Roses on Fire ~ The Tale of Roses and Thorns 2.
Chapter 18 ~ Cyneburga of Prigon

Alkmene was sitting behind a huge pile of old books at the far back of the library. Ivelle approached her quickly and sat across her.

“So what do you know about her?” she asked quickly.

“As I said, a lot.” she smiled. “Your mother was my friend. I come from a poor family. I had 6 siblings, four sisters and two brothers, all younger than me. I was hired by Queen Cyrille to be a companion of your mother when I was 11. One year later, Cyneburga was sent to Hiwaya, and she asked her parents to let me go with her too.”

“When we arrived here, I started as a servant. I worked in the kitchen while she was learning. But we stayed friends all along. She became a powerful sorceress, she had a great talent. What she was best known for is her ability to talk to snakes.”

“At the age of 16 she met Gavril, your father, and they fell in love immediately. It was love at first sight. Everything went well, King Valdemar agreed to give her daughter to Gavril, after she finished her studies at Hiwaya.”

" But then, why did they ran away?” asked Ivelle.

“Patience, I’m getting there.” answered Alkmene with a smile “A few months later, Queen Cyrille died while she gave birth to her first son. A few days later the baby died too, unfortunately.”

“King Valdemar was heartbroken, but he had to get married again, because he had no male heir. After a year he married Nekane, a noble woman, who was nearly ten years younger than him. Nine month later their first son was born. Nekane didn’t want Cyneburga to marry Gavril, because then his son would’ve had less chance of becoming King. So your mother and father ran away, and she changed her name to Tanith.”

“But Adeena got married, right?”

“Yes, she did, but the knight she married was from Abonwan, and they moved there. She didn’t decrease the little prince’s chances.”

“What happened to the prince?”

“Died at the age of 9. Valdemar was very unlucky with his children. He had 4 more children with Nekane, but only 1 reached adulthood. Two died before the age of 10, The fourth died while hunting at the age of 19. Octavian, his eighth children and the fifth with Nekane, survived and inherited the throne after him.”

“Gosh.” she sighed “Are there any descendants of my mother’s family?”

“As far as I know only one. But I doubt they know of their royal heritage.”

“Still, I would like to know. Please.” pleaded Ivelle “I have no one else left from my family. Noone.”

Nerkane sighed and looked at a paper in front of her.

“Adeena has one direct descendant.” she began and looked at Ivelle “His name is Njáll and lives in Abonwan. He has a wife Dilara and a son Evander. At least what I know of.”

“How do you know all that?” she asked amazed by the knowledge of the woman.

“I met him. A few years ago. His features were very familiar to me, so I looked into his family tree. That’s how I learnt it.” she admitted. Ivelle nodded slowly. The pieces were slowly falling into their places. Although there were still missing parts, she got closer to learn her family’s history. “I have a question to you.”

“Yes?” said Ivelle cautiously.

“Do you have strange dreams sometimes? Dreams that come true?”

“Yes. Sometimes. But so far only one came true.” she admitted. It was Alkmene’s turn to nod slowly. “I thought so. Your mother was able to predict the future too. If you’d like to, I can teach you how to control your powers.” she offered.

“That would be great.” answered Ivelle with a smile.

“Meet me tomorrow morning here.” she said “Don’t be late.” Ivelle nodded quickly. “Good. I’ll have to prepare a few things, so I must ask you to leave now.”

“Sure.” said Ivelle, and quickly stood up “Thank you.” she added quickly. As she left the library Adrastos was waiting for her in the corridor, leaning against the wall.

“So how did it go?” he asked with a grin.

“You talked to her?” she asked amazed.

“Sure. Who else?” his grin widened “So? How did it go?”

“Great. I’ll meet her tomorrow too.” smiled Ivelle.

“Great.” nodded Adrastos “Do you want to get lunch or something.”

“That would be great. I’m starving!”

“Then what are we waiting for? This way, Lady Ivelle.” he said gallantly, and pulled Ivelle after him.