The council gave them three days. Three days before anyone talked about succession, Aldric’s charges, or what Serrin would have to answer for.
Ivy slept through the first day. Weeks of exhaustion crashed down on her the second the adrenaline faded. She woke up late, sunlight already spilling through the window of the council’s guest room, and for a moment, she didn’t know where she was. The quiet was almost too much.
No bells. No pounding on the door. No letters with strange seals, ready to ruin everything all over again.
Just quiet.
Kaelan was on the balcony, staring out over the rooftops. His face was different none of the court’s careful mask, none of the wild desperation from before. He looked calm. Unsure, but calm.
"Couldn't sleep?" she asked, joining him at the railing.
"I sle
