The air in council room hummed with power... high vaulted ceilings, and the heavy oak table where matters of state were decided.
King Grey sat at the head, his crown catching the afternoon light streaming through stained glass windows.
Queen Vesperine occupied the seat to his right, her posture perfect, her expression unreadable as always.
Around them, five members of the inner court debated over ongoing and upcoming matters.
Then the shadows in the corner of the room rippled.
A hooded figure materialized from the darkness itself, silent as death.
They moved with inhuman grace, crossing the distance to the Queen's chair. Then the figure knelt, producing a sealed envelope from within their cloak.
Vesperine took it with a slight incline of her head.
The hooded figure dissolved back into shadow, leaving only a faint chill in the air.
The conversation had stopped. All eyes turned to the Queen.
Vesperine broke the wax seal with her thumb, unfolded the parchment, and read.
