Everything surrounding Pax except for the woman standing in front of him and Titus had ceased to exist. They stood facing her together in the rebel base dining hall. Both of their crews, along with the Viper littles had stopped mid bite into their desserts to stare at the tableau unfolding between them.

The day had been one of insane revelations. It still seemed impossible that he had his older brother Titus, his friend Tomis and the Viper littles back. And now, at the end of their celebration, he and his older brother stood staring in stunned amazement at the simple kitchen worker who’d delivered their dessert.

Titus had her by the arm to keep her from leaving. But instead of responding to Titus restraining her or Pax calling her Mama, she just stared at them with a soft, vacant half smile, waiting.

Pax blinked, wondering if his reunion with Titus had him seeing lost family members everywhere. But no. He ran his gaze over her features and kept finding familiar clues under the layer of wrinkles and age.

Her eyes were straight from his dreams, a soft amber that had always been full of love and comfort as he’d fallen asleep to her soft singing as a child. The slender shape of her face was still distinct despite the passing years. The final evidence was the hint of the unmistakable dimple in her cheek he’d never forget.

“It’s her, right?” Pax turned to Titus. “It has to be.”

“But she doesn’t recognize us.” Titus shook his head in confusion, not taking his eyes off the woman. “Do you know who we are? Mama? It’s us, Titus and Pax.”

There wasn’t even a flicker of recognition.

“Answer me.” Frustration and an underlying agony leaking into Titus’ tone. His grip tightened on her arm.

“How can I help you, sir?” She finally spoke, still showing only the mildest emotion on her expression, not responding at all to their escalation.

“Hey!” a woman’s voice called out sharply from the direction of the kitchen. “What are you doing to Jane?”

Both Titus and Pax turned to see a burly woman clad in a stained white kitchen uniform marching around tables and chairs toward them, outrage on her face.

“Take your hands off her,” she demanded before she even reached them.

Titus startled and looked at his hand in surprise when he saw how tightly he was gripping the woman’s arm. He let go immediately and turned back to the approaching kitchen worker. “I’m sorry. I let my emotions get out of control. We just need to know who this woman is. Why did you call her Jane?”

The kitchen worker came to a halt next to Jane and ignored both Titus and Pax as she leaned in close and whispered soothing words and questions. Only once she’d reassured herself that Jane was unharmed did she look up at the two distraught brothers.

“I am Mistress Ingrid Harkness. Everything and everyone related to food in this base is under my purview. Be glad you didn’t harm her, or I’d be bringing you up on charges with the council.”

Pax blanched. “We would never. We just need to know who she is. She looks just like . . . I mean, we think she must be . . . .” His words choked in his throat, and he couldn’t force anything sensible past the ball of emotions stuck there.

Her gaze narrowed. “What exactly are you talking about? Are you unhappy with the food? I can guarantee if you try the desserts, you’ll enjoy them. Jane here has a talent with them, especially various regional dishes many people aren’t familiar with. Besides, complaints come to me. No one harasses my workers.”

Titus shook his head impatiently, but then blew out a long breath to calm down. When he spoke, his voice was calm and clear, the kind a commanding officer used to brief his troops. “What my brother is trying, and failing, to get out, is that this woman is the exact image of our mother. Guards captured her and my father years ago when we were just children. We’ve always assumed the empire killed them, because otherwise, they’d have found a way to get back to us. We grew up as orphans. So, please explain to me why she isn’t answering our questions and the name on her menu is ‘Worker called Jane’? What do you know about her background and history?”

The woman looked taken aback by his explanation, a flash of distress clouding her expression. “Your mother?”

Pax nodded, realizing Titus had had the presence of mind to Identify her. Pax immediately did the same.

***

Worker called Jane - Level 4

Assignment: Kitchen staff

Health: 30/30

Increase Identify Skill for more information.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Skill Boost: +3 to Identify Level 4 - 27/400

***

The information confused him even further. She’d been masquerading as a crafter back in Thanhil, not a worker. And there was still the mystery of how she’d switched to that after being at the mage academy where she’d met their father.

He didn’t know her exact level, but it had to be higher than four. Not only that, but her health was lower than his. Pax shook his head and focused on the most important piece of information. Why did her menu list her name as a Worker called Jane? He met Mistress Harkness’ gaze. “Her name should be Kindra Truesworn, not Jane. What happened to her?”

“Now hold on a moment. We don’t know if she’s the person you seem to think she is, but maybe it’s possible—” Her voice trailed off as she gave Jane another worried glance.

“Explain.” The word from Titus came out with the snap of an order.

The woman scowled in response. “Now, listen here. Just because you’re some fancy warrior doesn’t mean you get to come into my dining hall and harass me and my workers. It’s late, but I promise I’ll look into this.” With a gentle grip, she took hold of Jane’s arm and turned toward the kitchen. “Get some sleep and come see me in the morning. I’ll tell you what I find out.”

Titus made a sound of protest and took a step forward, hand moving to grab Jane’s arm again.

Mistress Harkness stopped and gave him a scowl that was threatening enough to make him stop mid motion. “If what you think is true, it’s been years. A few more hours won’t make a difference. And Jane here can be fragile when someone disrupts her routine.”

Pax let out a hard breath of distress at the idea of Mistress Harkness leading what could be his mother off with no answers. There was no way he’d be able to sleep a wink tonight.

Harkness must have seen something in his expression that touched her, because her shoulders relaxed, and she sighed. “I’ll tell you what. Give me a half hour to get her settled back into her routine and off to bed. Then, I’ll come back out. I’ll tell you everything I know about Jane, alright?”

Titus gave her a relieved nod. Pax managed a soft thanks as Harkness led Jane away. Both of the brothers’ gazes stayed glued to the back of the two women until they disappeared through the swinging kitchen doors. Still too overwhelmed to say anything, Pax just kept staring as if the woman would come back out and suddenly recognize her sons with a big smile and a hug.

“It’s her. It has to be.” Titus’ tone wasn’t as confident as his words. “I’d recognize that smile anywhere.”

“And the eyes,” Pax said softly before turning and letting himself sit down and slump back into his seat.

Beside him, Titus did the same, looking as lost as Pax did.

Then Pax realized how quiet it was around them and looked up. Everyone was looking at them or paying an inordinate amount of attention to their desserts on the table.

Next to him, Rin gave him a look full of concern. “So, you really think that’s your mother?”

“I don’t know.” A sudden crash of doubt made Pax’s eyes sting as he shook his head. “Titus and Tomis showed up today, and I think that got me believing in miracles again. But another one on the same day? And my mother? I just don’t know.”

Rin reached out and gave his arm a squeeze without a word. It was just what he needed. He felt a few of his tight knots of worry and tension loosen. Her gesture gave him the touch of strength he needed to regain some control over his emotions. He also remembered how much she’d shied away from physical touch when they’d first met, which made her gesture even more meaningful.

When he looked around, he saw the same support and love from the rest of his friends. He gave them a wan smile. “Thanks, everyone. It’s been a crazy day. I just thought I was finished after the miracle of having Titus, Tomis and the littles show up”—he paused to smile at his brother and friends—“So, regardless of who this Jane is, Vitur has blessed me incredibly today. Thanks to all of you for just being here with me. Just . . . thank you.”

Titus reached out to give him a soft clap on the back before squeezing his shoulder and looking up at their friends around them. “How about we all finish this amazing dessert from our hometown and celebrate a day of miracles? Then we can get the littles and everyone who’s still recovering to bed, so we can get a fresh start on exploring this place tomorrow?”

“But what about what the Mistress says when she gets back?” Jules asked, casting a curious glance toward the door Jane and the Mistress had disappeared through. “What if that woman is really your mama?”

When Pax saw the forlorn hope Jules couldn’t keep hidden, his own emotions threatened to break free again. It was a common dream they’d all whispered about during their lives as street rats. What if their parents came back to rescue them? What if they got to be part of a family again?

Well, based on the way Jane had interacted with them, she wouldn’t be doing much rescuing. But Pax didn’t need rescuing anymore, and neither did Titus. Maybe, instead, they could rescue their mother? Another thought occurred to him. If Jane truly was their mother, then what had happened to their father?

Pax shook his head, forcing all the thoughts and emotions into a tight ball and shoving them down. Keeping his voice and expression calm and kind, he shook his head at Jules. “We don’t know how long it’ll take Mistress Harkness to get back. But don’t worry. We’ll tell you everything that happens when you get up in the morning.”

Jules wasn’t the only little to frown and look obstinate. And truly, Pax could see the youngest of the Vipers weren’t really little anymore. The trials they’d gone through since leaving Thanhil had changed them.

Unlimited food, combined with tough travel and strenuous training, had given them physical strength that combined with growth spurts to make up for lost time. They now displayed a confidence that replaced the furtive fear of a vulnerable street kid. That was the most pronounced difference.

Pax resolved to spend time with them soon so he could tease out the mysteries of the Awakening process as soon as possible. First, though, he needed to find out everything Mistress Harkness knew about Jane. He’d have a hard time focusing on much of anything until he got the matter of his mother settled.

The thought of all the urgent tasks hanging over his head made him groan, reminding him he was in a race to find the light headquarters’ ancient altar before the rebel leaders came looking for him because he defied his superior officer today.

He snorted at the idea. He wasn’t a fresh recruit that needed to be hammered into shape. The powers he had as a light mage could completely change the outcome of the war if they would listen to him. He blew out a breath. There was so much to get done and so little time.

But Pax knew he couldn’t just focus on strengthening the rebels with Tamed beasts and unlocking additional elements for them. He had to find the altar and then use its power, combined with the advantages he brought to the cause, to force the leadership to treat him as an equal. Only then could he and his friends truly change the shape of this war.