The crowd of snake beastfolk dispersed with disappointing speed, slithering away into the dark, damp corners of the palace corridors. It was likely because no one wanted to be volunteered for cleaning duty alongside the former harem, who were currently scrubbing the stone table with the fervor of people trying to erase a crime scene—which, to be fair, they were.
Ren turned to Syris, placing her hands firmly on her hips. The red puffer coat she wore over the trailing robe made a distinct swish-swish sound, adding a strange auditory punctuation to her movements. The adrenaline of saving the "Garnish Girls" from Viper's obsidian blade was beginning to fade, replaced by a cold, gnawing anxiety that settled in the pit of her stomach.
"Okay, Syris," she said, wiping a spot of grime from her cheek and fixing him with a stern look. "Crisis One is averted. Now for Crisis Two. Where is he? Where is Kael?"
