"She has already
been punished. Perhaps," she dropped her eyes and barely suppressed a
gloating smile, "might I but whisper in your ear--"
Dropping his eyes to grant a less than sincere approval, Emperor
Euphrates nodded as he said, "Come forward, then."
At this, Sorpiala -pridefully imagining herself as a strong contender
to become the new queen of the kingdom of Emperor Euphrates, and
Si'Wren as her first victim- readily tip-toed to the Emperor's side and
leaned forward upon the upraised balls of both tiny feet.
"Perhaps one called Si'Wren should suffer..." said Sorpiala
dramatically, and leaning forward, she began to whisper at long length
in his ear.
Sorpiala pronounced dire punishments, worse than anything she had ever
seen or heard of anywhere in her hundred years upon the earth.
"Ah!" said Emperor Euphrates, nodding like a master thief who has
joined hand-in-hand with a cunning new ally. "But this one has already
been punished with a vow of silence under pain of death, has she not?"
"It was not enough, Highness!" said Sorpiala, her exotic almond eyes
moving sideways as she pronounced her personal opinion upon the matter.
Emperor Euphrates nodded, and appeared exceeding thoughtful.
Sorpiala suppressed a look of triumph.
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