Silence still reigned in the great throne room when Maélor turned to his sister. He had just spoken the words.
- "My sister... we are going to need your services."
Elystria, usually so calm, so stable, so unfathomable, paled slightly. A discrete tremor ran through her lips. Her gaze hardened, but her breath remained fluid, contained.
- "You... know what you're asking, Maélor," she finally said in a low voice, without challenge, but tinged with deep pain. "You know the price. You know what it entails. You swore to me... never to ask me that again."
Maélor didn't flinch. His icy eyes remained fixed on her, without an ounce of compassion. There was no longer a brother in that gaze. Only a king.
- "This threat, Elystria... it calls into question my first campaign. My reign. I cannot tolerate an unknown force evading my authority, and I have no more time to waste on speculation."
