Back within the walls of Hemlock Mansion, the standoff continued.
"Queen Catalina, could you please explain to me how things came to be?" Athena asked politely.
Those who knew her well would have sensed the anger carefully concealed within her words. Strangers would simply think she was as calm as the morning breeze.
"Casindra and I came to look for you. Imagine our surprise when we couldn't find you and your personal maid refused to give up any information! We thought you had been kidnapped! Or worse!"
Athena listened carefully to the story the Queen was crafting. Of all the days, they both came looking for her when she wasn't around? It was an unlikely story. There had to be more of it. But getting them to admit it would be near impossible.
She had to go with a different approach.
"Judging from the clothes you're wearing, it does look like sister Athena got into some trouble," Casindra noted as she looked Athena up and down.
