Kingdom of Ash

she found Dorian smiling sadly at her, too.
“I think I’m about to lose another Captain
of the Guard,” the King of Adarlan said.
Nesryn bowed her head. “I ...” She hadn’t
anticipated having this conversation. Not right
now, at least.
“But I will be glad,” Dorian went on, “to
gain another queen whom I can call friend.”
Nesryn blushed. It deepened as Sartaq
smirked and said, “Not queen. Empress.”
Nesryn cringed, and Sartaq laughed, Dorian
with him.
Then the king embraced her tightly.
“Thank you, Nesryn Faliq. For all you have
done.”
Nesryn’s throat was too tight to speak, so
she hugged Dorian back.
And when the king left, when Kashin and
Hasar went to find an early lunch, Nesryn
turned to Sartaq and cringed again. “Empress?