Page 91 (1/2)

She took a deep breath and pulled out of his grasp "She will make you choose, Bercelak I know you don’t believe it But trustlook at him that completely destroyed his heart, she turned and walked off Back to the castle and the safety of his kin

Rhiannon sat on the slanted ledge outside her roo out over the battlements of Ailean’s castle and lands as the two suns faded towas her sturdy foothold on the slats

She wondered what she’d do next Wondered where this particular path was going She kne she loved Bercelak She knew it because she’d risked her life for hi the hurt look on his face had ripped the heart from her feeble hu him pain Her mother would make sure of that Gods, how she hated that feons were not the godless creatures they believed her kind to be They loved, they despaired They felt joy and pain They experienced all those things huhty years, Rhiannon had cut off her heart She didn’t allow herself to feel , but still her h, since only a mother kne to truly hurt or enhance children Where Bercelak’s mother always had a kind word or a soft touch for her lawless brood, Addiena only had derision and complaint for hers

Rhiannon didn’t realize howher mother’s love until she came here Until she watched Bercelak’s kin with each other

Part of her wanted to hate the her hope she could one day feel as safe as they all did That one day, she’d have a faenerally annoyed each other nearly to death, but who still loved and protected each other as if it were their right

But noshe’d never have that She’d never have that life

She sighed and debated whether to go back in when Maelona screamed, "Don’t jump!" It startled her and Rhiannon felt her body slip on the sone She slid down, her hands scrabbling for sorab onto Her human body would never survive this fall and she had no idea how to stop herself without wings

Her legs flailed over the side of the ledge and she slid into nothingness

Bercelak, leaning back in his father’s favorite chair, took the goblet of wine his lanced at her and she smiled

"Don’t worry It’s not your father’s It’sdrink

Her hand slid over his face, cupping his jaw It was so she did often because she could

"Mother?"

"Hh with" She sat down at the table across froold hair "That is not an easy question to answer, my son At least not to you"

"Why?"