The Chronicle (Erafeen, #4)

by David F. Farris

Storshae finally reached a cell in the back corner of the Confines. It was a unique hold, much larger than the rest, packed with more layers of Permanence in the walls around it. Such a design was required for the Dev Kingdom’s most dangerous captive—a woman who was, according to his father, the biggest threat to the Dev family. Storshae gazed at the woman seated on the floor within. Her raven hair was unnaturally long and in desperate need of a wash and cut. It fell in stringy curtains around her face and body to spool atop the cold, gray floor. With the way her head drooped, she appeared to not have a face. She wore an oversized tunic that reached her shins, once pure white but now stained a permanent tan. The bottom half of her legs were tucked under her, and her hands were crossed in her lap.

Illipsia's mother.