all the things they had learned already. Wry amusement gleamed in Athrar's eyes.
Lycen studied the ring on his finger. The very lack of expression on his face told Meghianna
more than any rage or confusion might have revealed.
"I promised you would be Valors someday," Megassa said, gesturing for silence.
"Listen! This is very important. Yes, I will send a message to your father, telling him how all of
you have imbrose, but we cannot tell anyone about..." She gestured helplessly at
Athrar.
"We should still address Athrar as Thrarin. Until he stands before our father and takes
Braenlicach in his hand to prove his identity, he is still my son and Lycen's little brother,"
Meghianna said slowly. She felt a few knots of tension loosen when her son raised his head and
met her eyes and she didn't see the accusations and anger she had feared. "However, it's useless
to try to hide this any longer." She gestured at her white hair and white clothes. "You boys have
permission to call me Aunt Meggi in public now. So that means Thrarin is your cousin, just like
Lycen has always been your cousin. Is that understood?"
A chorus of "Yes, Aunt Meggi" rang through the room.
"Here is what we have decided." Megassa settled down on the bench. "Your first duty as
Valors in training is to guard the Warhawk's heir. We are going on a trip tonight, after everyone
else is asleep here at the inn. You are being entrusted with a wonderful secret."
I don't know how much of a secret it is, Meghianna remarked, as she beckoned
for her two boys to come with her. Anyone who knows the history of Papa and Glyssani
knows about the tunnel under the sea.
Yes, but you haven't been listening to the tales told by traveling minstrels and
traders, her sister retorted, as her boys spilled dozens of questions all at once. Supposedly the tunnel is not anchored to anything and moves about just as the island of
Wynystrys does. And it will only open for whoever wields Braenlicach, for the Queen of Snows,
the High Scholar, and Mrillis.
"I think we should see about dinner," Meghianna said, as the three of them stepped out
into the hallway. She gladly shut the door, muffling the sounds of the boys' voices. We need
a cloaking spell, Megs, so people don't overhear us. Mrillis took care of it when we were
plotting, but --
Oh, do let me. It's been so long since I needed to do anything like this. Amusement flickered through her sister's voice.
My thanks. Meghianna rested a hand on each boy's shoulder as they walked
silently down the hallway, and crossed the inn to their room. She took a deep breath. Here is
another lesson, and I think you are strong enough for it, she said into their minds. She was
amused to feel Lycen and Athrar both flinch at the sound of her voice in their minds. You
aren't strong enough yet to hold conversations by yourselves through the Threads, but you can
do it if I am linked with you. This will help us keep things quiet and secure. Not like your
cousins.
Am I really their cousin? Lycen asked.
You are my son, so that makes Megassa's boys your cousins. I suppose it's a shock,
to have your family grow so much in just a few hours.
But I'm not really your son. Not born to you. And Thrarin isn't really my brother. I
knew that. I remember when he came to live with us, but he's been my brother and-- Lycen
started to twist his shoulder out of her reach, but Meghianna gripped it harder.
Lysette and Syndal might have given you life, but they entrusted you to my care when
they died, Meghianna said, adding punctuation to her words by pushing the door of their
room open with a mental shove. But I raised you. I fed you and wiped your tears and
watched you through nightmares and cheered when you learned to ride. You are my son in all
the ways that matter.
Yes, but he won't be Queen of Snows when you're gone, Athrar offered.
Lycen stopped short so that Meghianna, who walked behind both boys, ran into him.
They nearly fell against the table. For three long seconds,
Lycen studied the ring on his finger. The very lack of expression on his face told Meghianna
more than any rage or confusion might have revealed.
"I promised you would be Valors someday," Megassa said, gesturing for silence.
"Listen! This is very important. Yes, I will send a message to your father, telling him how all of
you have imbrose, but we cannot tell anyone about..." She gestured helplessly at
Athrar.
"We should still address Athrar as Thrarin. Until he stands before our father and takes
Braenlicach in his hand to prove his identity, he is still my son and Lycen's little brother,"
Meghianna said slowly. She felt a few knots of tension loosen when her son raised his head and
met her eyes and she didn't see the accusations and anger she had feared. "However, it's useless
to try to hide this any longer." She gestured at her white hair and white clothes. "You boys have
permission to call me Aunt Meggi in public now. So that means Thrarin is your cousin, just like
Lycen has always been your cousin. Is that understood?"
A chorus of "Yes, Aunt Meggi" rang through the room.
"Here is what we have decided." Megassa settled down on the bench. "Your first duty as
Valors in training is to guard the Warhawk's heir. We are going on a trip tonight, after everyone
else is asleep here at the inn. You are being entrusted with a wonderful secret."
I don't know how much of a secret it is, Meghianna remarked, as she beckoned
for her two boys to come with her. Anyone who knows the history of Papa and Glyssani
knows about the tunnel under the sea.
Yes, but you haven't been listening to the tales told by traveling minstrels and
traders, her sister retorted, as her boys spilled dozens of questions all at once. Supposedly the tunnel is not anchored to anything and moves about just as the island of
Wynystrys does. And it will only open for whoever wields Braenlicach, for the Queen of Snows,
the High Scholar, and Mrillis.
"I think we should see about dinner," Meghianna said, as the three of them stepped out
into the hallway. She gladly shut the door, muffling the sounds of the boys' voices. We need
a cloaking spell, Megs, so people don't overhear us. Mrillis took care of it when we were
plotting, but --
Oh, do let me. It's been so long since I needed to do anything like this. Amusement flickered through her sister's voice.
My thanks. Meghianna rested a hand on each boy's shoulder as they walked
silently down the hallway, and crossed the inn to their room. She took a deep breath. Here is
another lesson, and I think you are strong enough for it, she said into their minds. She was
amused to feel Lycen and Athrar both flinch at the sound of her voice in their minds. You
aren't strong enough yet to hold conversations by yourselves through the Threads, but you can
do it if I am linked with you. This will help us keep things quiet and secure. Not like your
cousins.
Am I really their cousin? Lycen asked.
You are my son, so that makes Megassa's boys your cousins. I suppose it's a shock,
to have your family grow so much in just a few hours.
But I'm not really your son. Not born to you. And Thrarin isn't really my brother. I
knew that. I remember when he came to live with us, but he's been my brother and-- Lycen
started to twist his shoulder out of her reach, but Meghianna gripped it harder.
Lysette and Syndal might have given you life, but they entrusted you to my care when
they died, Meghianna said, adding punctuation to her words by pushing the door of their
room open with a mental shove. But I raised you. I fed you and wiped your tears and
watched you through nightmares and cheered when you learned to ride. You are my son in all
the ways that matter.
Yes, but he won't be Queen of Snows when you're gone, Athrar offered.
Lycen stopped short so that Meghianna, who walked behind both boys, ran into him.
They nearly fell against the table. For three long seconds,
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