She had meant to check in on Fiasko earlier, but the business of ruling a kingdom has a nasty habit of eating all her free time. And Fiasko, really, is low on the priority list. But she is not the bottom, either. Straia may lack a large portion of her heart, but there’s a little bit there. She has no intention of letting anyone hurt or bother their captives, and the ravens have been instructed to keep a close eye on the pair. Not so much because she thinks they will run, but because they are in the Chamber, after all. And Gryffen had already done enough damage.
When Straia does finally have time, it is clearly the worst timing ever. This, of course, doesn’t stop her. She’s long enough after the birth that she doesn’t feel like she’s intruding (one of Gryffen’s many pet’s is already here). No, the timing is simply rather horrible to ask, “how is your stay here” when the child has red eyes and all.
The girl, to her credit, doesn’t seem afraid of the boy. For such a pathetic little thing most of the time, there might actually be some spunk in there. Fiasko, however, has lost whatever spark and flame she might have had. And really, Straia doesn’t think the Chamber has all that much to do with it. Some, certainly, but she’s pretty sure the Chamber gave Fiasko a solid reason to finally give up.
“Not that it makes it remotely better, but I apologize for Gryffen. He gets carried away,” she says, coming to stop in the small group. “He is beautiful though.” Despite the eyes, but she doesn’t add that part in. She’s not the most sensitive horse in the first place, and really, she only cares so much. But she tries at least a little bit.
She studies the boy, wondering if he’ll take after mother or father. Wondering more if Fiasko wants the child. She looks at the mare rather pointedly, though doesn’t say anything. In truth, Straia would be happy to take the child and raise it as the Chamber’s own, but even she knows that outright offering that might be less than delicate. So she doesn’t. Instead, she says, “I thought you would like to know that parts of the Gates still live. I imagine, with time, it will regrow. At least mostly. Your kingdom members are safe as well.” There are still burned trees in the Chamber. Some would never be the same, really.
All the kingdoms had suffered for one reason or another. But Straia was true to her word, and she had called the Chamber off when Fiasko had decided to stay. Why did she want Fiasko? Honestly, to prove a point, and the Gates had been the most obvious choice after trying to steal one of the Chamber members. But Straia didn’t need to destroy a quiet kingdom either. She wasn’t that heartless. She’d rather destroy someone powerful.
straia
the raven queen of the chamber