Chapter 111
She’d been half an orphan for ten years now. Without the portraits on the castle walls she might not even remember Queen Ilda’s sweet face. A frightening thought, to lose her mother twice. Was she destined to lose her brothers twice as well? Ranald and Simon were dead only two months, she still heard their voices on the edge of sleep. She thought it was likely, and after them her father twice. All these double bereavements. Where was gods in this? Was he sleeping? Indifferent? Mama, the boys, and now dear Papa. I know I’m the youngest, nature’s law dictates I’d be the last one left… but not this soon! Do you hear me, gods? It’s too soon! As though sensing her rebellion, the venerable paused in his bead-clicking and droning. “Highness, the king will likely sleep for hours. Perhaps your ti
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