Page 156 of Stormvein

Jaris shakes his head. “That’s where things took an even stranger turn. They didn’t return to any stronghold. They just … vanished. The Authority searched for months afterward, raiding villages, torturing people for answers. More resources and patrols than I’ve ever seen committed to a single search, but they found nothing.”

“None of the masters ever returned?”

“No. All four disappeared.” His gaze moves between us. “There were whispers that they’d sacrificed themselves to protect the girl.”

“Is there anyone else who might know more about what happened after Silvermist Pass? Someone who might have been close to one of the Veinbloods?”

He thinks for a moment. “Forsala might know more. She and Nyassa were close … well, as close as anyone without power can be to a Veinblood … no offense meant, my Lord. If anyone would have more insight, it would be her.”

“Thank you, Jaris. Your information has been invaluable.” I help him to his feet and walk him to the door. “You’ll understand when I say I would prefer you not to speak of this to anyone else.”

“Of course, my Lord.” His hand touches his heart again, and he dips his head.

Once he’s gone, I ask Varam to find Forsala. Ellie moves to the far side of the chamber, arms wrapped around herself.

“Veinblood masters … that means they were strong, like you, doesn’t it?”

“It does. They were the last of the Veinblood Varels.”

“Varels? What is that?” She frowns. “People here keep calling me Varel et’Arvath.”

“It means Prince or Princess. Varel et’Arvath is calling you Princess of the Storm.”

“But I’m not a princess.”

“The power you wield suggests otherwise.”

She frowns. “But I’ve never heard you called Varel et’anything. They call you Vareth’el.”

“My title is different.”

“Because you’re theHighPrince.”

“Among other things.”

“What doesthatmean?”

“It means we’re moving far away from what we should be focusing on.”

Her eyes narrow. “You’re avoiding answering me again.”

“Only for the moment.” I walk across the chamber until I’m in front of her. “I promise, Mel’shira, I will answer all of your questions, but for now, we need to concentrate on this.”

She holds my gaze for a moment longer, then nods. “They sacrificed their lives for a single child.”

“Yes.” I move closer to her, drawn by the need to offer comfort. A need that should feel foreign, yet comes more naturally than it should. “A child that Sereven wanted badly enough to oversee the transport personally.”

When Forsala arrives, her hand resting on Varam’s arm, I invite her to sit in the chair Jaris vacated. She sinks into it, eyes sharp as they look at me.

“How can I be of service, my Lord?”

“I’d like to ask you about Nyassa.”

She blinks, shocked. “Nyassa? That’s a name I haven’t heard in a very long time.”

“We’re trying to understand what happened after the Silvermist Pass ambush.”

Something flickers across her face, old grief maybe, or a memory that still hurts after all these years.