Chapter 3

For two weeks, the court’s enchanted mirrors carried updates from home. The ivory vow hall had been draped in Liriel’s favorite rose-gold banners. My plain white irises had been replaced with glass lilies. My parents stood beside her in their ceremonial robes, smiling as though she were their only child.

I returned once to collect my things.

Thalion blocked the doorway. “You should still be resting.”

“I’m here for my clothes.”

He stepped aside, relieved. I packed my traveling cloak, my papers, and the small wooden box hidden beneath my winter gowns. The silver bracelet inside was gone.

I found it on Liriel’s wrist in the receiving room.

“That’s mine,” I said.

“She found it and liked it,” Caerwyn replied without looking up. “Don’t upset her over a trinket.”

It was the only thing Aelwen had left me.

I held out my hand. “Give it back.”

Liriel tucked herself against Mother. “Mean Elowen wants to steal my pretty bracelet.” She drew a sharp breath, watched my face, then began to cry.

I knew she was frightened. I also saw her look toward Father to make sure he was watching.

She had learned which tears made the room obey.

“Liriel, it belongs to Elowen,” I said. “You can be upset, but you can’t keep it.”

She jerked her arm away. The bracelet struck the stone floor and broke.

For a heartbeat, nobody moved. Then Father slapped me as I bent to gather the pieces.

“You frightened her!” he shouted. He forced me down among the shards. “Apologize for making this family choose.”

Thalion looked at the blood on my fingers. His boot shifted forward. Liriel made a small, wounded sound, and he turned away to wrap his cloak around her.

That was the last answer I needed.