"I'll be there in no time," Lissa promised.
* * *
What Nissa really wanted to do was hear the story from Toff, Tory and Ry about Toff's kidnapping by the Green Fae. They barely got into the water after dressing in swimsuits before she asked.
"Really? They tried to kidnap Wyatt?" Wyatt was King Wylend's heir and the child originally targeted by the Green Fae.
"And somehow they got Toff instead. I'm not sure how they managed to mess that up, but they did," Ry said. "I'm going to ask Em-pah Wylend about it when I see him again, if Dad won't tell me anything."
"Why didn't they tell us about this?" Tory was still trying to figure that out.
"Mom said it wouldn't do any good—she didn't know whether Toff was going to come back to us or not."
"At least I know now that my parent is dead instead of abandoning me, as I always thought," Toff muttered. "All that time I thought my parents were awful for just leaving me for the Fae to take."
"The Fae took you, all right, they just didn't have permission. And things might have turned out different if that Redbird person hadn't done the mindbond."
"Yes, that was the turning point in all of this," a tall, brown-haired man appeared at the edge of the pool and sat on a chaise.
"Who are you?" Nissa was ready to call for her mother.
"I'm your grandfather," the man replied.
Chapter 10
"You're Wyatt's father." Ry had pieced the mystery together, somehow. He hadn't met Wyatt's father, but he knew that Wyatt had a father. "Why aren't you the heir instead of Wyatt?"
"Because I am the Oracle," the brown-haired man replied, smiling indulgently. "I would have to give that up to become King of Karathia. My warlock's skills were never awakened and I have no desires in that direction. Therefore, my son was named heir. If he hadn't come along, Lissa would have been named Wylend's heir instead."
"You're Mom's father, too." Nissa stared at the man. He didn't look like their mother.
"I am. You may call me Griffin. Most people do."
"Why are you here? Why haven't we met you before?" Tory asked.
"Because Lissa doesn't like for me to come here. She doesn't know I'm here, now. I just wanted to come and set a few things straight, now that Toff has been told why he spent fifteen years of his life with the Green Fae."
"What things are you setting straight? Are you saying Mom didn't tell us the truth?"
"No, your mother has been completely truthful. She just left some things out to protect someone."
"Who is she protecting?" Nissa huffed, crossing arms over her chest and glaring at Griffin. Toff moved to her side and placed an arm around her shoulders.
"Me," Griffin replied.
"But you just said you weren't welcome here—why would she protect you?" Ry demanded.
"Because Lissa knows how to love. Sometimes I think I'm still learning. The Fae didn't mistake the babies—they all wore identification bracelets when Toff was taken. I switched Wyatt's bracelet for Toff's, so they'd take the wrong child. My talent is foresight, that's why they call me the Oracle. I just didn't look far enough to see that Redbird would place the mindbond. I thought Toff would be brought home as soon as Lissa took care of the army and the religious order who were about to attack the Green Fae on Vionn. It was a very large mistake on my part. I came to apologize to Toff for that. I am afraid to apologize to my daughter. It will cause me pain when she throws it back in my face."
"What was she like, growing up? Mom, I mean?" Tory asked shyly.
"I do not know," Griffin answered. "I was kept from her and she was raised by her mother and stepfather. He wasn't a good man. He killed her mother and almost killed my baby." Griffin looked genuinely sad about that.
"Is that what Uncle Gavin was talking about when he said that Mom's turning was more tragic than any other?"
"Her childhood, her turning and even what happened after that—all tragic," Griffin nodded. "She will never tell you, and it is not my tale to tell, either. I know that she used to keep journals, but I do not know if they still exist anywhere. I warn you, if you ask her about any of this, it will only aggravate old wounds and I do not wish to do that. Toff, you have my apologies. You are not obligated to forgive me. All I can say is that if you ever have need, I will do what I can." Griffin rose, nodded to the four children and disappeared.
"Holy cow," Ry used another of his mother's favorite phrases, even if it made no sense at all.
"Does he know about the baby?" Tory breathed.
"Maybe it's better if he doesn't—look what happened to Toff," Ry muttered.
* * *
Nissa was leaning against Toff on Tory's bed as they talked later. They discussed Toff's life with the Green Fae. Rehashed what they knew of the kidnapping, end to end. Went over Griffin's visit, too, sifting through his words and wondering what had happened with their mother.
"At least we know about the whole Grey House thing and how Cloudsong got involved with that," Ry said. He was lying on his stomach making notes in his comp-vid.
"I wish I knew what that woman's name was—the one who Great-Grampa Glendes wanted Daddy to marry," Nissa said.
"We can try to find that out," Ry seemed ready to accept the challenge. "If we can get our hands on those legal records from Cloudsong."
"Do you think she's still out there?" Tory was curious.
"If she was from a wizard family, then there's a good chance of that," Nissa replied. "Most wizards have long life spans, if not nearly immortal ones."
"Yeah. There's that," Ry nodded and made more notes.
Toff put his arms around Nissa and watched as Ry tapped away on his comp-vid.
"What do you think happened to Gren?" Nissa brought up the subject they'd avoided all night.
"I overheard Kifirin say that he had help to escape." Tory had sneaked a slice of cake and a glass of milk from the kitchen. He was eating and trying to keep crumbs off his coverlet at the same time.
"Do you think he's still on Le-Ath Veronis?" Ry glanced at his brother.
"No—if he were, I think Kifirin would have hauled him right back to the dungeons. Did you hear what Mom said? Kifirin and Thurlow are minor gods? I didn't even know they existed. Now I know why I always felt uncomfortable around Kifirin."
"How did they get involved with Mom? People just don't end up with gods for mates." Nissa relaxed against Toff. Toff played with her hair.