CHRIS - prologue
Chris Lightfellow was still in her office at half past ten, muttering to herself as she went through some paperwork. "Rations are a bit.... hmm.... just a little more to meet the quota...."
"Working late?" a friendly voice joked; joked, because Chris always worked late.
"Louis, what are you still doing here?" the lady councilor asked in surprise, blinking at her secretary with tired eyes.
"Oh, this and that," Louis said vaguely, stashing some documents in a shelf. "I haven't seen you look this exhausted since the old days when you were Captain of the Army," he commented with concern. "Maybe you should call it a day."
Chris was unable to stifle a yawn, raising one pale hand to her mouth and letting her other arm stretch high. "It's too late to be day anymore. Besides, I'm almost finished."
"Almost finished can mean another two hours to you," the young man said, shaking his head with a sigh. "You always were the most dedicated woman in Vinay."
"Thank you, Louis, but I know how hard you work, too."
"Only because I'm afraid of making you look bad," Louis grinned. "I think I will head out now, though. Shall I lock up?"
"No, really--I'll be done in..." Chris glanced at the clock, "half an hour."
Louis sighed again. "Whatever you say, madam. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Louis," she returned, and then she was alone. She delved immediately back into her work.
After the war as one of the new Flame Champion's Firebringer five years ago, former Lady Chris of the Six Great Zexen Knights had become Head Councilor Chris Lightfellow. She'd come home a true hero, and immediately cracked down on the corrupt government by quite literally tossing out everyone who had been in power. She'd hired her own staff and chosen colleagues based on their intelligence and compassion, not for their bribery resources or cunning. It had been a difficult five years, but now the economy had improved, there was peace in the land, and the people had a government they could trust. Everything was secure; everyone felt safe.
Chris started at the sound of a door slamming--was it slamming closed, or slamming open?--down the hall. "Louis?" she asked nervously. There was no answer. "Louis, is that you?" she called out more loudly.
Suddenly the door to her office flew open.
Chris jumped to her feet, her palms flat on her desk as she leaned forward. "You--!" she cried. It was the last sound she made before everything went black.
