The hallway outside the kitchen was filled with morning light.
Livar and Liora walked slowly through it, side by side.
Neither spoke much.
Until-
"What happened to your face?" Livar asked suddenly.
Liora blinked, touching the small scar across her cheek.
"I don't know," she said.
Livar nodded.
"We should ask the king and queen."
She rolled her eyes.
"They don't know either."
"Let's ask anyway."
He turned a corner-headed straight toward the open garden doors where the Queen and King stood speaking with attendants.
Liora followed, arms crossed.
"Do you know what happened to her face?" Livar asked.
The Queen turned, surprised.
She knelt down.
"No," she said gently.
"She had the scar when she was still in her cradle."
The King nodded.
"We searched. Asked healers. Even seers. But there was no answer."
Livar turned to Liora.
"You were right."
She smirked.
"That's what I told you."
Livar shrugged.
"You were right for once, little girl."
Liora flinched.
"Don't call me little girl!"
"But you are one," Livar said calmly.
"I'm not!"
"You're smaller than me."
"We're the same age!"
"Still counts."
Liora groaned and stomped ahead.
Livar followed, hands in his pockets.
The Queen watched them go, smiling.
"He annoys her," she said softly.
"And still," the King replied,
"she walks beside him."
And for the rest of the day-
She did.
End of Chapter 23 - The Scar They Never Named