Valley of Aram

Nithya frowned at the map before her on the table, squinting at the small pins on it. It had been a long, frustrating day at court, with courtiers swooning and crying as she delivered the news of the most recent disappearance to the Queen.
This had been going on for weeks now, with no sign of stopping. They had quickly ruled out the idea of a simple mundane serial killer, no this was magic, this was Vaasa. She sighs, slumping down into her chair once again.
Then she hears it. The tell tale slamming open of a door, things clattering, servants rushing, and above it all came a giddy, rolling, laughter that occasionally flowed into song.

Nithya grimaces at a large crash, straightening herself up. It simply wouldn't do for him to see her this way. Tired, and slightly disheveled, far away from the imposing figure she normally cut.
The tide of noise rose and grew closer, soon the knob on her study door was turning and in rolled her half brother and ward, Nirthus.

The air was sweet, the music lively, and his spirits high. A combination that he loved and lived for, So it was naturally the best possible time to drop in on his sister. It would likely infuriate her.

Nirthus made his way through the marble columns of her house, singing, acting a bit more drunk then he actually was and taking every opportunity to drunkenly "bump" over a few expensive ceramics.
He knew exactly where she would be.

Nirthus juggled the handle of the door a bit before throwing it open and literally tumbling into the room.
From his landing place on the floor he grinned up at her, so perfectly still in that chair of hers, like an imported marble statue. She was scowling at him.
"Ahaha! Good evening to you my esteemed professor Nithya!" He stood and gave a sweeping boy. This made her narrow her eyes.
"Good evening to you, Nirthus. Come to vomit on my curtains again have you?"
"I was a child" Nirthus pleaded, jutting his bottom lip into an insolent pout.
"You were a drunk child." She countered. He could almost hear her grinding her teeth.
"Details, details" he sank into the chair opposite of hers with an airy wave of his hand.
Through the curls that flopped over his eyes he could see her, ignoring him, pointedly, studying the map on the table. She would be so very lovely if she did something other than scowl. Her skin was lovely all bronze, dark hair, amber eyes and lips that would be lush, if she didn't keep them as taught as a clothes line. Maybe they would snap from the strain someday and go flying off her face. The image made him giggle.
"What?" She snapped.
"Ahoho nothing, just a stray thought" he smiled.
"You should discipline your mind more then" she said turning back to her map.
It took all his will not to speak the remark that had come to mind. Instead he straightened himself in the chair and looked over the map.

"Any leads on the attacks yet?" Nirthus peered at the small push pins on the map.

"Yes yes...and I've got just the thing to bait a trap with." Nirthus smirked at his sister, she was so adorable when she was showing him up in matters of intelligence.

"Ooh?" He leaned closer over her shoulder, she shuddered as he gripped her shoulder and leaned in. " what bait is that, dear sister?"

Slipping deftly out of his reach Nithya gave a a broad genuinely happy grin. She looked a different person as she motioned and smiled, walking towards a bookcase. Reaching out she pulled a book, causing the case to swing open.
"Come, I'll show you"
She purred as she began to descend tge stone steps into the darkness, humming a little tune.