The queen stood, and moved heavily to the casement. “I do not make such decisions lightly, Ang

The queen stood, and moved heavily to the casement. “I do not make such decisions lightly, Angharad. It does not please me to rely on the power of any man, nor do I wish to deny you all chance of happiness. When you have done your duty in regard to marriage, you may take your pleasure where you will, and none will dare gainsay you. But in this time of crisis, we must make decisions that would be…unthinkable, otherwise.” She turned her back to her daughter, her face to the window as though she would gaze out, but nothing was visible through the glass; nothing but black night and the fragments of raindrops shattered against the panes. Silence, thick and ominous, settled upon them both.

Finally Angharad spoke again, shakily. “This…this cannot be your only plan. Mother, what are you thinking? We’re well past a month since the scry. You’ve been putting me off for days; you must know something by now.”

Regat said nothing for a long time, her face still toward the window. Long trails of rain streamed down its outer surface, scarlet as blood in the lamplight.