Sienna’s eyes widened. She turned and tried to hurry down the stairs. Her heels clicked down the steps, but that was no longer the goal. She had to get back down before… Yoric opened the door. Light streamed out from behind him, lighting up the lady in the passageway. He blinked a few times, unsure at what he was seeing. “Sienna?” Sienna bent down, picked up her heeled shoes, and threw one at Yoric. He […]

The passageway was completely dark. No torches, and a secret passageway did not generally have natural light. It had stairs as well, something that Sienna had more than a little trouble navigating through. Sienna berated herself as she moved upwards. Not for abandoning the children down below for lookout, or the lack of proper attire for such stealth. It was the fact that she had let Canterwright’s escapades go so unnoticed in the past. He […]

“What are we doing back here?” Sienna smiled, and looked around the Serpent and Rose. “Well, I never got a chance to sit down and enjoy the food. Or Lord Canterwright’s company. So I thought another day would mean another go.” Pietr and Sophie shuffled around. Ivan was back with Lord Smyth, looking over the estate. Sienna had taken charge of the two remaining Koskovs, and after their lessons in town, suggested this new diversion. […]

Viola nodded. “Yes.” Gregor started to cry. Viola surmised much of what must have happened. He had heard the rumors from a staff member, or one of the guards. Her execution of Petrovich was so public, it would have been a wonder if Gregor didn’t eventually hear about it. But what he said next stunned her. “Are you going to try and kill me too?” “What?” Viola paled, sickened. “Sweet boy, no! No, I couldn’t […]

Viola turned towards the door, eyes alight. Then her gaze softened, and the magic dissipated. “Gregor.” Gregor Petrovich, all of four, stood in the door. He clutched at a small blanket, rubbing his eyes. He looked in the door, up at the grownups. “Viola?” He blinked a few times. “M’had a bad dream.” “The countess…” Viola rushed past the protesting Nalus. She had the blanket of her own off in an instant, and wrapped around […]

Viola’s eyebrow rose. “Excuse me?” “Let’s just pay the guards.” Nalus mimicked her voice. “And then we pay everyone a fair wage. And open trade, and squash any who oppose us. In short, we are going to make the world a better place, and everyone is going to accept it…because!” He pointed his finger at her. “You have done some great things. Stopped a coup, and flushed out the true traitors from the innocent bystanders. […]