The setting sun reflected off the freshly fallen snow. It gave the entirety of the Palace grounds, from the gardens to the trees, fountains, and even buildings, a faint orange glow. It was amazing how, in the space of just a couple days, the weather could go from rain to snow. It should have been beautiful, but Quilla couldn’t think of it in those terms. Beauty didn’t exist right now. It couldn’t. Especially in the sunsets she used to love watching with Garet.

The balcony door opened and Marna stepped out, carrying a shawl. She curtsied. “I brought you this for the cold, my Lady.”

Quilla stared at the shawl. Right now, she liked the cold. It was piercing and its discomfort gave her something to feel other than anger and sadness. It probably wasn’t a good idea to stand out in it without some protection, but she hadn’t been intending to spend very long out here. Just a little while.

That little while had gone on longer than she’d intended, though.

She took the shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Thank you, Marna.”

Marna curtsied again and turned back to the door.

Quilla bit her lip. “Uh, Marna?” This was as good a time as any to start making nice with Marna.

Marna turned back to face her. “Yes, my Lady?”

“You asked before what it was like being an Eloorin with servants?”

Marna lowered her head. “Yes, my Lady. I spoke out of place. I meant no offence.”

Quilla shook her head. “You did nothing wrong. It was a simple question. I’ve just been distraught recently.”

“Understandably so, my Lady, with Prince Garet’s death and all.”

Quilla forced a smile. “I just wanted to apologise for the rude way I responded.”

“No apology is necessary, my Lady.”

Quilla bit her lip again. She wasn’t sure why she had such trouble talking to this girl. Marna seemed nice enough. Of course, there was every chance Marna was reporting every word Quilla said back to Ardon. It didn’t matter that Ardon was on her side; it was still disturbing. That was a reason to be wary of what the girl said.

“Was there anything else, my Lady?”

Quilla took a deep breath and walked over to the door. “Let’s go back inside.”

Marna curtsied and followed.

Quilla sat on the chaise longue in the salon and tried to make herself comfortable. It used to be such a comfortable seat, but now… After a moment, she just accepted that she wasn’t going to be as comfortable as she wanted.

Marna had closed the balcony door and was walking over to Quilla.

“Bring some wine,” Quilla said. “And two cups.”

Marna placed a pitcher on a tray, but paused when she reached for the goblets. “Two, my Lady?”

Quilla nodded and gestured to the chair nearest her. “Come sit and have some wine with me.”

Marna looked down at the floor. “I couldn’t possibly, my Lady. It would be inappropriate of me.”

“Marna, I’m not actually a lady. I’m an Eloorin with a servant, remember? I want to answer your question and tell you a little about what it’s like. So come sit with me and have a drink.”

With a quick nod, Marna placed two goblets on the tray and hurried over to Quilla. She placed the tray on the table beside the chaise longue, filled one of the cups, and handed it to Quilla.

Quilla took it from her. “Thank you.” She took a sip and nodded at the other cup. “It’s all right. Go ahead.”

Marna hesitated a moment longer, then picked up the pitcher and filled the other cup half full. She took the goblet, moved over to the edge of the chair, and lowered herself slowly into it. She continued to stare at the floor.

Quilla leaned low, trying to make eye contact with the girl. She raised her cup. “It’s all right. I know this isn’t normal behaviour for a lady and her servants, but like I said, I’m not a lady, and I don’t actually want to be one. I never did. I just wanted Garet.”

Marna looked up. “You must have loved him very much.”

“Yes, I did.” Quilla sat back up and took a sip of wine. She stopped herself taking a larger drink. She wasn’t going to repeat the other night. She’d make this cup last the way she always used to.

Marna raised her own goblet to her lips. She hesitated again.

“It’s okay,” Quilla said.

Marna tipped the cup and took a small sip.

Quilla smiled at her.

Marna smiled back. “We’re not supposed to drink this wine. It’s too high quality for us. There’s lower quality, watered-down wine for the servants in the kitchen.”

“Then you get a bit of a treat.”

Marna lowered her eyes. “I’ve actually had some before. We all sneak sips from time to time.”

“I won’t tell anyone,” Quilla said.

Marna peered up at her. “So, what’s it like? Being an Eloorin with servants, that is. I mean, if it’s not too forward of me.”

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Quilla sipped at her wine. “It’s weird. I feel caught between two worlds. The nobles don’t like me because I’m not really one of them, and the servants don’t like me because they think I’ve betrayed them somehow. Maybe I have. It didn’t bother me as much before because I had Garet. I suppose, over time, it would have started to bother me more, but now he’s gone, it definitely does.”

“I’m sorry you have to go through that,” Marna said. “If it’s any consolation, I like you. I don’t think you’ve betrayed anyone.” She took another sip of wine and placed the goblet on the low table in front of the chaise longue.

Quilla peered at her own cup. “Thank you. That means a lot. I hope we can get to know each other better, Marna. Felitïa always spoke highly of you.”

Marna hugged herself and gave a small smile. “I’m glad. I liked working for her Highness. She was always nice to me.”

“Well, I hope I can be nicer to you from now on.” Quilla placed her cup down on the table beside Marna’s. “I even hope we can become friends.”

Marna hugged herself tighter. “I’d like that.”

“Tell me about yourself, Marna.”

The girl grimaced. “I’m not sure what to say. I’m just a servant.”

“How did you come to be working at the Palace? How long have you been here?”

“A few years. I—”

A knock at the door interrupted her and Marna sprang to her feet.

Shit. Whoever it was had rotten timing.

Marna hurried over and opened the main doors. A young Eloorin boy in Palace livery stood there. He held out a piece of paper. “For Miss Quilla Steranovist.”

As soon as Marna took the paper, the boy darted away. Marna closed the doors. “A letter for you, my Lady.”

“Bring it here.”

As soon as she had the letter in her hands, Quilla turned it over and back again. The paper was folded over and sealed with wax, though the wax bore no sigil. She broke the seal and unfolded the paper. The letter contained only a single sentence.

Have you reached a decision yet?

It wasn’t signed, but she recognised the handwriting. It had been a long time since she’d seen it, but it wasn’t something she would ever forget.

“Shit.”

“Is everything all right, my Lady?”

She looked over at Marna. “Go find Zandrue and bring her here right away.”

Marna curtsied and rushed for the door.

“Wait!” Quilla hurried after her and handed her the letter. “Tell her it’s from… Well, she can probably guess who it’s from.”

“Yes, my Lady.”

“You can read it if you like. I don’t care.”

“That’s not—”

“Now get going. Be as quick as you can.”

“Yes, my Lady.” Marna hurried from the apartments.

Quilla stomped back over to the chaise longue, grabbed her wine, and brought it to her lips. She paused. Then, with a scream, she threw it at the wall. “Fucking bastard!” The goblet shattered and wine splashed out, leaving a dripping red mark on the wall and a puddle of red on the floor.

What the fuck was Dyle playing at? Had she made a decision yet? About what? Why the hell had she gotten herself so stupidly drunk she couldn’t remember? She kicked at the low table, knocking Marna’s cup of wine over and spilling out its contents.

She stood there, breathing heavily for some time—she wasn’t sure how long. Her heart beat loudly. Eventually, the doors opened again.

“My Lady? Zandrue’s here. My Lady?”

Quilla didn’t turn to look. Her heart continued to pound.

A moment later, Zandrue was in front of her, putting her arms around her, and hugging her. “We’ll find him. Marna says she knows the boy who delivered the letter. She’s going to take me to him, and maybe he can tell us who gave him the letter, but I wanted to make sure you were okay first. Will you be all right for a little while?”

Quilla took a deep breath and nodded. She stepped back from Zandrue. “Just find him.”

Zandrue nodded. “Marna, let’s go.”

Once they were gone, Quilla sat on the chaise longue and picked up Marna’s goblet. She refilled it and drank a gulp.

Hello Quilla. It’s been a long time.

A part of her had still hoped it had been a drunken dream, but there was no doubting it now. Dyle was definitely here.

She closed her eyes and tried to think back to two nights ago. She remembered the wine. She remembered visiting Sinitïa. She remembered Ardon. And she remembered those words.

Hello Quilla. It’s been a long time.

Then there were just images. His scar. Had he been rubbing it? Yes, he’d rubbed it numerous times. Or was she just creating that image now to satisfy her desire to remember?

And there had been more wine. She’d definitely drunk more wine while he’d been there, but she couldn’t say if it had been a single sip or an entire pitcher.

And she remembered Dyle reaching for something…

Her locket!

He had reached for the locket and she had backed away from him.

Don’t you dare!

He had taken it. He must have.

When you make up your mind, come find me at…

Gods damn it! He’d given her a way to find him and she couldn’t remember it. Typical. She should tell Zandrue this.

She gulped down the rest of her wine and poured another cup. She shouldn’t drink so much, but to hell with it. She didn’t care right now. Maybe getting drunk again would somehow help her remember. Being sober sure as hell wasn’t working. She drank down the goblet and poured another.