Memory's Wake Omnibus: The Complete Illustrated YA Fantasy Series by Selina Fenech Read Free Book Online Page A

She couldn’t hide her surprise, but Roen didn’t seem to care. He continued to watch Eloryn intently. Princes and princesses everywhere. She felt left out.
    “I’m no kind of prince. If my parents were still ruling, then I may have had that title. But my parents were close friends of Queen Loredanna’s, and our family loyal to the Maellan bloodline. When Thayl Vaircarn killed her and the King, my parents lost their titles, land and more, fighting him. It is his fault my parents have been forced to live poorly for so long.”
    “These are dangerous words,” Eloryn said, her lips tight and stubborn.
    “I believe I’ve already made my allegiances clear. If I’m endangered by that, can it be worse to explain why they are so?”
    “Explaining is good,” Memory said. “I like it when people explain things.”
    “Well,” Roen continued, rewarding her with a lopsided smile, “I’ve plenty of stories to tell. My parents always believed Loredanna’s newborn survived Thayl’s slaughter. They and my brothers fought to remove Thayl, to find the lost heir, or at least assign a more worthy leader. Obviously to no avail. We went into hiding after that. We’ve still got a friend or two in the nobility who make sure we remain overlooked when needed. It’s been hard for my parents, so I look after them now. They miss royal life, and it’s risky even for them to be seen in town. So I work, and try and bring them things of value when I stumble across them.”
    “Things of value...?” Like a missing princess? Memory looked sidelong at Eloryn. Could it be true? And if it was, what would it mean? She had no idea. She didn’t get politics, and didn’t know the first bit of this history.
    Roen shrugged and grinned. “Although, most of my stories aren’t nearly as exciting as the time I saved a couple of pretty girls from a thief and got to take them home. That one’s my favorite.”

Chapter Six

     
    They pushed through a thicket of weeds into a small clearing. A neat garden of herbs, lettuce and pumpkins surrounded the cottage, hidden by the overgrown fields. Apart from the smoke that escaped the chimney, the house looked abandoned. Shutters hung off hinges. Windows were closed up with grayed, splintering planks. Grass and daisies grew from the roof. Memory dreaded going inside, in case the rickety structure fell on her.
    Roen stepped forward, a small frown denting his forehead. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, then knocked. “Mother, Father, it’s me.”
    A heavy bolt slid behind the door which squealed in protest as it swung open.
    “I didn’t expect you home ‘til tomorrow.” A graceful white-haired woman met Roen with a loving smile. The elaborate high-necked gown she wore contrasted starkly with the derelict cottage. Her smile fled the moment she saw Roen had brought guests.
    “Who are they?”
    “They were in need of help, and I offered it.” Roen stepped aside, tilting his head to the girls.
    Isabeth looked them over with her lips pursed. She placed her hand over her heart when she saw Eloryn and it rose up to her mouth when she looked at what Memory wore. Memory hated how different she looked to everyone else. They all wore long flowing gowns and there she was in a t-shirt and torn jeans. She felt even dirtier than before, bloody, bruised, and unsteady on her feet. Eloryn wasn’t much more presentable. She folded her arms into herself, and gave a closed-lipped, nervous smile.
    Isabeth turned to the side, talking into the house instead of out toward her son. “Well. Well they are here now. I’ll not be known for denying aid.” She moved in, beckoning them after her.
    Inside, only thin shafts of the setting sunlight broke through the blocked windows. Memory stepped in after Roen and Eloryn, seeing only gloom while her eyes adjusted to the darkness.
    The door slammed behind them like a crack of thunder, shaking the cottage walls. Memory spun around and stepped backwards, running into Eloryn. Shadows