“I did love your mother, Ágota, but I was chosen by the coven elders to be your father. It was a decision made to preserve the Archwitch power and legacy.”
“Because you are a Grandwitch and there were no other Archwitches about, you were the most likely candidate to father a new one with my mother.” My sister lowers her head, her hair falling over her face as she ponders this new information. At last, she raises her eyes to gaze at her father. “I see the wisdom in that decision. And you complied out love for your people and my mother. ”
“I am glad you understand. I worried you would believe you were born out of duty and not love.”
“I was born out of both.”
“Yes, which is why I am so pleased you have returned.”
I pound a small fist on his desk. “But your wife was so jealous and angry, she tried to kill my sister!”
Balázs exhales with frustration. “Yes. When she saw my great joy at your birth, Ágota, she could not accept what I had done was for our people and to preserve the magic of the Witch World in the ascendance of a new Archwitch. Soffia was aware that I had long hoped your mother would marry me and she feared that your birth only solidified my love for your mother. Soffia did not believe me when I said my love rested with her.”
“Does it still?” I ask.
“You are so bold, little one. Just like your mother.” Balázs frowns, then shrugs. “I love her, but what she did to Viorica and Ágota changed much between us. Now that you are here, Ágota, what was left between my wife and I will be sorely tested.”
“We can leave and spare you,” Ágota says, lifting her chin and sniffing loudly.
“I longed to have you with me, Ágota. I have loved you since before you were born. You are my daughter, and you are an Archwitch. My duty lies with you on both fronts.”
Ágota’s shoulders slump and her chin sags. She lets out a deep breath before she cocks her head to one side to regard her father with relief. “Thank you. The last few weeks have been difficult.”
“I can only imagine.”
“Which reminds me!” Ágota reaches into the bag and withdraws the letter from Albrecht’s fa
ther. “We were guests of Count Dolingen of Gratz, a descendant of The White Woman of the Wood. Do not worry. He is mostly human and very, very dull. He asked me to deliver this letter of introduction to you. It is all rather boring.”
“Boring or not, this is very worrying. The White Woman of the Wood is powerful. Making deals with her descendants is dangerous, Ágota. The fey can be very tricky.”
“I only agreed to deliver a letter of introduction. I read it before he sealed it. It is fine.” My sister sounds confident, but her expression grows uncertain. “I was very careful.”
Concerned with this revelation, Balázs flicks his fingers over the letter and blue light washes over it. “No warding.” He breaks the seal and unfolds the letter. “But there is magic in this... and... there it is.”
I watch as the letters on the page slide across the parchment to reorder themselves. Ágota stares aghast at this development, her lips parted as though to protest.
“He fooled you.” I cluck my tongue at her.
“No! That is not fair! He said I could read it before he sealed it!”
“And you did. As I said, my daughter: the fey are tricky.” Leaning over the correspondence, Balázs reads, his lips slightly twisting, a habit he shares with Ágota. “Well, Ágota, you have agreed by delivering this letter to the arranged marriage between Erzsébet and Albrecht, the son of the count.”
“No!” Ágota whirls about in a fury. “No! No!”
Turning his attention to me, Balázs says, “You do not seem upset at this development.”
“I like Albrecht. I want to marry him,” I reply.
“Ah, which explains how the spell slipped past your sister. You had already agreed.” Balázs smiles at me. “Well, I do not have to worry about your future, do I?”
I shake my head. “No. I will be a noblewoman. Someday I will wear a fancy red and gold dress and have a ruby necklace.”
“This sounds very particular, Erzsébet.”
“Ágota told me.”
Balázs focuses on his daughter, who is pacing about muttering furiously to herself. Pointing at her, he says, “I do that too when I am upset.”