Mahl walks me steadily to the door of the Queen’s apartments in silence.
“I’m afraid I gave your sister a bit of a scare this morning,” he informs me, making me jump even though he keeps his voice low. But then, realizing what he said, I snap my face up to his, surprised. Honestly, I’d forgotten all about poor Calli – my mind was on other problems.
“Is – is she all right?” I ask, hesitant.
“She is fine,” Mahl replies, nodding and coming to a stop outside the door. “I do not appreciate being lied to though, wife. Or you asking your family members to lie in your stead.”
“It was Auden’s idea,” I say quickly, throwing him under the horse’s cart a bit but willing to let him take the blame. “He didn’t want to worry you in the night – if you…if you came to visit me. She was to tell you I was
