The clock ticked relentlessly as Rhianna lay staring up at the ceiling in the dark room. Tick... You're still awake. Tock... How mad has he gone? Tick... Morning's far off. Tock... He'll be further by dawn. Tick... You should be preparing. Tock... You've just been his pawn.
She grabbed the pillow, wrapping it over her ears and rolled over onto her stomach. It gurgled queasily. She swallowed bile and briefly wondered if she was getting that ulcer she'd always told him he'd give her.
Growling, she sat up and swung her feet over the side of the bed as she threw the pillow back down onto it. A snap of her fingers and a small flame flickered to life in a lantern, lighting the still-unfamiliar room. She was still at the Bastard's Honor; she'd promised Menelwen she'd stay the night, but she was restless, unable to sleep, and none of the tomes or scrolls she desired were there. She wanted to find something. An answer, a cure, but for now this room of comforts felt little more than a cage.
She rose, pacing, glancing at the clock that continued to mock her. Two thirty-three. 'That can't be right. I've been here longer than that, surely.' She moved to the window and peered out. The stars twinkled brightly in the black velvet sky; there was no sign of the dawn. Would that she could conjure the sun.Â
Her feet padded softly as she resumed pacing. Perhaps something to aid her sleep? But what? Nothing too harsh. Her stomach twisted again, bile rising. A tea or warm milk? Her stomach churned in response. 'Tea it is.'Â
Putting on her robe, Rhi took the lantern and slipped quietly out to the kitchen. The Honor was quiet save for a couple of giggling voices that could be heard coming from one of the rooms. 'Sounds like someone's having fun,' she thought as she continued past.
Menelwen's kitchen was, thankfully, well-stocked. Only a few minutes rummaging through the cupboards rewarded her with some chamomile and peppermint. A tea cup, some water, and a little thaumaturgy to heat it and... tea! She settled into a chair at the table, sipping her tea slowly as she stared into the lantern's flame, her mind wandering. The tick-tock of the kitchen clock grew fainter as she lost herself.
It was sometime later she roused herself, realizing her tea was gone. Forty minutes had passed and sleep tugged at her. She rinsed out her cup, placed it in the sink, then headed back to her room. This time the giggling room was silent as she passed by and only her own quiet passing was to be heard. Entering her room, she carefully shut the door behind her. Her robe she shrugged off the carefully folded, placing it with her things. With a flick of her fingers, the lantern extinguished as she crawled back into bed. Sleep came more easily this time and with it dreams. The puzzle pieces she had been straining to put together snapped into place.
Rhi awoke hours later, the sun skirting the curtains to brighten the room. She packed her things and penned a quick message to Menelwen thanking her for her hospitality and letting her know where to find her. She then returned home, to Gridania, and locked herself in Alexander's office. There was much work to be done...
She grabbed the pillow, wrapping it over her ears and rolled over onto her stomach. It gurgled queasily. She swallowed bile and briefly wondered if she was getting that ulcer she'd always told him he'd give her.
Growling, she sat up and swung her feet over the side of the bed as she threw the pillow back down onto it. A snap of her fingers and a small flame flickered to life in a lantern, lighting the still-unfamiliar room. She was still at the Bastard's Honor; she'd promised Menelwen she'd stay the night, but she was restless, unable to sleep, and none of the tomes or scrolls she desired were there. She wanted to find something. An answer, a cure, but for now this room of comforts felt little more than a cage.
She rose, pacing, glancing at the clock that continued to mock her. Two thirty-three. 'That can't be right. I've been here longer than that, surely.' She moved to the window and peered out. The stars twinkled brightly in the black velvet sky; there was no sign of the dawn. Would that she could conjure the sun.Â
Her feet padded softly as she resumed pacing. Perhaps something to aid her sleep? But what? Nothing too harsh. Her stomach twisted again, bile rising. A tea or warm milk? Her stomach churned in response. 'Tea it is.'Â
Putting on her robe, Rhi took the lantern and slipped quietly out to the kitchen. The Honor was quiet save for a couple of giggling voices that could be heard coming from one of the rooms. 'Sounds like someone's having fun,' she thought as she continued past.
Menelwen's kitchen was, thankfully, well-stocked. Only a few minutes rummaging through the cupboards rewarded her with some chamomile and peppermint. A tea cup, some water, and a little thaumaturgy to heat it and... tea! She settled into a chair at the table, sipping her tea slowly as she stared into the lantern's flame, her mind wandering. The tick-tock of the kitchen clock grew fainter as she lost herself.
It was sometime later she roused herself, realizing her tea was gone. Forty minutes had passed and sleep tugged at her. She rinsed out her cup, placed it in the sink, then headed back to her room. This time the giggling room was silent as she passed by and only her own quiet passing was to be heard. Entering her room, she carefully shut the door behind her. Her robe she shrugged off the carefully folded, placing it with her things. With a flick of her fingers, the lantern extinguished as she crawled back into bed. Sleep came more easily this time and with it dreams. The puzzle pieces she had been straining to put together snapped into place.
Rhi awoke hours later, the sun skirting the curtains to brighten the room. She packed her things and penned a quick message to Menelwen thanking her for her hospitality and letting her know where to find her. She then returned home, to Gridania, and locked herself in Alexander's office. There was much work to be done...
Rhianna Oruissi
Order of the Raven's Eye
Order of the Raven's Eye
Quote:Rhianna Oruissi slips a cupcake into Nylesa Tou's pocket.
Nylesa Tou >> why you sneaky baker...