Velia could remember how it felt that night as she met her long-time friend beneath the moonlight. How her hand shook as she knelt before her, pressing its palm against Jane's engorged stomach and how the baby seemed to jump at her touch.
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She recalled the words she chanted, asking the four wind gods and Vougi for guidance should she be accepted as the child's godmother.
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She could easily recall the feeling of god fire swirling around them, warm and inviting. She recalled how Jane had cried.
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She could remember it all and though she knew that it had only been thirteen years, it felt forever. Forever since her best friend had died and forever since she had laid eyes on the red-haired child born of Jane.
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Oh, she had kept her word to Jane, had indirectly provided for the girl and spoke with her through letters but she never saw her in fear that the child—called Onya from an elven legend—would remind her too greatly of her father, who betrayed his oath to Jane.
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Now as she stood in her kitchen, glancing down at the glittering ink that told her about Onya's fourteenth birthday that was coming up and practically begging—if letters could beg—her to come, she felt her usual air of confidence falter.
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"What is it?"
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Her husband, Darin, asked from one side of the room, causing her to glance up.
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"The gods must have a sense of humor or want to torture me." She responded with a sigh "Onya has asked to meet me."
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Darin smirked then and returned his attention to the flute he was making.
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"Then tell her you'll come. She is your goddaughter after all."
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Velia ignored him as she reread the letter, thinking of Jane and the vows she had made to both her best friend and this child writing to her now.
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"I know nothing about human parties."
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She countered finally, earning a snort.
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"She's fourteen. How difficult could it be?"
"Do you not remember Balthazar at fourteen?"
She knew she was just making excuses but how did she know that she wouldn't find herself hating the girl for looking too much like Balthazar?
"Balthazar was spoiled by his father since he was heir. Onya was raised as a purely human girl by her maternal grandmother. Two very different upbringings."
Darin reminded her and Velia knew she had lost.
"Fine, but we don't tell Puc. He would scare her half to death without even meaning to."
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