"You knew with Amelia that she was my family, what about them?" she asked, pointing to Brennus.
He shook his head. "I can feel no tie to them, denka," he replied.
Aiden looked at Cristo. "You must be wrong."
Cristo held up the orb. "There's one surefire way to find out. One single drop of her blood will tell us everything. Either it will drip off the way Brennus' blood did or the sphere will open and you will know I tell the truth."
Meryn looked to Kendrick. He hurried over and knelt beside Ryuu. "What is it darling?"
"I trust you almost as much as I trust Aiden and Ryuu, could me giving up a drop of blood do anything hinky, magic-wise?"
Kendrick went to answer then stopped. "As usual you think of things I do not, that's quite a feat, young lady." He stood, then began to pace back and forth.
Brennus went to ask him something, but Anne stopped him. "Leave him. He's mentally running through every spell he knows to see how a single drop of her blood could be used against her."
Thane stepped beside Cristo. "Cristo would never endanger you, Meryn."
Meryn nodded. "I know, he's a shield. But who's to say someone didn't tamper with that thing before it showed up here?"
Kendrick stopped in his pacing and held out a hand. "Cristo if you would allow me, I would like to ensure that nothing outside the original spell is affecting the sphere."
Cristo hesitated. "It won't harm the sphere?"
Kendrick shook his head. "There's no power behind it, just a revelation spell."
Cristo took a deep breath then handed it over to Kendrick. Kendrick held it at arm's length. "Revelare." It flared yellow for a moment, then the light faded.
He handed it over to Meryn. "There's nothing on this sphere that would cause you harm."
Meryn looked from Cristo to Brennus and back. "Just a drop of blood, right?" Both Cristo and Brennus nodded.
She held her hand out to Ryuu. "Can you do the blood thing?"
Ryuu took her hand that held the sphere gently between his. Meryn grimaced and turned away. Ryuu smiled as one nail lengthened to a sharp black point. He quickly tapped the tip of Meryn's finger.
"Ow!" Meryn complained, before allowing a single drop of blood to fall on the sphere.
When light flared out around them, Oron used his body as a shield putting himself between Izzy and the room.
"Gods!" someone whispered.
In the middle of the chamber, as if being projected on a movie screen a video-like image began.
"Uncle Eamon," Oron whispered.
Brother, my queen, I pray that this finds you well.
The handsome man rubbed his hands over his face as he sat at a wooden desk. From the bookcase in the background, Izzy thought he was in an office or library.
I hope to make this my last report as I have decided to return to Éire Danu.
Eamon, darling...
Izzy heard a woman's voice from off-screen.
I just started this recording, now I'll have to destroy it and start over.
Behind him, a beautiful woman came into view, tears streaming down her face. She threw herself onto his lap.