Where had Fallon gone? She heard the sound of boots crunching in the sand and turned her head. Fallon was walking back toward the stone steps leading away from the beach. There was a woman standing in the distance, her black hair flowing in the wind. Trynne wanted to call out in warning, feeling a sudden panic in her heart.

Her eyes blinked open and she was instantly disoriented, not recognizing the furs and cushions on which she slept. Gahalatine was sitting on a cushion on the floor near her, head propped on one hand, writing with a quill and ink on paper. The sound of the quill head scratching the paper was soft as his hand moved swiftly across the page.

She blinked and lifted herself up on her arms. “When did you return?” she murmured, her voice quavering, her emotions still charged by the dream. She wiped her mouth on the back of her hand.

He glanced over at her. “You were resting so peacefully,” he said, “I dared not disturb you. So I started writing up orders to be executed after we spoke again. My heart is burning in my chest, Tryneowy. You spoke the truth. You spoke of your pain. I’m honored that you would still accept me, even after all that has happened.”

He cocked his head to one side, sighing deeply.

“Truth is like a double-edged sword. Is that not one of the teachings of the Fountain? It cuts through soul and spirit, joints and marrow. How did you know to strike me there, where I am most vulnerable?” He blinked rapidly, still not looking at her, his mind far away.

“As I thought about the things you told me, Tryneowy, I felt the truth of your words. I’m not certain I could have endured them had they been spoken by any other person.” He looked at her then, his eyes full of sorrow and anguish. There were tears quivering on his lashes.

“Surely . . . surely you are right. About everything. There is no atonement I can make for the loss of your brother. Were Rucrius here right now, I would slay him myself for such a crime. I can still defeat this castle, even with the blizzard summoned by the hollow crown. But I cannot take the crown itself by force.”

Trynne edged close enough to rest her hand on his shoulder. He jolted when he felt her touch and looked up at her shamefacedly. He covered his mouth with one hand, closed his eyes, and began stroking the stubble on his chin.