Lola watched as the last council member was escorted from the meeting chamber, his average frame trapped between the two hefty soldiers escorting him. He spared her one last sorrowful glance before the door was shut behind him.
"Worthless swine."
Lola heard her grandfather curse. She closed her eyes, her heart still bleeding over the death of Hakeem and the murder of her parents. Tears she had been fighting hard to hold back fell freely as she recounted all her losses.
Inhaling deeply, she tried to stifle the turmoil inside of her, until she felt the warm touch of her grandfather's palm. She instantly opened her eyes only to discover that everyone had stopped talking and were all staring at her.
"Are you all right, my child."
Lola tilted her head to the right to look at the king's sad but subtle smile.
"Not really." She shook her head, trying her best to stop more tears from flowing.
