“You don’t make any sense,” the girl frowns. 

Nerissa sighs.

“How long will it take you to fix your sword?”

The girl shrugs. “Use wire this time. It’ll clean better. Maybe an hour?”

“Good,” Princess Nerissa pats her sister on one slender shoulder. The girl flinches under the touch. “You weren’t seen?” The princess doesn’t seem to notice her sister’s reaction. 

“I was,” the girl replies. “Seen by loads of people.”

It’s the princess’s turn to flinch.

“Of course, they all died,” the girl finishes, and Nerissa relaxes. 

“Good,” the princess says again. Another pat on a flinching shoulder. “Good.” There are two chairs in the girl’s cave: one wooden and chipped and uneven, the other upholstered and plush. Nerissa sits in the softer chair and regards her sister for a long moment. “It’s been difficult in court,” Nerissa says. “My advisors say something is coming.” 

“I’ll kill it for you,” the girl shrugs, nimble fingers winding copper wire about the sword’s contoured hilt. 

“Something big,” Nerissa replies. “Too big for you. An elder horror from beyond the world. These doomsday cults keep cropping up everywhere.” 

“Oh,” the girl replies, because the pause indicates that she should say something and she has no idea what else would fit. 

“It’s complicated,” the princess elaborates, “because I can’t send the guard unless they are proven to have broken the law, and too often that proof is within their secret sanctuaries and chapels. Exactly the sort of place that we would raid- if only we had proof.” 

“And not worshipping Ard,” the girl replies. “That’s not enough? No inquisition?”

“We worked too hard to limit the church’s power to be giving it back to them now,” Nerissa replies primly. 

Yes, play! Pull their faith like cotton, scatter the flock like snow. How long have we for play?

“Ok,” the girl grins. “How long?” She asks for the voice because she knows her sister doesn’t hear it. 

“How long?” Nerissa repeats with a frown on her pale brows. “Ah. As quickly as possible. Tonight, if that is feasible.” 

“Tonight,” the girl says. 

One night? Long enough. How many could there be? Dozens? How many to mourn them? Hundreds? Enough that children will weep at the story for centuries... Take them to pieces, cult and flesh!

“Ok,” the girl says brightly. Her fingers work faster, braiding the copper wire into a grip.  “One bloodbath, coming right up.” 

“No,” the princess says sternly. “Not a bloodbath. Just…” she swallows, grimaces. “Just what’s necessary.” 

“Right,” the girl grins impishly. “One necessary bloodbath.” 

The princess sighs.

“What spells did you use? Do you need any scrolls replaced?”

“One boom and one burning man,” the girl replies. 

“I don't…” Nerissa sighs. “Those aren’t spells.”

"Knock", and "Summon Elemental Creature", moronic child.

She repeats the names.