Page 75 of Lady Knight and the Thief

“While that is true, it is not in your case. Your mother ruled over the Soul Reach. We have been looking for her for years. I suppose you could say your appearance has solved that mystery.”

“You cannot be saying she’s–”

Torren’s outburst was interrupted by Havanj’s easy, “Yes,” as another card landed on the table.

“I’m sorry, why do you think I’m her daughter? Whoever she is?”

“The glamour around you, Lass. I’m surprised you don’t see it, Torren.” Havanj said, wiggling her fingers toward Cypress.

Then, she put down the deck of cards she’d been shuffling and deftly flipped the three cards that had left her hands.

“Ace of Cups,” Havanj said, placing the card in front of Cypress. “Ten of Swords, “Knight of Swords.”

Silence rang in her ears as she stared at the three intricately decorated cards. The one with the words ‘Ten of Swords’ held her attention.

Painted on the card was an image of a Knight laying face down with swords stabbed into its back.

“Have you ever had the cards read for you, Cypress?”

“No, but I can’t say this looks super comforting,” she retorted. Even without fully understanding, the warning to her was clear enough.

If she believed.

“The Ace here, being pulled first, indicates a new passionate relationship.”

Cypress pulled a face, any trace of belief being wiped from her mind.

“Then we have the Knight of Swords.”

“Because I’m a Knight, right?”

Havanj crooked a smile. “No, Lass. Danger lurks around the corner for you. Violence awaits you.”

Cypress huffed a laugh. “So just my normal everyday.”

Torren cracked a smile at that.

“And, finally, the Ten of Swords. Someone will betray you. You will see lows you had never considered.”

“Great,” Cypress said. She felt foolish for even entertaining all of this. “All gloom and doom then.”

“No, not all. There is always the promise of a new dawn. A new day.”

“And what does all of this have to do with my mother?” Cypress asked. She desperately wished to get this conversation back on track.

“I was merely curious what the cards would say.”

“If what Havanj believes is true, then you aren’t just anyone in Faerie, Lass. You’d be a Duchess,” Torren said.

Cypress blinked. “No,” she said in disbelief.

Havanj interjected with“Yes. I can see the glamour, her signature magic spiderwebbing through it, and I imagine so can Torren now that I've pointed it out. Which means you were notalways an orphan. Your mother was alive long enough to protect you, likely at the cost of her own life.”

“But I’ve never, I mean, there are tests done at the Keep to determine where orphans go to serve. I’ve never shown any indication of power.”

Havanj shook her head. “It’s not something that would be detected in such a way. We can see it because Jinemelle is built on the Lae Lines. And, because I’d wager since your first step into the Wylds, this glamour has been wearing off. The forest is welcoming you home.”

“Who was she?” Cypress asked, curiosity rising.