“It’s late,” he said, bending down to hug her. “Did you walk all the way from campus, alone?”

“Yes,” she said, rising on her tiptoes to hug him back, pressing her face into his scarves. “And as you can see, I was perfectly safe. No marauders in the streets.”

“I wish you wouldn’t,” he said, still holding her. He smelled like his teas, as usual, but his voice was a little too hearty and his breath too quick.

“What’s wrong, Papa?” she said.

He gave a short laugh, kissed her forehead, and let her go. “My perceptive girl. Have you heard about the Monsean queen?”

“Ta Varana told me.”

“Yes,” he said. “Well. Everyone’s pretty upset, including your mother. It’s a tragedy, of course, but also, we had real hopes of getting to know her, establish a strong working relationship with her. The Royal Continent has a lot of war and instability, but Queen Bitterblue has long been one of its steadier leaders. It’s just so unfortunate.”

“Is that why Mother had to leave her class this morning?” said Lovisa. “Ta told me about that too.”

“That was Vikti,” said Benni. “His health had taken a turn for the worse. But he’s better now. Nothing to worry about, sweetheart. Would you like to go see him?”

“I don’t want to wake him,” she said. “Have they all been behaving themselves?”

“Viri was making your mother’s life difficult earlier, I believe, but everything’s fine now.”

Then it must be Viri up in the attic room. Viri was the youngest, only five. If he was up there, he’d be shivering right now, his arms wrapped around his knees, tears running down his face. Lovisa would have to find a way to check on him.

But she pretended not to care about that, because Viri could get into more trouble if she was caught helping him. “What about the rest of the Monseans?” she said. “Are they here?”

“I’m afraid not,” said Benni. “The plans have changed.”

“Why? Because they’re not useful to you and Mother without the queen?” Lovisa, who wasn’t afraid of her father, grinned up at him.

“My mischievous girl,” he said, touching the white streak in her hair.

“Where’s the delegation staying instead?”

“With Quona Varana.”

“Quona Varana!”

“Yes,” said Benni, a mournful tone to his voice. “We’re all a little concerned.”

“But how did that happen? They’ll sneeze themselves to death!”

“Well,” said Benni, “now that the queen is gone, everything’s changed. There’s apparently a member of their party—a young Graceling woman—who’s distraught and would benefit from time alone.”

“In a den of cat fur?”