Sorry about any spelling mistakes 
Chief Mage Venryll strode along the crowded halls. A sneer came to his face naturally as he stared at the tired faces. He kept his robes well away from them. Who knew what they carried. Nothing he wanted, at any rate.
But there was an irritating voice at the back of his head that said otherwise. It wasn’t their fault. Their homes have been burned down. Their loved ones are dead.
He tuned it out angrily. He looked meanly at one boy who stared too long and a feral grin appeared when he shrank back terrified. But despite the pleasure he felt seeing the boy back away, it slid away rather quickly once the boy was out of sight. It was so much harder to do what he had been doing almost the entirety of his life. His aura demanded hatred, but when it was as slim as his forefinger, how could he continue?
He flexed the finger when a haggard man got too close. A flash of fire was enough to convince him to return to the hole he came from.
He reached the end of the corridor and a smile curled viciously when he saw the man walking towards him.
Jacelyn Shorpe had become frail since his daughter’s near death experience. He had spent much of yesterday and today by his daughter’s side and it showed.
A small stubble was covered his face and he stroked the greasy long hair that sorely missed its band. His clothes were in tatters after his fall in the courtyard. He looked as though he had been the one who had nearly died. Privately the Chief wished he had.
Venryll clapped his hands together as though in delight.
“Lord Shorpe, what a surprise!”
The King’s advisor looked up beneath his matted hair and he gave a small squeak. Venryll’s grin widened. He’d never given the man much reason to like.
“Uh y-yes Chief Mage.” His voice was high and akin to a boy of seven. Venryll remembered the man in the courtyard calling his daughter a whore. If Shorpe was like that all the time then perhaps the mage would target him a little less. A little. Shorpe was so much fun.
“I have been visiting my daughter. Tragic, what happened to her.”
Venryll nodded sagely. “Yes, tragic. Who would think to take advantage of women that way?” His dancing eyebrows told the whole story.
His effort was wasted. Lord Shorpe wouldn’t notice subtlety if it flicked his nose and punched him in the face.
“Oh yes.” He looked to grow a bit of pomp when he saw no taunts coming from the mage. “Unchivalrous I would say. I don’t know what the world is coming to these days.”
Venryll nodded sympathetically. “It is indeed troubled times we live in. I hope your daughter recovers.”She better. I could feel her power. Using her will be so easy.
“Yes, I’m glad. The medic said it was exhaustion. Horrible thing to go through that.” His voice grew tight. “But it’s not magical exhaustion, thank the High Lord.” Shorpe chuckled nervously.
Venryll struggled to keep his face from splitting in laughter. The fool didn’t even know!
Shorpe’s face brightened, and he shook his head hurriedly. “But that reminds me. I have urgent duties with the King.”
He plucked a hair band from somewhere and pulled his hair back. He managed to look somewhat presentable. “You must excuse me.”
Venryll nodded solemnly. He let the useless lump walk a dozen steps before he turned around.
“You know what Lord Shorpe?”
He waited for the man to face him before continuing.
“I think it is truly tragic what happened to your daughter.” The man frowned, and he was trying to work out if Venryll was making a jape of him. “I think it’s so tragic, my lord, that I just might have to visit her.” He let out a laugh that wasn’t entirely false. “After all, you know what the rumours say.”
He barked another laugh as he resumed his walk along the corridor.
Chief Mage Venryll strode along the crowded halls. A sneer came to his face naturally as he stared at the tired faces. He kept his robes well away from them. Who knew what they carried. Nothing he wanted, at any rate.
But there was an irritating voice at the back of his head that said otherwise. It wasn’t their fault. Their homes have been burned down. Their loved ones are dead.
He tuned it out angrily. He looked meanly at one boy who stared too long and a feral grin appeared when he shrank back terrified. But despite the pleasure he felt seeing the boy back away, it slid away rather quickly once the boy was out of sight. It was so much harder to do what he had been doing almost the entirety of his life. His aura demanded hatred, but when it was as slim as his forefinger, how could he continue?
He flexed the finger when a haggard man got too close. A flash of fire was enough to convince him to return to the hole he came from.
He reached the end of the corridor and a smile curled viciously when he saw the man walking towards him.
Jacelyn Shorpe had become frail since his daughter’s near death experience. He had spent much of yesterday and today by his daughter’s side and it showed.
A small stubble was covered his face and he stroked the greasy long hair that sorely missed its band. His clothes were in tatters after his fall in the courtyard. He looked as though he had been the one who had nearly died. Privately the Chief wished he had.
Venryll clapped his hands together as though in delight.
“Lord Shorpe, what a surprise!”
The King’s advisor looked up beneath his matted hair and he gave a small squeak. Venryll’s grin widened. He’d never given the man much reason to like.
“Uh y-yes Chief Mage.” His voice was high and akin to a boy of seven. Venryll remembered the man in the courtyard calling his daughter a whore. If Shorpe was like that all the time then perhaps the mage would target him a little less. A little. Shorpe was so much fun.
“I have been visiting my daughter. Tragic, what happened to her.”
Venryll nodded sagely. “Yes, tragic. Who would think to take advantage of women that way?” His dancing eyebrows told the whole story.
His effort was wasted. Lord Shorpe wouldn’t notice subtlety if it flicked his nose and punched him in the face.
“Oh yes.” He looked to grow a bit of pomp when he saw no taunts coming from the mage. “Unchivalrous I would say. I don’t know what the world is coming to these days.”
Venryll nodded sympathetically. “It is indeed troubled times we live in. I hope your daughter recovers.”She better. I could feel her power. Using her will be so easy.
“Yes, I’m glad. The medic said it was exhaustion. Horrible thing to go through that.” His voice grew tight. “But it’s not magical exhaustion, thank the High Lord.” Shorpe chuckled nervously.
Venryll struggled to keep his face from splitting in laughter. The fool didn’t even know!
Shorpe’s face brightened, and he shook his head hurriedly. “But that reminds me. I have urgent duties with the King.”
He plucked a hair band from somewhere and pulled his hair back. He managed to look somewhat presentable. “You must excuse me.”
Venryll nodded solemnly. He let the useless lump walk a dozen steps before he turned around.
“You know what Lord Shorpe?”
He waited for the man to face him before continuing.
“I think it is truly tragic what happened to your daughter.” The man frowned, and he was trying to work out if Venryll was making a jape of him. “I think it’s so tragic, my lord, that I just might have to visit her.” He let out a laugh that wasn’t entirely false. “After all, you know what the rumours say.”
He barked another laugh as he resumed his walk along the corridor.