Ocean's Breath Plateau the space between lives

Perhaps someone kinder would have swept him up in their arms and planted kisses along each worried notch of his spine.  They would've whispered to him low and shed away his shame.  Instead, the only thing she offered was the softening of her eye, a flick of her ear.
All she could offer him was the truth.  It was cold and harsh.  Just like Izel herself.  I built it from the ground.  It didn't take much to bring together.  Not when the only rules were "don't kill each other" and "respect the queen".  I would still be there, I think, but I am glad I'm not.  Leading had been a lot, especially leading by herself.  She'd trusted nobody else to help, and she'd thought Yaretzi to be too young.  What a mistake that had been.