The Wrathful Wind hath Returned

[Kender Bard]

Lya gazed out of her couch, silent and deeply troubled. She had been informed the day of her leaving that Shadow had run off with another woman.

At the time, it felt as though time had stopped and her heart ceased beating. A coldness in her stomach so severe had nearly doubled her with the physical pain of such a thought, fear had lanced through her body and rendered her immobile. The thought of losing Shadow to another woman was devestating.

But after the initial shock wore off, Lya had spent the entire trip returning home locked in a storm of emotions. Guilt. Anger. Fear. Remorse. All of these served only to weaken the queen's spirits to a devestating low. Only one thing kept her afloat: Doubt.

Doubt that she clung to with all the desperation of a cornered woman. Doubt that perhaps the rumors had been wrong, stretched, or outright fabricated.

"Your Majesty," the coach driver spoke softly, patiently, for the third time. Lya glanced up, a bit wide eyed as she struggled to pull herself out of her consuming thoughts. "We're almost there. Should I inform the heralds or try to make your arrival as quiet as possible?"

"I-I don't know," the Queen murmured weakly, at a loss. At his patient and waiting stare, she decided, "Announce it."

"As you wish."

---

Shortly after, an out of breath individual dashed into the mansion, panting, "H-her Majesty, Queen Lya, has returned!"

[Northen Light36]

"What?!" The look of complete and utter shock on Sombra's face was priceless. For a moment she's numb with shock, then her mind starts ticking over with plans, desperate attempts to resolve this problem... and all of them nearly useless.

[Kender Bard]

It wasn't long until servants began to run and scurry about, doing what they can to prepare for the Queen's coming. Lya, for her part, was torn between flying into the mansion as fast as she could and fleeing from it. She didn't know what to expect.

Taking a deep, and shaky breath, she left the carriage, waved to the assembled people who had come to see the Queen's arrival, and then stepped into the mansion. "I'm home," she said, very quietly to herself.

[Northen Light36]

Sarah is in the hall, playing with one of Luminous' toys. Seeing Lya, the child gives a frightened squeak, drops the doll and flees the enterance hall. "Mummy! Mummy!" she shouts, running to Sombra.

"Be quiet," Sombra snaps, still seated in Shadow's throne, thinking frantically.

[Kender Bard]

(Mood Music)

Lya frowns and walks over, picking up the toy. She's aware that Luminous is protective of her toys - so who was that child playing with one of her daughter's things. Frowning, she headed towards the throne room. It would just be one more question to ask Shadow.

Pushing open the doors, Lya stood and stared in shock at the sight of Sombra.

Is this the other woman? Rage boiled up within her, irrational, jealous hatred, pure as venom, at the sight of another woman on the throne. "Who the HELL are you?" she snarled, feathers bristling.

[adris]

Vortai stepped in, always being sure to be behind Lya, making sure that someone would have to go through him to get to her. He had a strange vibe ever since he arrived, and knowing about as much about Lumi as Lya did found the toy incident disturbing.

"You..."

It was all he said, and even that was barely audible. His glare could cut flesh though, and he could feel it coming from his eyes. This wasn't his fight... yet, he would stay quiet until it becomes so. His thoughts were all about Lumi at the moment, his eyes darting about to catch any tell tale signs of his charge.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua takes one look at Sombra and her hand flies to her sharpest dagger, even as she steps in front of Lya protectively. "What are you doing here?" she demanded.

Sombra rose gracefully from Shadow's throne, pushing her daughter away without sparing the child, or Acqua, a glance. "Lya," she says coldly. "I wasn't expecting you to return..." Her tone is laced with venom.

[Kender Bard]

Lya frowned, finding the words out of place with a caught lover. Then some pieces fall into place - especially when she notices that the two companions with her recognize the woman.

Sombra.

Lya felt fear like a bolt of lightning through her, this time galvanizing instead of weakening. "Where is my husband?" she hissed, looking all about. "Where is my daughter?!"

[Northen Light36]

"Luminous is just fine," Sombra says coolly. "She learnt her proper place in things quite well."

"Knowing you," Acqua hisses. "That isn't reasuring." Sombra glances at Acqua, irritation in her eyes.

"Gag your dog, Lya," she orders the queen. "If you want your other question answered."

[adris]

Vortai moves over and places a hand gently on Acqua's shoulder. His other never leaves his chain for a second. His teeth grit, because if he doesn't see Luminous soon, especially with that answer he is ready to cut the woman apart. He growled as softly as possible,

"You better rethink that first answer fast..."

[Kender Bard]

Lya made a sharp movement with her hand, indicating silence for now. "What the fuck did you do to my daughter, Sombra?" She took a few steps forward. "And tell me where they are - Shadow and Luminous. If they've been harmed at all, I will have your ugly head spiked in front of the gates of the city!"

[Northen Light36]

"Not much, I assure you, Lya," Sombra says with a cold smile. "After all, my husband and I needed the brat alive. Broken, naturally, but alive. It didn't take much." Sombra's smile turns ferel, twisting her features into something horrible. "As for Shadow, well... We didn't need him. You'll see him soon enough, though, Lya."

It was the slight movement of Sombra's arm, more then her words, that alerted Acqua. "Look out!" she called, flinging herself forward to knock Lya to the ground, before tumbling off the queen with a cry of pain. The torchlight flickers on the pearl hilt of the dagger burried in Acqua's shoulder as Sombra snarls in fury.

[Kender Bard]

Lya rolled as quickly as she could, bringing her signs to touch as she whispered her chant in a harsh, almost guttural manner and whipped up a wind that was fierce, growing stronger, aimed at Sombra to slam her against the nearest surface and hold her there. "GUARDS!" she shrieked, voice amplified so it reverberated throughout the mansion.

[adris]

Vortai's worried face turns into a grin when he thinks of all the things he wishes to do to her. He begins to spin his chain above his head, moving to try to get the angle on her if she decides to make a break for it.

"You should have just answered the questions."

He looses his weapon low, its an inaccurate swing, but he just wants her disabled. There are so many ways he would like her to suffer before death, especially if what she said about Luminous is true.

[Northen Light36]

Unluckily for Lya, the surface Sombra was blown against was a door. Opening it, Sombra tumbles through and slams it shut just in time for Vortai's hook to sink into the wood. By the time the guards arrive, she's already fled the manor, leaving her daughter cowering under Shadow's throne.

Ghost-white with pain, Acqua simply slums against a wall, taking deep breathes and trying to build up the courage to remove the dagger. "With my luck, it's probably poisoned," she mutters. "Vortai, find the princess."