Coming Clean

Varya scooped up her son and walked a few steps away, racking her mind for ways to escape the situation. She had a panicked expression on her face and she looked at the others in the room, begging for them to cover for her but everyone stayed where they sat.

Basileus was still kneeling on the floor and from underneath his hand, a tear fell down his face.

"Varya, tell me the truth," he requested. "What have I missed out on?"

The prince's words cracked her heart in two. She could tell that he was blaming himself for the situation they were in. All she could do was cling to her son who had already started to fall back to sleep. She didn't know how to comfort the prince or tell him what he wanted to hear.

"Please go sit down, Basileus," Varya said, her voice wavering. "I'm going to put him back to bed so I can explain."

She had adjusted the way she held Basil in her arms and his chin rested on her shoulder.