Read Online Fathoms of Forgiveness (Sacred Breath, Book 2) by Nadia Scrieva - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nadia Scrieva
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noticed this and her anxiety intensified.
“Is this all of us?” Visola asked impatiently. “Naclana, I’m a very busy woman.”
“This will do,” Naclana said, fidgeting. “I’m just not too sure that Elandria should be here.”
“Please continue, Cousin,” Elandria signed. Naclana was not technically her cousin since he was a distant relative of Aazuria’s mother, whom she did not share, but technicalities like this did not matter to Elandria. She showed kindness and warmth to all.
“Alright,” Naclana said, clearing his throat. “As we all know, Corallyn has been missing for several days now.”
Elandria's head snapped around to look at Aazuria. “I did not know this,” she signed with a startled look in her eyes.
“I did not wish to upset you,” Aazuria said softly. “Please understand.”
“You have never lied to me, Aazuria,” Elandria said. “If you start lying to those who are closest to you, it is the first sign of your strength truly unraveling. You are this nation’s exemplar! What is to stop the bonds which hold Adlivun together from becoming weak and completely disintegrating?”
Aazuria pressed her lips together tightly and nodded. “I am sorry, Elandria. I should not have lied.”
“Take it easy on her, Elan,” Visola said, giving the quiet, stern-faced girl a forced smile. “Aazuria has a lot on her plate right now, and she is worried sick about Corallyn, and blaming herself for allowing the abduction to happen in the first place. We're all on the same team here, so let's not turn against each other.”
Elandria nodded. She very much wanted to sit down and put her head in her hands, but instead she looked to Naclana. “Please proceed with delivering your news.”
Naclana made a signal to one of the guards in the room, who bowed and exited. “A small case was found floating outside the castle today. It... it contained a message from Vachlan.”
“Another letter?” Trevain asked with a frown. “I'm not sure that I want my mother to hear the types of letters that Vachlan writes.”
“Young man, I am not as feeble as I appear to be,” Alcyone said, placing a hand on her son's knee reassuringly.
“I'm not saying that you're weak, mom. It's just that the last letter really upset me, and I don't want you to...”
“This is worse,” Naclana said gruffly. “I almost want to ask all the ladies to leave the room, but I know that will just make you all even angrier with me.”
“Damn straight, Naclana,” Visola said, frowning. “So tell me what's going on, and stop pussyfooting around the problem. We all know that Vachlan is a douchebag. Get on with it. I’m expecting the worst here, and the longer you stall, the worse crap I imagine.”
The guard returned into the room, holding a small, oblong waterproof case which looked like it contained a violin or clarinet. Naclana frowned and took it from him. “Fine. As you command.” He gritted his teeth before flipping the latch and opening the case. It was not a musical instrument which rested against the black velvet lining of the box.
It was a child's severed arm.
Alcyone dragged in a ragged gasp of air. Everyone else remained stunned and silent. Elandria’s fingers clutched her braid so tightly that the pattern of her hair was causing imprints on her palms. Aazuria stood unblinking as she stared at the small limb.
Visola was the first to speak. “Is it hers? Have you been able to confirm that it's Corallyn's arm?”
“No,” Naclana said. “We haven't done any testing yet...”
“It's her arm,” Trevain said slowly. He had risen to his feet to closely examine the small fingernails which were painted in a bright orangey-pink hue. His face was contorted, and it took a visible effort for him to speak. “I bought her that nail polish a few weeks ago. We chose it because of her name. Coral Catalyst.”
“Since when has a man's judgment of color been precise enough to identify anything?” Visola argued.
“Is this all of us?” Visola asked impatiently. “Naclana, I’m a very busy woman.”
“This will do,” Naclana said, fidgeting. “I’m just not too sure that Elandria should be here.”
“Please continue, Cousin,” Elandria signed. Naclana was not technically her cousin since he was a distant relative of Aazuria’s mother, whom she did not share, but technicalities like this did not matter to Elandria. She showed kindness and warmth to all.
“Alright,” Naclana said, clearing his throat. “As we all know, Corallyn has been missing for several days now.”
Elandria's head snapped around to look at Aazuria. “I did not know this,” she signed with a startled look in her eyes.
“I did not wish to upset you,” Aazuria said softly. “Please understand.”
“You have never lied to me, Aazuria,” Elandria said. “If you start lying to those who are closest to you, it is the first sign of your strength truly unraveling. You are this nation’s exemplar! What is to stop the bonds which hold Adlivun together from becoming weak and completely disintegrating?”
Aazuria pressed her lips together tightly and nodded. “I am sorry, Elandria. I should not have lied.”
“Take it easy on her, Elan,” Visola said, giving the quiet, stern-faced girl a forced smile. “Aazuria has a lot on her plate right now, and she is worried sick about Corallyn, and blaming herself for allowing the abduction to happen in the first place. We're all on the same team here, so let's not turn against each other.”
Elandria nodded. She very much wanted to sit down and put her head in her hands, but instead she looked to Naclana. “Please proceed with delivering your news.”
Naclana made a signal to one of the guards in the room, who bowed and exited. “A small case was found floating outside the castle today. It... it contained a message from Vachlan.”
“Another letter?” Trevain asked with a frown. “I'm not sure that I want my mother to hear the types of letters that Vachlan writes.”
“Young man, I am not as feeble as I appear to be,” Alcyone said, placing a hand on her son's knee reassuringly.
“I'm not saying that you're weak, mom. It's just that the last letter really upset me, and I don't want you to...”
“This is worse,” Naclana said gruffly. “I almost want to ask all the ladies to leave the room, but I know that will just make you all even angrier with me.”
“Damn straight, Naclana,” Visola said, frowning. “So tell me what's going on, and stop pussyfooting around the problem. We all know that Vachlan is a douchebag. Get on with it. I’m expecting the worst here, and the longer you stall, the worse crap I imagine.”
The guard returned into the room, holding a small, oblong waterproof case which looked like it contained a violin or clarinet. Naclana frowned and took it from him. “Fine. As you command.” He gritted his teeth before flipping the latch and opening the case. It was not a musical instrument which rested against the black velvet lining of the box.
It was a child's severed arm.
Alcyone dragged in a ragged gasp of air. Everyone else remained stunned and silent. Elandria’s fingers clutched her braid so tightly that the pattern of her hair was causing imprints on her palms. Aazuria stood unblinking as she stared at the small limb.
Visola was the first to speak. “Is it hers? Have you been able to confirm that it's Corallyn's arm?”
“No,” Naclana said. “We haven't done any testing yet...”
“It's her arm,” Trevain said slowly. He had risen to his feet to closely examine the small fingernails which were painted in a bright orangey-pink hue. His face was contorted, and it took a visible effort for him to speak. “I bought her that nail polish a few weeks ago. We chose it because of her name. Coral Catalyst.”
“Since when has a man's judgment of color been precise enough to identify anything?” Visola argued.
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