But Alfie steadfastly picked up the thread. “The pomp of your own.”

“Alfie,” True murmured.

“They should elope,” Alfie suggested, taking them right around the subject.

And the day was not dampened.

“It would be wise,” True replied. “And at least that will be done, the alliances made official that will defeat the Beast.”

At this, Apollo cleared his throat and stood, saying, “I will seek Ry and get those names.”

True nodded to him.

After Apollo left, Farah again squeezed his knee.

“Progress,” she said.

He smiled at her. “Progress.”

“I have concerns about this Go’Ella business,” she shared.

“As do I, my sweet, but it will have to wait.”

She looked contemplative before she said, “I also have concerns about this Marian.”

It was peculiar she would focus on that one Go’Ella, and True wished to quiz her on that, but he did not when Alfie spoke.

“As happy as I am to be out of that bloody room, True, I must ask to get back to it. I have sticks to practice with.”

Ah, yes.

Progress.

And hope.

“Then let us see to that, shall we?” True replied.

Alfie looked to Wally and Bram who were already moving his way.

True did not watch this.

He looked to his love.

“A good day,” he said and watched her eyes again shine with happiness.

“Finally,” she agreed.

104

The Realization

Queen Silence

Parlor of Guard of the Trusted, Fire City

FIRENZE

I drew deeply at the scent of the dark fluff on the baby’s head, a baby I held tight to me.

And I closed my eyes.

“They smell beautiful, do they not?” Nyx asked.

I opened my eyes, looked to my friend and smiled.

“No other scent is as beautiful,” I replied.

Though that was not true.

One was.

The spice of my husband’s cologne.

However, I had not smelled much of that lately.

Indeed, none a’tall.

“Is everything all right, my queen?” Zosime asked from where she was lounging back on the bright cushions of a daybed, appearing to glow more than she did when she was expecting.

However, she glowed through also appearing worried, her gaze kind on me.

I drew in the smell of dark baby fluff again to give me fortification in order to lie, “All is quite well. And please, do not address me as your queen. We are friends.”

“I quite like addressing you as my queen,” Zosime returned on a jaunty grin. “Though my husband is most cross with you.”

I blinked in concern. “For goodness sakes, why?”

“I have told him I need an entire new wardrobe,” she answered, dipping her chin to my gown.

“I dare to say husbands and fathers all over Fire City, indeed all of Firenze are cursing you, Silence,” Nyx put in. “But the merchants are not. There has been rather a run on silks since your wedding, not to mention all the finery you’ve been displaying since your return.”