“More terrifying than beautiful.”
Hm, strange, Katryna thought, having overheard them. But she considered nothing more of it.
“Princess,” a man with a rough voice said from behind, pulling her out of the prison in her mind.
Katryna remained seated but turned to see Ser Arthus Medonia, the High Sword, approaching with Jerrem Denar and two other figures behind.
Arthus stepped out in front of Katryna to meet her eyes. He bowed, his armour having been freshly cleaned and his bark-coloured hair washed.
Jerrem Denar, the old royal physician, steadily shuffled to her side, swamped as always by his large robes. He too bowed to her, as best he could.
The gestures were still unfamiliar to Katryna.
She was taken aback by the pair who had arrived with Arthus and Jerrem. Uncle Hectar and Aunt Ellene, the middle-aged brother and sister of her late mother.
As soon as Katryna recognised them, she averted her gaze, still feeling some shame for having them locked away over their outbursts in court.
“Your uncle and aunt wanted to say something, my lady,” Arthus Medonia said.
“Hello, Katryna,” Ellene said in a sombre tone, Hectar by her side. The crone of a woman took her niece’s hand, much to Katryna’s surprise. “We just wanted to let you know that we will be returning home to Taloncrest this afternoon.”
Ellene patted Katryna’s hand softly. She was perplexed by the shrew-faced woman.
“And,” Hectar said, clearing his throat, “we also wanted to apologise.”
Katryna was caught off-guard. For once, her uncle appeared genuine and did not instil a sense of fear in Katryna.
“We should never have spoken to you the way we did, least of all in front of so many people in court. You were dealing with things the way you saw fit, and you managed to capture those responsible for murdering our sister. For that, we are ever so thankful,” Ellene said.
Katryna remembered the insults they hurled at her as they were dragged away from the throne. “Usurper.” “No kin of ours.”
“You gave your mother, father and aunt peace in the æther, and in doing so you have now given us some peace as well,” Ellene added.
“We loved our sister more than anything. But the woman was… troubled. No one will deny that,” Hectar huffed with a shake of his head. “We have been suffering with her death as much as you have with your father and aunt’s deaths.”
Katryna felt tears welling in the corners of her eyes as she looked to her aunt and uncle, realising that they were right. No one had been spared in the horrific crimes that had been committed in Castle Bower.
Katryna recalled the final conversation she had had with her father. He had told her how everyone reacted differently to grief when speaking of Willem’s tragic death. Perhaps, Hectar and Ellene had succumb to their anger in the face of pain, much as Katryna had done too.
Katryna nodded, taking her uncle’s hand, and standing up to give them a brief albeit warm embrace. She could not remember a kind word ever coming from their mouths about her. It truly was a special moment that warmed her.
“Thank you. I wanted to say that I am sorry as well, for ordering-”
“My dear,” Ellene interrupted. “You have nothing to apologise for.”
“All is forgiven,” Hectar added.
“We trust that you will help look after your brother when he wakes up,” Ellene said.
“He loves you, you know? And he trusts you. That is all the faith I need.”
“I will do my best,” Katryna lied. While she welcomed their kind words, she was not so sure about her future in Camridia anymore. “I wish you a pleasant journey home.”
Uncle Hectar and Aunt Ellene both bowed to Katryna, who in return bowed back in a gesture of farewell before stepping away to finish packing their belongings.
Katryna welcomed Jerrem Denar. “How is Finn?”
“The prince is stable for now,” Jerrem Denar said. “However, we won’t be certain of his condition until he wakes up.”
“If he wakes up, you mean?”
Jerrem Denar scrunched his wrinkled face up before nodding. “The most dangerous time for him has passed, but he is not out of the woods yet.”
Katryna rubbed her temples, trying to relieve the pressure in her forehead.
“We are doing all we can,” the old man assured her.
Katryna nodded. “I know you are, Jerrem. And I thank you for it. I trust him with no one else more than I do with you.”
Jerrem Denar smiled through his wrinkles, accepting the genuine compliment warmly.
“Any word on Rowan yet?” Katryna asked, facing the High Sword.
“Our scouts have had no luck,” Arthus replied.
Katryna felt overburdened with all that had happened. So many mistakes, so many hardships. Her family’s deaths, imprisoning her aunt and uncle, insulting the Emberian diplomats, losing her best friend, and her brother’s horrific injury.
Yet the one thing she did not understand was Rowan.
Why did he run if he was innocent in all of this? And why hasn’t he returned yet?
Despite having no relationship to speak of with her brother, he was to be next in line for the throne upon their father’s death. Why did he and his wife leave Ravenrock the night Giliam had been murdered? It still did not sit well with her.
Katryna looked to the two councilmen of House Bower, the two men who had helped her during the difficult endeavours they had faced over the last week.
She felt that this was the right time to be open and honest with them.
“I think it is time I left Ravenrock,” Katryna announced.
Arthus Medonia and Jerrem Denar’s mouths fell open, looking to each other, confused.
“My lady-”
“I feel it is the only right thing left for me to
