“How can you say that, Olivia?”
“She showed me—or, her dagger did. Apparently, the time traveler’s blade retains fond memories of the time traveler. And our mother was apparently fond of having wild sex with men worldwide. I had to watch.” I shuddered. “And she tried to kill me twice, once when I was still in her womb, and the other time she poisoned my blade. When I ended up in Rome, I almost didn’t make it. I almost died.”
A deeply lined crease formed on Emily’s face. “How can you be certain it wasn’t Balthazar’s tricks you were viewing?”
“I’m sorry, but it’s all true, Em,” I said, wishing I could retract my words. “The dagger never lies. It collects one’s memories and actions while it’s on you. It’s as connected to me as my arm.”
My expression darkened as other memories surfaced. “I also got to watch him and our mother together. They were so passionate together. It was disgusting.”
“Ew,” Emily said, her nose wrinkling. “How could she love a man that evil?”
“It’s part of his magic—the darkness possesses a lot of charm which he can use to manipulate another’s mind.” I grew quiet. “Maybe he wasn’t always that bad, and she fell for him before he became sinister. I’d sure like to think that’s the case, and she wasn’t drawn to sociopathy.”
“Socio-what?” Emily said.
“It’s a mental disorder where a person shows no regard for right and wrong and ignores the rights and feelings of others.”
“That’s Balthazar,” Emily said.
“True enough. But it was so disturbing to see all these images. They didn’t match the mom I knew and loved as a child.”
Emily brushed my hair away from my face. “I still wonder if it was all a trick.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so. It looked real and didn’t look like something Balthazar would be clever enough to make up. It disgusted me. You should be glad you never got a chance to meet her.”
“I hate to hear you talk that way about our mother,” Emily said. “Maybe you don’t have the whole picture?”
“I don’t know. But my mind is disturbed enough by what I saw. Mom never really loved me.” Tears pricked the back of my eyes. I could never treat my child the way Mom had treated me. I placed my hands back upon my belly.
“Oh, you can’t mean that! Surely she loved you. I don’t think she was heartless. Remember the love she shared with my papa.” Emily propped her head on her hand.
“She loved you, and she loved Philip. I believe that’s true. But as for me…” My stomach clenched around a knot of grief. “Isawher, Emily. I watched her poisoning my dagger and trying to kill me inside her womb.”
I pressed my lips together.
“She must have—” Emily began, but I cut her off.
“I’m done with this topic, Emily. I can’t speak of it anymore. It’s too painful.” I blinked away the tears stinging my eyes.
A long, loud scream sounded in the distance.
Emily and I both jerked upright.
“What’s that?” Emily said, her tone shaky.
“I don’t know.” I tugged my fur robe around me to keep away the chill as I peered out the door flap.
To my horror, we were surrounded by fierce-looking warriors bearing tomahawks and bows and arrows.
The Kiowa had tricked the Sioux men and had come to kill us all.
Olivia
Emily, who stood behind me in my teepee, screamed and gripped my shoulders. I clutched the edge of the doorway, staring out in horror.
Kiowa warriors were everywhere, slaughtering everyone in their sight. I tried to formulate a plan, but my brain kept shooting blanks.
I couldn’t believe this gruesome scene. The Kiowa had outfoxed the Sioux tribe, striking our encampment as dawn slithered over the horizon.
