Dmitri, Adrianna and Anastasia were lounging in the Purple Room which received the guests from outside. When Rolfe came back from the palace gardens, his heart was heavy. He found Ileus and Kaizan in deep conversation and when they saw him, they stopped speaking. And Rolfe knew what it was that they were talking about. His throat bobbed.
"Mother and Father are waiting for you in the Purple Room," said Ileus.
Rolfe nodded and they all walked to the room. None talked because it was a heavy moment.
Dmitri got up and received him. "Come here, Rolfe," he said as he sat and patted the chair next to him. When Rolfe sat down, he said, "We have to leave now. We know that you won't be able to send Iona with us but as you can see, we can't delay staying here."
Rolfe's emotions were all over the place. Over the last month he had grown attached to these people, to Ileus, Anastasia and Kaizan. "I think you should stay for a day. For Iona…"
