With hesitant movements, Amanda reached out to take the crown, under Dexter's close supervision, but instead grabbed Artemis by the wrist, leaned forward and fell to her knees in front of her, discarding the crutches as an unnecessary thing.
Her forehead touched Artemis's cold little hand, and she began to cry. So bitterly, so desperately, as if she had forbidden herself to cry all her life.
- No one can take off a wizard's crown except himself. - Amanda said to Dexter, sniffing, and he took a puzzled half step back, still staring intently at the prisoner.
Artemis knelt at the same level with Amanda and reached out her other hand through the bars, touching the princess's head, smoothing her soft obsidian-colored hair.
- I didn't know how else to get through to all of you. - she whispered faintly. – I was waiting for you to come.
