Just then, the door opened with a faint echo, and Morgana strode back into the room. She was followed by three Orc women, their faces drained of colour, shoulders tight with fear, eyes darting between the floor and Mary as if waiting for some invisible axe to fall.
"Tell her the truth," Morgana commanded.
The three Orc women exchanged a desperate look before stepping forward, voices trembling as they began to explain their situation to Mary.
Mary listened in silence, her eyes sharp, humming now and then, the tilt of her head betraying nothing. When they finished, she asked, "So it's all just a coincidence?" Her gaze flickered as her eyes glowed dangerously.
Suddenly, the three women seemed to lose what little strength remained; the life faded from their eyes.
They nodded quickly, repeating the same explanation, again and again…
