A Firm Hand (Part One)

Darkness swirled around Nyrielle as she took Ashlynn in her arms, scooping the young noblewoman up like a princess and carrying her away to the luxurious wing of the palace reserved for visiting dignitaries. 

Inside Ashlynn's bedchamber, a fire crackled in the massive hearth, filling the room with soft golden light and dancing shadows that caressed the gilded furnishings of the room like with the lightest of touches as though the shadows were afraid to linger too long and spoil the view. 

The scent of burning cedar filled the air, mingling with Ashlynn's evergreen scent and Nyrielle's own lavender to create a fragrance that felt as familiar as a night in the Vale of Mists even though they were on the opposite side of the mountains from the place they called home.