The next morning, Aria went to Lina’s quarters. She had Audra balanced on her hip, the baby gnawing contentedly on a wooden teething ring. The door was slightly ajar, and through the gap she could see the two sisters together, Lina seated on the edge of the bed with Ren nursing quietly in her arms, Bryn in a chair beside the window with her cane resting against the armrest. Bryn was still pale from her recovery, she was stabbed with a silver dagger so her recovery is slow, but her eyes were brighter than they had been in weeks. Aria pushed the door open with her free hand. Both women looked up. For a heartbeat, no one moved. Then, in perfect, near comical unison, Lina rose from the bed, careful not to startle Ren, and Bryn pushed herself up with her cane. They bowed their heads together, their voices overlapping. "Luna." The word was stiff and formal, delivered like a line rehearsed but never quite mastered. Lina's shoulders were tight, her free hand pressing flat against her thi
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