Lyle

Dayanara found me that night on the nursery balcony, where I’d gone to breathe the cool night air.

“Your mother put the fear of every god into Corven,” she said, leaning on the rail beside me. “I almost applauded. I’ve wanted to set him on fire since the council.”

“Don’t set the nobles on fire, Nara. We’re short on nobles.”

“We’re short on good ones.” She bumped her shoulder into mine, and we stood there a while in the quiet we’d earned over the years. ...