You Can't See Me In Askr Castle

A/N: i said i would be working on my novel at the starbucks today, but so far i've been clowning around while my friend works on more excerpts for his story. oh well, here goes:

Though the sun shone brightly in Askr, the air was cold. Kiran wrapped her white robes tighter around her body and hurried through the courtyard. The high altitude of Askr Castle often left her feeling out of breath, so much that quickening her pace was often a struggle.

"Commander Anna, Prince Alfonse," Kiran greeted, as soon as she entered the war council chamber. Sharena was absent. "I've received reports that the Emblian army has advanced and breached our borders. Their troops are marching towards a small village south of the coast."

"This is dire news," Alfonse said.

"You won't like this next part either," Kiran continued. "It appears Princess Veronica herself is leading the charge."

"All the more reason for us to take action," Alfonse declared. "We must move to meet them at once."

Anna looked at Kiran, who hadn't bothered to take off her hood in her haste. Always the rational one, her next words were chosen carefully, with deliberation.

"Our soldiers are still weary from the last battle. We might not be able to spare our resources to save the village."

Alfonse didn't like her answer, Kiran could tell by the way he clenched his jaw and forced himself to even his tone.

"I've never known you to turn away from protecting our people," he said sternly.

"I know how you feel," Anna replied, crossing her arms across her chest. "But I am simply protecting our troops and the Heroes we have worked so painstakingly to summon."

The two of them turned to Kiran expectantly, waiting for the Summoner to determine their course of action, to be the tiebreaker for the debate.

"Well," Kiran started to say. "I..."

--

Meanwhile, in another part of the castle, the fierce glare of sunlight blasting in from the window woke Severa from her slumber. Her long auburn hair, normally fashioned into two twin-tails, spilled across the bed like a waterfall of flame. For a moment she lay still, eyes glossed over like a porcelain doll. Next, the fog of slumber lifted and her brain registered her surroundings. Alarmed by the unfamiliar room, she jerked and snatched up the closest item she could use as a weapon -- a candle holder off the night stand -- and sprung off the bed.

Judging by the view from the window, she wasn't in Nohr, but rather a different country with landscapes unfamiliar to her. Severa noted that the room was high up. Wisps of clouds were everywhere, floating into the sky like ribbons; the sky was shining with an exuberant brightness that could never be imaginable in Nohr.

Her pulse frantically quickened as panic set its way into her mind. Had she been rescued by allies, or captured by foe? She cursed under her breath as she willed her body to remain calm.

"Calm down, Severa," she muttered. "The enemy wouldn't possibly be kind enough to place you in a such nice surroundings."

Gripping the candle holder, she stormed out of the room and braced herself for what she might find.