She allowed herself a thin smile

She allowed herself a thin smile is a writing prompt taken from Winter of the White Horde. The book is the standalone sequel to my middle grade (read that as aged 9 to 90 in terms of the small but enthusiastic fan base) Guardians of the Forest series. The section the prompt comes from is shown below.

 

This night was a new beginning, a rebirth. For twenty years she had nurtured the ashes of her magic, burned by that self-righteous king and his brat of a son.

Melda ground her teeth...