Chapter 57

Ardala sped up as best as she could, trying to ignore the weight and the pull and keep her back straight. They eventually arrived at the largest single pair of doors that Ardala had ever seen. Lady Dorwenna stepped aside and gestured to her. “Here we are, his High Majesty is waiting for you on the other side. Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.”

Ardala nodded and gathered her courage in both hands. She needed every scrap of it to step through the doors that opened as she touched them. Her father was waiting in the room beyond the doors and looked at her warmly as she entered. “You look wonderful, my darling.” He took her hands and drew her to a second set of doors; these were made of stained glass and spilled rainbow light onto the floor where they stood. “I have had word from the Lyceum.”

Hope crowded into Ardala’s throat, and her focus narrowed to her father. “Is he well? Has the pact been broken?”