Unstoppable Tears

"That was quite a carnage," Naveen said as she took a seat beside Rhaegar in the dimly lit meeting room.

The single candle placed in the center of the wide wooden desk flickered feebly, casting long, ominous shadows on the walls behind them. Both the witch and the king appeared like specters, their silhouettes dark and menacing in the wavering light.

Rhaegar looked exhausted. His usually vibrant amber eyes, once sharp and commanding, were now dulled and almost lifeless. The effort of eradicating the remaining purists while simultaneously hunting those still in hiding had taken a visible toll on him.

Even the unshakable confidence that had so often compelled others to follow him without question seemed to have all but disappeared.

"I heard the warriors are ready to leave," Naveen said again, her voice breaking the heavy silence. She hoped to prompt some kind of response from him. "I still think you're rushing things."