CHAPTER SIX: LUCINDA
I stood there, staring in shock. This woman was Vincent's mother? But Dennee died years ago. I thought this woman's name was Lucinda. Vincent had to be mistaken. Realizing that I'm still staring, I turn to look at my cousin. He stood as rigid and impassive as stone. He hadn't said a word since his initial greeting. He seemed to be waiting for something.
Cautiously, Lucinda approached my cousin. She seemed to be over the initial shock; her expression had shifted from fearful to inquisitive. Her hand gingerly reached up, and cupped his face. He leaned into the embrace, closing his eyes momentarily; he seemed to find comfort in it.
Emboldened, Lucinda stared into his crimson eyes, as though she were searching for something. She gasped, taking a step back. Her breathing had hitched.
"Vincent?"
Last I checked, neither Vincent nor I had mentioned the name, so that could only mean…whoa. Vincent, for his part, simply nodded in response to the question.
"Aunt Dennee?" I ask tentatively.
She looks over at me, confused.
"This is Aaron," Vincent explained with a smile. "Richard and Kahlan's son: your nephew."
She hugged me then. I hadn't expected that. Imagine my surprise when I found myself hugging back. She hugged Vincent afterwards, and there were tears in her eyes when they broke apart.
"How?" she asked. "You drowned! I told Tom-"
"Tom didn't do it," Vincent explained. "Shota got to him first."
"Shota?"
And so Vincent told his mother everything that had befallen him since the massacre on Valeria. Shota's intervention. The years spent as her ward. The day he accidentally confessed Emily, the best friend he'd secretly loved. The day he discovered that Shota had only rescued and raised him so he could kill me, the only other male Wizard-Confessor. He told of his journey to Aydindril and the Wizard's Keep, of his quest to find a counter to the Confessor magic. He told of his first encounters with Richard, Zedd, and Kahlan. His confrontation and eventual reconciliation with Cara. He told her also of Shota's attempt to murder me when I was an infant, through Emily and the rest of her followers. And finally, Vincent told her of his final confrontation with Shota, which ended with her confession.
And Lucinda shared her story with us. She told us of the coming of the Mord-Sith to Valeria. How, with a heavy heart, she was forced to order the man she loved to kill their son. She told of her death at Cara's hands, the pain of the agiel being the last thing she felt as she left the living world. How she awoke in Denna's dungeon, in Lucinda's body. How she was unaware that Denna too was Mord-Sith, and wanted to use Dennee's anger towards Cara to bring the Seeker's quest to ruin. And finally, of her relocation to this hamlet, where she raised Lucinda's son, the daily reminder of the son she'd thought was lost forever.
There sat there, staring at one another for a while, and I felt out of place, as though I were intruding. So I went outside to give them some privacy.
I sat, leaning against the door. I closed my eyes, and thought of my father. I willed myself to see his location. He, along with Grandfather, Mother, and Cara were at The Dancing Dragon, standing in my room. Mother was talking to Barton, she looked annoyed.
I open my eyes.
The inn was only a few weeks from here. We needed to leave as soon as possible.
About an hour or so later, Vincent emerged from the cottage. He seemed troubled, despite the fact that he'd just been reunited with the mother he'd thought was lost.
I wanted to ask what was wrong, but said instead, "Where to next?" I am such a coward.
Then again, his answer did scare me.
Vincent didn't even look my way when he responded, "Agaden Reach."