Joscelin closed his eyes tightly for a moment, willing his voice to remain calm. "Her foster-father, Anafiel Delaunay, was involved in matters pertaining to the safety of the realm. Phedre and I were- were away from home, and when we returned..."

He had to stop again, taking a deep breath and running through a Cassiline mantra in his mind, calming himself. "Delaunay was dead, killed by soldiers, and her foster-brother Alcuin was dying. He told us some of the reason for it. We went to the Palace to seek help but were taken in by a- a woman, an acquaintance of ours. She said she would help, but she drugged me."

He kept his voice strictly unemotional, the only expression showing in his blue eyes- pain, more intense than he'd ever felt physically.