Twisted and Corrupted

Rudsis walked the dark streets of the city of Sword briskly, without caring much for who saw him. It was too late at night for passersby, and he made sure to leave his sword in his room at chiefhall.

He needed answers from the chief. All the previous week, she'd been more than happy to receive him in her house and bed, and to hear about Treni, and the marvels at Crown. This meeting should have been a mere formality to inform her closest collaborators about what would happen in the following weeks.

There was a tense instant of suspicion when he got to her door, which should have been open, that it would be barred. But no. He was able to push it in. The queen sat at her hearth, just like all the previous nights. Rudsis stepped in, closed the door, and bolted it.

Then, he turned on her to stare silently while getting closer step by step. The queen looked at him with the same welcoming smile as always, and something new in her eyes. A challenging smugness.