“It is not my place to give my opinion. But we would be standing by him,” Iskandar answered. “Even if he did not listen to us. Even if he ignored us, we would stand by him, waiting, believing he would overcome this. Even if he did not call or write or send a smoke signal, we would not leave. That is what loyalty is. That is what I thought husbands and wives did, no matter how terrifying that may be. I see I was mistaken. So, enjoy the rest of your afternoon, ma’am.” He bowed his head, and as suddenly as they had come, they were gone.

