#ftcrpstarter

Stumbling forward, arm curled protectively about his injured gut, Borislav escaped his apartment. Wrenching away from the manservant as much as it tore at his gash, he spat, “I wu-will find du-drink on my own, if you shu-shan’t bring it,” anger weakened heavily by desperation.

Dunya was sitting close to the fountains within the gardens, a book cradled between nimble fingers as she eyed the inked words with languid interest. Her wide emeralds cruised along the horizons of the greenery surrounding her, before she tucked the bookmark between the pages and stood up when her eyes caught a sort of movement she was not familiar with. The twilight was setting in as the night brought in a new flat of the ebony sky, ornate with stars that glowed softly in the summer breeze. “---Do tell my sister I won’t be attending dinner. I much rather enjoy reading under free skies.” She called out after who she assumed was a maid sent to call her inside.

"Yes, yes. They're all very lively, very lovely. My eldest most so. She has inherited everything from her mother --- very blessed indeed."

Though pain was his stalwart friend and exhaustion a close companion, Borislav succeeded in his demands to be propped up near the large set of windows of his rooms.

The hour was late, but Nikolai could not sleep. He was huddled in an alcove in one of the castle’s lesser travelled halls, in nothing but his nightclothes’ pants with a massive fur blanket draped over his shoulders. All was not well, and Nikolai was hunched over, his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. When he heard a noise, he startled, and out of fear, he jumped up and drew the dagger at his pocket, hissing at the source of the sound, “Who’s there?”

“I thought a walk about the gardens was warranted. If you would much rather be indoors, however, we can head back?”

Avoiding everyone's eyes, Tamara turned and walked away through the hall to the gardens.  It didn't take long for the tears and exhaustion to overwhelm her. She sat down, her back to the stone, and she closed her eyes, the tears falling now freely down her cheeks.