For a moment that lasted longer than she would have expected, Farilane stopped feeling the pain in her chest. Breathing no longer hurt because she’d stopped doing it altogether. It isn’t fair he should do that to me when I’m like this. A knight would never hit a foe when they’re down. I’m wounded, and the bastard has the indignity of stabbing me like that. Never before had Nordyan, or any member of her family save her long-passed mother, ever admitted to caring about her. And no one had ever said those words—not to her.

Farilane was embarrassed to admit that her ribs were not broken, just badly bruised, and much of the pain had been caused by over-zealous bandaging. She did have a nasty black, yellow, and blue mark on her chest in the vague shape of a Book of Brin-sized rectangle, but once the bandages were off, she felt better, and she was able to breathe again.

Most of the knights were out searching for Sheldon. Although only supposition on her part, Farilane believed there really had been a Sheldon Faust, and that she had met him that first day in the palace. Farilane was also fairly certain that Proust was none other than the infamous Fhrey Miralyith, Mawyndulë, who had used magic to impersonate Sheldon when they met at the ferry. Recalling his dreadful words, I can’t leave any witnesses, Farilane assumed the real Sheldon had met an early end. Farilane didn’t hold out much hope of the Teshlors finding Mawyndulë. Given the fate of Tekchin and Sikar, and having seen firsthand what happened to Sephryn, she secretly hoped they didn’t.

Discovering that Farilane wasn’t broken after all, her brother put into motion plans to return to Percepliquis. A wagon was obtained and a coffin built for Sephryn’s body. She would be transported back for a proper interment in the family crypt. A second wagon was outfitted for Farilane. She was certain this was less for her comfort and more to prevent any more unscheduled departures. Nordyan was weirdly intent on getting her back home, a fixation that she felt transcended his desire to placate the emperor.