The Royal Guard warriors and my allies eagerly went back into the capital and the palace for a much-deserved rest.
I hesitated, staring at Aries’s body.
King Xander approached me. I took a half step back, unsure what I was supposed to do if he started asking questions.
“You seem troubled,” he said.
I shrugged. “It wasn’t an easy fight.”
“And yet, without your quick thinking and leadership skills, my army wouldn’t have had the opportunity to attack. My entire family and loyal soldiers would have been trapped in the palace and eventually perished. The rogues could have outlasted us.”
I nodded. It seemed like the closest thing to a “thank you” I was likely to get from a king.
“What’s bothering you? It was a well-fought battle and you took down Aries.” Xander waved his arm over Aries’s body.
“Hestia is still out there somewhere.” I sighed and rubbed my temple. “I didn’t see her during the battle, but my intel told me she was in the capital.”