FOURTEEN
"Finally!" Guinevere stopped pacing at the sight of her brother. "Shut the door."
Xylander did, looking confused.
She didn't give him a chance to ask questions. Not until she'd told him everything, when she was sure he'd have questions aplenty.
"The King took ill last night. Like...like Mother did, on the day she died." Tears itched at the corners of her eyes, but Guinevere drew in a deep breath and blinked them away. "I put him into a healing sleep, but that will only delay the end. Unless some miracle occurs, he will die, and that will leave us worse off than before."
Xylander nodded.
"The succession here after his death is...not so clear. He has one daughter, Princess Zurine. Old enough to marry, but as yet unwed. His closest male relation is Lord Melwas, a courtier of
