Ridda stood abruptly, and Sioni’s eyes flashed open. “I don’t care what you call her, Joseph, and I don’t care what you think at this point- you have no idea what’s happened in the past, and you have no right to judge anyone.” Joseph’s gaze dropped to the floor, and the knife followed.

“Sioni, Arelia” she emphasized the name, glaring at Joseph, “was not an evil person. I doubt she is now. What happened to her would drive anyone to madness. What she’s done to you, to your mother, to everyone, is wrong, but what we did to her is what caused it.” She shook a tear from her eye.

“No. No, how could my mother do that?” Sioni asked, fully awakened, “My mother, who would never hurt a fly-”

“Your mother didn’t know what she was doing, Sioni! Sit down! None of us knew it was anything more than a joke. Joseph, you leave that knife where it is!” She whirled around, and Joseph backed away from the knife on the floor. “We don’t know what she’s capable of, Sioni. We’ll take you home in the morning. You must stay safe.”