159. I should have listened.

The sounds of morning birds chirping and voices from a distance reverberated around the palace. It was as though the madness the previous day brought never existed. Everything was back to normal and nothing was amiss.

Even Neriah was awake, in the company of her many visitors who were all her husband's family. One by one they had walked in, all bearing gifts of sorts for her, and refusing to leave even after presenting her with the gift.

Everyone was there except for Barak and Raknar.

When Neriah's eyes had first opened that morning, she was certain she had seen him. She even heard him speak. "You are awake, thank the gods. All is well then." Those were the words she heard him say after that, she did not hear from him again. She did not even see him again, but she knew he was angry.