By the end of two weeks, my body had mended, the physical aches finally quieted. Yet, with the relief of recovery came a restlessness I couldn't shake. Even in my solitude, peace eluded me.
The quiet was short-lived. News arrived like a storm breaking over still waters: a new hero had been chosen. I had known it was coming. But now it was official, and the council would soon demand to know how I planned to respond.
I took a deep breath and schooled my face into an expression of controlled surprise as I joined my advisors in the council chamber. This was no place for weakness, not even the smallest flicker. My councilors and guards watched me with cautious eyes, measuring every flicker of expression, every slight shift in my posture. For them, my reaction was the compass by which they navigated this crisis.
