5 Chapter 5: Ambra Gathwé
"And in that judgment, their sentencing is immediate-" the monotone in his speech was cut short by Yusef.
"Your excellency- please allo-" Yusef's voice broke in a desperate attempt to plead, but his tongue was caught in his throat by the terrifying glower from the Count's eyes, it was as if - his soul was being stabbed.
"I did not permit you to interrupt my speech so casually." There was a hollowness in the way he spoke as if speaking to the dead.
"Many apologies, Count," Yusef was subjected to subservience, a pity of emotions on the face- fighting back tears for the children he considered his kin. But there was nothing in the world than the feeling of your blood curdling, and every atom in your skin wanting to run away from such a threatening presence.
"Shall I have your tongue skewered off and fed to Ruin or Brü?" The ruthlessness the Count possessed could not be missed, not from a mile, a sense of distaste for his- no their existence. As if they'd lives meant little to him.
Yusef's mouth fell agape unable to fathom how at a loss he was for words or the will to find hope - something in him felt as if it broke.
"Please... just this once can't you turn a blind eye? Please?" By then the tears no longer fought - they flowed down against his cheeks and he couldn't stop himself from trying to reach that man in the high castle staring down at him. He groveled at the feet of the Count only to be restrained by the Pleiades - carried out through the grand doors as he pleaded again and again. Ambra watched silently in the shadows in complete shock, that their peacemaker was unable to move a fly let alone a wolf in this brewing chaos.
Yusef could remember the haunting memory of his brother's corpse lying right in front of him from execution every time he thought of those two children, having to face that misery again triggered something in his psyche.
"Your business here has been concluded- in part of my leadership's mercy, you are all dismissed," Sevas announced planting herself before the townsfolk who dared not to include themselves any further. Ambra felt as if she needed to do something. Anything.
"I beseech you- our beloved Count." The words fell out her mouth like dead mice, she hated herself for subjecting her tone to that of service to a man who didn't even blink at the thought of killing children.
Sevas was on alert- proceeding to restrain the strange woman.
"Beloved? Hmm. How sentient. The only thing beloved to you townfolk- is your greed, your ill mannerism," instinctual Gaslas felt the pressure of the Count's aura almost obliterate him as he paused to glance at him,"and your inability to follow menial rules and regulations." He leaned forward, and finally, the hall was cleared save for Sevas the commanding head of the guardians of House Romani, and the Count with his amusement.
"Will you grant me your audience?" She inquired- glaring at Sevas who held her spearhead against her neck ready to execute until the Count had commanded her otherwise with a single movement of his fingers.
"Guard down, Sevas. How troublesome. Who must you be to be insistent on my participation in hearing your plea with the risk of your life?" He was bemused by this spectacle of a woman who stood fearless with the legendary spear of justice held by Sevas of the Pleiades, aimed ready to cut her throat yet remained unmoved.
Ambra rubbed away at her neck, re-wrapping the scarf on her head lightly before answering much softly,
"Ambra. Ambra Gathwé."
