"That's not why you pulled the Yew tree aside, is it?"
Amahle's words hung in the hot humid air like a gentle admonition. Ashlynn's explanation hadn't been a lie but it hadn't been a complete truth either and her 'older sister's words made it clear that her omission hadn't gone unnoticed.
"No," Ashlynn admitted, sighing as she looked at the page. "There was another reason as well. The Yew Witch receives blessings of longevity. I, I'm going to live for hundreds of years alongside Mistress Nyrielle," she said heavily. "If I grant Heila the power of the Yew tree, then she'll be able to accompany me for much, much longer."
"It's good when you're honest with yourself," Amahle said, standing up from the table and moving across the room to retrieve a fresh pitcher of chilled mint tea and a tray of ginger and molasses cookies.
