Everything was slowly falling into place. Dimas was in Seothia doing whatever he did there. Zofie hadn’t been feeling well to begin with and Thero was able to talk her into going to bed early. Kadol had just gotten word of other Ravens’ success elsewhere, meaning the time was quickly coming.

The time that will start the chain effect that will ultimately lead to the Ravens’ success. However much he mourned it now… it had gotten too far to let it continue. She’d become too much of a hindrance to their plans. For once he found himself praying; but it was for her forgiveness, not the forgiveness of any god.

Kadol crept through the library to find Odelle surrounded by books. “Still up working? I thought the lords had all left already.”

“They have,” she mumbled distantly.

“Did they bring something important to your attention?”

“No, Nigel’s just drunk enough that I have some spare time. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now.”

He slowly walked around to get a better look at what she was reading. “What might this be? Something I can help with, perhaps?”

“You know what it does, don’t you?” she sighed. “What black magic is doing to her? You’re the one that’s been teaching her nearly everything that she knows… you have to see it. Do you know what you’re doing to her by letting her learn and use it?”

“Of course. You should be well aware that I never start something without knowing how it will end and affect those around me.”

“Why?”

“You know I’ll never do anything to hurt her.”

“You’re pretty close to risking it.”

“Trust me, I’ll know when it’s time. It’s your husband that’s not going to be willing to see when it’s over.”

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She sighed. “Why are you here? It’s not just because you’re here to check up on me, is it?”

Kadol made no attempt to hide it, using a bit of magic to make the candle’s flame dance. “I’m going to be completely honest with you, because I see no point in lying anymore… You’re getting in the way. You’re either going to have to start cooperating or you’re going to die. I tried holding it off for as long as possible, but when all of my subordinates are trying to tell me how to do my job… it’s finally time I act on my words.”

“Bold of you to assume I’m not just going to call the guards and have you executed for treason.”

“You’re running out of time to act on it. I… don’t want to do this either, but you have to believe that it’s for the best.”

A bit of silence, then, “Do you promise you’ll look after her?”

“As if she were my own.”

“Will you stop her when it starts to become too much?”

“I swear to you, Odelle, by all the time we spent together and the bond we have formed… I will not let anything hurt her.”

“Then you better hurry up before someone else catches you.”

…

He wondered how close he was to breaking when he saw Zofie after that. She was absolutely devastated, but they all knew that things must move on. However young she was, she needed to take the place of the empty throne.

It was after the intricate ceremonies and service that he could find a time for them to be alone. All Kadol needed to do was dismiss Thero in order for him to leave.

“I’m not ready for this,” Zofie mumbled. “I can’t do this. I’m not going to be able to amount to anything compared to her…”

“You’ll do just fine, with Thero and I to help keep you steady,” Kadol assured her. “You’re in good hands.”

“This… has to be for the better, doesn’t it? This has to be a part of Orestis’s plan.”

Kadol took the opportunity to ask a question of a different vein. “Do you think Orestis knew what would happen when he banished Eldrianna?”

“Well, I… suppose He must have. He is the Creator that sees all things, after all.”

“Why did he allow it to happen, then, and let Darkness taint the world in her trickery?”

Zofie, as if to avoid thinking about it altogether, shook her head. “I know thoughts of doubt creep in whenever misfortune happens, but we mustn’t let them blind us. He always wants what’s best for us. He will never hurt us. The fact I stand here today should be enough to speak of His care…”

He saw Odelle at that moment and he knew that their paths were only going to get further from there.