“I got tired of being a corpse,” Leila said. “There’s no future in it.” She looked up just enough to give him a smile, and she could see that he looked pleased.
“Leila?” said another man from across the room. Leila looked up at hearing that familiar voice, and stared across at the face of her father, much older than she remembered him. The prince looked across at his daughter, then at his older brother, the king. “Your Majesty, may I rise in your presence and—?”
“You would be no father if you did otherwise,” said the king.
With this royal permission, Leila’s father stood up from his place and started around the table. Leila also rose and ran around to meet him halfway. Father and daughter embraced, and kissed, and wept, with such obvious love that all in the room felt moved.
“Where is
