armies. I wasn’t meant to come along, but Father insisted on keeping you company when we got you back. Uncle Dorian is also
here, he’s at the border waiting to see if the Shadow King shows up demanding your return or something.”
“Talia, slow down please.”
She looked confused and hurt by my sudden brashness, but it was difficult to keep up with everything. My head rang with a
headache and already I was feeling tired again. Whatever was in that drink Nora gave me really did something to me.
“Where is Nora?”
“Nora?”
“The lady who brought me.”
Talia bit her bottom lip and looked away from me. It was something she’d always done when she was holding something
back and trying to come up with a story. Which only made me more suspicious.
“Talia. Where is Nora?” I asked again, raising my voice slightly. She quickly got off the cot and stepped back.
“She’s with Dorian,” Norok’s voice bellowed behind Talia as he stepped beside her.
My handsome brother looked lost, broken, and deeply shaken by the sight of me. He’d let his hair grow out in the time we’d
been apart but had bulked up. His armour was different, armour of a king.
“I need to speak with her.”
“You know, I thought when I awoke I’d find you at my side. So when Talia and Mother broke down in front of me,
explaining what mess you’d managed to get yourself into, I knew it would be me who would clean it up.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there, but Norok, it wasn’t a mess. It only became one when Father sent his armies there.”
He didn’t seem even fazed by my words, as if he knew that was what I’d say. My heart pinched. I didn’t know if I could
take another betrayal and hoped Norok had no idea or clue of what had happened to me.
“Father is dead.”
My eyes widened at his sudden news. The room felt as if it were closing around me, and the cot disappeared right from
under me.
Father. Is. Dead.
No.
That wasn’t right.
It had to be a lie.
Talia started to cry at Norok’s news. Turning away from us both, she rushed out of the tent. A war tent, that’s what I was in.
“No. I don’t believe you.”
“You should. It’s why I’m here. Yourhusbandkilled him.”