A Broken Morning

The two queens disappeared into their adjacent rooms leaving an unsteady silence in the hall. Another morning had come to the Palace of the Mages. As it unfolded, a housekeeper entered the vacant hall. She stopped in front of the small table by the grandfather clock. It took only seconds for her to dust the table, exchange the wilted bouquet with fresh lilacs, and replace the vase's lace doily. As she moved to dust the oaken clock, the sun broke free of its’ earthly bonds and announced the break of day. “Beautiful,” she whispered and continued down the hall. As she rounded the corner, the tower-like clock started to chime. Morning had broken--an unwelcomed morning at that--for this one truly was broken.