Zardria and Caelum stayed to the last, until even the orange glow was gone.
The Empress turned to leave, but Caelum's hand on her arm stopped her.
"Are you alright?" he asked, gently.
She didn't look at him, and sighed heavily. A moment passed before she responded. "I didn't like my aunt, but she understood me in a way that Zameera and Yarrow never could or would. We were kindred spirits." She stopped abruptly and walked briskly away, to their carriage, as if suddenly realising she was talking to another person rather than herself.
Caelum stood a moment longer, looking down the river, until her shout of "Consort!" made him turn his heels towards the carriage as well.
Ghia
Her bones were setting and knitting in their broken positions. She could feel it happening, and knew that surely
