The air in Eirene's chambers was thick with incense and strong perfume. The curtains were drawn halfway, letting in only a pale line of sunlight that fell across the floor. She sat by her dressing table, staring at the chest that held a bracelet in silence. Her thoughts had been restless since her confrontation with Aveloria the other day. The girl's defiance humiliated her and threatened the years of quiet manipulation she had built within the royal walls.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in," she said.
Rowena slipped in and closed the door behind her. She looked uneasy. Her gown was half-creased, and her face showed signs of anxiety. She didn't bother with pleasantries before speaking.
"Mother, I heard something," she said, stepping closer. "Some guards were talking outside the east hall. They said Aveloria's been assigned to investigate the Wanderers' attack near the border."
