Forgotten Magic

Chapter 45

As we walked, I noticed how Adira kept glancing at me. First quickly. Then again. It got kind of unnerving, so I decided to ask.

"What is it?"

She raised her eyebrows. "Nothing much. I'm just surprised someone as young as you has made it out here with...them."

I laugh. And then I remember. "Could I ask you something?"

"Of course."

I pull out two of my mother's letters, things I'd never shown to anyone, and handed them to Adira. "These are letters from my mom to a...a mentor of mine. They're about twenty five years old-the-the letters. Your name is mentioned in this one." I point to the first one I'd given her. "And I think you're mentioned here too. Is this you?"

She reads over the letters, looking thoughtful. And then her eyes widen. And she smiles. "Yes. All except the individual your mentor met."

I can't help it. I smile. "Do you...do you know my mother? Or...or the other people mentioned in these?" I pull out the letters I'd already gone through.

She scans through each of them, then looks out into the woods for a long time, thinking. Then she starts with "I never knew your parents too well."

"So-So you do know them?"

"Did is more like it. I haven't talked to Isabel or Daniel in a long time."

"So Daniel is my father?"

She nods. "Yes. He was a very good person. Kind. Thoughtful. So was your mother. I thought I recognized you when we first met."

Now I was positively beaming. She knew my parents? "What about the other person mentioned here? Hector?"

She stiffens, then says "Hector guards the object the princess seeks. I'm certain we will meet him in time."

My time was limited, I knew, so I blurted "What were you looking for?"

She smiled at me. "The Sundrop."

"A-another thing."

Eugene was starting towards us.

"Did you know Quirin?"

She nods. "Yes."

My time was up.

"Ann! Get over here."

"Why should I?" I ask. "You're not in charge of me."

"This entire group is."

I groan and walk with him.  "Fine..." I muttered. "I guess this is some kind of rule the king wrote up, huh?"

He nodded.

"Okay."

Unfortunately, one little note from King Fredrick wasn't going to stop me from talking to the one person who knew my parents. But now I had to wait until Eugene started talking to the others.

"Why is Nickolas's nickname...Guard dog?" I ask. ""I-I mean...if your definition of a guard dog is...hot tempered and...well...ruthless...I suppose...I can see it. But-"

Adira smiles at me. "That isn't the way I see it. To put it into some light, I've been observing your group for some time. Fish Skin is his nickname because of one trait he possesses. Your...friend is what he is for very similar reasons."

"So...they're similar?"

"To some extent."

"Really? How?"

"I'm sure that'll show in time."

To sum up the next few...I'd like to say hours, Eugene failed to get us up a cliff, through rain, and out from some vines. He was losing his touch, if he ever had it. He also forced us forward and...well...to...