Lady Naram stood at the window of her chambers, staring at nothing. The knife lay hidden beneath her pillow, wrapped in the same dark cloth the Dowager had given her. Every time Naram tried to close her eyes, she could feel its presence there.
She couldn't sleep. Her mind kept spinning with the same dangerous thought: obey the Dowager, or betray her.
Maybe I could just tell the Khan.
The thought surfaced again, as it had a hundred times before. She could go to him and confess everything. She could throw herself at his feet and beg for protection. Surely he would see her value. He would reward her honesty, shield her from the Dowager's wrath, and save her father from ruin.
He has the power. He could save us.
But even as the thought formed, doubt followed immediately behind it.
Would he?
