Five days.
It had been five long days since King Ronan had ridden out from the castle, and there was still no word from him—no raven, no scout, not even the whisper of hoofbeats on the horizon.
Selene stood on the edge of her balcony, the wind gently tugging at her silk robe as she stared into the golden horizon. The sun was rising slowly, casting soft light over the landscape. It looked peaceful.
She closed her eyes, letting the light kiss her skin.
The past five days had been… easy. Unnaturally so. She had kept herself busy, sending aid to the first village that had been attacked by the rebellion and ensuring the surrounding territories were secure. She had offered resources, sent physicians, and tried—at least on the surface—to maintain calm.
The castle itself ran smoothly. The gua
