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I absently plucked at the folds of my skirt, looking at the flowers on the rosebush to my left, "It's nice to be able to relax," I commented.He sighed and smiled, "This is so...so..."
"Perfect?" I inserted.
He smiled as he turned his head, his grey-eyed gaze resting lightly on me, "You could say that."
I reached out and plucked a rose from the bush nearby, slowly inhaling its sweet perfume. The velveteen petals brushed lightly against my nose and I sighed again in contentment. Carefully, I tucked the flora behind one long, feline ear. I leaned back on my arms, smiling softly.
Krolaun looked up at the sun, estimating the time, "Two hours...How do you kill time around here?" His voice was curious, but otherwise unchanging. His gaze concentrated on me, never faltering.
As I fell back against the grass, my long brown hair fanning out across it, I looked up at him, "I'm just glad we have time to kill for once."
He nodded, "I understand."
We sat in silence for many moments. I turned my green eyes up to the sky above. It was so blue, so peaceful. The end of our ordeal was at hand. Soon, Bast would reveal his plan to eliminate the dual threat of Shard and Sekhmet from our lives, once and for all. Until then, we could only be patient, and wait. I glanced at the elf, for I knew that I would have to fight Shard. Our battle was long in awaiting, and was therefore inevitable. There would be no completion if I refused to fight her. I would forever be haunted by the fear and the knowledge that I had let such a monster survive.
I looked at Krolaun again, and I could tell by the concerned look in his eyes that he was wondering about the Starflight he had sent to WaterDeep. I gently broke the silence with a soft voice, one filled with concern, "It is a long way from here to WaterDeep. Starflight does not have the luxury of a Gate, it will take time. Perhaps you will hear back by this evening."
He simply nodded, beginning to drowse in the warmth of the afternoon. I smiled slightly as I watched him. However, our peace was short-lived. The heavy thudding of boots crashed along the garden path toward us. A palace soldier stopped before us and saluted, "My Lord Krolaun! Lady Katja!"
Krolaun sat up, eyeing the soldier, "Yes?"
"My Lord Bast has decreed that you are to meet him, and Her Majesty Queen Amyrl, once more in the Audience Chamber of the Palace."
Krolaun nodded, "Thank you."
As the soldier scurried off, Krol rose, offering a hand to me. I placed my hand in his and he hauled me to my feet. He looked at me with those storm-grey eyes, "Shall we?"
I nodded, "Let's go."
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© 1999 E. Angeli Mansfield