After that terrible meeting, I needed some space to think. Nicholas, having left the room with me, was reluctant to leave me alone.
“You can’t listen to them, Piper,” he said. “They are just trying to manipulate you.”
“Maybe,” I agreed. That was a distinct possibility, especially with how kind the King was being to me. But, his words did have some merit. What if my choice did affect morale of the people, and thereby the outcome of the war? I didn’t want to be so brazen as to assume I alone could affect such a thing, but…
If there was even a chance, I had to carefully consider my choice. I couldn’t behave rashly here.
“I just need time to think this over,” I said. “I’m not making any decisions yet.”
Nicholas stared at me with embers kindling in his eyes. A spark and his gaze would tur
