“What is the meaning of this?” The Queen’s raven wings fluttered in agitation, her icy tone freezing a small brown-clad figure to the spot.

“My queen, we have monitored him for months on end, and saw no change in activities, no evidence of him leaving the castle.” The speaker in question knelt at the feet of the Queen, her voice trembled as she spoke.

“You have failed me.” The Queen turns away from the spy, gesturing to a nearby guard. The speaker hears his footsteps and interjects quickly, her voice becoming shrill.

“My Queen! Forgive me, please, we monitored him every day, I don’t… there could never be!” She cries, reaching out towards the Queen, who has resumed her seat in her huge, twisted metal throne. The Queen casts a glare in the wailing spy’s direction.

“You interrupted, you foul creature. You and your partner will be executed at dawn. Send a notice that anyone failing me from now on will be publicly executed.” She nods at the guard hovering behind the spy, and the huge faerie picks her up and carries her to the dungeon. The Queen watches them go, and glances at a drapery clad wall. “The Halfling must die.”