BELLA From between the pines, the Queen Mother emerges, her skirts gathered in one hand, her long hair slipping from its braid. She's no longer dressed like royalty. Only simple travelling clothes that cling to her frame, stained with mud and dust, as though she'd crossed half the world on foot.The moment she sees Rhain standing beside me, relief lights up her face."My son..."She closes the distance in hurried, uneven steps and throws her arms around him. Rhain stiffens in surprise before slowly returning the embrace."Mother?"She clutches him tighter, her voice quivering. "Don't you ever do that to me again."I blink, caught off guard.She pulls back just enough to cup his face in both of her hands, inspecting him frantically. "You're thinner." Her fingers brush his jaw. "And you look even sicker, my dear boy."Rhain catches one of her hands with a tired smile. "I've had a difficult week.""A difficult—" She lets out a sharp laugh. "A difficult week?"Without warning, she
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