Ash comes to my side, takes my elbow in her hand. "Are you all right?" Her voice is low enough only I hear it.
"Fine, thank you." I offer a trembling smile. "Just tired." It's not necessary to lie to Ash, but I want to understand what's happening to me. Thank Gaia for Bellanca, though how did she know I needed her? She and her brother have gone again.
Ash releases me, but doesn't stop staring in her closed and determined way, not until Sibyl approaches with a smile, reaching out to embrace me.
"Very well done, my dear," she says, an arm around my shoulders as she faces Ash. "The finest we've raised, wouldn't you say, dear Ash?"
My aunt shrugs, grin twisted. "If you say so." She yawns, stretches inside her robe. "Thanks for the walk down memory lane. Forgot why I hated being part of thi
