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“Wend-Henash, yes,” she answered breathlessly. “I choose to honor Father’s memory by keeping his surname with my married name for research publications.”

“That is a noble way to commemorate him. Yuret was a brilliant and compassionate scholar, and his research of Julra was a delight to read.”

Janna’s mouth gaped open and shut like a fish gasping for air. “Wha… what? Did you meet him? How? Father died almost forty years ago! Unless…” Her expression turned sly. “You are full of secrets, aren’t you?”

At that, I laugh heartily. “I’m sure he is rolling in his grave to know I had, in fact, met him while he was alive.”

“I’m shocked you were able to manage that without his knowing. He was fortunate—or maybe unfortunate—enough to be a truthsayer. He was very sensitive to lies and deception. I think that’s what made him perfect for interviewing refugees from Julra for his book.”

My lips twisted to a more mischievous smirk. “I was aware. Yuret was a bit of a… test of my own skill, so to speak. But please, join me inside. It is too cold to stay out here.”

Janna nodded and hustled to fall in step beside me, her much shorter stature making it a bit of a challenge to match my long-legged stride as she pulled her mount along. “To think, I’mwalking withthePrincept Morrette Hilj! I feel like I’ve known you my whole life, watching Father write ‘The Tragic History of Julra’ about you and your people. Thank you so much for this opportunity to speak with you at length for the second edition.”

“I am grateful to be included in your research.” I tilted my head to the side to take in her wide-eyed stare. “May I ask why you did not want to make a second volume, instead of just a second edition of your father’s book?”

Janna smiled back, but her hazel eyes were watery again. Coupled with the inky blue-black hair—now streaked with white with her age—and mid-toned skin covered in freckles, the marks of a Julran ancestor were obvious. I saw those parts of Sinna in Janna, in the way she wrinkled her nose when she laughed and the deep dimples when she smiled. Parts that her brother Olin would have shared, were he still alive. It warmed my heart to see that the Val Toric line carried on with her.

“That book is my father’s legacy," Janna explained. "I would rather add onto it, then overshadow it with my own account of the history of Julra. His work has paved so many avenues for the City of Scholars and the country of Respar beyond his wildest dreams, both in historical research and spell-casting examination. I just… couldn’t bear to take away from that.”

“I understand what you mean.” I lifted my gaze to the ruins of the palace I was steadily rebuilding. Against the relentless beating of ocean waves and the wind, it looked formidable and resolute even as it sat in shambles. “I hope we can build a new future together, Scholar. Until then, I am happy to answer anything you'd like to know about me and my country.”

Janna's joy was palpable, her eyes shining as she looked up at me like I was some kind of god. “This is so exciting! Definitely the most anticipated release the City has ever seen! King Irin has already requested his own copy of the second edition! He has been so much more supportive of the Covenant Library andits research since taking the throne. We've had such a huge influx of new researchers hoping to intern with us! And his personal funding has helped with some much-needed repairs and expansions to the Library!”

“I’m happy to hear that,” I answered. “Perhaps you can help me deter him from marriage with my more gruesome war stories. Or help him spend so much money he can't afford a wedding.”

My tone was dry, but it had Janna cackling so hard she bent in half. I joined in, and the happy sounds bounced pleasantly off the stone wall of the Clifftombs. It had been a long time since anything beyond the sounds of battle or rolling waves of the sea hitting the cliffs filled the chilly air.

Janna was wiping tears from her eyes by the time we managed to compose ourselves. We stepped off the long drawbridge and through the open gate into courtyard, now cleared out with trimmed wiranblood bushes lining a grey cobblestone path to the castle's entrance. “With how fervently he devoured every document we had on Julra and your personal history, I doubt he will be that easy to scare off.”

“Yes, that is one of his more admirable qualities,” I agreed. “So, tell me more about your father, Janna. I want to know all about the man who spent his life studying mine.”