She was sure at one time it had been a lovely portrait of Aylara, but it was now distorted. Like someone had spilled liquid on the pages and not bothered to clean it up. But it was not the portrait that haunted her; instead, it was the words that had been written above the ruined image.

A throne that grows in unstable foundations is bound to rot.

‘Claye?’ she called out. A few moments passed before he entered the room.

‘What can I do for you, princess?’ Claye bounded towards her.

‘What happened to this book? Do you know?’

Claye stared at the page a few seconds longer than he needed to before returning his attention to Sapphire.

‘These books are very old and they have passed through many hands. I suppose it’s time and use that have caused the decay.’

‘But the image … it’s entirely distorted. And what of the words here, written just above it?’

‘What words, princess?’ Claye leaned forward, squinting at the page.

Sapphire joined him before realizing to her horror that the writing was now gone.

‘There was … someone had written words, right …’ She trailed off, pointing towards the page.

Claye frowned, patting her on the shoulder.

Sapphire blinked a few times before reaching out a timid finger and running it over the portrait. For a moment, she could have sworn her skin burned at the touch. The sensation spooked her, and she quickly closed the book, then followed Claye out of the room, trying to ignore the sinking feeling that she was being watched.

Sapphire had been to the library for five days in a row but Evera still hadn’t returned to her position there. Sapphire was beginning to feel unsettled. So, as she dressed for lunch, she decided today she would ask. The garment she wore was a lighter blue; her favourite dress so far, not as heavy or confining as the others that had been made for her. Rayna was ill today so three maidens she didn’t know worked quickly, adding another jewelled pendant to her hair.

‘I realized I’ve never asked your names,’ Sapphire said.

‘Their names are not important,’ Claye interrupted as he entered the room. ‘What is important is that we don’t keep their majesties waiting. Do work quickly.’

Sapphire met the maidens’ eyes, begging them to speak, but they never did.

Mercy, she wished they would, though.

Claye escorted her to lunch daily, prattling on about the castle. The art, the history of it all. But Sapphire barely listened, her thoughts nearly swallowing her whole.

Sapphire was playing along, but she needed to start putting a plan together if she wanted to return to the Home any time soon. Lyna … Susanna … Her thoughts always returned to their faces and the familiar mix of guilt and yearning overwhelmed her.