From across the Great Hall, Charlotte slumped against Adala, sighing in relief as the tendril that had tormented her mother followed the Templar bearing the comb across the hall. Lady Melsinde was taking shallow, uneven breaths, but she was breathing. The dark energy that tormented her had moved on.
Adala wrapped her arms around Charlotte, feeling her friend's whole body shake against her chest. She didn't say anything for a long moment. She almost did. There were words that came to mind, that Charlotte's mother was safe and her brother stood up to protect her, and that it was all going to be all right…
They were the words that she 'should' say, that a skilled politician would say to comfort someone in their time of need and prove that she was a person who cared… But Adala didn't think they were the words that Charlotte needed to hear.
