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This could end everything Cut the Rift from Norta, and me with it But no, Father would never do that He has plans of his own, plans I cannot fatho his throne

Father speaks slowly, as if restraining hi about a ith Montfort, or the Red criminals they conspire with" He lays his hands flat on his knees, displaying s and bracelets All deadly under his command "Hit theht they won here Be a Silver king, a king for your own people"

The singer lord speaks first I brace myself for his voice, always afraid of the sound "What are you suggesting?"

Father doesn’t condescend to look at Julian "Your proclamations will cripple this country," he says to Cal "Erase thehs openly The sound is oddly kind, a gentle sort of laughter I’m not familiar with it "I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but my nephew can’t very well reverse what he did today That isn’t strength That isn’t kingly at all"

Now ht of his stare "It’s a fitting punishment for their Red betrayal"

That strikes a chord in Cal "I rule in Norta, not you," he says, careful to speak as clearly as possible "Or anyone else," he adds, shooting a randmother "The procladom"

Like Mother, I feelthe distance between hie "Fine," he grinds out, glaring at the king of the Rift

Again, they hold each other’s gaze, never blinking, never breaking I wish I could give both of theood

Anabel intervenes before either side of the scale can tip She cuts neatly between the kings, putting a hand to Cal’s shoulder "We’ll pick this up in the , e have clearer heads and a better view of the situation"

Behind theree, Your Majesty"

Mother sees reason too, and she gestures for Ptolemus to follow I stand with the He won’t break first

Cal is less inclined to play such ga all of us with a disinterested wave of one hand "Very well, I’ll see you all in theback Not at Father But at eline, could I have a word?" I blink at hi very sly indeed The rest of the room could not look more confused "In private"

Slowly, I sit back down as the rest go Even Father, who proith the rest ofeyes withfor him to worry about here

Julian is quick to acquiesce to his nepheishes, but Anabel lingers "Is this so between us

"No, Nanabel," Cal replies He walks with her, deftly herding her toward the door She notes his intention with a sour twist of her lips, but bows her head He is her king, and she is bound to obey

When the door shuts behind her, I relax a little,Cal hesitates, his back tobreath

"Crowns are heavy, aren’t they?" I say to him

"Indeed" Reluctant, he turns around Without the pressure to perform for the council and his family, Cal slumps as I do Exhausted by the days, ready to drop