VALTOR

“I’ve told her you're here, my King. She'll be here in a moment now,” the guard reported.

“Where is she?” I asked.

“Queen Winter took a walk to look around the building. But she’s safe. I assure you.”

I said nothing more, no further questions, no demand for explanation, when another voice broke the silence. It was thin, unsteady, threaded with a fear she tried and failed to hide. A middle-aged woman stood before me, head bowed low.

“We did not request her ...