The night is nearly surrendering to dawn by the time I make it back to the castle and dismount from my horse. The cold cloaking the cobblestones seeps through the soles of my boots, and the wind nips at the cracked, split skin on my knuckles. I fist Koa’s reins in one hand and bring the other to my mouth to pull a splinter out with my teeth.

Two stable hands begin rushing toward me, but I wave them off. Their quick dismissal of the man they were assisting seems to vex him further if the stiffening of his shoulders is anything to go by. It’s best that I have more tasks to complete; if I sit idly by, I know I’ll end up where I’m not supposed to be.

I unlatch the door and lead Koa into his stall that smells of fresh hay before unhooking his saddle and grabbing a brush to glide down his shiny coat. He huffs impatiently while stomping his front hooves.

“You’re no better than a spoiled child,” I say while stepping out of the stall to haul a barrel of fresh oats inside. He nudges my shoulder with his muzzle before diving into his early breakfast. I continue brushing him while half-listening to the aggravated orders echoing outside. The man is most likely a lord that was loyal to Eagor, but he’s certainly a prick. They began vacating the castle the night I overthrew Eagor, but another wave followed after Elowen rode her dragons.

House Dasterian ruled over Vareveth for centuries, but Eagor never sired an heir to challenge my claim.

Once Koa is taken care of, I leave him to rest, nodding to the guards at the mouth of the stables. I manage to keep the sneer off my face while bypassing a large, gaudy carriage surrounded by several trunks. There is so much gold embellishment on it that if I were still living on the streets, it would serve as a beacon to my thieving hands.

His voice continues booming off the stone walls that surround the square, all hugged by frost-tipped vines. Banners bearing the House Veles sigil hang on either side of the entrance, matching the one embellishing the gate, and all that Elowen has done in such a small amount of time makes her appear like an eager bride. Bitterness surges within me knowing that she keeps to her tasks for the sake of maintaining our appearances.

The one thing Elowen asked of me after I carried her out of that banquet hall was space, and I couldn’t stay in our gods-damned chambers knowing she was farther away from me than she had ever been when I was searching for her. Silence cloaked the room like a plague, and yet that’s exactly where my instincts urge me to go, no matter how painful it is to watch her withdraw.