“It did not take long before my mother shared she thought it was beneath me to play such childish games.”

“Even doing it with a child?” I asked.

He did not answer my question.

He said pensively, “Silence was devastated. Though she never spoke a word, certainly no childish tantrums, she just went back to playing with her dolls, but it was a ruse. She had no interest in them. She loved her cousin and spending time with me. She also had no friends.”

“That’s heartbreaking, True,” I whispered.

“I think I was more upset.” His voice dropped. “A boy of fourteen, stripped of his only playmate. A six-year-old girl.”

I stared at him, the gentle sway of the horse, the beauty of the trees around us not relaxing me in the slightest.

“Farah.”

And I continued staring at him, eyes burning, throat prickly, something I had not felt or called upon in many years scratching at my spine.

“Farah!” True clipped. “Halt!” he ordered.

We halted, even my horse did so, though I didn’t pull the reins as I could not tear my eyes from True, or my thoughts from his last words.

“Farah.”

I swallowed hard so I would not wail my fury for who knew what would happen if I did that.

“Farah!” True barked.

It was his voice in that tone that made me blink.

And when I did, a vast shower of leaves that were floating all around fell to the ground about us.

The horses shifted with agitation.

Oh dear.

“Was that you?” he asked, and I noted his men had closed ranks and drawn swords.

They were concerned there was other magic out there and they did not know who wielded it.

“Yes,” I told him. “I’m sorry. My magic comes to me through emotion. I’ve…” I drew in breath. “I’ve kept a very tight control over it since, well, since my father…”

“Yes, I understand,” True muttered.

Yes.

Somehow True always did.

His men sheathed their swords.

“I did not want to make matters worse because sometimes, I can control it and sometimes,” I lifted a hand and let it fall, indicating my control of the leaves, “I cannot.”

“You do not have to feel sorry for me, sweetling,” True said gently.

“I do not feel sorry for you, caro. I feel fury, and I do not mean to offend or show disrespect, but it is aimed at your mother.” As I’d started this, I decided to give him it all. “And your father.”

I heard a “huh” coming from Florian and a grunt from Wallace.

I cast my eyes down. “I’m again so very sorry, saying these things is disrespectful to your queen and king.”