But something stopped her. Fast and strong a sudden hold flashed out and fastened over her wrist. It was not tender or gentle, but rather brutal. Before she could even glance down it tightened and dragged her roughly back.

A gasp came to her beak, and there were other shocked, muffled ones surrounding, as it yanked, forcing her twist around and shoved her into the spare chair.

She fell back, eyes now full of fear. The hand let go, but she had now been told where she was, and what her position should be. Breathing accelerated she stared down at her lap, as Vitruvion leaned away from her, a snarl on his lip.

“You are not going anywhere,” he hissed. “Understand?”

The display of power was not something that the guards were stranger to - his temper, and the way he treated her when he was truly frustrated. Yet to Sable and Blaze, especially the latter who had called her ‘hypocritical’ not two hours before, this was different. This was a world that they believed she had left, with benefits like money and position instead her kin.

“Stare?!” he sharply whispered.

Once, she nodded, shifting herself to more comfortably sit. She sucked in her breath, then swallowed, the knowledge that he was back as plain as day now obvious before her. Slowly she closed her eyes, shutting out the sight of Blaze and Sable staring at her, breathing in and out slowly to quell her shaking heart. He was back. It was clear. Back in her life, back in her mind, and pissed off because someone sick and evil and twisted had stolen his sister and not even the pantheon of gods that were worshipped in this land could help. There was deathly silence, as only a stun could take effect now. The sounds of a cup being dropped, then wine being poured came. And the dim voices of Unqua and Aina filtered up from the stage as her world settled back into normality.

Opening her eyes again she looked to her left and saw the wine in her goblet was not all finished. Vitruvion was now leaning back in his chair, though his eyes still had the same haunted look in them, and he was watching the play. Sable somehow was absorbed again, her focus on the stage and Blaze was awkwardly sitting, jaw fixed and not looking anywhere in particular.

Stare leant over slowly, back towards her goblet. Out of the corner of his eye Vitruvion saw her and she paused for a moment, but he did nothing. Taking this as permission to continue she took up her goblet, filled it with more wine and sat back again, still slumped in misery but now with wine.