Raphael looked through the window to the ship of his brother, upon which the moon shone. He had considered to flee to it, but he didn't want to be a coward. Alyssae was back now and he was sure she believed in his innocence. 
Nervously he turned his head aside when the door was thrown open. Bewildered he watched his wife, who stood in the entrance. She didn't look at him and he wondered whether that was a sign of regret or anger. 
"Come." Alyssae made a quick gesture with her hand. "You're free."
Even though Raphael had expected Alyssae to fight for his freedom, he hadn't thought she would succeed so easily. Clearly she had taken over the guidance of the city without hesitation. 
Raphael didn't look at Melline when he left the room, although he knew they couldn't ignore each other forever. 
Alyssae didn't seem to think otherwise. "Go home and take rest. Tomorrow we'll talk."
Raphael suppressed a sigh and watched the dwarf and her walking away. He rather spend the night somewhere else, but it was his home too. 
"I am sorry," Melline started when they walked upon the path that led through their house. "My sister might be convinced that you're innocent, but I still have my doubts."
Raphael didn't know what to answer. It hurt Melline thought he could be a traitor, although it wasn't thoroughly unjust. 
"Why do you think I did it?" he asked softly when he closed the door behind him. "Did I have a reason to want your father to disappear? He was just as much a father to me..."
Melline shrugged. "After Alyssae, the throne belongs to us. Alyssae had left with your brother. She could have stayed away."
"I have asked her to return ."
Melline watched him coldly. "So that she could free you? 
Raphael rolled his eyes. "You don't believe that."
She sighed and shoved a chair back. "I don't know what to believe anymore," she admitted. "But those last days it seemed as if you were miles way. Is it so strange I think you are breeding on something?"
"I  wasn't breeding on anything. I was worried about Alyssae."
"Why? She was with your brother, right?"
A sigh left his lips. "Exactly."
Melline looked at him, her eyes full of incomprehension. It undoubtedly sounded strange that he distrusted his own brother. 
"Is he in love with her?"
Raphael laughed shortly, cynical. "I bet there is no woman my brother does not fall for."
He had hoped so, he had to admit. Eldinòr would only help Alyssae when he believed he could take an advantage of it and when he would really care about her, he might think twice before he put her in danger. 
"Why have you never spoken about it?" Melline grabbed his hands. "You know you can tell me anything. I know there's more."
Raphael dodged her encouraging smile. It was tempting to let go of all the secrets he was carrying with him, but he couldn't. There was too much at stake and in all honesty he had to admit he had lost his trust in her. 
She differed not much from Alyssae. She would also feel the need to do something, instead of waiting, and by doing so all the efforts of his brother and him would be in vain.
"There is something I can't tell you indeed," he admitted. "But that has nothing to do with the murder on your father."
 While he stepped into the sleeping room, he wondered if that was really true. Alyssae's problems had made his worse and he wondered if it had became inevitable that a sister would die.