"She left your child to die," Anthelme said, gently. "Your reaction is understandable."
Varian looked at his friend. "My mother cared for the dying. You know that. She raised all of her children to understand that whatever has gone before, when a person is facing that final journey, he or she deserves forgiveness and peace."
He shook his head. "I denied Violetta that."
"The Holy One is merciful, Sire. I'm sure she has received the peace you were unable to give."
"I can only pray that's true."
Varian considered the book. "This is her prayer book. I remember how frustrated I would be, seeing her reading this when she could have been talking to me."
He opened it. A stalk of dried thistle that had been pressed between the pages fell to the ground.
"Why would she save a weed like this?" Anthelme asked as he picked up the flower.
Varian put the dried plant back in the book. "Who knows why Violetta did anything?"
Pigsty Princess Page 36
