Ara hid behind Emyr's wings. When he bowed low to give respect to the queen, two things arrested her attention.
One, the queen was a midget.
Two, the stone on her scepter looked like the... gem?
Ara stared at the large stone. It was bloody red... heart-shaped... It was the 'gem,' indeed!
She was hypnotized by the many facets of the precious stone.
"Woman, come out!"
Ara was startled. "Is she talking to me?" she whispered to Emyr.
"Yes," he replied reluctantly. "You can run or you can face her. It gives the same result--you'll be their captive!"
"No, I am not!" Ara could not understand where she got the courage. One thing was sure--she was taller than the queen and her cohorts. They wore sacks with holes on their heads.
Ara came into sight slowly. Her eyes not shifting from the sce
