Snippet #1279715

As the sun rose over the streets and buildings, the cold, proud ruler of Serroc stood by the window of the watching room in her tower, a vast and mostly empty room, though lavishly decorated, with one wide window running along all of the walls, almost spanning their height. Heavy green curtains were tied up neatly at regular intervals across the window, having already been drawn by the tiny pixie fae man, now cringing in a corner as far from the formidable woman he served as possible.
Dark, cruel emerald eyes scanned the city far below, and Sensibility lip curled silkily upward in a self-gratifying smile. This was her morning ritual, to come and stand at this window in the topmost room of her tower, looking down on the city she so completely controlled, imagining the fear, mixed with heart-wrenching loyalty in the hearts of her people.

All hers.

*

Alys yawned, groaning loudly as she stretched long, slender arms into the air above her head.
"Good morning, dearest."
"Morni' Sa-aaaa," another yawn cut short her greeting, and her brother laughed, his green eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Shuddup."
"I'm sorry," he said seriously, "It's just that you always awake in such a refreshingly energised state."
She glared at him with eyes that were half shut anyway, wiping the sleep from the corner of her right one as she did so, and stifling another yawn. The result wasn't as scathing and respect-imbuing as she'd intended, and Samael laughed again.
She stuck out her tongue, regretting it imediately and 'humph'ed, stalking across the room to the privvy.

When she returned, Sam's laughter was replaced by a purposeful look.
"I'm sorry, darling-heart. We have important things to do today."
"Oh yes." She'd forgotten. Today they would go to the woods, when it was later and darker and noone would see them slip between the trees, of course, for entry into the woods was strictly forbidden. She knew the consequences if the wrong person spoke of her breaking that law, but she must see Jia. He was unimaginably wise, and if any move for freedom was to be made, he would know how to begin it.

She shuddered.
Sam was here, safe. But for how long?
And how, why was he released?
No one was judged in the Courts of Order and found innocent, if that was even where he'd been taken.
She shook her head. Of course it was. Where else would he have gone?
He never actually said he was taken there, though, did he? a niggling voice, one that had perpetually annoyed her since not long after her twins' return, spoke softly in the back of her mind, never talks about it at all. Won't. Anything could have happened when he dissapeared...
"Of course he doesn't want to talk about it," she said aloud, chasing the voice into the shadows of her brain where it would be silent, "Who would want to reminisce on that?"
"What did you say, love?" Sam asked, and she reddened.
"Just talking to myself."
"Hmm. First sign of insanity, you know."
She forced herself to laugh, still trying to shake the suspicious murmur of her mindvoice.
"Come on, let's eat. Big day today."