Chapter 13
Mouhra’ Lah sat in the corner of her tower cell. It was richly appointed with silks and furs for her comfort. The cushioned flooring and the large pillows and draped windows all added to the appearance of opulence, but it still couldn’t hide what it really was. A prison!
She stood and paced around the small room. It was only large enough for her to take several steps one way, and then she turned back and strode the other way in her impatient agitation.
This room was never meant to be used this way! She thought as she paced. Mother had it built to house important visitors, giving them a grand view of the city! Now it’s a grand view of my failure.
When she’d first been brought here she noticed the changes that had been made. The door latch had been removed from the inside, and the door had been replaced by one of much sturdier build. The broad windows had been covered over with bars so no one could slip through, no matter how small. The glass over the windows had been thickened. Everything in the room that could break it had been removed. Even if she could find something to write a message on, she couldn’t break the glass to drop it to anyone below.
She truly was a prisoner -- a prisoner in a grand suite, but a prisoner just the same.
It had been two days, and in that time she’d been well treated. Regular meals had been brought, enough drink, and they’d even given her reading materials when she’d asked. There seemed to be a limit, however. They had denied her request for writing material, and nothing heavier than reading scrolls were allowed.
Her requests had simply been a test, to see what she would be given, hoping to find something she could smash the window with, and get a message out to someone. It hadn’t worked.
The most grating thing is that there hadn’t been any word. Any contact from Tranthra’ Joh as to what he was scheming. Pacing back and forth had given her all the time in the world to come up with many plans as to what Tranthra’ Joh could do to her City. None of it was good.
Then there was a jangling of keys in the lock of the door. She stood waiting until it swung open and a guard stepped in.
"You will come with me."