Two weeks later, Alambil was looking out of the balcony window in her rooms in one of the faery outposts, the same one Geren had been trasported to earlier. The battle had been succesful, and she had only obtained a gash on her left forearm that was now bandaged and healing well. Oddly enough, instead of using healing magic for herself, she prefered to use the natural healer of time, at least for minor injuries. She just felt it was more natural, though she allowed herself to be healed quicker if it truly hampered her in some way or was dangerous.
Oniba was there with her, giving her an update on Geren: he was doing fine, although (as Oniba said with a tinge of amusment) his ego had taken a bit of a blow. Mostly it would be his wing that needed the longest time to heal.
Alambil looked at the sphinx standing beside her. Oniba almost blended in perfectly with the room: they were pure white halls, with long white hangings blowing slightly in the wind. Alambil looked somewhat different int the flowing white dress that matched the room, rather than her battle gear. Ally had just turned to ask Oniba a question when Xiao skitted into the room, her paws slipping on the smooth floor she was moving so fast. Alambil turned toward her in surprise. Xiao's face was radiating anger, a rare emotion. There were very few times Xiao got truly furious.
"Ally! They're....they're...."
"They're what?"
"They chained her up!" she said in a horrified voice
"What? Chained who up?" said Alambil, totally baffled.
"The other sphinx! the one who was fighting Geren, they've been keeping her down in the holding cell this whole time, chained to the floor!!!"
Afer only a moment of stunned silence Alambil processed what Xiao had just told her. Saying nothing but her face white with anger, she ran out of the rooms into the hallway. She hard Oniba's angry growl behind her as she rushed down the stairs.
"She finally reached the holding cells underground. She almost couldn't believe someone had been kept locked down there for two weeks. They were meant to only keep offenders for a couple of hours or so as rooms were modifed to keep them from escaping. But these rooms were to always have a fair space for the occupant, as well as enough windows to let in light and air. No matter the crime, criminals were never treated with undue cruelty.
"What," she asked through her teeth "just what is a sphinx doing locked up down here??!!" she demanded of the guards.
The guards looked at each other. They had been uncomfortable with it, but they had assumed the orders had come from her, and told her as such.
Alambil stopped for a moment.
"Who was in charge here?" she said through gritted teeth.
"Hambor, your highness. Also the messanger she so greviously injured..."
"Hambor!!?? The centaur?" asked Oniba increduously. "A stump has more diplomacy than he does! What idiotic person would send him....?"
"Enough...take me to her!"
Nodding the guards led her down the hallway.
Well, that certainly explains why everythign deteriorated... thought Alambil grimly. Hambor was someone you called on to arrange court ceremonies and decorum, and to make offical announcements. Unfortunatly he had no respect for anything he deemed "uncivilized", regardless how dangerous it was to behave disrespectfully. He respected creatures if they were at court or at least a citizen of Galoriane's kingdom, though he prefered what might be called "city" beings. A wild sphinx, belonging to neither kingdom he would regard as nothing more than a savage.
They finally reached the cell. Her lips were tight as they unlocked the heavy door and held it open to allow her to walk in...
((Going back and reading the other entries would explain things clearer, Miaka, but here's a quick guide for the more important characters. I'll go more in-depth as Morgule meets them for the first time. (* indicates one of Alambil's guardians)
Alambil: Faery, Crown Princess
Sorcha: Fire Dragon, colored red. *
Xiao: the small sphinx with a perky personality*
Oniba: albino sphinx*
Geren: sphinx with darker coloring, his pride sometimes gets the better of him*
Tarro: faery, Alambil's cousin
Galoriane: Faery, Queen and Alambil's mother
Hakhar: sphinx, quiet, but loyal to Alambil. For now...*
Vivian: faery (mostly. Her entire lineage remains a mystery), also known as the Black Queen. Evil, had been engaged in a more or less constant war with Galoriane for as long as anyone can remember.
Jeniva: Vivian's daughter))
Sphinxfeather Community Member 
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