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and Haven was growing restless. She had taken to the hospitals and clinics to soothe the people of Wakefin as well as the growing concerns of her own. After the man on the pike had been removed, she used anything she could find to distract herself. With the help of her ladies, she hid her own troubles well enough, while addressing those of the people. Paperwork was piling up, but Toma had granted her a reprieve because of her good work in the city. She had been overjoyed by this, and found herself spending more and more time away from the palace.
    On the third day, Haven decided to stay a bit closer to home. Emeril was expected to return with healers today and she wanted to be there to greet him. It also gave her a chance to check on the makeshift ballroom hospital. She had heard good things from her guards, who often checked on the people for her. Some of the injured had already recovered enough to leave, but stayed because they had nowhere else to go. Haven had been surprised at the amount of volunteers who came to her aid in this matter, taking refugees into their homes and inns, as well as volunteering in the hospitals. It warmed her heart to see her people so giving. Throughout her nineteen years of life, she had never known her people as well as she wished. As much as she regretted that, it did present a valuable opportunity to make their acquaintance in her new role.
    Sweeping into the grand hall, Haven took in the sight of the beautiful ballroom. One of the most gorgeous rooms in the castle, it held high vaulted ceilings, large crystal chandeliers and huge stained-glass windows lining the upper half of the walls. Pillars lined the marble floored room, leaving the center of the space wide open with burgundy and gold trimmed walls. It was the perfect size to suit this purpose and she was glad Lareina thought of it. Several rows of bunks and cots were full of people, from the healed to the recovering. Doctors and nurses moved up and down aisles, assisting as many as they could. Volunteers distributed bread and water to the people. Children ran around the pillars, screeching with joy and laughter.
    The hundred here had been well taken care of, and Haven was happy to see many smiling faces. As her little party entered the room, many eyes turned to her. She smiled in greeting, meeting several sets of eyes, those of her people, as well as those of Wakefin.
    “Good day,” Haven said, holding her skirts as she glided through the crowd, greeting the people, and hearing their concerns. Lareina stayed by her side, assisting the patients she sat with.
    After Haven had spoken with nearly every conscious person besides the children, she joined them at the edge of the crowd. Approaching the young ones by the pillars, she asked them what they would like from her.
    “Games!” “Chocolate!” “Dance!”
    Each child shouted different things at her. She couldn’t help but laugh, her heart warmed by their high spirits. With much sorrow plaguing the city, it was a welcomed change to see their smiling faces.
    Bending down to brush the bangs from a young girl’s face, she realized this girl had been one of the few children not to shout.
    “How about you, my darling?” Haven asked, taking her hand when she offered it. The child was so young she still sucked on her thumb, and her tiny fingers just wrapped around those of Haven. “What can I do for you?”
    “My mummy used to sing,” she whispered, eyes big and lost.
    Haven’s smile faltered and she held the girl just a little tighter. “Did you lose your mother?” Her chest tightened and images of the bloody courtyard assaulted her mind. She tried to keep in the present, to stay with this little girl. She couldn’t imagine what it was like to be so young and have no one.
    When the little girl finally nodded, blonde curls bounced around her soft baby doll-face. Haven’s smile turned sympathetic. “I lost my mother too. She used to sing to me as well.”
    The girl met her eyes.