Her mother’s eyes bore into her, waiting. Felit?a had already blocked the feelings of disgust and hatred—in the Room in her head, her mother’s presence was enclosed by the walls—but it made little difference. Her mother’s look conveyed the feelings without the need of telepathy. To her mother’s left, Annai stood, arms crossed, a smug look on her face.


    “I have nothing else to say,” Felit?a said.


    “That’s better.” The Queen turned her attention back to Felit?a. “As for you, don’t think I didn’t notice your own little smile. You think this is some little game you can play, where you can run around making mockeries of your family and betray them without consequence?”


    “Will you explain yourself?”


    Cerus, standing beside their father, interrupted her, “If I may intercede, Felit?a did not go behind my back. I had full knowledge of her activities. In fact, we have been working together on this.”


    “Then Annai—”


    “No, of course you aren’t,” Ardon muttered. He bowed and said, “My apologies, your Majesty. Please continue.” He sat back down.


    “You didn’t even have the decency to come back after your dance like you promised. No, you left with her. I put my back out for you. I arranged a great opportunity for both you and your sister and Arnor, too, and you spat in our faces.”


    “You’ll go through this with me every fucking time you call her that.” Garet took another step towards the Queen, waving his finger at her.


    “Stop being so soft on her, Wavon. Your softness is what makes her think she can get away with her behaviour. And it’s not just her I’m concerned about either. She’s a terrible influence on Sinit?a. Did you know that Sinit?a has been spending the last few days almost entirely in the library with Felit?a and her whore, as well as that Eloorin you allowed to come with her.”


    “You mean, you don’t want her thinking for herself. Sinit?a is there out of her own choice. She’s an adult now and can make her own decisions. Perhaps it’s time you started thinking about the reasons why she’s making the decisions she is.”


    Sinit?a, standing beside Annai, stared at the floor. She gave a slow nod of her head. “Yes, Mommy.”


    Annai put an arm around Sinit?a, who had started to cry. “Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll look after Sinit?a, and make sure Felit?a’s friends stay away, especially that Eloorin.”


    “Felit?a, you will apologise to your sister at once!” the Queen snapped.


    “No.”


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    Ardon came over to her and touched her lightly on the shoulder. “You play up your rebellion against her. You like your actions to be seen. Not that I don’t understand your reasons. But there are times when there are more important concerns and you should step back a bit.”


    Felit?a hesitated a moment longer, but then went to join Garet outside.


    The library was the most crowded Felit?a had seen it. The Isyar Lords sat at one of the far tables, surrounded by about a dozen other Isyar. Maneshka and two of her librarians had been running back and forth from catalogue to stacks and back again to meet all their needs. Nebrovich was moving back and forth between a pair of Singean priests and a small group of Dangorin scholars.


    She wasn’t sure how much she’d be able to focus on planning anyway. Her head was full of thoughts about what had just happened with her mother.


    “What happened?” Maneshka asked. She ran her hand down the back of Felit?a’s neck.


    “More rebelling?” Her touch was making Felit?a shiver.


    “I suppose you could call it that. There is a distinct possibility I might have been disowned. I’m not entirely sure yet.” She smiled, feeling better for just a moment. But it passed as she remembered Ardon’s words. “Do you think I’m overdoing it?”


    “I used to think I knew what I wanted.” Felit?a placed her own hand over Maneshka’s and holding it there. “For so long, I wanted to be a wizard. That was my whole purpose, and so I became one. Then I realised I’d never thought about what came next. Ever since Elderaan died, I haven’t had a clue where my life is headed. And now I start to learn about people dead two hundred years who predicted my coming here. I have visions in my head of people that I meet in a pre-ordained order. My mother tries to arrange a marriage for me and Ardon won’t let me speak up for myself. Hell, even Cerus wouldn’t let me speak for myself. I mean, he was just trying to help, lied to my mother to get me out of trouble. He’s going to want an explanation about this morning from me soon, I’m sure. But whatever the case, I just feel like I don’t have any control over my life. Do you know the Ninifins believe the Will-Breaker heralds a time of death and destruction worse than what the Dragon wrought? What kind of life for me is that? I shouldn’t have told you that. I promised not to say anything.”


    “Have you ever thought of getting some pet rats?” Maneshka said.


    “Before I forget,” Maneshka said, removing her hand to Felit?a’s disappointment. “I spoke to Kindanog. He has some time in two days that he has scheduled to be with me, and he has agreed that you should join us for dinner.”


    “That’s great! I didn’t think there was much likelihood left of getting to see him.”


    “Very knowledgeable,” Maneshka replied. “Very direct. They do not like to waste time.” She shrugged. “They are hard to describe. But I must go to them. I will see you later, Felit?a.” She bent down and they kissed.


    Felit?a blushed again. This was becoming a bad habit.