**Breathing Space—David Chappell**
Ember wasn't allowed to storm into the king's quarters as the Queen easily did. Instead, the steward's lips thinned into a frown while he grumbled something about that day being cursed and filled with too much 'womanly energy'.
Ember was made to wait outside for minutes that threatened to stretch into an hour before the chamberlain finally announced.
"His Royal Majesty will see you, Princess Royal."
And then she was announced, the doors to the King's personal chambers simultaneously drawn open by two inscrutable guards to usher her in.
Ember sucked in a deep breath, taking a step into the room.
At first, it felt like thousands of rays of light attacked her at once. For even though the sun was still making its appearance that morning, the King's chambers were way too lit to be normal. That was when she realized that the rising sun was positioned just at his window whose curtains had been drawn open to complete the effect of daytime.
