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Karigan aliggles, she had to wipe tears from her eyes Mara looked vastly satisfied with herself

Karigan had not laughed like this since she ith Estral, and that see than all the rest in the world

“So,” Mara said, “anything new for you? Have you been grilled about your adventures by the king yet?”

“No,” Karigan said, and she had to adh Lord Coutre had sought her out in the Rider wing to hear everything she had to say about his daughter He was so caught up in his e Estora All he could do was pat her on her knee and s back tears The encounter shocked Karigan, but she was gratified by how hter and that he wasn’t just interested in how her abduction affected the

As for the king, Karigan supposed Captain Mapstone and Fastion had given him all the pertinent details, andrest for an interrogation Had she expected hi to her bedside to hear all that had befallen her? She shook her head He had greater things to worry about than her Captain Mapstone brought general good wishes for her well-being froan’s ti them, but now she found herself annoyed by it, and even more annoyed at her annoyance Wasn’t it what she wanted? She just wished he’d request to see her; wanted him to want to see her

Still, it was all for the best There was no future for thes they had for each other, the better The diversion of her e errand and subsequent adventures had helped distract her for a while, but returning to the castle with him so nearby did not As soon as she was rested and all her hurts fully healed, she’d make sure Captain Mapstone knew she was ready to resu distance errands, even in the deep of winter Who knew? Maybe she’d get sent to the Cloud Islands where she could bask in the tropical sun and eat fresh fruit while the castle stood icebound and braced against the northern winds

Laren Mapstone left theand set off for the throne roo’s su so well, though she was not certain she’d ever get over the shock of seeing Karigan ee from the tombs dressed in the black of the Weapons when she was still expecting her to be somewhere in the west At the time she wondered if this was really her Rider and not soan’s story came out, it was no less remarkable than her past adventures

Laren also wouldn’t forget Zachary’s expression of astonishan The appearance of her in black turned her into soerous The Weapons had proved evasive when asked why they had perure was that they held her in so different in Karigan’s eyes So fathomless…Laren shook her head

She’d an Others would take care of her, she knew, and she would not allow emotions to rise between thean, or suan did not wish to see visitors, did not wish to see hian, and she’d destroyed the had wished her well, as he would any of his Riders

She hated lying, hated having to destroy the e reater at stake—the unity of her country, and united it ression fros between two individuals was nothing in comparison

She walked down corridors with determination in her step She would do all she could to separate the two, and pray that Lady Estora soon returned so wedding plans could resume Of course, then she must deal with Lady Estora and thewas ever easy

When Laren found herself at the threshold of the throne roohts when she looked inside and saw the long chaht by the presence of Eletians

She tugged her shortcoat straight and strode down the runner The three stood before King Zachary cloaked in silvery white with subtle hues of light blue, like a wintry day with the sun glaring off snow

When she canized the Prince Jametari’s sister Graelalea at their head Colin and Sperren both attended the king, and seeht of the Eletians

“Greetings, Laren Mapstone,” Graelalea said

Laren nodded her head in respect

“The Eletians have come to bid us farewell,” Zachary said

The idea of the Eletians leaving saddened Laren, for they brought a touch of ic and mystery into the sometimes dour existence of castle and city, and it would be odd for their encaates, to vanish She hadn’t expected the Eletians to stay indefinitely, but she’d miss the to Sacor City to sit on their doorstep, she did not think the people as a whole bad at heart Just enigmatic

“Yes, by dawn toone,” Graelalea said