02: Unexpected

Kalasin brushes her hair out; struggling with snarls and knots. Ozorne looks at her and sighs. She fusses over her appearance far too much for his liking, but…she is fifteen. Her mutters of frustration are a bit amusing, though, although he takes pity on her in the end.

"Let me," he tells her, reaching for the brush.

She gives him a doubtful look in the mirror, but releases the instrument of hair care. To her surprise, he combs her hair lightly and easily, removing it of all the knots in a matter of a few minutes, until it lies down her back, smooth, straight, shiny, and perfectly complacent. Ozorne moves his fingers around in a quick, intricate pattern, and suddenly her hair has braided itself and settled into a smooth coil at the nape of her neck.

Kalasin fingers the locks, amazed, because—really, he is an Emperor Mage. A war general. Ruthless, and a killer of anyone who dares to stand in his way. Who would ever think that he had a surprising penchant for styling hair?


Many thanks to Abiona Marchand, Lea, and music nerd for reviewing. You guys rock. -grin-