69 West

At Hyll Sanctuary, Tunuva observes Queen Glorian among her people and notes Galian on the walls with Ascalun. Seeking solitude while Canthe scouts, Tunuva wrestles with remorse and prays for a final meeting. When Canthe returns at midnight, she reports Wulfert Glenn has left Langarth for Hróth, likely lingering near Eldyng. Weighing duty against longing, Tunuva decides they will go north by sea to find him.

Transitioning to Arondine, Glorian approaches her chamber under guard, steeling herself to meet Prince Guma. Speaking in Yscali to ensure privacy, Guma reassures her he expects a chaste marriage and suggests they simply share the room so it can be said the union was consummated. He invites Glorian to choose a discreet sire if she seeks an heir, promising to honor her dignity and play a father’s role.

Glorian counters with controlled poise, acknowledging the political stakes and Yscalin’s sacrifices while masking her revulsion and fear. She tests Guma’s intentions through small talk of Hart Grove and history, then assents to his plan for the night. They arrange separate bedding, preserving appearances without intimacy.

As the fire burns, Glorian lies once more on furs upon her own floor, recalling Wulf. The child she secretly carries remains unspoken yet present, making Guma’s offer both protection and potential risk. The chapter closes with the alliance steadied on a fiction, while Tunuva sets a new course north that may entangle destinies further.