“It cannot be,” Melody protested. “Even if you dreamed of my sister, that arbor was only constructed last year, replacing the old wooden structure that had stood for fifty years. Lyric”—her voice caught—“my sister never saw that arbor.”
I stared at it, confused.
Are you sure that’s what you saw, Angel?
I’m sure. It is exactly what I saw.
Cara asked me the same question, and I gave her the same answer.
Melody’s forehead wrinkled. “I don’t understand how any of that is possible.”
Cara led us into the arbor and sat down, gesturing for us to do the same. Trix sniffed around outside but didn’t go far.
Only once Melody was seated did the Watcher inquire, “I’m sorry to ask this, my friend. But did Lyric die before the baby was born?”
Melody closed her eyes. “She wasn’t due for another month. We weren’t prepared.”
“I remember. But you had the midwife with her. What happened wasn’t because of lack of preparation.”
“The King and I were away, though.” Melody shook her head. “On a diplomatic mission to Aratini. We didn’t intend to be away for the birth.”
The anguish in her voice was fresh, as if this had just happened yesterday. And Cara was swift to respond to it. “Your presence would not have changed the outcome,” she said. “It is not your fault.”
Melody closed her eyes. “That was what the Watcher said.”
Cara grew very still. “There was a Watcher with Lyric at the birth?”
The Queen nodded. “She and my sister had become friends during one of our diplomatic visits to your realm. She was here when Lyric went into labor. But even she couldn’t save her.”
I was listening with my eyes wide to this entire exchange. But there was no doubting Cara’s sudden interest. “At the time, when you mentioned a Watcher was at the birth, I thought the midwife had called her when there were difficulties.”
“No, she was already there, visiting Lyric.” Melody rubbed a hand over her face. “But she couldn’t save her.”
Cara gave her a moment to compose herself, and then asked, “Do you remember the Watcher’s name?”
Melody brushed tears off her cheeks. “She was taller than you.” She shrugged. It was all such a blur.”
“It was an awful time,” Cara said, laying a hand on her friend’s arm. “Was there anything else about her that you remember? If I can question her, it might clear up some things.”
The Satyr Queen frowned. “She had a decorative metal ornament. Very elaborate, it formed the upper part of her ear. It stood out because Watchers don’t usually wear jewelry. I remember my sister telling me she’d love to have one made for herself. But I’m sorry, her name eludes me.”
Cara went rigid as a board, and a strained note vibrated in her voice as she asked, “This Watcher was Lyric’s friend?”
Melody nodded again. “They’d been friends for just over a year. It was the reason Lyric accompanied us to the Midyear Festival—to spend time with her.”
Cara’s face had lost all color. “Melody, who was the father of Lyric’s baby?”
Melody frowned again. “That was a sensitive topic. Lyric refused to give us his name.” She rolled her eyes. “Lyric always was a bit careless with her affections. Drove my husband—the King—to distraction. The tabloids loved her.”
Cara leaned forward, linking her fingers together on the table. I noticed the tips were white. “I’m sorry to ask this. But was the baby born, or did it die with her?”
Melody’s expressive eyes filled with tears. “We rushed back as soon as we heard there were problems. The midwife had vanished. We never saw her again, despite my husband’s efforts to locate her. The Watcher was still here. She told us that the baby had been born, but had died shortly after Lyric. She said it was born too soon to live.”
Cara’s lips were a thin, tense line. “Was the baby cremated with Lyric then?”
Melody wiped tears off her cheeks. “I was so upset—I never asked to see it. What was the point? I assume so.” She met Cara’s gaze. “What does all this matter, Cara? Why bring this up now?”
But the Watcher continued to press. “Are any of Lyric’s attendants still with you?”
