Part 33 (1/2)

”Come no closer.”

She froze. Archer hadn't been kidding when he said the queen was mature for her age. Catriona's voice alone scared the bejesus out of her. ”Okay.”

”Explain yourself.”

Talia decided that she would have to stand up and not be intimidated. ”I'm

Eleri's daughter. My name is Talia.”

There was total silence.

Talia forged ahead. ”I understand she served your father before she left your

kingdom under threat to her life.”

”And you are only now coming forward? I find that suspicious in the extreme.”

”I didn't know about her past until recently.”

”Where is your mother now?”

”She was killed in an accident when I was a child.”

Since the moment Talia had stepped into the room she'd had to work at

resisting making a connection with the queen. She fought against the urge,

mainly for the sake of self-preservation. Until she understood more about where she was and what was really going on, she wasn't going to make herself vulnerable in any way, and that included inviting an a.s.sault of any kind against herself.

”You say your mother never told you of her position in this court?”

Talia shook her head. ”She told me many tales as a child, tales I grew up believing were nothing more than bedtime stories. Only now I realize she was

telling me where she was from. She died before she could tell me the whole truth. I suppose I wasn't old enough to understand.”

”You have an accent. American?”

”Yes. I've lived in the U.S. all my life.”

Again silence. This time Talia took the initiative. It helped her focus against

the increasing demand to reach out. The need all but hummed inside her. ”I

was never trained as a healer. I'm an empath, but that is as much as I know.”

The fight to keep from reaching out suddenly took on mammoth proportions.

Talia had to use all of her focus to keep the feelings out. Which made no sense. Why such a strong bond with someone she'd never met? Then she realized. She was born to serve the royal family. The daughter of the royal healer. For the first time she felt a tiny shred of hope. Maybe there was a real connection after all!

”You have no healing powers?””I-I haven't had much time to explore the extent of my... gift.””And yet you came willingly.””Yes, ma'am. Your Highness, I mean.”There was a long, very uncomfortable pause. ”I see,” she said at length.

Talia didn't have a clue what that meant. This entire meeting was nerve-

racking.

”You have given me much to think on,” the queen said, sounding dismissive.

Then abruptly, she asked, ”How old are you?”

”Twenty-eight,” Talia replied, caught off guard. When the silence grew long, she finally said, ”I know you were counting on my mum to help you. I don't know if I can do anything. I wasn't able to learn much from Baleweg-”

”The Old One?” The queen seemed stunned. ”You actually found him? Eleri was rumored to have a strong affection for him. My father searched far and wide for him after her disappearance. How did you find him, Mr. Archer?” she demanded.

Archer stepped into the pool of light beside Talia. ”Trade secret.”

”I do not find your arrogance amusing. Explain how you found him. And where, exactly, she hid herself and her daughter. Obviously you were not the only one to uncover Eleri's secret, so either you tell me or I will summon the High Parliamentarian directly. I believe he was likely the one responsible for

commanding the actions of both Mr. Anteri and Mr. Dideon. Am I not correct?”