Nerissa sits by a pallet next to Tristan, tending to a cut on a survivor’s head, and he leans over and says something that makes her laugh. Tears burn my eyes at the sight, and I admonish myself. Now is not the time to lose myself in daydreams. So he made a girl laugh. Get a grip, Lor. They aren’t pledging undying love to one another yet.

She finishes with her current patient and then leans down to plant a kiss on Tristan’s cheek before she walks away to replenish her supplies. My brother’s attention remains glued on her as she disappears through the crowd. When he looks back, our gazes meet. I smirk, and he glares until his expression turns into a sheepish smile before he shakes his head.

Turning away, I survey the helpers, noting how none of the nobles have made their way down here, content to remain in the palace and do nothing.

But then I spy Halo and Marici entering, wearing simple pants and tunics with their sleeves rolled up and their hair tied back. Halo spots me first.

“Lor!” she cries and runs over. We throw our arms around one another and hug tightly. “I heard you were in the palace. What are you doing here? How did everything go with the Mirror? We saw your magic. Was that really you?”

She’s talking a mile a minute as Marici comes up beside her, and I hug her next.

“I’m back,” I say. “And I took a little detour after I spoke with the Mirror.” That’s a mild understatement.

“Spoke with the Mirror?” Halo asks. “What does that mean?”

I blow out a breath. “I said I couldn’t tell you everything before, but it’s probably safe enough now.” I scan our cluttered surroundings. “But maybe not here? We’ll be leaving again soon, but I’d like the chance to talk.”

“Of course,” Marici says. “In the meantime, we came to see what help we could offer.”

I look at them as tears burn the backs of my eyes.

They were my first two friends outside of Willow and Tristan. I reach out to grip their hands as a wave of melancholy washes over me. Why does it feel like this might be the first of many goodbyes?

“Did I ever thank you for being so nice to me during the Trials?”

They both exchange an uncertain look.

“We weren’t, though,” Halo says. “We were awful to you.”

“You came around,” I say.

“We don’t deserve your thank-you. We should have been nicer to you from the beginning and never listened to that horrid . . .” she trails off, biting her tongue.

Like it or not, Apricia is still set to become her queen. Or is she?

“What happens to you now?” I ask. “With Tyr back?”

“I’m not sure,” Halo says. “We’re all kind of in limbo. I doubt he wants . . .”