VOLUME FOUR - PART 2 - THE WEIGHT OF WAR

VOLUME FOUR – PART 2

Chapter 1 – The Weight of War

"Leave us," Queen Asabel said, her voice suddenly weak, as if the weight of her declaration had used up the last drop of energy that she had. She had to use a hand to steady herself on her chair. Her blonde hair fell down in front of her face for a moment, shrouding it like a curtain, hiding away her troubled expression.

"Leave us," she repeated, when Lord Idris and Blackthorn simply stared at her, stunned.

"You know we cannot, my Queen—" Lord Idris began.

"You will leave us regardless," Queen Asabel said impatiently. "If Oliver Patrick had wished to harm me, he would have done it a long time ago. We have made a decision tonight, gentlemen, of the likes that will change all our lives forever. What is etiquette in the face of that?"

"…Lord Blackthorn," Lord Idris said. "I think we ought to overlook this, just this once."