The night wind did not feel like wind. It felt like a hand. Cold. Persistent. Pressing against Evelyn's chest as though it wanted to push her back, warn her, turn her away before she reached what waited ahead.
She did not listen. The boat cut through the water with unnatural speed. The sails strained, pulling hard against the mast, the wood creaking under pressure. Waves rose and fell, but instead of slowing her, they seemed to carry her forward. Each surge of water pushed her closer, faster, as if the sea itself had chosen a side.
Twenty-eight hours. That was all it took. A journey meant for two days ended before her body could even adjust to the passage of time.
By the time dawn broke on the second day, Ashford stood before her.
It did not look like a city that had just celebrated a wedding.
It looked like something else. Something wrong. The gates were open, but there was no warmth in the welcome. The banners still hung high, but they no longer felt like symbols of pride. They hung like reminders. Like accusations.
And the smell, Evelyn's breath caught as the wind shifted.
Blood. Not fresh. Not sharp. But lingering.
Heavy.
It clung to the air, mixed with smoke and something faintly rotten. Two days had passed, but the ground had not forgotten. The stones had not forgotten.
Nothing had.
Her hands tightened slightly at her sides. Then voices cut through the silence.
"Hold!"
Steel shifted. Guards moved into position at the shore, their hands already resting on the hilts of their weapons.
Evelyn raised both hands slowly. Calm, and measured. "I came to see Lord Theon Kendrick," she said.
Her voice carried just enough confidence. "He would want to see me."
The guards did not respond immediately. Their eyes moved over her, scanning, judging, weighing something she could not see.
Then one of them stepped forward. "Move." Rough hands grabbed her arms. She did not resist. They led her through the city.
Ashford had not returned to normal. Not even close. Guilt and grief lived in the streets. The streets were quieter than they should have been. Too quiet. People moved, but carefully, as if afraid to draw attention to themselves. Conversations died the moment she passed.
Eyes followed her, not curious, but wary. Somewhere in the distance, a cart rolled over stone. The faint clatter echoed louder than it should have.
Evelyn kept walking, head forward, her breathing was steady.
They brought her to the castle. Then through it. Hallways stretched long and dim, lit by torches that flickered against the walls. Shadows moved with every step she took. Guards stood at intervals, watching, silent.
Then they stopped at a door. Heavy, and closed. One guard knocked and stepped inside. "A lady is here, my lord," he said.
Evelyn stood just outside, her hands now lowered, her pulse loud in her ears.
"She demands to see you."
Then Theon's voice came from within. "I just got married," he said, irritation clear. "I don't want to see any lady that might get my wife jealous."
Evelyn's lips pressed together. The guard hesitated. Then spoke again. "She said her name is Evelyn Oblak."
Silence fell.
Then Theon jolted up. "Evelyn Oblak?" The disbelief in Theon's voice was sharp. "Yes, my lord."
"That is not possible," Theon said. "Evelyn would not be so foolish to walk into Ashford." The guard's tone shifted slightly. "Is she an enemy?"
Then Theon again. "No. That's not what I meant."
Another pause.
"Bring her in."
The door opened. Evelyn stepped inside. Theon stood across the room. For a moment, neither of them spoke. They just looked at each other.
Two people who knew too much about each other. Two people who had just crossed a line that could never be undone.
Theon lifted a hand slightly. The guards understood. They bowed and left, closing the door behind them.
Silence followed.
Heavy, and uncomfortable. "What are you doing here?" Theon finally asked. His voice was lower now. Less certain.
Evelyn exhaled slowly. "I heard what happened."
Something flickered across his face. Gone almost instantly. "And yet," he said, his tone sharpening, "you still rode into Ashford."
He stepped closer. "Do you realize that if anyone here truly knows who you are, you are dead?"
Evelyn forced a small smile. It did not reach her eyes. "I know." Her voice stayed steady, but her chest tightened with every word. "I know my life is in danger."
A slight pause.
"But I chose to come."
Theon looked at her for a long moment. Then his gaze dropped. "I suppose you came to judge me."
Evelyn shook her head. "No.".Her voice softened. "Maybe the gods will judge you someday." She held his gaze again. "But I am not here for that."
Theon's eyes narrowed slightly. "Then why are you here?"
Evelyn stepped forward. Just enough to close the distance between them. Her voice lowered. "To request the body of the king and queen for burial."
Silence fell. It stretched. Then snapped. Theon laughed. Loud, and sharp.
Too loud for the space they stood in. "Hahahahaha!"
He stopped abruptly, looking at her again as if trying to decide whether she was serious. "You know that is not possible," he said. His tone hardened. "Their bodies will be disposed of with the others."
Evelyn shook her head slowly. "No." She took another step closer. "You have already killed them." Her voice did not rise. It didn't need to. "You got what you wanted."
She paused, and met Theon's gaze.
"Why deny them a proper burial?" Her eyes locked onto his. "At least you owe your brother, Drexo that." The word hit.
Brother.
Theon's body stiffened almost immediately. Something in his expression cracked. Just for a second. Then he forced it back. "I cannot give you their bodies," he said. His voice came out tighter now. "They belong to the king."
Evelyn did not step back. Instead, she lifted her hand, and placed it gently against his chest.
Theon froze. A small, involuntary breath escaped him.
Evelyn's voice changed. It became softer, warmer, and carefully controlled. "Please," she said. "Maria belongs to the North." Her fingers pressed slightly. "The king once loved her."
She paused and observed Theon's reaction.
"I don't think he would be pleased to know she was denied a proper burial."
Theon closed his eyes briefly. Then exhaled. "I will speak to Lord Fabio," he said. "And Lord William." He opened his eyes again. "But I cannot promise you anything."
Evelyn nodded. "That is enough." Theon turned, and walked but paused. "i am only doing this because of what I once had for you." Then he walked out.
Time moved slowly after that. Too slowly. Evelyn remained where she stood, her hand dropping back to her side.
The silence in the room pressed in on her from all sides. Every second stretched. Every breath felt heavier. She did not sit. She did not move. Neither did she allow herself to think too far ahead.
An hour later, the door opened again. Theon stepped in. His face looked different. Not lighter, nor relieved. Just tired. "Maria's body has been placed in a boat," he said. His voice was flat. "For you to take."
He exhaled sharply. "I couldn't secure Drexo's. It belongs to the king as his closest blood relative."
Evelyn's breath caught. Then broke. Tears spilled down her cheeks before she could stop them. "Thank you." Her voice trembled.
Theon looked at her. For a moment, his own eyes filled. "I wish…" he started. Then stopped. He swallowed hard. "I wish I never took this path."
His voice dropped.
"I wish you had loved me when I tried." A bitter smile flickered. "Maybe I wouldn't be here."
Evelyn stepped closer. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him.
He didn't resist. He didn't return it either. He just stood still. Then she leaned in. Her lips close to his ear, and whispered. "You are a traitor now." The words were soft. But they cut deeper than anything else she had said. "Because it has always been in you."
She paused and smiled. "It only needed time." Another breath. "And now it has shown."
Theon's body went rigid. Then he pushed her away.
Hard.
His face hardened completely now. Whatever softness had been there was gone. "Take your mistress," he said coldly. "And leave." His eyes locked onto hers. "And if you ever step foot in Cliffland again…"
He paused, and drew in a breath. His eyes red. "I will kill you."
Evelyn held his gaze. Then she bowed her head slightly. No argument. No fear shown. No words, She turned, and walked out.
No one stopped her. No one questioned her. The guards who had dragged her in did not touch her on the way out. They only watched. As she walked through the same halls. Past the same torches. Through the same doors. Back into the air that still carried the scent of blood.
At the shore, the boat waited. And somewhere on it, Maria lay still, and lifeless.
Evelyn stepped forward, and did not look back.