Jason removed his hand and let her open the package. It contained 3 small objects wrapped in a letter written by her mother a few weeks after Phaedra’s father, Patroclus, had left them. She took it to the small dining table in the corner of the room.

The first thing Phaedra picked up was the small gold ring. She turned it so she could see the insignia on the top. It was so worn and faded that she couldn’t make it out. She put it to the side.

The second object looked like a small, uncut sapphire. She and Leandros reached for it at the same time. This time Phaedra was sure she saw him blush.

“Sorry. I was curious whether it was what I thought.” He gave an embarrassed smile and moved his hand.

“What do you think it is?” Phaedra returned his smile with more confidence than he had shown. He picked up the stone.

“Well it looks like a sapphire but it has an inscription in the middle. It looks like it was a blessing intended to keep the bearer safe and to give them a heightened sense of awareness.” He handed the stone to his father to confirm his interpretation of the words.

Jason took the stone from his son and examined it closely. “You have done well in your studies, my son. That is indeed what this says.” He placed the sapphire back on the table in front of Phaedra.

“I wonder where she got it.” Phaedra now glanced at the third object before her. It was made of a silver colored material that looked very frail. It was a flowing material even when it was laying still. She unwound the chain to find out that there was a charm on the necklace that held pictures of her mother and father. There were also the words: You are always in my heart. She recognized her father’s elegant handwriting. It shocked her that she still remembered her father’s writing. She had been just 6 years old when he left.

Phaedra mentally shook herself and focused on the letter from her mother.

“My darling Phaedra,

First you should know that you father loves us very much. He is trying to shelter us from what he left behind when he and I married. You must find a way to forgive him. Only he can help you discover who you truly are and where you belong. I love you my sweet child and I’ll always be with you.

All my love,

Your mother”

Phaedra was shocked. Even that soon after he left, her mother had known that Phaedra would harbor harsh feelings for her father. Phaedra read the letter through a second time and read over a watermark that she had missed the first time. She gasped as she realized what it said.

It was an ancient seal from the oldest Elven kings in history…