Princess?

[He should not have spoken.

[Her voice breaks. There is something in her gaze he cannot begin to define, and Kija wishes he could take back that last incautious word, take back all of it, if only it would make her feel better. He had intended - he is not quite sure what he had intended by calling her aside and speaking of the unspeakable. He had hoped, all the same, that it might help - that she would know this was not forever, this was not certain, that there was more going on than could be understood, never mind seen...

[And now this. He should have touched her shoulder, and said all the right things; there is a knot in his stomach, hard and painful, and his breath catches at him. He should have known how to comfort her.]

I am sorry. I should not have--

[And then she speaks again, and he falls silent. He gazes at her back. He wishes more than anything to find the men behind this, to throw them at the Princess's feet and demand they answer her. How could they do this to her, to all of them? Unforgivable.]

I cannot say. When they toy with our lives, they must feel themselves justified. Such men always do. It is despicable.