Carlycalore19, I'm calling you out for being so supportive. Read to end for your surprise!

Song Suggestion: Father by Demi Lovato

Iris's POV

It's been nearly two months since he was murdered. And still, there has been no progress. None that matters to me anyway. My husband has his fair share of victories with the Kingdom of the Rift. He won't tell me how, but Laris House, one of three rebelling houses, is crippling under our sabotage. But there is not much more we can do.

My sister, who has now taken her seat as ruling queen, has decided it is best the Lakelander forces stay in the Lakelands. The Scarlet Guard still lingers there, and a few jets and other equipment have been stolen but nothing bigger than ammunition these past few months. But she remains cautious. She has every right to.

Father was a stern man. Being king has done that to him. But when he was with me and my sister I saw a side of him he would only reveal to us. He was my hero when I was a child. He was kind, gentle, warm and loving. But then everything changed.

I may never know what it was, but one day his comforting demeanor vanished into the cold man that I knew two months ago. Suddenly that stern man consumed him and no one was spared. He pushed harder, increased our training. I watched as my father took my sister and transformed her into someone nearly as cold. And left behind. The only that gave me comfort was prayer.

And every day since his death, I have prayed. There were moments like the day of my wedding, where I saw the ghost of the man I looked up to. And it is for that that I pray he finds peace.

I loved him, but it's strange...I haven't cried for him. Even if I could have attended his funeral back home, I don't think I would have cried.

I push the thoughts away once again and make my way to Maven's study. He's summoned me, which is rare. More often than not the only time we see each other is either in the courtroom or in the cabinet room full of advisors. Other than that, Maven often keeps me in the dark since my father died. Only making time for me when he needs what little forces we have from my country.

I have taken father's former role as general to the Lakeland forces in Norta.

I dismiss my guards as I make my way to Study's door. But they are not foolish enough to leave, after the day of my wedding they never stray too far. Not that I need their protection.

"Yes?"

The illusion of the strong Lakelander-Nortan alliance is still in effect. But we must tread carefully lest the former Queen Anabel decided to make any drastic moves. Yes, we now know where her true allegiance lies, however, along with many things, Maven won't tell me how he knows. Fortunately, Queen Anabel doesn't know we know.

"I had an idea that you might like. Think of it as a wedding gift."

For a moment I believe Maven is talking about building a temple, but it passes just as quickly. Since the Scarlet Guard got away with a significant amount of money from Treasury, Maven is incapable of paying for such a project while simultaneously funding a war.

He sits behind his lacquered desk, now. Out of all the rooms, I've been in, Maven's study is the quaintest. It resembles a library, but much smaller than what one might suspect for a king. The curtains remain drawn, keeping the light as well as the heat from entering the room. I suppose being married to Maven has some benefits; his habit of leeching all the heat from every room he enters gives me a break from the Nortan heat.

A great deal of dust covers the fireplace as well as most of the book shelves- save the one directly behind him. Sometimes I wonder if his private chambers is decorated in a similar fashion.

Maven has never been one for formalities when we're alone. Unless he's addressing nobles, he gets to the point.

"And that is?"

"The head of the man responsible for your father's death."

If it were not for a perfectly crafted composure I've developed over the years I might leap at the chance to ask. But instead, I raise an eyebrow and let him continue.

"How fast can you get word to your sister for reinforcements if I told you Volo Samos's rule will crumble in a matter of nine weeks?"

"Nine weeks is a very specific time line. Why that long?"

Maven dodges the question, "The Rift is on the edge of a blade," he smirks to himself as if sharing a private joke in which he is the only one clever enough to understand. "And I happen to wield a weight that will make it fall."

"This weight happens to be of use at the most opportune times and yet you've never said what it is. Or rather who it is."

Before father died Maven was not unkind to me kind, patient even. But as I suspected it was nothing more than a facade. His cold blue eyes look up at me. He doesn't try to deny I'm right.

"I have my reasons for keeping their identity a secret. In my experience, you can never be too careful."

It sounds like both a reminder and a warning.

Maven insists on keeping me at arm's length. He wants me to play the role of a doll like I saw he did with Mare. He only truly confines in me when he must. Like Mare, he needs me, but in very different and less haunting way. I am not disappointed in the sham that is my marriage. I knew my whole life that I may never marry someone for love.

I blink at him. My father only had daughters. And although being the child of the king, a princess in my own right, being a young woman did come with its obstacles. My sister was crafted into a merciless, clever and intelligent strategist. However, when it comes to fighting hand to hand, I was shaped into our nation's finest warrior. But many still viewed me as naive, capable of only following orders. But that common assumption is something I've learned to use to my advantage. And this skill has come to be quite handy these past few months.

"I will confer with my sister, on one condition."

He raises an eyebrow, intrigued. My father may have been cruel to our subjects and cold to everyone around him. But he made certain that I could fight for my goals. For my sister, for my mother, for him, and for my country. If I am cursed to live the rest of my life latched to troubled husband, in a foreign and godless land, then I will fight until my last breath so that my enemies may know the wrath of a true queen.

I know I want. "I want to drown Volo Samos myself."

ANALYSIS

Okay, so although this chapter is small it is very significant to the story. Not only because it's told from Iris's POV, but also because it gives a timeline of the events. So in my head, it's late June. I don't remember when Mare was taken but I know it was before her birthday, which is in November. I do know she was there for six months, as it says in the book. I also know Cal and Mare go on their runs for two weeks before Clara is born. And in my head, another week passes before Corvium. As I've said in the beginning, almost two months have passed since then. And Mare's been spying for a few weeks now.

So let's start with the marriage alliance. I can't remember if it's Iris's sister who takes over or it's her mom. If you guys know them please leave a review or PM so I can fix it. So what I'm doing with this is that the alliance is crumbling, but I'm taking a page from Elara's book: "To look powerful is to be powerful." I pretty sure she said this. No one is really sure how weak Norta really is.

Iris mentions Maven's study but not his appearance, this is because she spends so little time around him, to really know him. She doesn't mention his clothes because she's not like Mare who takes in every detail. But the description of his study is nearly exact to the to that of the book, with the exception of the books behind Maven's desk. The dust is documented my Mare. She notices a dying fire in the fireplace, but because it is now summer there would be a considerable amount of dust on the fireplace now. Also, we all know Iris is from the Lakelands, so this is her first summer ever in Norta. Because the Lakelands is in North, she's used to cooler summer. In Steel Scars, even Farley comments on the Nortan heat.

Iris says she's taken up her father's former role as general to their forces in Norta. Keep in mind that Iris is described as a warrior by Mare. In a way, she is similar Cal. And although the alliance is crumbling Iris and Maven do complement each other in a way.

When it comes to Iris's father, the complication of their relationship came to me as I was writing this chapter. And although this was a last minute decision, it will help reinforce some of the themes I have in mind for the sequel. As well as being a royal and a young woman.

Also, Iris does know Maven is keeping a secret. Iris is ignorant of Maven to a certain extent, she doesn't know him as well as Mare does. But she's not stupid. She knows Maven isn't getting this information from out of thin air. And the reason she doesn't push any further is because she is biding her time, waiting for him to slip up.

And finally, Iris wants revenge for her father. Now, Iris does know that it wasn't Volo who killed him but she feels that Volo Samos is responsible.

Family is complicated, which is another theme I want to make clear.

Also please know that by this point everything I write is just drenched in foreshadowing. The clues are there!

Carlycalore19 the very last chapter will feature an epilogue. Twenty years later. And glimpse into a new generation. And by that I mean, Clara will be part of that generation. *winks* It's going to blow your mind what I have in store.

Thank you so much for your support! As well as my other followers and those who have favorited this story. I can't tell the warm feeling I get when you guys click that button. 3

I love you all soooo much!