True’s lips twitched again.

“He may have no authority to them, but they sent him,” Ophelia continued. “Thus, he’s their representative here, and as such, any agreements he makes hold.”

“Of course,” True muttered.

“Now I will speak to Sir Alfie and go,” she declared.

True tensed at this declaration, and I did the same.

“Ophelia, I don’t—” True began.

“Son,” she said softly, “do you not think I have stood by the side of many a warrior’s bed and explained to them there are mountains we face in this life that seem insurmountable, until we reach the peak?”

True relaxed, and I did as well.

“I will have a care,” she promised, but she did not leave, and her gaze stayed locked to True. “Your mother was a great woman. Her loss is felt.”

And with that, her two lieutenants in her wake, the Nadirii queen left the room.

I controlled my lip quivering at the same time felt that itch in my hand to reach to True.

I looked to Elpis.

She nodded.

Thus, I took my husband’s hand.

His fingers closed tight around mine.

The door opened and I tried to pull away.

He disallowed that, and holding hands, we both looked to Ry, who stood in the door.

“It would seem we need to send birds,” he announced. “I apologize for the delay.”

“You have until tomorrow morning at ten,” True returned.

“But, Your Grace, birds cannot—” Ry started.

True stood, and as he had my hand, I stood with him.

“Tomorrow, ten,” he repeated. “Now we all have things we wish to do. We’ll use the ensuing time to do them.”

And thus, he guided me out of the room at his side, and I walked with as much dignity as I could with my arm in a sling.

Two (and a half) more days, and I could be free of it.

Two (and a half) more days, and that daily reminder of what befell us on our wedding day could be gone for me and for True.

Two (and a half) more days, and I could pounce on my husband and make him truly mine.

Two (and a half) more days, and I could share things with True that might exhaust him enough to make him sleep an entire night, but at the very least they would take his mind from things that weighed heavily.

Two (and a half) more days.

I couldn’t wait.

95

The Abyss

King Aramus

Throne Room, Keel Castle, Nautilus

MAR-EL

When the hinges of the tall doors down the long hall groaned in protest, Aramus, sitting on his throne atop his podium, had the desire to shout in frustration.

Along the journey home, he, with his queen, had drafted (and redrafted, and then again, and more) the language he would use for the changes he would be making in his realm.

And in doing so, he, with the encouragement of his queen, made one adjustment to what he had promised the rulers of the other realms of Triton.