Lucy sat in place waiting, till night descended. The naturally quiet Spring-crest pond fell into deeper silence, yet Lucy did nothing but wait.
The silence in the room was broken by sound of a woman's heel walking through Lucy's chambers till it was right behind her.
"Why do you look so glum? Sitting in the dark with no light." an elderly woman asked.
"I never assumed that the grand dowager empress of Khul would be a martial artist, moving through the night unseen." Lucy said.
"If you had not suspected I was one, you would not have left the path to your chambers unguarded, so that I could just walk in." a strong female voice said.
"You have lived an oddly long life, it would be more odd for one to not assume it was not because of your accomplishments in martial arts." Lucy said and tu
