"Lady Adala," a soft, rich voice whispered next to Lady Adala. "Her Dominion will take it from here. You should take a seat and leave it to her."
"Huh?" Adala said, completely losing her usual composure for a moment when she felt the Inquisitor's warm breath on her neck and his hand gently cupping her elbow to guide her. Her heart was still racing in her chest after revealing her father's secrets to the entire Great Hall, and her legs were wobbly as she moved, but the High Inquisitor supported her as gently as a lord escorting his lady to a ball.
"You're safe here," Ignatious said as he helped her into a seat near Jocelynn and Samira. "And you're among friends, even if you don't know them well yet."
"Thank you," Adala said almost automatically as she took her seat. Her eyes were still fixed on Lady Ashlynn as she defied the man who had tried to murder her, proving again and again that Owain's words meant nothing to her, and that his reputation for violence meant even less.
