Elizabeth, Aria, and Ester waited in front of the mansion's main entrance, surrounded by luggage, boxes of documents, and two servants who had already stopped pretending they were not listening to the conversation. The carriage to Mirath had been ready for almost half an hour. The horses had been fed, the guards positioned, and every formal farewell completed.
Only Damon was missing.
Elizabeth checked the small watch strapped to her wrist and then looked toward the upper-floor windows.
"He is late."
Aria sat on top of one of the trunks, eating the last honey starfruit she had found in the kitchen.
"Maybe he cannot walk."
Ester crossed her arms.
"Being able to walk stopped being guaranteed around the third hour."
Elizabeth slowly turned her face toward her.
"You counted?"
"I did not need to. The wall of my room counted for me."
One of the servants lowered his head to hide a smile. The other pretended to inspect the latch of a box that was already closed.
