"The loudest person in the room is rarely the most dangerous. Watch for the quiet ones. They're the ones who've already figured out where the exits are."
***
A few nervous laughs broke out across the room. They died fast when Fen's head snapped toward the sound. Her ears went flat against her skull. That tail of hers whipped back and forth like an angry metronome.
"What did you all expect? A warm welcome? Inspiring speeches about house unity? 'We're all in this together' garbage?" She swept her arm across the room, taking in every cracked wall and stained carpet. "Look around. This is where they dump the broken toys. The embarrassments. The ones they can't throw away but don't want near anyone important."
She's not wrong. But there's more fury than despair in that voice. She's angry, not beaten. That's the difference between someone who gives up and someone who fights back.
Interesting.
