It wasn’t often that Darai blurred the lines between uncle and adviser. But when he chose so, Nor knew it was best to just let him be. He was her family, even if they weren’t bound by blood, and one allowed family certain freedoms on occasion—even queens.

She also didn’t have the energy to convince herself otherwise right now.

“Zahn was a good man,” Darai said, placing his hands in his lap. “A good soldier, too, but an even better man.”

“Don’t speak of him as if he’s gone,” Nor whispered, and suddenly she was crying again. “Not yet.”

Darai reached out, slowly, and took her hand. The gesture was awkward; something he hadn’t done since Nor was a child, when Darai had sat for hours at her bedside, bargaining with the Godstars to bring her back to health after the destruction of Xen Ptera.

“Did you know,” he ventured, “that your mother made me promise her two things when you were born?”

Nor shook her head.

“The first was that I would always look out for you, that I would guide you and advise you and teach you the ways of Exonia, and about your true lineage, until the end of my days.” He squeezed her hand, reminding her briefly of their true mission.

Her purpose, at least, still remained, though the task seemed more daunting than ever without Zahn.

“The second was that I would never lie to you,” Darai said. He reached out, gently, and lifted her chin with his hand, guiding her gaze toward his. “You are still the queen, my dear. And a queen cannot crumble. Not even beneath the weight of grief.”

Nor blinked back her tears, staring into her uncle’s eyes, realizing she never really had before. Not since she was a girl, and he was first teaching her how to use her compulsion. Reminding her that though her body would be weak while she healed, her mind was still strong.

“You will not sulk in this room any longer,” Darai said matter-of-factly.

Nor blinked. “Sulking? I’m mourning, Uncle. That’s hardly the same thing.”

He shook his head, still holding her gaze. His eyes were Exonian gold, so very close to the same shade as Nor’s. “Zahn will not be forgotten. We’ll honor him, when this war is over. We’ll give him a warrior’s funeral and adorn the entire estate in gold.”

Nor shook her head, tears coming again as she thought of letting him go, truly. She didn’t want to think of that now. “We can’t—”