The young princess took a second step too close and Sindra felt Genna's shoulder brush against her hip. The serpent rose, from where it was coiled sleeping, up through Sindra's heart, through her throat, slowly and inexorably like the rising of the sun.
The veil fell down and the serpent placed a hand on Genna's shoulder, looking down at the little girl.
"Child of the weirwood, take care the oaths you make to gods."