“I didn’t truly understand what love was before she was born,” the queen continued after a long pause. “I love my mother and father. I’ve always loved them. I loved your father for saving me from being swept away by the river. He risked his life to save mine, and I’ve never forgotten it. I’ve also loved my husband since we were children ourselves. I didn’t know what that feeling was at first, but Drew always fascinated me, even when I was too young to understand why. As we grew older, I hoped he would choose me as his bride, but I did not think it possible.” She flushed a little at the confession, casting a vulnerable look Trynne’s way. “Then I learned that he had chosen me over so many others, others who would have brought peace to his realm sooner. Others who would have brought him more beauty. More refinement.” She pursed her lips. “Isn’t it tragic how we women always compare ourselves to one another? Comparing our faults to others’ perfections? When Drew chose me, I thought I knew the meaning of love.” Then she shook her head and caressed the babe’s cheek with the edge of her knuckle. “I didn’t think my heart could grow any bigger, but it did. It wasn’t until this little girl wriggled out of my body amidst the greatest pain I’ve ever felt that I realized how big love could be. My heart swelled and swelled and it hasn’t stopped swelling yet.” She blinked away tears and dabbed them against her wrist. “Look at me, I am a mother! I’ll be weeping over sunsets ere long.”

She turned to face Trynne with a serious air. “I have a mission for you.”

“I assumed that is why you summoned me,” Trynne answered, feeling her heart twist with a little tug of envy. Genevieve had found her love. Trynne worried if she ever would. So many of the people she loved had been taken from her.

“I am so sorry about your brother,” Genny said, as if reading her thoughts. “Words fail me. I cannot imagine how Lady Sinia will feel when she returns to Brythonica. How you must feel. I’m sorry that we must ask you to leave your home at such a perilous time. I know you are responsible for maintaining the protections of Brythonica, and that your duchy is still at risk from the fleet in Legault. I wish we could send more soldiers to defend your lands, but all our forces are stretched impossibly.”

“Loyalty binds me,” Trynne whispered thickly, repeating the motto her father had inherited from Duke Severn. Her family and Genny’s had always been close. She couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t known Lady Evie and Iago. Fallon had been a young boy when Trynne was born, and they’d spent a good part of their childhoods together.