When Duke Roger saw Alanna's sword, he told her to take good care of it and he told me the same thing when he saw my sword. One night, after finishing my other schoolwork, I studied my sword and then talked to Sir Myles. "Sir Myles, about my sword—I think the magic's that's in it, the magic, I think it's mine. I can, well, I can feel my power inside the sword." He nodded, cautiously, and asked, "What do you mean, lad?" I picked up my sword and reached into my Gift and then I said, "It glows whenever I use my Gift when I'm holding it, plus it feels like I can store my power inside it for later, you know?" He nodded silently and said, "Don't let those whom you don't trust learn about your sword." I nodded and decided to tell Thom the truth.
I told Thom about how I got the sword and asked him to find out I was a descendant of the Wizard. Two weeks later, I got a letter from him—George offered to carry letters for Alanna and me to give to Thom and letters that Thom wanted to give me and Alanna since he'd learned Alanna was actually a girl—that meant we could have open communication with Thom for the first time in years.
"Dear Fabiethe, I found out several things about you. You were raised by Frexspar Thropp, whom you believed to be your father. He is not your father—he isn't even related to you. He should not have any parental authority over you. So if you ever return to Oz, you do not need to worry about him after reaching the Emerald City and talking to the Wizard. You must be cautious if you run into him before reaching the Emerald City, for he still believes you to be his daughter. Your beloved younger sister, Nessarose, is only your half-sister. Your father is the Wizard. Your mother, Melena, had an affair with the Wizard behind Frexspar's back. The green elixir the Wizard gave her caused you to become green—so it's his fault that you're green, not yours. So if you return to Oz, just go to the Emerald City, and ask to see the Wizard and show him the sword and anything else that might prove you're his daughter. Hopefully, everything will be okay after that. Also, about your sword, the smiling nobleman took a little too much interest in it. You should know who I mean. He doesn't trust you—your Gift is more powerful than his, Jonathon's, Gary's, Alex's, Alanna's and mine all combined. Also your wild magic unnerves him slightly. Don't do anything that could put you in danger. Try to help Alan spread the word that I was dropped on my head when I was younger—that's what my Master believe about me since I'm playing stupid. To sum it up, be careful if you return to Oz, go straight to the Emerald City, talk to the Wizard, and most important don't make the smiling nobleman suspicious of anything whatever you do. Are you holding out on me because I've looked for you in the fire, but I can't see you? So remember what I told you: be careful if you return to Oz, go straight to the Emerald City, talk to the Wizard, and don't make the smiling nobleman suspicious of anything whatever you do. Your loving brother, Thom."
I reread the letter several times before I burned it—that was how Alan and I made sure that Duke Gareth never found about our secret correspondence with Thom. Then I thought Huh. Frexspar isn't my father. No wonder he hates me. Whatever, I still don't really care.