I squealed and stumbled to the top of the bank, pulling Berdi into my arms. Everything about her was soft and warm, and even though she had been on the trail, she still smelled of bread and sweet fish stew—or maybe it was just all the memories I was breathing in.
“Surprise,” Synové said.
“Well, look at you!” Berdi chuckled, then felt her sides and pockets. Her brow wrinkled with mock confusion. “Hmm, still have all my spoons,” she said. She turned my chin from side to side. “What did you do with Ten?”
We laughed. Hugging had not been part of my repertoire.
Berdi had been patient with me like no other when I first arrived at the Sanctum. The kitchen was her domain, and no one dared trespass without her permission, so of course I did endlessly, rearranging her pots and stealing her woo
den spoons just to annoy her. She began laying her spoons out in plain sight to make it easy for me, which of course took away all the fun. And then on nights when I refused to come to dinner she left a small meal out for me on the tiny table in the kitchen. She understood my head when I didn’t even understand it myself.
She stared at me now, probably most surprised by my overt affection. That was not something I had ever been generous with. At all. Ever. Not even with Wren and Synové. Affection, like love, was best tucked away so you didn’t become accustomed to it. At least that was what I used to think.
Berdi told me she was going to Morrighan for the wedding and then on to Terravin to check in on her tavern. She had a longing to see it one more time. The years were rolling by, and she was slowing down, and she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to make the long journey again.
The queen scoffed, saying Berdi would outlive us all and that the true reason they were going on to Terravin was that King Jaxon had promised he would take her back there one day, and she was holding him to it. Now was the perfect time. “It will be a romantic getaway, reliving our days together when we first fell in love.” Her eyes still glowed with that love. “And of course, we miss the tavern too. It’s where it all started.”
I looked back at Berdi. Years. They were adding up for her. She had aged since I had seen her last. Time could run out. But it could run out for us all, at any time, no matter our age. Maybe that was why—
I hugged her again. “Come on, I’ll walk you to the cook’s tent. They could use your expertise—”
“Wait!” Synové said. “That’s not what the queen had to tell you.”
The queen smiled. “I’ll leave them to tell you about it.” She left with Berdi, who was now eager to get to the cook’s tent and lend her expertise.
Wren and Synové took turns telling me the news, finishing each other’s sentences.
“We have a new assignment.”
“At least for the next several months.”
“But it might be permanent.”
“We’re going to be staying on here as liaisons.”
“Because of the new settlers and all.”
“Well, maybe not exactly here. Maybe in town.”
“And with Parsuss still up in the air, the custodians need help.”
“The queen says she can’t put it all on you.”
“And with us—”
“Well—”
Finally their chatter slowed. “I think the queen mostly knew we were missing it here,” Synové said.
“Missing you,” Wren added.
“And some of those Ballengers,” Synové said. “But not the nasty one.”
I suspected “the nasty one” now referred to Mason.
* * *
My heart soared as I walked with my bowl of stew and rye, like I was a Valsprey in the clouds carrying the best kind of message. I was afraid to even think it. Wren and Synové. Here. A perfect day. Would the gods hear?