The woman turned.
Platinum hair caught the wardlight first.
It had been arranged into a braided crown, with the remaining length falling over one shoulder in a pale sweep that looked simpler than the elaborate styles House Valoria once favoured for court.
Elara recognized the care behind it anyway.
Then lavender eyes settled upon her.
"Ah..."
The quiet sound that had escaped Elara remained trapped in her throat.
For years, she had imagined this meeting beneath circumstances she could control.
Sometimes she stood before the imperial court with every crime arranged into evidence.
Sometimes steel settled the matter before either sister found enough words.
In other versions, Isolde understood who stood before her from the beginning, and Elara had already decided what she wanted from the confrontation.
Reality had given her an examination chamber.
A borrowed face.
A false name.
And Isolde standing several paces away.
The disguise ring cooled around Elara's finger.
