Maybe I shouldn't have been so optimistic, but knowing Mom was going to be okay, that she was finally herself, went a long way to making me feel better.

While I still didn't believe she would be able to save me from being condemned to death, at least she was whole and could help Gram. And Shenka when the time came I had to release the family magic.

I kicked myself for not filling Mom in on everything that happened, but since she seemed to think I had to stay quiet in ...