Shannon's heart fluttered as she mourned his passing. He had been kind to her and loved her in a way that only a father could. He had proven that he was constantly thinking of her by remembering her birthday and holidays with gifts, and sending her monthly notes by raven. He visited her every summer and quizzed her on her progress, exclaiming his pride as she demonstrated her new skills in simple conjuring and healing. She feared she would disappoint him, and worked diligently to learn all she could in the ten years that she had lived under the tutelage of the Sisterhood of Truth. Shannon fingered the shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Malkai had given the luxurious item to her on her eighteenth birthday, just days before he had passed away of the plague. Her gift protected her from illness, and he came to her so that she might remove his pain and comfort him in his final hours. The shawl reminded her of this surrogate father, the only person other than her mother who had fully understood her.
