Nephelle, the young Queen of Mordan, gazed out of the open palace windows. She breathed in the crisp, pine-scented air, steeling herself for the day to come. Walking down the halls of her home, she paused before a mirror, examining herself one last time. She had carefully selected her finest attire for the meeting today.

     She wore a long, flowing gown, in blurred shades of white and pale gray, like a snowdrift. She had swept her long, ebony curls over one shoulder, pinning them to the side with an opal comb. As a finishing touch, she’d lined her eyes with thin streaks of kohl, her only touch of makeup. Her eyes were heterochromatic, and the darkness of the kohl highlighted the boldness of the sapphire in her upper left eye, while sharply contrasting with the paleness of her skin and the dominant smoky-gray shade of her eyes. After adorning herself with jewels and placing her silvery crown atop her head, she’d deemed her outfit complete and suitable for today’s activities.

     Nephelle’s wife had already left for the meeting, so she knew there was no use in waiting, yet she was still reluctant to leave. She hated meeting days. With one last sigh and glance out the windows at her snow-covered kingdom, she decided to leave. Nephelle used her magic, dissolving into the wind and speeding on her way. Continue reading “The Queen of Mordan by Ashley Williams” →