The gargoyle in the picture had been the clan's patriarch at the time of the struggle, the father of their present ruler. The picture had always given Remy chills - the old ruler had been both beautiful and terrifying. He was a smooth blend of golden and green tones - he'd turned into a jasper gargoyle - with a scaly appearance and a long, draconic snout. His wings poked out above his head, which was topped by a platinum and diamond crown. One talon-tipped hand rested on an arm of the chair and clasped a golden chalice set with large blue-green stones.
"Those are aquamarines," he told Mari. "They represent the power of water. The cup is supposedly imbued with healing magic and was what protected our species from disease."
Mari had gone stock still. She swallowed hard and licked her lips as if her mouth had gone suddenly dry. "Remy? Do you believe in Fate?"