"Stupid crone," Abrial growled, an irritated scowl setting into her face. "I just want to punch her in the bloody red smile. Did she forget I saw her smoking? She'll be in big trouble if I bring it up in front of Bi Gho! Seriously, so annoying!"
She collapsed back into her chair, crossing her arms aggravatedly.
A young woman's pale face flashed through her mind, with flowing black hair tied loosely back, large, mischievous dark eyes, long lashes, and a smirking smile.
Shin Minyeo was pretty annoying, too, she thought grudgingly. But not like this. I never wanted to smash her face in.
Slowly, the deep frown in her brow smoothed away as she sat there, everything she had just learned flowing back through her mind like a stream of thoughts. It was strange to have learned so much about the history of the empire just after one conversation, when in eighteen years she'd only learned over and over again that magic was prohibited here.
