Chapter 135

　　“I am sorry,” I told her. “I am glad Aurien will protect you.”

　　“Thank you, princess.”

　　“Why did you not tell me I was pregnant?”

　　She dropped the soap, surprised. “Apologies, princess,” she murmured.

　　I retrieved it and handed it back to her. She was silent for a long time as she rubbed the soap through my hair. I could see the shift of expression on Mesandre’s face as she met Ashara’s eyes over my shoulder.

　　“Valsaurienkachelial taradrakyn asked us not to, princess,” Ashara’s confession was barely more than a breath.

　　“Did he say why?”

　　Mesandre’s eyes widened, and her mouth opened in an o, and then she flushed seeing my eyes upon her face. “The prophecy, princess,” she told me in a rush. “He said you had to come to conclusions on what it meant for yourself, and in your own time.”

　　“It is best not to interfere with prophecies,” Ashara added. “And let them occur in their own time.”