No time, none at all, to mourn her sister as she should have been mourned. Ethpeal was well past twenty-one, and had to wed immediately. I knew it sat in her mind as she ordered Belvah's pyre built even as Ivan and a handful of Enforcers appeared, all concerned for her.

"We felt your power leave," he said, taking her shoulders in his hands. "Now I know why."

Ethpeal nodded. "Belvah is dead," she said, without emotion, "and I had no choice."

"I know," he said. ...