As they walked back home, Patricia lowered her voice to speak to Jasmine.
“My contact has identified the crest on the necklace you wear,” she said softly. Jasmine’s heart began to race.
“And?” she asked eagerly.
“It is of the Copperstone family. A noble family in the Eastern Hills. The only known noble house in the kingdom to contain witch stock.”
“Copperstone,” Jasmine said to herself.
“Yes. My contact even informed me that one of the Copperstone women, Anya, used to work the same place you come from.” Patricia said the words meaningfully, clearly unwilling to say anything resembling sympathy for royalists while out in public. “I assume she is the one whom gave you your amulet?”
“Yes, Anya created and gifted the amulet to me,” Jasmine confirmed, idly playing with said amulet. “Did your contact say whether Anya was safe?”
“He did. He told me that Anya had returned to her familial home in the Eastern Hills, in a bustling town called Wind’s Grove. Wind’s Grove is apparently the city in which the vast majority of nobility in the Eastern Hills reside, not just the Copperstones.”
“I see.” Jasmine sighed with relief. “I am glad she escaped to safety.”
“I as well. Though I greatly enjoy your company and your help with Pyotr, I know you will need to return to your former life eventually.”
“Hopefully,” Jasmine muttered. She winced slightly; her breasts were beginning to ache. “We must move more quickly, Mistress. My milk is coming in with rapid pace. I need to feed the children as soon as I can.”
“Of course, dear girl.” Patricia began to walk more quickly, and the topic changed from Jasmine’s amulet and Anya to plans for the upcoming baptism. Though Jasmine was dreading it, she was looking forward to Bry becoming baptized. After all, she thought of the babe as her own by now. Even when she returned to Prince Jasper, she planned to recognize Bry as her daughter.
When they arrived home, Jasmine’s mind wandered to the offer the Countess had made, to find her a husband in the Eastern Hills. Now that she knew Anya lived in the same town as any nobleman the Countess would match her with, Jasmine felt this could be the best way to find Anya and return to her former self.
Hopefully, the Countess would have some news for her at the baptism.