The northern silence had stretched into its fifth day, then its sixth. No riders on the road. No messages. No demands from the capital. Inside the temple the quiet had stopped feeling like a gift and started feeling like a held breath that refused to break.
Elizabeth found Selene in the upper sitting room after the evening meal. The fire was low. Two cups of wine sat untouched on the low table. Selene stood by the window, arms folded, watching the dark courtyard as if the empty road might suddenly produce someone.
"You're still awake," Elizabeth said.
"So are you."
Elizabeth closed the door and leaned against it. "The quiet is starting to feel wrong."
Selene's mouth curved, not quite a smile. "Everything feels wrong when nothing is happening. We get used to pressure. Without it we start looking at each other too closely."
Elizabeth walked closer. "We already look at each other closely."
"Yes." Selene turned from the window. "And we both know why."
