A Brief Pause

It had been a busy couple of minutes

After she summoned the assassin, after the guard blocked her, after she realisatied that a hypnotise spell was pointless Vali faced the Kulland King and curtsied. She poured water.

“Your majesty we are more than honoured by your presence but you should be away soon. What you will witness here is live theatre and in this play queens have already died. Gods gather and the basest creatures clamour to participate.

“But if you have time before you leave take tea with us, I was taught well so I hope I can offer your spirit strength. We will all need strength tonight.

“But firstly I should apologise. Tonight within the walls of your city a play with an abominable cast unfolds even as you watch. Just moments ago Runesbre whispered to your ear, our assassin struck and hit, but he failed to kill. He stands here now still singeing. The next act approaches I suspect we have little time so have an eye for the unexpected.

“But take tea with us.

Vali lit the flame beneath the water. By now the ritual was getting more natural to her. The very act of pouring water had had an effect.

“I have brought this play within your walls, much like a gambler brings a new card game to a table. Perhaps you should banish me now for the play brings death to audience and actors alike, but the end is not yet written. The sun could yet rise before my eyes. All of us here will decide the end. Even the stage has a say.

“I am Vali, or Lady Valinar if put in courtly tongue. The actors you see before you are my friends, my bloodguard if you like, those who would stand by me tonight. Vali introduced each by name. We have already faced down Runesabre and yet live. Here we stand, with your permission acting out our, my play for life before the very eyes of your citizens. This must never be forgotten. My defilement or death will not pass unnoticed.

The water boiled. Vali felt a strengthening through its boiling.

She dropped some leaves into the small steaming cauldron and stiffened.

“Even now those for the next act gather, but this smell.

I believe there is but one perfect form of hypnotism, and that is to hear the truth. Truth, ah perfect hypnotic truth. How I crave it. Here I see blood, heads, bowels and lies. The play unfolds. We have no script, no director, we don’t even know the full cast. But the acts pass and ever the blood flows. You have joined the cast your majesty.

Vali offered the King a cup of tea.