The King flinched, losing for a moment his mask of boldness, and then rushed out of the tent. Jovana followed shortly after, composed and confident, wearing Elijah's blood like ceremonial armor.
Later that night, as soon as Jovana got home, she learned that Caspian was back, and he had already sent a carriage to take her to his palace. Jovana went to her room to freshen up before she left, but she had a hard time recognizing herself in the mirror.
Her clothes were muddy and crumpled, and there was blood everywhere. But she didn't freak out. She didn't cry. She took a look at herself and acknowledged the situation with calmness. 'Eli is going to be fine, I know it. Yes, there will be blood to shed and mud to wade through, but we are at war. And we will fight!' Jovana mused determinedly as she took one last, resolute look in the mirror before taking her clothes off and washing away the dreadful traces of the day from her skin.
