Sarai tucked her hair behind her ear, deep in thought. Zaimid looked at her, concerned.

"Are you regretting your decision?" he asked her, worried. She meant the world to him.

Sarai shook her head. "No, of course not," she murmured. "It's just…now would be about the time they discover I'm gone." Zaimid nodded.

"I'm so glad to have left, though," she mused. "I just couldn't take it anymore; all the noblemen treating the raka like animals…" Zaimid looked down. She sighed and lifted his chin with her hand.

"I would have left eventually, she whispered. "And Winna and Dove love me. They want me to be happy." She sighed, her eyes wandering to the land she was sailing farther and farther away from.

"You feel guilty," Zaimid said, after a moment of silence.

"What if Rubinyan and Imajane punish my family for my disappearance? After all, they did want me to marry Dunevon." She shuddered.

Zaimid shook his head. "The people love the Balitangs. They will never allow for it."

Sarai nodded. She looked up and smiled at Zaimid. "I hope you're right."

He smiled back, but his smile was slightly sad. "I do, too."

Her smile became sad, too. "Right now, our only option is to hope. There's nothing else we can do." She looked at Zaimid, thoughtful. "My sister will be a wonderful queen."