Present Day
Yelena lay sleepless despite her exhaustion, watching as the daylight cut a line through a part in the curtains and moved slowly across the room, like a reverse sundial. Sylvin had departed again, and the rooms beyond the bedchamber eventually settled into quiet except for the occasional, distant, cry of Sterling.
“My Lady,” Eustice hesitated at the door to the antechamber. “Is all well with you?”
“I must betray my husband in order to keep him safe,” Yelena sat up in the bed. “Lie to him. I wish that we had never left Elliard.”
“Me too, My Lady,” Eustice drew closer. “Do you think the King will call for you again tonight?”
“I don’t know,” Yelena rose to her feet and put on her over-robe, belting it closed at the waist before moving to sit before the dressing table. “Sylvin believes that Macedius will be distracted by the siren...”