Do you really believe that? Godwin shot back. We have family elsewhere. Your mother had brothers. I will send Nerra to one of them, away from the sight of others. She will be safe there.

Shell be a prisoner in all but name, Greave insisted.

Its better than being dead, Godwin said. He felt so old in that moment, so tired. If you want things to turn out so differently, maybe you should look in those books of yours for a cure to the scale sickness.

Greave stood there for a moment or two longer.

Maybe I will, he said. Maybe I will.

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

Lenore was still trying to think of ways to help her sister the next morning, while her maids were helping her to prepare. Theyd brought her traveling clothes, and Lenore frowned at them.

What are these for? she asked.

Your father has declared that the wedding harvest will begin early, one of her maids said.

Early? Lenore said. She knew why. He had called an end to the feasting in the wake of her sisters banishment. Just the word was enough to make Lenore want to find Nerra again, want to tell her that they would go to their father now that he had calmed down and force him to reconsider.

Where is my sister now? Lenore asked.

She is… already gone, your highness, the maid said.

No, Lenore said. She couldnt be. Nerra wouldnt just leave. She had until the end of the month. Without waiting for her maids, she grabbed her traveling clothes and set off through the castle, determined to find Nerra, sure that this was some kind of mistake. Lenore made for her rooms, so tucked away and so private. Now that Lenore knew about her condition, it made sense: shed been kept there out of the way.

Which meant that her father had known.

Lenore stopped short at that thought, because it brought with it a host of questions: who else had known, and why had they stayed silent. How could their father banish her sister like that for something he had been complicit in? Anger rose in her at the thought of what hed done. He would have his reasons, of course, but it was playing politics when Nerra was at risk. She would find him and…

My love, is everything well with you?

Lenore turned and found herself staring at Finnal, who looked as impossibly handsome as always. Instantly, she was aware that she was only half dressed in front of the man she was due to marry, and her fingers fumbled to make sure that all the stays of her traveling clothes were in place.

Im trying to find Nerra, she said. What Father did, banishing her for having the scale sickness…

Its a hard thing, Finnal said, with a note of sympathy. But I would guess that your sister is gone by now.