A Game of Stones

The Very Small Council sat around the table, all eyes fixed upon the small clay bowl in the centre. Queen Percei was the first to reach into her attire and pull out a small, dark, semi-spherical object.

There were intakes of breath.

"A dragonglass pebble," whispered the Master of Whispers.

"Pardon?" said Bigtoe, who was sitting right next to him.

"A dragonglass pebble," repeated the Master of Whispers (also known as Harys).

"I'm sorry, you're gonna have to speak up," said Bigtoe.

"A dragonglass p-!" Harys started to shout... but was rudely interrupted by Queen Percei flicking the shiny black stone, which struck Harys squarely on the head and made him dead.

"In the Game of Stones," said Queen Percei, as she smiled with only half her mouth, "you either win or you die."