The air in the throne room of the Autumn Court was heavy like a storm cloud just moments before lightning and thunder strike.
The torches on the orange and bronze walls flickered wildly casting shadows dancing across the carved gold autumn leaves and bare trees etched into the tapestry.
Queen Arabella stood in her gown a riot of orange colored silks and embroidered gold thread, her face that was once known for its haunting beauty was now twisted in rage. The scroll in her hand crumpled in her fist.
"Casimir still lives!"
She spat the words out like venom. The nobles of the Autumn Court around her stood silent. No one dared to speak. The silence was not reverential, it was fearful in the case where one could lose a tongue.
"After all I did to him," she hissed sarcastically. "I should have ended his life a lot sooner!" Her eyes flashed angrily as the air magic trembled at her fingertips begging for release.
