I escaped before Mom could corner me, feeling her release me when I exited the room, though her touch felt sad to just let me go.

I'll talk to you soon, I sent.

I know what your father said to you. She had to drop that on me, my feet stumbling over each other just as I entered the hallway outside the council chamber. At least she spared me the brief moment of humiliation I would have lived through if anyone had seen me trip. Payten told me. She sounded heartbroken, felt ...