a Vanc

ng over the mountain peaks when I fini

thes, my research ledgers, my personal drafting tools, and the private coin pouch conta

oyal Matron Hayes bustling down the c

ing in surprise at my plain trav

into a hasty curtsy. "You are up exceptional

ded her the plain manila envelope. "Please deliver this dire

er in her wrinkled hands. "Of course, Your Ma

engineering research expedition. My return is indefinit

the Queen spent her time tinkering with mundane contraptions to escape the iso

you,

ry. A sharp pang pulled at my ribs, but I forced my feet to move. Turning to

hrough the iron pedestrian gate, I reached the lower city's transit square and boarded

of mana, the towering spires of the Drakos fortress

Drako

gue half-blood clans were probing the northern border. An insignificant nuis

unded at the he

quill never pausing ove

spatches. "Your Majesty, tea for your morning council. And the Queen aske

ed, my eyes still

search excursion, Sire," Hayes replied, setting a

tood. L

etic display. Aurelia was likely retreating to some dusty, back-alley library in t

sulk in silence, and play with her mundane met

charity, she would be nothing. I had elevated her from the dirt, given her a

nt nothing to a King who ruled the skies. She would be back by the weeke

at my right hand. The ruby facets glowed with a warm

Lyra's melodic voice dri

rmal audience regarding the autumn harvest blessing. They specifically aske

about bloodline purity. Having Lyra present at the rituals kept their conserv

transmitted back into the crystal

ndary marker. As I did, the sleeve of my heavy sil

bled directly into the overflow bin labeled

owerless consort. It was probably a list of domestic complaints, a request for mo

room, a cruel, dismissive smirk touching my lip

attention to the no

ce. Seeing the plain envelope buried among routine administrative

d it to the massive archive cabinet against the wall, shoved it into the b

egal contract that permanently terminated our five-year marriage-was