Reva, Sindor

The Grand-Consort permitted Lady-Consort masil-Kepar to visit with Kaz whenever she came to Crimsonwater Court, which, surprisingly, occurred more frequently than he ever anticipated. Kaz's mother was called to administer Young Master Ariss' medicinal tonics several times a week. The older boy didn't suffer from any known or diagnosable diseases. He simply had the misfortune of being born with a frail immune system and very weak lungs.

That afternoon, Lady-Consort masil-Kepar made her way to the east wing, as usual, where Kaz's small room was located. Her expression remained poised as ever, but delight was radiating from her very core. Kaz noticed the peculiar gleam in his mother's eyes the moment she appeared in his doorway, but he said nothing about it and greeted her in warm, welcoming tones.

"Consort-Mother, I hope the day graces you with good fortune and blessings abound."

"My dear sweet boy, the day has indeed blessed us with good fortune! I have the most wonderful news!" Lady-Consort masil-Kepar breathed happily. "Your father, Commander Admiral Ariss, has returned a week early from the capital. He will be dining in Crimsonwater Court this evening. Grand-Consort Ariss has invited all of us—you, myself, Lady-Consort Givenue, the Young Masters—to be in attendance. This shall be a most marvelous opportunity for us to win the Grand-Consort's favor and gain your father's notice. Lady-Consort Givenue and Young Master Givenue will most certainly be on the offensive as well. You must be ready to put on a most convincing performance for your father. Do you understand, Kazekiel?"

"Yes, Consort-Mother," Kaz murmured easily. "Tell me what must be done, and I will do it."

A month had passed since Kaz first received his forty lashings from Young Master Ariss. With the help of his mother's salve, the flesh wounds on his back hardened, at last, into barely noticeable scars.

At ten, Kaz still embodied the appearance of a young wholesome boy, but, after only a short while in Crimsonwater Court, there was no longer anything boyish about the way he viewed the world.

---

A young princess from a powerful kingdom fell in love with a prince from a neighboring rival kingdom. Her name was Jaenelle. His name was Sen. Their kingdoms were on the verge of war when a new life began to form in Jaenelle's womb. The child belonged to Sen. Since the foreign prince and princess were unwed, the news—if it fell into the wrong hands—would likely be used to force the king, Valens, to wage war against Sen's kingdom. Jaenelle's mother, the queen, Viranne, knew she needed to defuse the scandal at all costs, but she loved her daughter dearly and didn't wish to harm her unborn grandchild.

Viranne sent Jaenelle to a faraway land under the pretense of a contagious illness to deliver her babe in peace and in secret. Jaenelle's child entered the world under rather humbling circumstances, but the infant princess was strong and healthy. Jaenelle wasn't so fortunate. She died of complications from childbirth two days later.

The queen was heartbroken, but she was determined to protect the babe and her kingdom at all costs. Viranne tasked a trusted maidservant with the duty of looking after the infant princess as though she were her own flesh and blood. Viranne wanted a different path for her granddaughter. She wished to give the girl a simple life away from the palace—a luxury that she, sadly, hadn't been able to afford her own daughter.

Viranne wasn't a foolish woman, though. She always planned two steps in advance and three steps backwards. Should the queen ever require the infant princess' services after she was grown, she would need a way to confirm the girl's identity and lineage. And should her granddaughter ever return to the palace, the girl would need a way to discern who could be trusted amidst a court of snakes.

So, the queen gifted the maidservant with an ancient book of Ausicaan fairytales—and kept one for herself. There were only two copies of this particular book in existence, and it was inscribed in an old, forgotten language that only a handful could speak. Viranne instructed the maidservant to teach the princess, once she was of age, to memorize the fairytale by heart. The one, specifically, about the girl and wolf. Only those in possession of the book and the story could be trusted with the secret regarding the existence of the infant princess.

As the years went by, Viranne's wish seemed to come true. The infant princess grew into a happy and carefree child. She and the maidservant came to love each other more than life itself. Around the same time, however, the once fearsome queen's health began to wither and her influence waned.

Viranne reached out to her loyal maidservant one last time.

"Old age and sickness have fallen upon me. My days in this realm are numbered, and I fear I shall be reunited with my husband very soon. I have decided to pass the book and its secrets along to another keeper. His name is Thames Rieze Ariss. He is only an officer in the navy at present, but he shall rise to far greater heights. When I am gone, go to him—if ever you feel that the princess' life is in danger."

—-

Lachsea, Ausicaa

When she finally ended her story, Herra stared intently at Brenna.  "Do you understand what I am trying to tell you, child?"

Brenna nodded even though she wasn't entirely certain. "I believe so?"

Herra's face crumpled with distress. "Oh, my poor darling girl! I did not think this day would ever come. I have not prepared you at all for the life you were born to live..."

"The life... I was born to live?" Brenna echoed in confusion. "I do not understand, mama."

Before Herra could respond, she began to hack and cough very intensely. The bones in her thin shoulders nearly rattled from the forceful, convulsive movements.

Brenna rushed over with a handkerchief. Herra grabbed it and immediately wretched into the cloth. A frighteningly black mucus-like substance soaked through the cotton. It was unlike any symptom of gray lung that Dr. Waevers had warned them about.

Then, Herra started breathing normally again. A bit of color returned to her cheeks. She smiled.

Brenna stared at her mother with a dropped jaw. Worry and guilt were plastered across her features.

"Oh, mama! What have I done? I should not have let you drink that tea! This is all my fault. I am so sorry! I will throw out the jugs immediately!"

"No, no, wait!" Herra cried out. "This is so strange and unexpected, but... perhaps there is something magical in your tea, after all. My chest feels lighter than it has in weeks!"

"It does?" Brenna asked apprehensively. "Do you feel better? Truly?"

"Truly," Herra confirmed.

Brenna's entire body seemed to melt with relief. "Thank the gods! Then, I shall go back to Mount Sinea for more bierchae root and make you more of this tea until you have fully recovered!"

Herra laughed. "Let us not get ahead of ourselves, child. I am sure Lyonach or Haelynn can go in your stead if needed. First, I wish to return to the matter we were discussing. I still have much to tell you."

Brenna tilted her head slightly. "What else did you wish to say, mama?"

"I do not mean to overwhelm or frighten you, Brenna, but if I am to surrender to my disease, you need to remember this man's name. Thames Rieze Ariss. He is the Commander Admiral of the Imperial Naval Forces, and he is the only person, other than myself, whom you can ever tell the story about the girl and the wolf. I do not know how this witch you speak of learned about 'The Book of Old,' but you cannot give it to her. We must guard this book with our lives, and I will pass it on to you if I die. You must then take the book to the Commander Admiral, tell him the story, and he will keep you safe. I will do everything in my power to prevent this from happening, but we must prepare for the worst."

Brenna's heart constricted painfully as she tried to process the barrage of dreadful information her mother was pummeling at her.

"So... the book is real?" she whispered incredulously.

"It is as real as you and me," Herra replied as her usually kind eyes narrowed darkly. "Now, you must take me to this Sorcha woman first thing tomorrow morning. I have several pressing questions that I must ask her."