"Your highness?"

Conaan stirred to his right, as he let out a small breath. "What is it?"

"I came to check on you," Brandon said, his voice light. "It is way past your normal time. I wanted to make sure everything was fine."

Conaan's eyes slowly opened, and he let himself sit up, his chest heaving a little. He turned to his side, but it was empty, and not even slightly ruffled. It made him wonder if it had been his imagination.

"I saw her leaving, your highness," Brandon said with a chuckle.

Conaan sighed, then peeled himself off the bed. "Any developments?"

"I have deployed Shadow to Polaris. He...