Chapter Seven

“He’s gone,” the words should have inspired some sort of relief in me, but they didn’t. They were shallow things that floated in the air, as silence succeeded them.

“Are you...?” he was unsure of himself, maybe this was all I needed to do, convince them of my madness, though I would have to convince myself that it was all a ruse.

“Ok?” I supplied. the dregs of hysteria flaking away as I extended my legs once more. I didn’t stand, I didn’t trust myself not to fall. And I would not supply more fodder for the idea that I was weak.

Broken in a way, but never would I make them think I had been broken by them.

“Yes, are you…”

“You tell me Rhydian. Would you be fine if your whole life were taken away, you were told you would be married then false married? Having to pretend that you were fine because if you did your country your home could be destroyed by an arrogant king with a complex the apothecaries have yet to think of a name for.”