The next day, Deborah entered the private chamber where Felix was staying.

"Atlas has left," she said.

Felix was taken aback. "So quickly?"

In the end, he couldn't avoid explaining why he'd holed up in the chamber. It felt wrong to keep hiding it when things had reached this point.

"It wasn't supposed to happen this fast," Deborah said. "But that old fox, Bern, pulled a move that forced Atlas to leave."

She sat down, her eyes filled with a gentle fondness. "Don't you think it's time you tol