Chapter 11
Aria stared at the map for a long time after Herrith left the room. For the first time since the arrow had pierced her, she felt like the old Aria. Well, not exactly, but at least a wisp of the old Aria was dancing around within her.
The short ceremony with Herrith had changed something big within her. She had felt the moment things shifted at the same time that pain had rushed over Herrith's lined face. The arrow had pierced him too. A tiny ray of hope burst into her heart. For so long, Aria had heard that betrayal was the worst kind of poison, that there was almost nothing that could be done to overcome it. But Herrith had not overcome it. He had shared it. It was something she had never imagined possible. She knew he could only do this because he loved her like a daughter.
