Meanwhile, Mellisa was fast asleep in her chambers, thanks to the sleeping pill she had deliberately taken to fall into a deep slumber with ease. Her loyal maid, Nyla, remained in the room with her, keeping watch in silence. All was calm....until piercing screams echoed from the direction of the prayer grounds. It was the desperate cries of the burning priests.
Nyla's eyes flew open in horror as smoke invaded her nostrils. She bolted upright, heart pounding. "Your Highness!" she screamed in alarm, rushing to Mellisa's bedside. "The room is on fire!"
Mellisa stirred groggily, but the urgency in Nyla's voice jolted her into full consciousness. She sat up with a gasp, panic flashing in her eyes. "What in the world is going on?!" she cried out, covering her nose with her hand in a futile attempt to block out the toxic smoke. "How in hell did the prayer ground catch fire?!"
