Seven Sinful Crowns

Silvana

Silvana sat across from her sister at the table, warm teacup between her palms, and pretended to care about anything she was rambling on about. It was hard to understand her tirade when she had to work the words past the biscuits that formed and reformed within her mouth, and so Silvana simply nodded as crumbs fell down onto her sisters velvet gown, sprinkled like sugar dust. She had been here only twenty minutes now and couldn't wait to leave. Honestly, why could Gillian not come to her kingdom? Why did either of them have to go anywhere? It was a ridiculous formality, and Silvana hated to make unnecessary effort.

"Biscuit?" Gillian asked, holding the half eaten plate between them.

Silvana watched as Gillian popped her fingers from her lips, one by one, sucked clean of any lingering icing, and her stomach turned.

"No, thats quite all right. I had a late dinner."

She watched Gillian shrug, pulling the plate back across the table before plucking another pink iced biscuit from the tray and biting, crumbs falling to the place between her breasts as she ate. "Suit yourself. I assure you, they're safe. No poison, if thats what your worried about. We're allies, remember."

"Yes, I recall," Silvana said unenthusiastically. And just as she made to excuse herself, the door flew open, and in walked Helina.

"Oh good, I was hoping to catch you both at once." She said.

"Helina, what are you doing here?" Asked Gillan, the half eaten biscuit falling unceremoniously to the floor and rolling under the table. "I was not expecting you!"

"Oh, I am sure you were not. The table is only set for two, I see. Rude."

"Astrin, please set another," Gillian began before realizing Pria and Greisha took flank on either side of her, "set three more settings. We have more company than originally planned."

"Oh no, Astrin, don't bother. This will be quick," Helina said, but Silvana watched the young woman rush from the room, a welcomed escape, only to return with three more cups moments later.

"You see," Helina continued as her sisters took their places at the table, "I was enjoying the weather earlier, out for a fly, and I happened upon your castle. I couldn't help myself, the view was so nice from atop this magnificent tree, looking right into your study. Imagine my surprise, as I sat there, admiring my dear sister so dutiful to her people, when she happened upon a rather dull envelope holding a very intriguing correspondence."

Silvana's mouth ran dry, her heart rising to her throat as she sat. The minutes drew out as her mind raked itself, cursing their lack of guards, and wondering if their presence would have mattered either way. Helina was a beast with a blade. She wouldn't have bet her life one way or the other.

She watched her sisters from across the table, Gillian's face an ever-changing mosaic of fury and fear, Helina outraged, and Pria and Griesha grinning like cheshire cats, toying with their food.

"Honestly, Helina," Silvana began when it was clear Gillian was not about to speak, "wont you take a seat? All that pacing looks exhausting."

"I'm sorry, Silvana, did you say something? How unlike you, when there's another to do that."

"Yes well, we are all full of surprises tonight. Pray tell, dear sister, why exactly you pigeoned-up to spy on Gillian today. How unlike you to be meddling."

"Lucky I was, or we my be tongueless by now." She knew she shouldn't rile Helina up, rage was as much a part of her as her heart, and as a child Silvana had wondered if they were not in fact one in the same. Was Helina just wired this way? There never seemed to be an on switch, it was more a gliding scale, one level to another, but always lingering, and always terrifying. It wasn't that Silvana wasn't frightened now, so much that she knew if she said nothing, Helina would strike. It was a technique she had mastered over the years of dealing with her hot-headed sister, the bait and wait.