Tara Donner climbed the ladder to the lopsided speaking platform. She had never been afraid to cry in public, but she felt more tender today than she had ever felt before. Yesterday, there had been hope that the love of her life, Dubois Adonis, might survive his injuries. He had only to live long enough for Anastasia to come to his aid. She had been occupied all night with the restraining and imprisonment of the villain Caesar Brutus. Dubois had passed just fifteen minutes before help could arrive. It was not from her subject and peers that Tara yearned to hide her tears, it was from the world. The child within her begged to fall into her brother’s arms and grieve what she had lost. That child died a little bit every time she told it ‘no’.

“Welcome friends…,” she addressed Dubois’ small funeral congregation. “Thank you for making time to pay your respects this afternoon.”

Dubois Adonis had tens of thousands of admirers, but there were only nine solemn figures in the room. Every one of them had important matters to attend to, and Tara was too effective a leader to take more than a few minutes of their time.

“I know I needn’t describe to you the way my husband lived his life. Or all of the wonders he achieved. There are statues for that.” The crowd chucked. “I’ll say only that if he could speak to you now, he would tell you to get on with your responsibilities. He would probably joke that he was lucky, and that he had lived far too long for a dunce in fancy armor.”

Tara removed from her regal armored robe a pocketbook with the emblem of genesis emblazoned upon it. It was her family’s belief that pocketbooks such as these stored the best wishes of passed souls. It was customary for each of the deceased’s loved ones to give their final blessing to the book itself. This way the dead man or woman might read the blessing in whichever afterlife they were destined for. Tara raised the book to her lips and spoke with love.

“I will do as you would have. I will love as you did. I will do well by our brothers, sisters, and all the children you wanted so badly. I will remember you forever, and one day I will find you in the Vale of Celesnia. I love you. Goodbye.”

Tara descended from the speaking platform, and circled the assembly. She paused in front of each person, presenting them the booklet into which they recorded their final goodbyes. Once, the last man had spoken, she leafed through the book’s pages. Just minutes prior, it had been empty. It was now full of love and wishes, recorded in the impeccable penmanship of the Donner Djinn. The pressed the book once more to her lips and thanked the djinn. The placed the book at her feet then, where it burst into flames the color of dilly plums.

“Thank you all. Now to your stations.” Tara dismissed the assembly. “Manners, Candor, Loyalty.” Each man and woman repeated the words of house Donner before filing from the room.

Less than ten minutes from now, Tara would have to don her dashing smile and revel in the victory of mankind with her fellow lawmakers. She would brush shoulders with the most important rulers of an age. An age which, the lamented, was now past. Kings were no longer kings, for they had no kingdoms. The ArchSovereigns were all dead, and those who remained of their families had been forgotten. The barons of the Blacklands were barons no more, for their riches were gone. All that remained were one hundred thousand or so of the millions of people who had taken refuge in humanity’s most ancient city. All that mattered now was what those people thought. It was Tara’s responsibility, as it always had been, to make sure that society did not fall into misguided disarray. Tonight, that meant making as many friends as possible. A dispatch of armored men could be heard approaching the funeral chamber. Tara enjoyed her last few moments of peace.

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Orion entered his sister’s funeral space as respectfully as he could. He had brought with him the ten men and two women who were to be responsible for the security dispatch at the feast this coming night. Also in tow was Master of Whispers Malak Sier, and Daxo A’kamai of the Ope Loa pride. Tara did not bother to wipe the tears from her cheeks before welcoming them in.

Orion rushed to embrace her, and the men and women of Donner Guard formed a protective circle about their lady. It seemed to Daxo that they were protecting Tara from some melancholy spirit. He looked to Malak, for he did not know what it was proper to do in this situation. Malak did nothing, and so did he.

Tara went straightaway to Daxo, and introduced herself as though there was a possibility that he did not already know who she was. He introduced himself as well, Tara welcomed him to her cabinet. She would not disrespect him by asking him to join her guard, but she was glad to have a Kona warrior in her cabinet. Had she known Daxo in the days when she ruled an actual kingdom, the two of them could have achieved great feats of social progress.

“Darcy,” she called to the leader of her guard. Darcy stepped forward. “Show Daxo to our stores. All of them. He may take of them as he likes. And arrange for his dining cadre to sit immediately right of whichever table you choose for me.”

Daxo nodded his thanks, and followed Darcy from the room.

“Malak.” Tara continued.

“Lady Donner. How may I be of assistance.”

“Find Hex for me. Set a man on him, and find out which path he takes to slink back to his queen. Do not show your hand.”

“Yes, Milady.” Malak bowed and took his leave.

Tara beckoned to her brother, who remained crouched over the ashes of Dubois’ Book of Wishes.

“Walk with me,” she bid him. He did as he was told. “Aerin and his Xotica. You will ride for them.”

“Today?” Orion was skeptical.

“Yes. There mayor of Acorn has announced that he will not part with this grainstores if the Xotic are allowed to remain on his doorstep. They must all come to the feast tonight. Every last one.”

“No.”

“Use your words, little brother.”

“No, it won’t happen. I cannot make that happen.”

Tara let the silence speak for her exhaustion.

“I’ll figure it out.” Orion conceded. “What else can I do?”

“Do you really want the answer to that question?”

Orion looked regretful.

“Apologies. How can I help you in the next few minutes?”

“Meet Sir Orvald outside and keep him from disturbing me. He’ll ask for special rations for his daughters. He is sure to get them one way or another, but it will not be from us.”

“Check. I love you sister.”

Orion kissed Tara upon both cheeks, and took his leave at a jog. All of the guardsmen followed him save for Tara’s personal man Dean.

“Go on, Dean.” she bid him. He inspected his boots. Hesitation was not a behavior Dean had ever displayed before. He lept forward, all of the sudden, and pinned Tara in a powerful hug. He had loved Dubois, and he loved her too. Eventually, he let go and she forgave his breach in protocol. “Dubois loved you,” she called after him as he rushed to catch up to the rest.