The Stolen Throne

Chapter Nineteen - Infiltration pt. 2

"When did this book fall into your families' hands?" Vindexis asked quietly. Her eyes had widened in barely restrained awe when Miriana had given her the book after everyone had left.

"You know it then?"

"This is an original copy. I've only ever seen more modern versions and only ever in the Concordium." Vindexis murmured, holding the book carefully in her hands and gently lifting up the cover.

"Good job you've read it before and good job you know elvish then." Miriana said, crossing her arms over her chest and almost glaring down at the flowing elven script scrawled over the first page.

"You said it killed your mother? Could she read elvish?" Vindexis said, carefully turning the page.

"No. But she tried to read this. She would open it every day and mutter about how her grandmother was keeping secrets from her, secrets in that book. It drove her mad. She stopped eating, she wouldn't sleep. Eventually, she died from exhaustion." A shadow passed over Miriana's face, her fists clenching at her sides.

"And you didn't try to get rid of it?" Vindexis asked, gazing at the girl beside her with a penetrating gaze.

"Aye, I tried. Tried for years but I never could bring myself to do it. Still, have no idea why."

"Family ties." Vindexis muttered.

"What?"

"You said your mother blamed her grandmother for keeping secrets?"

"Yes. What's that got to do with anything?" Miriana's brow furrowed.

"This book is the greatest secret of them all." Vindexis smiled to herself, "Do you know who your great-grandmother was Miriana?"

"A sorceress from the North," Miriana shrugged, "Mother never talked of her and I knew better than to ask. All I know about her was that she kept secrets and my mother blamed her for my family's downfall."

"Downfall? I'm not so sure about that." Vindexis said quietly, returning her scrutinizing gaze back toward the volume resting in her hands. "What exactly were you planning on asking me to do?" She asked, turning page after page.

Miriana's eyes glinted with mischief, "A weather spell. More specifically..." She reached over the table and turned the pages until she found the one she was seeking.

"I like your thinking. Are you sure you've not inherited any magic? You'd be wonderful." Vindexis grasped the book, her eyes quickly scanning the page.

"Pretty sure that's the only magic I've inherited." Miriana said, gesturing to the book.

"Hmm," Vindexis murmured, "We've already lingered too long here, the others may have even been spotted. We ought to cast this as quickly as possible."

"You can do it then?" Miriana asked

Vindexis turned her violet eyes upward until she met Miriana's grey ones, an impish glint flashing across them, "Of course."

*

Lucy could have cried from glee. Thick fog had descended, it swam about her ankles but she still saw through it. She wasn't sure that those looking down onto the streets could.

"Ready?" Edward murmured from behind, his presence as reassuring as ever. Lucy barely had time to register the question before her mind screamed at her to say she wasn't, that she might never be. How could she possibly be ready to fight Esmeralda? But she managed to nod, not trusting herself to speak for fear she would betray the resolve she'd hardened her heart with.