She shook uncontrollably, eyes squeezed shut. "I'm... fine!" she panted, a hint of fire still in her voice as she attempted to push herself upright. It failed, and she landed on the floorboards again.<br/><br/>Just exiting the mansion, Valdemar smiled, truly smiled at the ruckus he heard from upstairs. Tehvar needed to learn his place among all the other halfbreeds, and with his little snake gone, he would have no chance, and the fortune and power would be all for the taking.