Ella stared out over the city that lay below her, wishing for a breath of fresh air to blow away the doldrums of summer. Her father had court wizards at his beck and call, and surely he payed them more than enough for them to be able to conjure up a light breeze. She rolled over in her chaise onto her back, facing up towards the yellow and white striped awning that covered the balcony. At least up here, one of the highest points in the castle, she could stare out towards the eastern mountains in peace, willing them to send down a stream of fresh air from their snow capped peaks. Yet it was futile.
She picked up a small novella that she had tossed aside earlier, finding her place once again. It was a romance novel, gifted to her by her father. It was terrible. Full of knights in shining armor, and damsels in distress and love at first sight. After a few more minutes of attempting to power through it, she dropped it to the floor again.
Where was the passion? Where was the sensuality? Where was the *sex*?