Athea's workspace held its usual cool stillness when the door read someone approaching and slid open without her permission.
There was only one person in the palace who arrived without notification and without bothering to send word ahead, and Athea did not look up from the letter she was reading.
"Calyra."
"Sister."
Calyra strolled in with her usual effortless, sweeping elegance. She did not wait for an invitation, drifting across the room to drape herself elegantly across the chaise near the window. On her way past the sideboard she paused, lifted the silver lid off a service tray that had been set out hours ago for visitors who had not come, considered the cold tea underneath it, and replaced the lid without comment.
"Athena summoned me a few days ago," Calyra said, settling back against the cushions. "She told me she's officially stepping down. I completely forgot to tell you, but I assume she's broken the news to you by now?"
