Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-44544645-20191211195811/@comment-44544645-20191216013424

Thanks for all the reviews. They really make my day!

Here's chapter four:

Four

'''Sophie was reeling from the shock. '''

Kenric had been part of the Black Swan?

Kenric had asked Oralie for her DNA?

'''Kenric was in this as well? '''

'''Kenric had died in the Everblaze….because Fintain knew, because Fintain wanted to take him down? Because Fintain though shattering the link between the Council and the Black Swan was the best option?'''

'''“So….Kenric knew you were my biological mother?” she asked. '''

'''“Yes.” “But Tiergan told me that Mr. Forkle kept the identities of my biological parents entirely to himself!”'''

'''“Was this before or after Kenric’s death?” Oralie’s eyes teared up while asking the question, but that didn’t stop her from finishing it. '''

“After…..Oh.”

'''Suddenly, Sophie realized the depth of Kenric’s death. Kenric and Oralie hadn’t just been coworkers, Councillors, friends, secret lovers—they’d also trusted each other with secrets that could shatter the Elvin world. Then Kenric had died, and Oralie had been left alone with memories she could never reveal. '''

'''It almost made Sophie feel sorry for Oralie. Almost made her want to forgive her for everything that had happened. '''

'''“Are you feeling better about taking this on now?” Oralie asked. '''

'''Half of Sophie wanted to scream, “No! You lied to me for my entire life!”'''

The other half realized that that wasn’t true.

'''Oralie had helped her out a lot, and was pretty much a member of the Black Swan. '''

She had lied about being Sophie’s biological mother—but she had thought she was making the right choice.

Even though she shouldn’t have donated DNA!

'''Sophie couldn’t confirm or deny, so she changed the topic. “Are you going to tell Mr. Forkle you’re opening your cache?”'''

'''“I hailed him already,” Oralie said. “He approves. I’m going to update him on the new plan tonight—with luck, we should be able to unlock the secret by tomorrow morning.”'''

'''“Okay.” Sophie paused. “Wait. Does this mean you’re a member of the Black Swan?”'''

Oralie nodded, holding out the charm that was dangling around her neck.

'''A monocole pendant made from magisdan. The sign of the swan.'''

“When did you swear fealty?” 

'''“When the Council was planning Team Valliant. This was something Mr. Forkle had been hinting at for quite a while. I suggested that having someone on both the Council and the Black Swan would be helpful, given that we were appointing the five of you as Regents, and my fellow Councillors all agreed.”'''

“It’s just…..are you sure you want to do this?”

“I’ve been in danger before.”

'''“Did Loanmore go well? Lumenaria? Oblivmyre?” '''

'''Oralie flinched. “I want to do this. I need the truth, and so do you.”'''

'''Sophie couldn’t deny that. She needed to trust her. She needed to save Keefe.'''

'''Oralie started to search in her pocket for a light-leaping crystal. “We’ll meet back here at eleven-forty-five, right?”'''

“Yes.”

“Are you sure you can trust me?”

'''There was no escaping this. Oralie would be able to tell if she was lying, even without physical contact. Her Empath skills were that powerful. '''

'''Sophie wouldn’t be able to trust her like before. But Oralie was risking her sanity to help Keefe, so……'''

“I can try.”

'''Oralie smiled. “That’s all I need.”'''