As usual, Silene is the de facto commander of our little group. Dressed in a light traveling dress, she directs the servants and even forces Fionn to go wash his hands. “The dirt under your nails will make a horrid impression,” she tells him.

He growls. “I have dirt under my nails because I’m a warrior. That is the impression I want to make.” But he concedes, quickly scrubbing his hands and under his nails in the bathing chamber.

When all the trunks have been hauled away, the three of us share a moment where we let the fear show on our faces before locking it and my suite away.

“You guys go ahead to the departure ceremony. I don’t want my father to be angry with you for being late,” I tell them.

“And you plan to be late?” Silene asks. I only grin. She sighs, ushering Fionn down the hall as I turn left from my room and make my way toward my mother’s chambers.

Pulling a key from my pocket, I unlock the door and step inside the suite, my eyes scanning the room as early morning light illuminates the swirling dust. I take in a deep inhale, desperately wanting to smell her scent lingering but knowing it disappeared from the space hundreds of years ago. I can almost see her spectral figure pacing back and forth, lecturing me on the importance of using my power for good as I practiced conjuring light orbs and releasing them. My lips quirk in a smile.

She was beautiful, known throughout Velmara for both her looks and her kind heart. She hated my father and did her best to keep him away from me when I was young. Her influence, though short-lived, shaped me into who I am today, and I’m so grateful that she kept me out of my father’s clutches during my early years.