The Azimar Archives Book One- The Book of Death

Nevina

Nevina chewed on her lip as Areanath's image faded from the surface of the mirror in front of her. Men can be so selfish, she thought, pressing her eyes closed and willing her tears away. Killing each other for the sake of power. Even their own family, Great Ones damn them.

"So selfish." She muttered, sniffing delicately.

There was a soft knock at the door to her room, and Nevina jumped at the noise. "Just a moment!" she called, forcing her voice to remain steady. "I'm not decent."

She carefully draped a white veil down over her face, adjusting the ties that fastened it as she stood until it covered her eyes and rested gently against the bridge of her nose.

The door opened to reveal a tall girl, with blonde tresses framing a face half covered by a similar white veil. The girl bowed slightly as Nevina pulled the door open wider. "Matriarch." She half whispered.

"Layle, what are you doing up?"

"One of the younger girls felt ill, I was caring for her," Layle answered.

"Was it Arella?" Nevina asked, moving to step around the girl. "Is she alright?"

Layle put an arm out to stop her. "She's alright, Matriarch." She quickly pulled her arm back as Nevina stepped away. "Just some homesickness, that's all," Layle added in another half whisper, wrapping her arms around her chest.

Nevina frowned slightly. "We'll only be away for a few days."

"I told her as much, Matriarch. She's asleep now."

Nevina sighed in relief. "Thank you for taking care of her." She reached out and caressed the side of Layle's head, feeling her soft hair under her fingers. "You're very good to the other girls, and I don't tell you often enough how grateful I am to have you under my care, and how much I-"

"I understand, Matriarch," Layle said, cutting her off.

"Alright, then." She said softly, pulling her hand away. "Did you need to see me for something? It's very late, you should get to bed."

"I thought I heard you talking to someone. Was it Grandmother?" Layle asked.

"No, though I should probably check in with her before sleeping, I suppose. It was the King. We were just discussing some minor details before tomorrow's meeting." Nevina shrugged. "Nothing terribly important."

"Oh," Layle said, her chin dropping slightly. "I was hoping it was Grandmother. I was going to ask if I could say goodnight to her, but..." Layle's words trailed.

Nevina chuckled. "I'll pass your message along, Layle. I'm sure she'll be grateful to know you were thinking of her." She gave the girl a quick nod. "Now, off to bed. It's late, and you need sleep. Goodnight, Layle."

"Goodnight, Matriarch." Layle bowed again slightly before walking away and slipping into a neighboring room in their rented cottage.

Nevina watched her departure for a moment before shutting the door and returning to her scrying mirror, which she had balanced atop the mantle to the fireplace in her room. The fireplace was unlit, but there was a smattering of candles on the mantle and on the table a few feet away, and their combined glow was enough to see by.

Nevina thought of her mother, Layle's grandmother, and she hardened her will into a small knot of desire as she lightly touched the surface of the mirror. It instantly grew foggy, responding to Nevina's scrying magic and seeking out her mother.

Nevina heard her mother's voice before she saw her image as anything more than a shadow on the glass. "Nevina? Is that you?" Her mother's voice was warbled, but strong and warm.

"It's me,Nevara." Nevina smiled as her mother came into view more clearly. Her long hair was down, more silver now than gold, and her robe clung to her thin frame. "You've forgotten your veil," Nevina said, staring at her mother's milky eyes in disbelief. How long had they been so dead?

Her mother waved a hand in dismissal. "Forget the veil. It's no good to me anymore. I have nothing to fear from you seeing my face, darling."

"You're very beautiful." Nevina meant it. She had only seen her mother's face a few times, but was always struck by how stunning she must have been in her prime. Even now, thin and nearly blind, her face was radiant.

"Nevina..." her mother chided lightly. She waved her hand again, and Nevina noticed a tremble in the thin fingers.

"Are you cold?" Nevina frowned, spotting a young woman in the background, waiting to attend to her mother. "Anna, can you get her a blanket? She looks half frozen."

The young woman snapped to attention, bowing and muttering a quick "Yes, Matriarch" before hurrying out of Nevina's view. Nevina felt a momentary pang of jealousy that Anna, an Ungifted, could look on her mother's face every evening. It was safe for any Coven member to go unveiled around an Ungifted, and Anna was her mother's caretaker in her old age, but it still hurt. Anna was little more than a girl, and might one day be her own caretaker. Would Layle feel the same jealousy when that day came?

Nevara protested vainly as the young woman draped a heavy blanket over her shoulders. "Really, Nevina, it isn't necessary, I'm only up for a moment more, then Anna will help me to bed." She sighed as Anna rearranged the blanket to sit more comfortably on her. " I'm glad you Called on me, Nevina. I'm not sure I like you going to the castle right now."

"Did you See something?" Nevina asked. Could she See anything, anymore?

"No. Maybe. I'm not sure." Her mother sighed. "I just have this terrible feeling that you won't return home." She shook her head, smiling faintly. "I know it's silly, but will you Call on me again tomorrow night? Or the morning after? Whenever your... duties are complete?"

There had been a slight pause, Nevina had heard it. And she knew why. Her mother was aware of her true intentions in coming to see Areanath. Although Nevina had let the rest of her Coven assume the visit was purely politically motivated, she couldn't keep the truth from the former Matriarch. Is that why she was worried?

"Of course, Mother. But don't wait up for me. If you haven't heard from me by nightfall tomorrow, I'll just wait until morning. You shouldn't stay up so late two nights in a row." Nevina tried to smile reassuringly before remembering her mother couldn't see it. "There is nothing to worry about. No harm will come to us while we can still call the King our friend."

Nevina's mother sniffed delicately, one eyebrow arched in skepticism. "Very well, Matriarch."

Her words stung a bit. In only an instant, her mother had changed the tone of their conversation from one of a mother chatting with her daughter, to one of a subordinate bending to the wishes of her master. It had not been that long ago that their roles had been reversed, and Nevina had been the one acquiescing to her mother's will.

Nevara must have sensed her unease in the silence. Her voice grew softer, her brows knitted together in concern. "Just come home quickly, and safely."

"Of course, Mother."

"Anything else, Little One?"

"Yes," Nevina's lips curled into a smile. "Layle wanted to wish her grandmother a good night."

"Oh, Nevina..." Her mother smiled, her eyes almost bright for a moment. "I wish you hadn't told her."

"It's hardly a secret, Mother. It was just as easy for her to figure out as it was for me, all those years ago."

Her mother sighed. "I suppose you're right. And it does an old heart good to feel loved by the youngest ones. Give her my love in return, and tell her not to tell a soul." Her lips thinned, one eyebrow raising critically. "If it'll even do much good anymore."

Nevina chuckled. "Goodnight, Mother."

"Goodnight, Nevina."

With that, her mother's image faded from the surface of Nevina's scrying mirror. Nevina untied the veil from her hair and lay it on the mantle, beside the mirror, and slid into bed, already thinking of what tomorrow might bring.