My shoulders slumped. I hated disappointing Petra. “I did my best, Mother.”
“I summoned you here to see if you were ready to lead our people.” Petra slowly stepped closer. “Obviously, that is not the case.”
I sighed. “On that, we agree.”
Petra eyed me slowly from head to toe. “Return to your farm. Take some time. Practice meditation and the routines of the Sire of Souls. I’ll summon you when I’ve need of you.” She shuffle-walked back to her desk and slowly eased herself back into her seat. Her whole body shook with the movement.
My spine straightened. It felt good to be under Petra’s guidance again. The Necromancers would be safe under her care. All I needed was to get back to my farm, and everything could return to normal. “Thank you, Mother.”
Petra picked up her quill and dipped it into her inkwell. “I have only one request before you leave.”
“What is it, Mother?”
“Someone’s waiting for you in the hallway outside. They’d like a word before you go.”
I frowned, picturing the long list of people I’d rather not face right now. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“That may be true.” A wry smile might have curled her lips, but the expression was gone too quickly to be sure. “But if you don’t, Ada will never give me a moment’s peace.”
My heart lightened. That sounded like the old Ada. I couldn’t wait to see her. “You can count on it, Mother.” I sped toward the door and pulled it open.
Ada stood in the outer hallway, flanked by two of the elder Zelle Sisters. The change in her was unbelievable. In just a matter of weeks, her bony frame had begun to fill out, all her welts had healed over to small scars, and a light now shone in her brown eyes.
“Elea!” Ada rushed up and hugged my waistline.
I patted her head and grinned from ear to ear. “It’s so good to see you.”
Ada stepped back and pulled up the sleeve on her Novice robes. A thin rope of muscle popped from her upper arm. “Look how strong I am.”
I set my hand on my throat in an overblown show of amazement. “Oh, my.”
“The Sisters let me climb up the mountain face all day long. And look at this.” She raised her left hand. A pulse of blue light moved across her palm. “I have magick, Elea! Just like you.” She frowned. “Only not exactly like you. You made all those people with their skeleton faces. I can’t do that yet. But I can pull in enough power to be a Novice.” She twirled, showing the fullness of her skirt. “Look, I have new robes now and everything!”
“So you do.” I knelt before her and felt my eyes prickle with tears. This moment. Right now. That’s what I’ve worked for. And it’s all worth it. “I’m very proud of you, Ada.”
She swished her torso from side to side and smiled. “Wulf’s been climbing, too. Even though he’s a boy, they’re letting him sleep by my bed in the Sisters’ dormitory.”
More warmth spread through my chest. I’d forgotten about Ada’s imaginary friend. “Is that so?” I looked over to the pair of Sisters who were glancing with small smiles down at Ada. For traditional Necromancers, that was an overwhelming show of emotion. I was surprised Petra allowed it. “Does other Mother Superior know about this?”
The taller Sister, Mina, spoke first. As she turned to me, a mask of calm settled over her face. “We act on Mother’s orders. She says that Ada needs time to be a child.”
“We’re to spoil her rotten,” added Sister Lorelei.
Ada bounced on the balls of her feet. “The Sisters let me eat whatever I want, climb the mountainside, and if I ask to learn magick, then they teach me!”
“I’m so glad, Ada.”
“Now that you’re the Tsarina, will you stay and teach me, too? I want to be a great mage just like you.”
The Sisters eyed me carefully. No doubt, they knew that Mother Superior had summoned me here to find out if I was ready to stay and lead. I sighed. “I’m going back to my old farm, Ada.”
“But you’re the Tsarina.”
“Mother Superior will lead the Necromancers.”
Ada frowned and bit her thumbnail. “You’ll come back and visit me, right?”
My throat tightened with grief. Ada had been so happy just a moment ago. Now, her bottom lip wobbled. “I’ll try, Ada.”
“But I waited for you. It was awful!”
“I know it was.” My voice cracked. “I worked hard to find you.”
“Now you’re leaving again. It’s because of that man, isn’t it? The one Veronique and Amelia are talking about.”
I hugged my elbows. “I’ve always wanted to return to my farm.” Even as the words left my mouth, they felt hollow. Why did I want to run away from here? That wasn’t me.
“Amelia didn’t leave Veronique once she was found.” Ada’s little hands balled into fists. “She stayed with her because she loves her.”