"This incident wasn't an accident," Kaelis said quietly. "Not even by chance."
He folded the letter and slipped it into his pocket.
He and Ezra stood in front of Ricardo and his family. The couple looked shaken, and their daughters clung close to them.
Ricardo rubbed his face with both hands. "I still don't understand why he didn't tell me. I could've left and found help. If you had known earlier… maybe we could've saved them, right?"
"No," Kaelis said firmly.
"You have to remember what the letter said. The children were being taken one by one. The adults must have realized what was coming."
His voice softened slightly. "Your clan head spared you because, as your wife said, you are the only one left who understands Fleur De Lys medicine. And your children are still with you."
Kaelis placed a hand on Ricardo's shoulder.
"For now, you should be grateful."
Ricardo looked up at him, his expression uncertain. "But…?"
"But this also means something else."
