Straw marched through the corridors, her boots hitting the floor with a rhythmic thud that matched the frantic beating of her heart. She didn't bother to fix her hair or smooth out her dress. She reached the door of the office and didn't hesitate. She knocked, her knuckles rapping hard against the wood. She waited, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
After a few long seconds, a muffled voice came from inside. Berryanna told her to come in. Straw pushed the door open and stepped inside before the invitation had even fully faded.
Berryanna was behind her desk, a mountain of parchment surrounding her. She didn't look up at first. Her pen moved across a page with a sharp, scratching sound, leaving a trail of black ink in its wake.
"I have not finished my breakfast, so let me make this quick," Straw said, her voice tight. She stood right in front of the desk, casting a shadow over the ledgers.
