“It doesn’t matter who I am,” Ephyra said. “We don’t have much time. Your grandson—”

“What has he done?” Lady Galanis asked sharply.

“You’ve been sick,” Ephyra said.

“Sick?” Lady Galanis replied. “No, I…” She trailed off, touching her fingers to her mouth. “That’s right, isn’t it? I haven’t been out of bed in weeks.”

“In the meantime, Dracon took control of your estate, and he’s been threatening the villagers if they don’t comply with his demands,” Ephyra said in a rush. “One of your servants here, Nephele, told me everything. I thought if you knew, you’d want to put a stop to it.”

Lady Galanis sighed, putting her face in her hands. “I told my people that under no circumstances was he to inherit a cent of this estate. That boy…” She shook her head, looking up at Ephyra. “Sometimes there’s no fixing evil.”

Ephyra shivered under the woman’s piercing gaze.

Guards burst into the room before Ephyra could reply. They surrounded the perimeter, swords pointed at Ephyra.

“Step away from the bed!” one of them barked. “Hands up where we can see them!”

Ephyra stumbled away from the bed, but before she’d gone too far Lady Galanis rose to her feet, gathering a long, sheer robe around her.

“What is all this commotion?” she demanded. “Startling your poor old lady like this!”

The guards faltered, staring in awe at Lady Galanis as she moved smoothly and easily across the room.

One of them finally spoke up. “Lady Galanis, that girl is—”

“She is a healer,” Lady Galanis said, with a quick glance at Ephyra. “She healed me of my ailments and has informed me what’s been going on here.”

“Grandmother, thank the Prophets you’re all right!” Dracon cried, storming into the room from behind the guards. “Guards, seize that girl and make sure she—”

“Guards,” Lady Galanis countered, eyes blazing. “Seize my grandson.”

The guards didn’t move for a very tense moment. Then one of them lunged toward Dracon. The others followed suit a second later.

“This very kind and helpful young woman told me all about what you’ve been doing to these poor villagers while you’ve had me shut away here,” Lady Galanis said as the guards trussed Dracon up. “I am ashamed to call you my blood. See to it that you never set foot at this estate or on these lands ever again.”

“She’s lying!” Dracon said at once. “Grandmother, I would never—”

But the guards were already dragging him from the room.

“I’m going to have to fire half my staff,” Lady Galanis said wearily. “Whoever let Dracon take over.” She turned to Ephyra, who was still frozen by the bed. “I must thank you for your assistance. You said Nephele sent you?”

“Well, she didn’t exactly send me,” Ephyra replied. “I found her hiding in a barn.”