TIME SEEMED to both speed up and slow down in turns for Flavian. He stayed in the princes’ private study as he was asked—told. He doubted he had any choice in the matter if he wanted to leave. Part of him did. Part of him wanted to run to Velia and warn her, just as Nikolaus feared he would. It was the part of him that was sick with guilt at telling the princes about Velia in the first place. The part that valued her friendship despite her actions and her deception.
When Etan returned with the guard captain following him, Flavian moved from his chair to the small table in the corner Etan had occupied earlier. Ezekiel gave his hand a discreet squeeze—probably due to Captain Loriot’s presence, since he hadn’t had any qualms about holding Flavian’s hand in front of the princes and Etan. Flav
