There was no one in the throne hall at this hour.Marcus and Lara followed her and sat confidently beside her as Nerina watched them. Nerina knew what it meant. They were all showing that they were the rulers of Stourin. She was shivering on the inside, but she kept her chin high.

Taiyi leaned forward. "Did you think that you could abduct my daughter-in-law and I would not even notice? Were you that confident in your sirens?"

"I didn't do anything of the sort," Nerina said. "Your daughter-in-law is sitting right here. Unless you are accusing me of being an imposter?"

"Lara is gullible. She doesn't know how things work...