The carriage door opened with a soft creak, and for a heartbeat the world seemed to hold its breath.
The wind that swept through the courtyard carried with it the faint scent of rain and steel, curling around the banners of House Stormborne that fluttered against the high walls of Valkoron.
Then she stepped out.
Aurelia Flameborne, veiled and trembling, descended with one gloved hand clutching Vaelric's small fingers and the other resting lightly on the carriage frame.
Her heart drummed painfully in her chest as hundreds of eyes turned toward her....curious, cold, calculating.
The courtyard had fallen silent, save for the restless snort of Valerian's warhorse and the rustle of silk among the noblewomen gathered near the gates.
Then, like the first crack of thunder, came the whispers.
"Is that her?"
"The cursed one…"
"By the gods, what happened to her face?"
"Ugly as sin, they say."
"Yet she bears the Flameborne name....irony, isn't it?"
