Ghost Fragment: The Princess
Queen’s Private Quarters, three days before the Dreadnaught assault
She watches him pace back and forth and the way he’s becoming more agitated with each pass. She says nothing, choosing to instead wait for him to speak. He’s beginning to wring his hands, before finally coming to a stop in front of her, pale eyes frantic.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” he asks. She hears a slight break in his voice.
“Because if I had, you would stop me. Everything has already been arranged, and it will look very strange if you attempt to do anything now.” The Queen turns away, feeling the betrayal in his eyes boring into the back of her head.
“Why? Why take her away from everything she knows? Why uproot her like this?” She hears him approach, and she bristles when his hand clamps down on her shoulder. He attempts to pull her round, but she drops her shoulder and puts more distance between them.
“I did it because I wish to protect her.”
“Protect her? Or your legacy?”
The Queen turns slowly; he cowers, briefly, beneath the heat of her furious gaze.
“Do not make assumptions of me, Solvik. Yes, she is my legacy, but she is my daughter first, and I will do everything in my power to keep her safe,” she snaps, before turning away from him once more.
She expects him to be silent, but he speaks up only moments after. “She is my daughter too, Mara.”
Her eyes close. “I know. That is why you, of all people, should understand why I have chosen to send her away.”
