“I am in no hurry,” she mumbled.

“Farah.”

Her eyes focused on him.

He gave her all she needed to know for the now.

“Cassius has had news of not a small amount of unrest in Airen,” he informed her.

“Oh, Gods, no,” she whispered.

“I sense he has not told me the fullness of it in thoughtfulness to all that’s happened today. But I’m also sensing he and Elena will need to leave.”

She nodded again.

“Mars has promised his aid to Cassius, but he also knows this Rising has a foothold in his own realm. We might lose him too.”

She bit her lower lip but again nodded.

“I suspect Aramus will back Cassius. Frey Drakkar and Apollo Ulfr have vowed to assist Wodell, but they did this before they knew the unrest in Airen. What I’m saying is, with Mother gone, it might well be you and me and my men who take this on.”

“And the gnomes. The fairies. The pixies. And all the many people who love you.”

He stared down at her.

“We suffered a grave loss today, True. You suffered a grave loss. And there is one thing I’ve learned about Wodell in the time I’ve spent here. Your people will not abide that. Not for them. Not for Mercy. But most of all, not for you.”

She pressed closer and kept speaking.

“Cassius may go, and Mars may go, Aramus too, and I will be sad for their leaving, mostly because my friends will leave with them and because of why they all go. But we will prevail.”

“I hope you are right,” he said.

“I know I am,” she replied.

He smiled down at her and then noted, “Now you have had what you requested, will you humor your husband and finally lie down?”

Her face grew soft. “I think maybe I can do that.”

He was relieved, and not only because she damn well needed to lie down and get some bloody rest, but because there was one thing he had planned for their wedding day that he still fully intended to do.

It was the most important, even if it was arguable that it was what he was most looking forward to doing.

The other would happen when she had not but hours before taken an arrow through her body.

True bent to kiss her forehead before he released her and put a hand on the small of her back to scoot her toward her dressing rooms, saying, “If you need me, call.”

“Servants are always at the ready in this castle,” she murmured, clearly missing his fingers at her laces and moving in the direction he’d aimed her.

True headed to his own dressing room, wondering if Helga would wish to take on the new queen.

He’d assess her state the next day and ask when it seemed she would be open to such a request.

He was in his sleep pants and stoking the fire when his wife moved through her new boudoir into their bedchamber.