Another excerpt from Mirror Image

*Okay, this will probably confuse you as well. It's kind of short, but I thought it would make for another good cliff-hanger, so here's something I just added to Mirror Image :D*

“Come in, Kara. There’s no need to stand there as if you were on trial,” issued the Queen’s voice from behind a curtain. The lady whose presence was so demanding and regal walked out from behind the satin curtain, shocking Kara by just how short she was. The small woman stood there proudly, but kindly, her black hair that was streaked with silver wound upon her head in an intricate bun. She smiled sternly at Kara and said, “You may close the door.” Kara did as she was told and entered the room further.

It was impeccably styled, with four brown chairs arranged around one small, crimson chair. Silver curtains lined the wall opposite the door, hiding the windows and whatever else upon that wall and making the room dark. Another silver curtain hung to the right, hiding the Queen’s private chambers where she had been sitting before. A dark, warm rug was upon the floor and Kara had the urge to lie upon it, it appeared to be so soft and comfortable. A large fireplace, bereft of actual fire, was the center piece of the left side of the room, near to the five chairs, with large, brown chests lined with silver on either side of it.

Queen Cecilia smiled as she watched Kara examine her room and asked, “Does my room meet your approval?” Kara blushed and nodded in response. “Unfortunately, my dear young lady, I did not ask you here to inspect the condition of my living chambers. I have very important matters to discuss with you.” Kara nodded again. “Please, take a seat in one of those brown chairs,” the Queen instructed, gesturing to the grouping of chairs by the fireplace. Kara sat in the smallest of the four, and the Queen smiled. “That is Coran’s. It’s a good thing you chose his. He’s the only one who will not mind you sitting in his chair,” the Queen said, taking a seat in her own petite, red chair.

The two women sat silently a moment, staring at each other and saying nothing. The Queen’s gaze was stern and scrutinizing, without being harsh, whereas Kara’s was weak and embarrassed, afraid to hold her gaze.
The Queen finally broke the silence, bluntly saying, “You look much better now that Genevieve has cleaned you up and gotten you some proper clothes. Indeed, I would say that you look quite lovely. You have a very pretty face.” Kara blushed.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” she muttered.

“Oh, please. Don’t you dare ‘Your Majesty’ me. I will have none of that groveling in my land,” the Queen proclaimed. Kara could not resist a laugh at the Queen’s frankness and the Queen allowed herself a smile. “Again, I am allowing myself to be distracted. I apologize. What you are here for is to discuss the mirror that you arrived here in. For you see, my dear, I came here through that very same mirror.”