Free Dark Throne, The by Raven Willow-Wood

mostly silent man could be, but she'd needed a moment to
herself and the kitchen had always been a pleasant haven. Her aunt
May had always been cooking or baking something and the kitchen had
been the first room to visit if she was in need of
comfort.
    Another reason for her impromptu visit to the kitchen was
an idea that had popped into her head as the glass knob had
shattered into hundreds of millions of tiny
pieces .
    If her mother could write on the
parchment and she could see the note, then why couldn't it work the
other way around?
    It would be like a magical instant
messenger . . . . or so Heather
hoped.
    Sucking in a breath, one that was filled with a desperate
hope for her attempt to work, she picked up a pen and pressed the
nib to the sheet .
    She jolted when the ink immediately disappeared and then
returned and blossomed into flowing, flowery
letters .
    Daughter?
    Heather dropped the pen and almost jerked away from the
table . When the ink didn't
disappear, when her mother added another question mark as though
repeating her question, she settled down in her seat and sucked in
a breath.
    Mother ? Setta? Is
that you? Heather quickly
wrote. Her hand actually trembled as she formed the words and
watched them disappear.
    Yes . It is I. Is
something wrong?
    Heather couldn't help but laugh . "This is actually working. Oh, my God.”
    I can't believe this is working . I'm actually talking, well, writing with my mother.
How long can we do this for?
    As long as you need, Heather . Dearling, it is wonderful to hear from you. But I think
you are having problems with Fade, am I correct?
    Yes, you're right, mother . He just broke the doorknob he used to enter my world.
Does it matter?
    Well, it is a slight setback . It means that he will not return to his realm in the
exact point of entry. From the recent gossip, I believe he
disappeared after entering a hoonan stronghold.. so the fact he
will not be returning there is not too horrific. However, you must
tell him to be careful with the remaining keys. They are
irreplaceable and I can't get anymore to you. The other knobs will
take you to different parts of Mearth. Some are safe and others
dangerous, if he destroys anymore it reduces, drastically, your
chance of returning home and I do so want to see you again. The
prospect of once again being with you has kept your father and I
strong during these horrid times.
    I want to know you too, mother . And father. Will there be a time
difference?
    I . . . . I cannot
say, daughter. Had he used the same knob, then no. He would have
returned at the same moment. Only you would have been with him. Now
that he has destroyed that particular key, there very likely could
be a time delay. Inform him of this and also tell him that Calder
has been placed on the throne- he is only acting in Fade's stead.
There are rumors of the council gifting Fade with a year to return.
. . . if he does not, then Calder will take the throne.
Permanently. Again, this would not have been an issue had he not
broken the doorknob, but there is no point in weeping over this. He
will have your kingdom once you are bonded together.
    How do we bond together,
mother?
    Through a union of the body, of course,
dearling .
    I was hoping that you'd say it was
easier . I've only known the
man a day. When am I expected to have sex with him? Can it wait
until I reach home?
    Unfortunately not, dearling . You must bond before you return, as if you don't, you
might not be allowed to enter Mearth. Only Elven can enter Mearth
and the suppressants you've been fed over your lifetime have taken
your Elven nature away. Bonding with Fade will return
it.
    Okay . I'll think
about it. It seems I have some time, because we just tried the
doorknob Fade broke on every door in the house. None of them
worked. I realized I possess a ton of junk, but there was little
other success.
    I can't think why that would be- unless May did something
to the knobs.
    This might not matter, but I've lived my whole