_Author’s POV_
The noise started at half past ten in the morning.
Rowena was in the study reviewing Corby’s written statement when Velvet appeared in the doorway with the expression she reserved for situations that required immediate attention but were not emergencies in the physical sense, something between exasperation and alarm.
“There are people at the gate,” Velvet said.
Rowena looked up. “How many?”
“Eight. Maybe ten.” A pause. “Maelis is with them.”
Rowena set the statement down.
She had not slept. She had worked through the remainder of the night on the documentation from the facility, on Corby’s statement, on the preliminary structure of the case she was building with Celeste’s lawyers. Her eyes were clear and her back was straight and she looked, despite ev
