Descendants of the Sunstrider

"That little bastard is in there, right? I saw him go inside."

Belorell watched the commotion at the entrance of the round tower with an even expression. Several attendants were desperately trying to dissuade an obviously drunken woman. Unlike the others, she wore a red gauze dress and a bracelet adorned with phoenix designs. No matter how they tried to restrain her, she shook off the people behind her and marched up to Belorell. The Satherrils repeatedly apologized for her reckless intrusion.

"Who is this lady?" Belorell did not grow angry at her rudeness. She was clearly drunk, her eyes unfocused and her cheeks flushed red.

"Her name is Liandara, Your Highness." Satherril thought for a moment, then added, "Liandara Sunstrider."

"Sunstrider?" Belorell stared at the drunken woman in surprise, taking a long while to process it. "What a surprise. I thought that surname had become history."

Liandara showed no reaction at first. She drained the wine in her glass in one gulp. Suddenly, the glass smashed against the wall of the round tower, its shattering sound mingling with Liandara's furious growl. The Sunstrider woman pinned Belorell down with astonishing speed, as if the wine she had swallowed had ignited a blaze within her.

"Are you insane?" Baron Satherril shouted, his face pale. "Throw this madwoman out at once!"

The attendants were about to move, but Belorell stopped them. Liandara had not attacked him; her hands rested on his shoulders rather than around his neck. "Have your people leave first, Baron."

"But, Your Highness..."

"For the Sunwell's sake, please have them leave."

The words in Satherril's throat were swallowed back down. When the Baroness tugged at his arm, he hurriedly nodded. "Of course, Your Highness." He then quickly dragged the attendants out of the round tower, leaving behind no trace