She let the information sink in. It took longer than she expected and I could see her getting irritated by the time comprehension came.
"So, Fannie was a member of Grand Council?" I asked.
She was exasperated. "Yes." I stared at her incredulously. "Well, she didn't attend meetings or anything," Ruby explained sarcastically, "but she had the right to request protection."
"I don't understand," I said, "if they had to protect Fannie, why didn't they protect my mother?"
Ruby nodded. "You see why Junnie took issue with the outcome."
It was all getting too complicated to grasp. I decided on a new direction. "So, Junnie is starting a new council?"
"Yes, quite skillfully, as a matter of fact."
I wasn't sure about her tone. I'd started to ask when Chevelle came in.
He motioned to Ruby and she leapt from her seat and out of the room, probably to meet with the others to be informed of what she missed. I sat up as Chevelle took her chair beside me.
"Are you well?" he asked.
A moment passed before I realized what he'd meant, having completely forgotten I'd been escorted from the conference. "Oh, yes." I answered. And then I remembered. "Where's Junnie?"
"She's just departing."
"No," I complained.
He didn't comment but I saw him glance at the window. I was on my feet and to it in a heartbeat. I scanned the grounds below and finally found her, already too far from the castle. I squinted to see her better, she was being escorted by someone, Grey I thought. And what was that dark mass beside her? A large black dog...
Snickers. My chest tightened as I watched her carry on, the animal running contentedly beside her as Grey started to slow and then, finally, turned to head back toward the castle.
I slumped as I slid away from the window and found a seat on the edge of the bed. Snickers.
"Freya?" Chevelle asked, leaning close to me.
I looked up, into his eyes, and didn't think before speaking. "I remembered your mother's name. Sapphire." His expression was unreadable, until I added, "Like Ruby."
And then his face changed, as did his entire posture, and he answered me with a voice that was harsh, defensive. "No, not like Ruby."
I pulled back slightly, caught off guard by his response and surprised that I'd even spoken it aloud. He purposefully settled and smoothed his expression. Damn it, why didn't I faint when it was convenient?
"I can't remember," I defended in a voice near a whisper.
His hand lifted to reach out to me but he caught himself.
"I should tell you," he started.
Oh, great, I'd asked for it. I waited for the heavy, feeling my chest constrict as my wide eyes gazed back into his. He took a deep breath of his own.
"You said that you recalled Rune, my father." I nodded, not missing the strain at his last words. "And you know that Asher was lord of the North," he continued, slowly. "So, you understand that, as such, I... we were under his rule."
The tension in my chest sharpened, as if a blade were forced there, and I felt my hand clutch it automatically as his words were absorbed by my ragged mind. I understood that I was backing away from him but couldn't stop myself. My suspicions had been right, he was working for them, they all were. He reached out and, though I flinched away, caught my wrist to hold me in place. For one terrible moment, I felt as if he would hurt me, but I caught myself, because he'd saved me for Asher. My frayed thoughts ran a thousand directions, wrenching me to pieces.
But he did hurt me. Not how I'd expected, not physically, he hurt me with his final words. "Not us, Freya, not my father and myself. We," his other hand gestured between us, "me and you."
Everyone.
Chapter Twelve
Bonds
It had been my last thought before the relief of blackness washed through me. Everyone. When I woke again, it was a painful, all-consuming knowledge. I had no idea how I'd missed it; once the truth was there, I could not understand how I could have been so blind to it. Of course we would have all been under his rule. Everyone, especially me. I mentally shook my head at my lack of insight. Asher had acted as my father, and had been the lord of the North. I was his second.
And Chevelle. His father had been Rune, led to train myself and my mother before me, ordered by my father. Though I had more blank spots than memories, I knew that Rune was a close ally to Asher. Of course, Chevelle would have to have been loyal to Asher.
But no, not loyal. I couldn't be sure where the thought had came from, but I knew it was true. Chevelle had been under his rule, yes, but not loyally. Why couldn't I remember the same of myself? How could I be sure of his allegiance but not my own? And then I remembered the dreams, memories of his tormented body on the ground as his own father tortured him, wearing that malevolent smile. Was that why?
Ruby cleared her throat.
I groaned at her, still raw. She leaned closer and my eyes flinched open automatically.
"Good, you're awake," she cooed.
I glared at her. "What, Ruby?"
"Tell me what you did to Chevelle."