A week later, the palace had resumed functioning with the same cold efficiency Dax had always hated in the aftermath of loss.
Meetings returned. Reports piled up. Security rotations stabilized. Rowan had stepped into the steward's office with the grim focus of a man too busy to collapse, and Hale had taken over the queen's security with such rigid thoroughness that even Chris had stopped pretending to complain about it. Killian's funeral had been conducted with full royal honors, flawless from start to finish.
The ashbox remained in Dax's private sitting room.
The portion of Killian's ashes meant for Windstone had already been sent according to his wishes, handled personally and without spectacle. The legal matters had been settled too. Killian's will had been clear, practical, and painfully him. A few properties were left to nephews. Enough to Windstone to make the gesture personal without turning it into theater. His ashes split between Windstone and Dax exactly as requested.
