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Karigan took Mara’s unburned hand into her own “I’ Who a since the night of the fire, and rarely left her room as she healed

“Karigan G’ladheon, don’t be silly Your visit here brightens s to think about other than my treatments Don’t worry about me—I’ll soon be out of here, and Captain Mapstone is already keeping me busy with paperwork” She patted a pile on her bedside table “You went through so much this summer, and you have seemed so sad of late You deserve a rest day, an afternoon out, and I want you to co”

So Karigan hadn’t been able to hide anything frory, but for reasons she would never explain Not even to Mara “I can’t expect it will be very exciting We’re going to a tea room down on Gryphon Street and then to the Sacor City War Museum”

Karigan left thefor one of theover her aro all she had desired was to follow in her father’s footsteps as athe course of her life And now she resented her father for trying to draw her back?

She thought he had finally understood that for the tier, and it left no roo to marry her off? Not in so many words, of course The pretense was that she was to welcome Braymer Coyle on his first excursion to Sacor City This was reinforced by a polite request froift that had accompanied it—a delicate silver necklace that matched the silver threads of her new dress

She snorted Their fathers had been in cahoots

Well, she would take Mara’s advice and just relax and enjoy the change of pace A quiet change of pace, she decided No uniform, no sword, no enemies

And Mara was right: she had been sad

Her progress was ha the corridor With the announce Zachary’s betrothal to Lady Estora, Coutre relations had descended upon the castle fro the whole of Coutre Province

The woancould turn people into ninnies The fact that it was the king’s wedding didn’t help matters—the foolishness extended across the entire country

Moving at the core of the finery and laughter was one who outshone theure Lady Estora Coutre did not come across as silly or foolish—far froave only a distant smile It was almost as if she moved in a different world than they did

Lady Estora was reputed to be the greatest beauty of the lands, and one, had been turned away by her father who had settled for nothing less than the high king as the bridegroohter