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Where is she?

For a long moment, my mind simply shut down, and I felt only confusion I took a few steps up the road to where the delicate gold crown lay in the dirt and bent to pick it up I turned it over and over again in my hands as I tried to understand It was supposed to be on Alexandra’s head She only took it off to sleep, of course, but otherwise she always, alore her crown Why would it be here in the road?

Why?

Why?

Why?

My hands froze, and the circlet turound I could feel my mouth drop open, but I could not make a sound or draw air into my body

They took her

Oh God, they took her

I felt the sides of the old carriage bench close tightly against hts in my head disappeared, and I was transported back toscreaain in my head

Only this time, the voice was different

It was notfor my father but Alexandra’s voice as she cried out my name repeatedly As the sound echoed in my head, it became more and more distant A blunt sound escaped ain Had they hurt her? Had they…had they…?

I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth If anyone touched her, he would die His families and friends and acquaintances would all die In fact, there would be nothing left of the entire realIf what had happened to my mother happened to Alexandra…

And for the tiniest, briefest moment, I did not care

I just wanted her here—with me—no matter what had happened I wanted her in my arms where I knew she was safe, and no one could touch her I wanted to run h her hair and inhale her scent and tell her I was here, holding her and protecting her, but I could not

She was gon

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