Thus, by swift moving circumstances which could not have been foreseen, was I made ruler of the Light Country. The crowd dispersed quietly. We sent the queen and her waiting maids back to her apartments, the aged councilors to theirs, and soon Miela and I were alone in one of the castle rooms.
Now that the nervous excitement under which I had been laboring was over, I felt utterly exhausted. I dropped wearily into a seat, and Miela sat on the floor at my feet with her arms on my knees.
I stroked her glossy black hair idly.
"I'm tired, girl. I'm all in. Aren't you?"
We had not slept since the afternoon before, and so much had happened since.
Suddenly I remembered Lua.
"Miela—your mother. We must find her." I started to my feet, then sat down again.
There was no use of my rushing away on some aimless search over a city like this.
"Where is the head of the city's police, Miela?"
"I have sent for him. He should be here now to see you."