"Fairy Qiyra, how is your health now?"
A gentle voice echoed from behind.
Fairy Qiyra Darkstar stood before the window, her gaze on the distant mountains outside the palace.
She did not turn to look at the annoying man behind her.
She remained before the tall window as if the palace itself were only a temporary cage and the snow-covered peaks beyond it were the true measure of distance. Her slender figure was outlined against the pale light, the night-sky weave of her purple robe falling in long, unhurried folds that caught starlight and turned it into slow-moving constellations across the silk.
The high collar framed her pale throat and a veil hid her pale face.
