Publisher's Synopsis
Sany brushed the top of an out of season flower, and it changed color, a splash of power from her fingertips, to swirl down the petals until the yellow color she'd chosen yesterday, now had veins of red and orange. And then she changed the texture of it, instead of soft and silky, she gave it tiny, deadly, thorns. She inhaled the unusual, gentle scent of the garden, a combination of soft perfume, a misting of water, and the same thing she could smell after a lightning storm. This time she'd been more careful, only destroying a small portion of the land outside the fortress...while cool water cascaded unnaturally from fountains, handfuls of them in different shapes, sizes, and designs, lining stone walkways. She allowed the discomfort of the last year to fall away. The pain, the irritation, the betrayal...those who were weak couldn't be allowed to live. There was snow, and cold, outside the fortress, but not within. Inside was controlled, the fortress itself a magical construct that regulated the weather perfectly...it was quiet, calm and peaceful. Inside she was safe, though really, none could stand against her now. Would anyone try? There were no more battles, the war was over, and she was victorious...just not the way she'd intended. Yet it would work, because it was better this way. It was no longer a part of her, and she didn't need to concern herself with anything anymore. And she wouldn't. All was well now, in fact, all was great. No more pretending to be something she wasn't, no more tension, no more wondering who was going to turn on her, try to kill her, she could do anything she wanted, without worrying over the consequences. Such a wonderful, simple thing. It was a freedom she wished she'd taken sooner. Yet somehow, for whatever reason, something was still wrong.
