Chapter Six Riona
Without the Eldurian kids to make an example of, Egan strapped Faolan Cahill to a post at the city’s edge and gave her thirty lashes himself. By the final strike, blood poured from her wounds, and her head lolled forward.
Afterward, Riona sat by her bed. This woman was once the Queen of Eldur before abdicating for her adopted human daughter. She was the mother of two queens, a woman who hadn’t ruled in ten years, yet there was a quiet strength within her.
A smile curved Faolan’s cracked lips as her eyes slid open to find Riona.
“I’m sorry.” Riona hadn’t been able to stop it. She couldn’t prevent Egan from hurting anyone. There was a profound powerlessness in her situation.
“My grandchildren?” Faolan wheezed.
“They’re safe.” Riona nodded as she tried to hold back her
