The city had already begun returning to normal, though traces of the morning still lingered everywhere. Curious citizens still stood nearby, quietly discussing everything that had happened only hours earlier.
"I still can't believe Lord Merygold was the real killer."
"The Queen nearly executed the wrong man."
"Thank the gods that boy figured it out."
"They say he's Ambly-blessed."
Their conversations faded behind us as we continued toward the city gates.
Neither of us hurried. For a while, we simply walked side by side, listening to our footsteps echo against the damp stone streets.
After several minutes, Pix spoke. "You know..."
"Hmm?"
"I met Jelda because she stole my lunch."
I blinked. "She what?"
Pix laughed softly. "I was thirteen. She was twelve. I had bought the biggest meat pie I'd ever seen from the market and left it on a bench while I filled my water bottle."
"Don't tell me."
"When I came back, she was halfway through eating it."
