Tense Meeting
Gray massaged his temples with an exhilarated sigh, shifting uncomfortably in his seat while he waited. His muscles burned from training and the sudden turn of events during the Sun Ritual placed him on edge.
The plush red velvet cushion on which he sat could have been made of lava with all this mental and emotional discomfort.
After the Sun Ritual, the king called on a meeting, inviting only a handful of phoenixes to attend.
The prince's eyes wandered to the tapestries that decorated the platinum walls of the Royal Throne Room, grazing over the portraits of the royal family and failing to appreciate the luxury of the lavish chamber.
His eyes didn't even register the images they passed over. He'd seen them plenty of times before and seeing them now wasn't going to make any difference. He could have been staring at a blank wall.
The double doors of the Throne Room screeched open, admitting the last person to join them for the meeting.