Wings for a featherless falcon (part 1)

The space inside Adela's room felt suffocating. As if the walls were closing in on her, especially since Egon's scent seemed to cling to her clothes, bringing his presence to the back of her mind.

Not now... 

She crossed the room and stood before the tall mirror, appearing like a different woman in the white cloak she had received as a gift in Latora. Her reflection stared back at her with fearful eyes.

"What have you done, Larissa?"

Her small voice trembled in the space surrounding her. The image of her sister — once radiant and full of life — was now tainted by the shadow of treason, haunting every single one of Adela's thoughts.

She paced back and forth, her mind racing through the possibilities. Larissa's elopement couldn't have been a spur-of-the-moment decision, and something didn't add up. Andreas von Conradie was on his way to Kolhis with Olga. It didn't make sense for Larissa to elope if Andreas wasn't even present!