Memory's Wake Omnibus: The Complete Illustrated YA Fantasy Series by Selina Fenech Page B

she said, sticking her chin out toward Eloryn. She rested fists on her thin hips, her voice scolding. “Roen told us who he thinks you are. True or not we could trust you both more and help you more if you would talk to us.”
    Eloryn didn’t lift her eyes to meet Isabeth’s as she asked, “And what do you think of what Roen believes?”
    Isabeth softened a little, the slightest tilt to her head. “I think you are two hurt, frightened girls who need our help. It would be my greatest wish to see a child of Loredanna’s alive and well. I’ve hoped it for the longest time but was never so foolish to imagine the heir would just walk through my door.”
    Eloryn choked on a tiny sob, her eyes still downcast. “I have.”

Chapter Seven

     
    Isabeth’s hands rose to her mouth.
    Tears flowed down Eloryn’s cheeks, and she slumped forward where she sat on the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for sitting here silent while you’ve given us all your help. I couldn’t even give you the honors of your rank. Grand Duchess, I’ve been so rude. You must know that I can’t, I shouldn’t tell anyone. Even my being here is putting you at risk, but I just don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do on my own.”
    “Oh, child!” Isabeth wrapped her arms around Eloryn and held her as she sobbed.
    The details fell into place in Memory’s head. No joke, Eloryn really was a princess. A real goddamned princess on the run. Daughter of a King and Queen who were killed for their throne by some bad man who makes people poor and cuts their arms off. Blah blah wars, blah blah Thayl, hunters, hiding and terror. Had Eloryn lied to her about why those men chased them? What else had she lied about?
    I don’t know what to do on my own. Eloryn’s words made her face burn. She didn’t matter at all. The girl with no memories and no use to anyone. In competition with a princess, why would any of them help her?
    Isabeth called out to Brannon and Roen. She nodded to them over Eloryn’s head, stroking her hair.
    “Hush child.” Isabeth rocked Eloryn ever so slightly. “You are doing fine. By the fae, you are alive! That’s a greater thing than many even dared hope for.”
    “But how?” Brannon moved in closer, crouching on the floor in front of them.
    “Wizard Councilor Alward saved me, raised me.” Eloryn’s sobbing slowed and she worked at wiping her face dry. “He was known before as Pellaine.”
    Isabeth and her husband nodded in comprehension. “We saw… Well, never mind what we saw just now. But we had reason to hope Pellaine had escaped, that Loredanna’s baby had been saved.”
    Memory’s nose wrinkled. She watched Isabeth fussing over the princess. Her heart ached, imagining a mother of her own out there somewhere, worrying about where she was and wanting to hold her while she bawled her eyes out like that. I have to find my way back to my mother, my family, my home.
    No one flocked to help or console her. Why would they with a princess in the room? Whatever, deal with her problems. I’ll be fine on my own. Like a ghost, she drifted out the doorway, through the kitchen, unbolted the small back door and walked out.
    What the hell am I supposed to do now? She breathed deeply through a bout of panic, staring into the night. A forest backed the cottage, dark and imposing as though the house had been built in the open and the forest had marched right up to it like an army. A bitter vanilla fragrance wafted to her from a vine curling up around the back door, its white flowers still open at night.
    A crisp cold settled on her skin. Too cold to be sulking and smelling the flowers. She swore at the pettiness that drove her out there alone, not even knowing where she’d go next. She pulled the chemise back up onto her shoulders where it didn’t like staying, and hugged her arms around her chest. The cold bit at her and she considered going and sulking in the kitchen near the hearth.
    Something moved high in the