“I don’t believe you to be a coward, but I promised your wife-” “You’ve seen Mariam?” he asked, his entire demeanor shifting. “Yes, and she’s heartbroken with you gone,” I answered, gently. “She needs you, Alaric. Those children at the orphanage need you. I’m commanding you as your prince to go home and take care of those children. They’ve lost enough from war and battles. They do not need to lose you as well. You’ve become a father figure to them. Don’t do this to them. Don’t do this to Mariam.”
