Chapter 27
Ivram and Isika walked side by side, slowly this time. To her right Isika saw a ranger checking the nearby rocks. Overhead the Othra scanned the landscape as well.
Ivram seemed to know what she meant. "As far as I can tell," he said. "Your soul is returning to its proper home. You are becoming who you truly are, without shame or poison to hinder you. This seems to be your land, perhaps in a way that is deeper than any of us could know."
Isika looked at him and saw the questions of the Queen's portrait in his eyes.
"Please tell me about your mother," he said. "What did she tell you about her life? About her mother?"
"She didn't tell us much," Isika said slowly. "I remember that her mother sang to her a lot, and that she was very tall. But she died when my mother was only ten
