“Yeah, I’ve heard.” I smiled.
She held my arms, leaning back. “You have new glasses!”
I touched the golden frame, sending a flash of shimmer around the lenses’ edge.
“I do. These are even better than the old ones. Oh, and thanks for the clothes.” I smoothed my hands down the soft shimmering silk of my dress.
She nodded approvingly. “It looks great on you. But how are you doing? Are you okay?” She paused a long, assessing look at my face. “You’ve lost weight. Have you been eating well? You’ll need to move into the palace at once. You’re staying here now. I’m not letting you go anywhere ever again.”
The rustling of Timur’s cloak behind us made me fear that the swishing of his open wings would come next. I glanced over my shoulder to find Timur shifting in his chair impatiently. He clearly didn’t appreciate Dawn’s words about my moving to the palace. Was he worried I’d leave him?
Dawn spotted him too.
“Greetings, General Timur.” She waved at him, coming closer.
“Greetings, Lady Dawn.” Timur bowed his head ceremoniously.
“It’s me who needs to bow to you,” Dawn protested. She bent over at the waist, sinking into a low bow. “Thank you, General,” she said, straightening up again. “Thank you for delivering on your promise and bringing Elaine back to Teneris.”
“I’ll always bring her back,” he said simply. “Elaine belongs with me.”
“Is that so?” Dawn glanced between him and me.
I nodded, taking his hand in mine.
Dawn paused her gaze on our joined hands, then lifted her eyes to mine. “Are you happy, Elaine?”
I drew in a long breath. Happiness enveloped me tangible like a hug or a warm, cozy sweater.
“I am.” I squeezed Timur’s hand tightly. “I truly am, Dawn.”
A wide smile spread on her face. “Then I’m happy for you too.”
A group of courtiers rushed by us to the exit from the garden. A horn sounded from the plaza outside.
Dawn blew out a breath, her soft expression slipping away. “The queen entered through the city gate.”
I leaned toward her and lowered my voice, “Do you not like her much?”
Her gaze flashed with something I’d never seen in my friend’s eyes before.
“I hate her,” she said in a sharp whisper. “She ordered Rha’s death. She tortured him and almost killed him, Elaine. Her own son. But…” She drew in some air and scraped her hand down her face. “But she decided to come to Teneris for some reason. For the first time ever. And I can’t figure out if that’s a step toward a possible reconciliation or some sort of a trap.”
“Would the prince reconcile with her?” I asked.
“Rha is a statesman, first and foremost. He puts the interests of the kingdom before his ego. He’s the heir to the throne, and he knows that a petty feud with the queen serves no purpose to hispeople. But if she so much as says one mean word to him, I swear I will…” She shook her head, fisting her hands.
I put a soothing hand on her forearm, and she grabbed it quickly.
“Promise you’ll stay close,” she said. “You’ve always been the voice of reason. Maybe you can stop me before I slap the queen and cause a scandal?”
Prince Rha joined us at the gate. Dressed in black, green, and gold, he looked calm, collected, and as regal as ever. He greeted us, then expressed his gratitude to Timur for the successfully executed campaign in Ashgate.
“Your rank is fully restored, General Timur,” he said. “It’d be my honor to welcome you back to the army.Myarmy, this time, since I no longer lead my mother’s warriors.”
Timur blinked, and I stepped closer to him, sensing the conflicting emotions he must be feeling. The army had been his life since he was a child. That was the only family he’d ever known. Being dismissed due to his injuries had scarred him deeply.
“I’m grateful for your offer and your good intentions, Your Highness,” he finally replied. “But I still suffer from the same affliction that was the reason for my dismissal. That has not changed.” He lifted his right hand in demonstration.
