"And my mother died slowly after giving birth to me," Gideon whispered, the harsh reality settling heavily in the room.
Shaking his head to clear the dark thoughts, he focused on his uncles again. "What was the witch's name?"
"Emalda," Tyson replied softly. "We only did what your mother felt was best to keep you safe. Your Highness, you were precious to her. Please, do not hate her memory. She simply got caught up in the lies of an evil woman who targeted her from the very beginning."
Gideon's expression remained entirely unreadable, showing no hint of the turmoil within.
Seeing his stoic demeanor, Stefan spoke up, his voice tinged with a shock. "Can you tell us what you meant by seeing your mother? How could she possibly be trapped in that place if her body is long gone?"
"Her soul is trapped," Gideon answered bluntly. "Emalda must have bound her spirit to those waters before she fell."
