She held his hand and listened, eventually scooting closer once more. Her gaze was on Kell's face as he recounted how they'd only been gone for hours, how no one knew, and the concern their parents must have had. Neria's lips drifted into a frown.

Quietly, she told him, "One of the guards seemed suspicious. It seemed like he knew I didn't belong." And now she knew why. "I'm so sorry, Kell. I was trying to be discreet." But she didn't know how else to find him.

Briefly, she lapsed into silence. And then--

"Do...Do the king and queen know what has happened to both of you? Or is that something you've concealed?"