Its not you who needs to be sorry, its me, Lenore said. I shouldnt have insisted that you come to the feasting. If you hadnt been there, they couldnt have done this.

I wanted to, Nerra managed. But this… I dont know what to do.

Well get Father to change his mind, Lenore said. Ill…

Theres nothing you can do, Nerra insisted.

There has to be. Lenore held her out at arms length. Well find a way. Im going to have you there at my wedding, you understand?

Nerra managed a smile at that. Anything to get me there.

Anything, Lenore said. But also anything to make sure I dont lose my sister.

Well find a way to help you, Rodry agreed. Whatever it takes.

***

Godwin sat in his chambers, waiting for his children to come to him. To his surprise, Greave was the first of them, rushing in with more anger and energy than he had ever seen in the boy.

Youre going to send Nerra away? Greave demanded, bringing his hands down on the desk behind which Godwin sat. The king looked up at him, seeing far too much of his mother in him, the pain of that making it impossible to simply talk to his son.

Do not presume to lecture me, Godwin said. Not on this.

If not on this, then on what? Greave demanded. The law books hold all kinds of loopholes. I could find one

And then what? Godwin demanded. What do you think it will look like if we do that?

Youre concerned about how things look? Greave demanded. Do you even care about your family at all?

Godwin stood, towering over his son. I care more than you could ever understand, locked away in your library, learning nothing about the world!

You think Ive learned nothing? Well, shall I quote Liviricus? A man who loses the love of his family loses everything.

Not as much as a man who actually loses his family, Godwin snapped back.

The kings authority is absolute in matters relating to the immediate security of the kingdom, Greave shot back. Thats from a charter more than three hundred years old.

It doesnt matter what the law says, or what your books say, Godwin replied. His voice was raised now. There was always something about Greave that riled him where Nerra had soothed him. It only made it worse that he was here while Nerra was on the verge of being sent away. It matters what the nobles will do. Do you not understand what was happening in there? Someone was trying to ferment rebellion. These are men with half the soldiers in the kingdom between them, men who could bring our entire family down if I do not do as they demand.

So youre just going to throw Nerra out into the wilds? Greave demanded.