Disclaimer: I own nothing, and only borrowed these characters for a little while.


Dove stood on the balcony, looking out into the distance over Carthak.

It was the first time in over a week that she was alone. After Aly, Fesgao and the others had arrived at the mercenary camp, she had not been left by herself. Even at night, her spymistress – now determined to stay with her for the entire trip – had ordered a double guard posted.

And upon arriving in Carthak, protection had doubled again.

She had met the Emperor Kaddar, his wife Kalasin and their child and thought that perhaps they could get along well. She had also seen her sister and brother-in-law for the first time in some time and greeted her three young nephews and the new baby girl. She had been wined and dined in a matter appropriate to her status as Queen.

And yet she felt a little lonely.

The mercenaries had been rounded up and sent to Rajmuat, though she had given the orders that the women and children were not to be thrown into the prison, and that she would deal with the men's fate upon her return. There had been an awful moment when it looked that Taybur would escort the mercenaries back home, but he remained.

Sighing, she turned to the large bed in the centre of the room.

Taybur had reverted back to his usual competent self, sticking to her side, his face impassive. It felt strange though, interacting with him as Queen and Captain once again, knowing what they had endured together. It was like where before the lines had been perfectly clear, they now seemed to have blurred and it was like an invisible wall had fallen down between them.

She slid into bed.

She knew without a doubt that Taybur would be outside her door on guard. Turning to her side, she tugged the light sheet up and looked into the shadows falling on a far wall. It had only been one night, but in that one night she had felt strangely safe and comforted. In his arms. Taybur's arms.

It felt strange sleeping alone now.


Finito.