Sayra Olloria couldn't stop pacing her chambers with her daughter in her arms. Her son had given up on trying to follow his mother around, deciding instead to ask about his father.

" Yes, your father is fine." Sayra hated lying to her children, but they were too young to understand death and war. They were just children.

She bit inside her cheek, trying to stop the tears from running down her face. Her children did not need to see her crying. She was not crying for her husband. She wouldn't have cared about his death if it wouldn't put her in that situation. Her children could be killed, and Sayra would remain a hostage. The thought of harm coming to her children made her want to scream and dig her nails in someone.

I am Sayra Olloria, daughter of Emperors, descendant of gods. I am not afraid.

But she was. Gods, she was terrified. Not for herself. She was sure there was nothing more the world could do to her. But her children... They were so young, so innocent. They had no fault in who their father was and what crime he had committed. And yet, Darin wouldn't care.

In the last five years, she heard enough about Darin's mother to start disliking the woman. She knew it was petty. But Sylas was always talking of his great love, about Aeria, who had stolen his heart with a single gaze. About the woman he would have died for, the woman who he would rather die than hurt. He seemed to have cared so much for her that he would have given her the stars and moon but could not bother to learn his wife's name.

Sayra remembers the day she came to Ashinora, the day she married Sylas. She hadn't wanted to marry him, but she had no choice. She was a princess. It was her duty. Keris wouldn't have forced her to marry Sylas. If Sayra said no, her brother would have found another way. But it was her duty.

During the ceremony, she had been nervous and afraid. She was alone in a foreign land about to be married to a stranger. Her mother had not been able to accompany her, and she had no one. The first thing that went wrong was the weather. It had been raining all day and, in her people's eyes, that was a bad omen for a wedding. The second thing that went wrong made Sayra know she was never going to be happy with Sylas. When he had said his vows, he had called her Aeria. He hadn't bothered to learn her name ever before the ceremony. The priest had to tell him what her name was, and even then, he got it wrong.

Even worse, her husband had decided to get drunk. So, Sayra had to stand and watch as he drank cup after cup and danced with every single lady. She hadn't been jealous of the affection of a man who clearly wanted nothing to do with her. She had been embarrassed. Her new husband had decided to make a fool out of her during their wedding. In Felloria, the groom and the bride were expected to dance together at least two times. If not, then that made most guests suspect one of them had a lover or that they had married because the bride was with child. Back home, she would have been humiliated by her husband's actions, and her reputation would have been ruined.

And now, Sylas was dead. His bastard was crowning himself king, and her children were in danger. Sayra didn't care what happened to her. The gods knew there was nothing she couldn't survive for her children. But Tamira and Tavon were too young. And they were her children. She would do anything for them.

I do not care what my fate shall be, she had told Faris. I only care that my children are spared.

Sayra had not lied. If she had to marry Darin, if she had to do such a thing, so be it. If she had to be locked in a cell away from sunlight and people, so be it. If she had to be executed in front of a crowd and her head sent to her brother, so be it. She would accept any fate the gods had in store for her as long as her children were spared.

Putting little Tamira down, Sayra sits on her bed. She sighs. Her hands were cold, and she could swear her heart was trying to leave her body. Forcing herself to take deep breaths, Sayra repeated the words that kept her standing tall during the last five years.

I am Sayra Olloria, daughter of Emperors, descendant of gods. I am not afraid.

I am Sayra Olloria, daughter of Emperors, descendant of gods. I am not afraid.

A knock on her door stopped Sayra from repeating the words once more. She rose from the bed and opened the door to see her cousin standing there.

" Come in and tell me what you have managed to do."

Faris followed her inside, and Sayra realised her cousin had changed. He was taller, and he had a scar on his brown skin right below his eye. He was no longer the sweet boy who brought Sayra and her mother flowers, but a warrior and Keris' advisor.

" I fear I have good and bad news, cousin."

I am Sayra Olloria, daughter of Emperors, descendant of gods. I will not be afraid.

" Please, tell me."

Faris nodded and looked at her children. Tamira had finally fallen asleep, and Tavon was looking at the unknown man with wide eyes. If her children were taken from her, would they remember her? Tamira wouldn't. But Tavon? Probably.

Only thinking of parting with her children made her feel as if someone was stabbing her heart. A true wound couldn't hurt more. But it the choice was between parting ways with her children and seeing them killed, Sayra will say goodbye and hide her tears.

She would do anything. She would go and fall to her knees, beg Darin to spare her children. She would take lives to know them safely. She would do anything to know that they will not he harmed.

" You recall what you told me? That you do not care your yourself as long as your children are safe?"

Sayra nodded. So, she will remain in Ashinora as a hostage. Alright. She wouldn't complain. She wasn't going to try to fight for herself. She was too valuable to be allowed to leave. Sylas had not even allowed her to leave the palace unless there was an event she had to attend. Being a prisoner was nothing new to her.

" Darin asked your hand in marriage."

Sayra could not help but frown with disgust. In her people's eyes, Darin was related to her. The marriage would be incestuous and an offence to the gods. It was a crime to do such a thing. And yet, she was willing to do it for her children. She had seen the look in Darin's eyes. She knew he would prove to be worse than his father. She could tell. It didn't matter.

" And my children?" Sayra asked, closing her eyes.

" They will be sent in Felloria to be fostered at your brother's Court."

Good. Keris wouldn't allow harm to come to his neice and nephew. Good. She could trust her brother.

" It's enough for me."

She looked at Faris and saw the confusion in his eyes. Sayra couldn't blame him. Even the thought of marrying Darin made her feel sick. Yet, she was willing to do it for her children. For them, she was willing to marry her deceased husband's bastard and do it with a smile on her face.

" Of course I wouldn't allow you to marry your husband's bastard! By the gods, Sayra! Keris would see it as an insult. And you know what your brother would do if he is insulted and thinks his sister is in danger."

Yes. Her brother would march in Ashinora with his army. He would even make peace with the barbarians. And he would do it for her.

Sayra's eyebrows rose in surprise. So, she isn't to marry Darin.

Thank the gods!

" Unfortunately, they won't let you come home."

Sayra nodded. She was not foolish enough to believe they would have let her go home. No. They will probably lock her in a tower and use her every time they thought her brother could attack. It didn't matter. Her children will be safe.

" They wanted to marry you off to Lord Veroln, but I managed to convince them otherwise." Good. Veroln was a bastard, if not in one sense of the words, than in the other. He cared only for himself and nothing more. " Instead, you are to marry Elyas Roverik."

Sayra closed her eyes. She was going to marry someone, after all. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the voice in her head telling her that she didn't want that, that she couldn't...

" I see."

" I know you would have rather go home with your children, but that's the best I can do. They won't let go of a hostage as valuable as yourself."

" It's alright, cousin. When is the wedding?"

"Tomorrow morning."

Sayra didn't want to think why her heart seemed once again to wish to abandon her.