The question only deepened her confusion. Slowly, cautiously, she shook her head.
"Yesterday was the king's coronation," Falein said. "Ragnar and his wife were crowned king and queen."
He watched with open satisfaction as horror spread across Nheera's face.
"And the day before that," he continued, "was Hairan's burial. It was quite a humble affair. A shame you were not there to witness it."
Nheera's head jerked back as though he had physically struck her.
"Liar," she rasped. The word scraped out of her throat like shattered glass. "You filthy, vengeful liar. Hairan is alive. He must be alive."
But a dull ringing had started in her ears.
The walls around her suddenly felt too close. Her breathing grew uneven as her mind tried to reject everything he had just said.
No.
No, it was impossible.
Then she began shaking her head frantically, uncaring of the pain the movement caused.
Anger ignited inside her chest, burning through the confusion and terror.
