Chapter 25: Helemoira

Days passed I think before I became aware of the whispers around the temple. They were not cruel or malicious, Pelleas made sure of that. My girls were simply worried about me.

As I stood before my mirror for the first time in weeks, I could see why. I was thin, too thin. My eyes seemed sunken and my cheeks were hollow. I looked like death.

The thought made me chuckle.

Pelleas rarely left my side once he brought me back home. But, he never pushed me to talk, never pressured me to share the thoughts that slipped through my mind like some writhing mass of worms.

"The Queen wishes to speak with you." His voice startled me from the dark places my mind had begun to tiptoe towards.

I nodded and went to my wardrobe. I did not have the energy to dress the part like I usually did, so I pulled on a simple yet elegant dress and fashioned my hair into an intricate but loose braid.