power go to your head. I can tell you from experience that that isn’t a good idea.”
“I … I don’t plan on it.”
“And Marno thought your rank above him before…”
Ashna’s heart thudded. “Wait, what?”
“She’s referring to a conversation she and Marno had once,” said Petra. “A conversation that, given subsequent events, really isn’t important. You and Noraeto shall be Tied in a month or so, and everything else is just water under the bridge.”
Ashna swallowed. “I … I suppose so.”
“I prided myself on making everyone’s lives better, but I only brought a nightmare upon them,” Sylvia whispered, shaking her head.
“But now the nightmare is over and a new day has begun,” said Petra. “For you as well as for Rizkaland.”
Sylvia nodded, glancing away. “There is another reason why I want to wait until winter to destroy Winsot.”
“I know,” said Petra.
“The last king of Rizkaland, King Niklas, I turned him to ice in his final hours,” Sylvia continued. “The potion I used to kill the kings and queens wasn’t like what I used for Sarah. It isn’t a simple matter of destroying and undoing. Yet, with this second chance that you have given me, I can’t help but hope … pray that I might find an antidote within the month, though I fear the task to be impossible.”
“I know,” said Petra.
“I still can’t believe how despicable I became and yet still fancied myself in the right!”
“I know,” said Petra. She stepped down and put a hand on Sylvia’s shoulder. “But I also know you’re forgiven. By all means seek the cure, but don’t add to the punishment I chose for you. You’re forgiven.”
Chapter 6
Mother stood at the base of the stairs when they emerged in the red-carpeted hallway, a rolled-up doormat tucked under her arm. A haric door, Ashna recognized.
Petra gave a sharp gasp and drew up short.
“Is something wrong?” asked Mother.
“No,” said Petra shaking her head. “You just startled me, that’s all.”
“You saw her here during the Challenge of Courage, didn’t you?” said Sylvia, putting a hand on Petra’s shoulder.
Petra glanced at Sylvia, then back to Ashna’s mother, and managed a nod. “I did.”
“I hate this hall,” said Sylvia.
“Ah, I see,” said Mother. “Well, I’ve just been to Loray, then the Kastle, then to find Robert and let him know the change of plan, and then back to Loray to pick up an unused doormat and then back here. While you three took your time descending a staircase.”
“Teleportation is a useful ability,” Petra observed.
“And I’ve missed being able to use it openly as myself,” said Mother. “But I’m no haranda, and I can’t teleport all day long, especially when I’m teleporting other people. Add to it the form-changing, age-changing, and healing, and I’m pert near exhausted.”
“So you’ve brought us a haric door that we can use to return to Loray?” Petra observed.
“Indeed,” said Mother. “Also, a haric door will only allow one with pure intentions to use it.”
“You wish to test my intentions,” said Sylvia, quietly. Then she shook her head. “I don’t blame you.”
“Sarah!” Petra exclaimed.<
br />
Mother raised an eyebrow. “Unlike you, I do care about Rizkaland enough to protect the people from their greatest enemy.”
“The Dragon is dead,” Petra declared, eyes flashing. “Sylvia isn’t Amber anymore.”
“You and Laura may be convinced of her change of heart, but most of Rizkaland is not,” Mother answered.
“She’s right,” said Sylvia. “I’ve done much to betray Rizkaland’s trust. They have every right to demand that I prove my change of heart. You do no one a service by protesting that right, least of all yourself.”
“Yes, Petra,” said Mother. “You betrayed the people’s trust when you chose to not kill Amber. Now you’re going to have to prove to them that it was a good idea. And your loud declarations of ‘She’s changed! The Dragon’s dead’ don’t count as evidence. She’s faked a change of heart before, in our recent history. Petra, you have your work cut out for you.”
Petra’s jaw tightened as she considered her sisters’ advice. Then her gaze turned distant as her expression softened, and Ashna realized that she was communicating with Reuben.
“Fine,” she said at length. “But not here. Let’s find Laura and the boys first.”
“Where is Laura?” asked Sylvia. “I would have thought that she’d have caught up with us by now.”
“She’s with the boys,” Petra answered. “Apparently, we had no need of her, and sparring against Reuben is more fun than listening to us argue about Sylvia. Which I entirely agree with. Reuben is very fun to spar with.”
And she was grinning as they started down the hall.
Ashna had grown up in Loray and spent a lot of time in the twisting passages of the Kastle, but this castle was downright confusing. The passages doubled back on themselves at whim, the interior design was anything but consistent, and the strange doors put the secret passages of Upper Klarand to shame. Sylvia and Petra led the way. Ashna and her mother followed at a distance.
“So, Ashes, how has life been treating you since the … incident?” Mother asked. “We’ve not really had a chance to talk – not where I’ve been me, you know.”
“I … suppose not,” said Ashna, glancing ahead towards her aunts. “Life has been … interesting. Your world is very different from Rizkaland.”
“Yes, I suppose it is,” Mother agreed. “Did you fit in all right? I wish we had been given time to prepare you for the journey. I think your father knew something in advance, but they kept me quite in the dark about the whole affair.”
“It took a bit of getting used to, but the Kings and Queens were very nice,” Ashna answered. “I think the biggest thing to get used to was the fact that they, the figures of legend, were just normal people there.”
“Yes…” Mother drew the word out. “If you can call my mother’s ability to trip over thin air ‘normal.’”
Ashna pinched her lips together to prevent laughter.
“So, about your aunt and uncle? Petra and Tyler? How did you enjoy finally having some siblings?”
“They … uh, it was different?” Ashna’s stomach twisted as she thought of Petra. “Tyler was nice enough.”
“But not Petra?”
“She … had her moments? Look, Mother, I don’t blame her, I really don’t! She didn’t know I was your daughter. All she knew is that I was suddenly adopted just minutes after you disappeared.”
“So Petra was being … less than sisterly?”
“Mother, please don’t make an issue of it.” Ashna took her mother’s free hand. “It’s been forgiven. Petra and I have talked it over, resolved our differences. I don’t hold it against her; please don’t, either. She did it because she was trying to protect your memory, since she and Reuben were the only ones who could remember you.”
Mother’s lips were pinched as she glared at Petra, but at length, she glanced back to Ashna. “Petra has issues.”
“But she was right about you, and about Sylvia,” Ashna pointed out. “She had no idea I was your daughter, and no reason for the possibility to occur to her. Since we found out about you, things have changed, they really have. Don’t open wounds that have already healed.”
Another long silence, but then Mother asked Ashna about her studies, and Ashna was more than happy to talk about all the interesting things she had learned in the other world. Yet there was a certain tension in the air whenever Mother glanced towards her sisters, and Ashna was relieved when Sylvia announced that they had arrived.
“Finally!” Mother declared. “Is it possible to have had a longer walk?”
“Actually, yes,” Sylvia answered. “My bedchamber is a few halls away, still. Granite and I prefer to keep as much castle between us and the Hall of Blood as possible.”
“Hall of…” Ashna breathed.
“It’s as terrible as the name makes it sound,” said Petra. “If not worse. Let’s not talk about it.”
She pushed open the door to reveal a large room with weapons covering every available square inch of wall surface. Reuben and Laura were sparring with each other, and a man who could be none other than Richard stood watching them, the characteristic Eaglechaser grin spread across his face. He held up a hand and called for a halt.
Reuben and Laura stepped back from their fight. Reuben appeared quite winded, but Laura’s eyes still sparkled.
“Reuben, you really enjoy letting girls beat you up, don’t you?” Petra observed, walking over to Reuben’s side.
“No,” Reuben protested. “I just prefer it to the alternative of beating them up. I got in trouble when I did that as a kid.”
“Ah, fair point,” said Petra.
“Also, I’ve been sparring against Richard for several hours now, and she’s fresh to the battle.”
Petra just tilted her head back and laughed.
“I didn’t realize you were proficient with the quarterstaff, Laura,” said Mother.
“She’s more than proficient,” said Reuben.
“I was taught by the best,” said Laura, glancing towards Reuben. “And it isn’t every day a girl gets to best her teacher so soundly. Of course, most girls don’t have the tangled timeline I do.” She twirled her stick around her head a few times, and then, suddenly, it was gone.
“So you’re saying…” Petra began, but let the thought dangle.
“Mmm, yes, perhaps,” said Laura. “Now, Sarah, I see you brought the magic carpet that will get us out of here. Shall we return to Loray? Petra, you and I can spar later – it will be a month or so before I finally move on this time. Both versions of me actually, though the younger one will get to move on first.”
“Uh, sounds good,” said Petra.
Mother set down the doormat she’d been carrying, and then turned a severe look to Sylvia. “I never thought I’d be telling Amber how to get into Loray.”
“I long-since learned to expect the unexpected,” said Laura. “I get into less trouble that way.”
“Anyway,” Mother continued. “To use a haric door, one need only step onto the doormat, say the words ‘welcome says me’ and they’ll be instantly whisked across Rizkaland to the corresponding doormat. Step off said corresponding doormat immediately, so the person behind you can follow. Any questions?”
Laura raised her hand.
“Yes, Laura?”
“Can I go first?”
“You’re in a very good mood.” Mother sighed. “Yes, you can go first.”
“Of course I’m in a good mood,” said Laura. “Silver’s back.” And then she hopped onto the doormat, said the words, and disappeared from sight.
“Sylvia, would you like to go next?” asked Petra, before anyone else could say anything.
“I…” Sylvia glanced towards Ashna’s mother. She took a deep breath and leveled her chin. “Yes, I shall. I shall prove that my intentions are not what they were.”
With that, she stepped onto the mat, said the words, and vanished.
“Well,” said Mother. “Perhaps she has had a change of heart. Ashna, you go next. Your fathe
r is looking forward to seeing you again.”
Ashna did not have to be told twice. Moments later she stood in the Bookholder’s library. Her father was talking with Laura and Sylvia, but he turned to Ashna and held out his arms. Ashna rushed into them.
“Father, you’re alive!” she whispered.
“Yes, yes, I suppose I am,” he answered, pulling her close. “Ah, my sweet Ashna, how did you find Klarand? Was the queen’s name Jillina even as you Spoke?”
“Klarand was good,” Ashna answered, as she pulled out of the hug and slipped her hand into her pocket. “And, yes, her name is Jillina. And … I … Noraeto and I, we…”
Father raised his eyebrows as she drew her flute from her pocket.
“Alphego appointed Noraeto and me as the king and queen over plants,” she explained. “Noraeto’s father, it turns out, is Reuben’s brother, Robert. He’s half-human, too.”
“Indeed?” said father. “He always did strike me as a clever young man for an elf.” At that moment, Petra materialized on the mat. “Ah, Petra, good to see you again as well.”
“Same to you, Ritis,” said Petra, stepping off of the mat. “I take it you’re not as upset with me about sparing Sylvia as the rest of Rizkaland is?”
“No,” said Father, glancing to the former Dragon with a smile. “I’m really not. Sometimes it takes more strength to show mercy than to dispense justice.”
“I couldn’t kill my own sister,” said Petra.
“You may find that the people who’ve worked the closest with Amber are the ones who’ll accept her change the easiest,” said Father. “Those who knew her husband. Now, I’m going to leave the three of you to finish greeting the rest. Ashna and I have some catching up to do.”
Petra smiled. “Of course. No problem at all.”
Father led Ashna around some bookshelves to the alcove where the Book itself lay, propped against its desk. He sat down in his chair and gestured for Ashna to take the one that sat at hand.
“So would I be correct in understanding that Noraeto is to be my son-in-law?” he asked, as she sat down.
“Do … do you not approve?” Ashna asked. “Alphego Himself…”
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