Moments later,

Author

The training hall was empty. The mats were rolled. The overhead lights hummed.

Aria stood in the center of the room. She had asked him to meet her. She hadn't said why.

The door opened. Malphas stepped through. He wore black. No coat. No armor. Just the simple clothes of a man who didn't need to dress like a king to be one.

"You came," she said.

"You asked."

"I don't ask."

"I know." He walked to the edge of the mat. He stopped. He didn't come closer. "What do you need?"

She looked at the wall. There was a crack in the plaster. She focused on...