"Greetings, Senators." I say as they disembark from their state coach. I hide my distaste for the fact many have brought their own food and drink as if they were going out on a hunting trip. Senator Caetusi makes the short journey up to me as he normally does and he hands me over the results of the investigation so far.
"My Lady Bosphama..." Oorika utters under her breath as I read the contents of Caetusi's document. I frown and heed his warning well, the bastard is quite eager to see this go his way. More names than last time, nearly everyone here has been swayed to the promise of the bounty his clan can provide. I hand the document over to Oorika and she nods quietly before walking off with it.
"Senator Caetu-" I start to say before another senator steps up.
"With all due respect, The Lady Bosphama, your insistence on taking the arm of Senator Caetusi all this time give us reason to suspect his faults." the senator interrupts, having no sense of irony or self-reflection.
"In case you have forgotten, Senator Riolarega, I am the one heading this investigation. I am the one who reserves the right to take the arm of The Lady Bosphama." Senator Caetusi thankfully speaks up as he finishes taking my arm around his. Quickly turning around, I use the freedom to express my disdain and worries. Einervaene is on her way, I need to try and stay here for as long as possible so I can hold my darling girl once again. My sweet, precious daughter.
I cannot afford to let that Burspharosan bastard get his way, not whilst her fate is uncertain. But, at the same time, I can't help but worry, what's taking her so long? I was told of her return to the continent some time ago yet I have had no reports of a direct observation. She's had more than enough time to make it home or get close to it...
I don't want to even consider the idea that something I can only fear has happened. Yet, with every day that goes by, I cannot help considering such a vile world that drains me of what little life is left in me. My child, my dear, dear child, please, be safe. I want to hold you one more time at the very worst, even just to merely lay my eyes on you again if I do not even deserve that.
Looking up to the ceiling of my keep, my spirit goes beyond and it begs the heavens for their aid. Any of them, all of them even, the gods and goddesses, please, let my daughter come home. Senator Caetusi is working as hard as he can to delay my bad fortunes, but, they're inevitable. I can only withhold so much of my documented backlog for so long and my time to do so was already so short.
"The Lady-"
"Eratheen is fine, just keep it under your breath." I tell Senator Caetusi whilst we still have the capacity to confide in each other.
"Even with my efforts and those of Senator Lepiaciai's faction, Senator Burspharosa is poised to get what he wants soon. I can try to delay him for another turnaround, but, I worry that what occurs after we depart will be the last time we speak in person."
"I'm only going to end up at the Imperial Palace, it's not that bad." I force out with a giggle that leaves me feeling hollow. On the surface, when you consider the wealth and quality of what you will find within its gilded walls, it doesn't seem that bad. The isolation, however, is what has me trembling, stepping forward with shaking legs. My resources and people will not follow me into the royal halls and my efforts will become uncoordinated.
Oorika and Joastelan can be trusted to take after me should the worst come to be true. They can only do so much, though, even separated from my daughter for so long, so many things remain clear to me. Her calls for help and where she might hide, the people she can seek help from, it all remains mostly clear. As we turn a corner, I take the moment to caress my face and sigh deeply.
"Have your staff been able to falsify or set up anything that can put you in a better light? The consensus so far is you are reckless in your administration. Self-destructive to the greatness of the land. They're trying to push that this isn't something recent..." Senator Caetusi asks and I nod with what energy I can.
"We've been over what remains, but, my concern is that we are hoping too much for dereliction and exhaustion of the mind." I say, thinking back to all the little bits of advice I was hearing from my staff. Maybe if we hid some of it, left it out of order or put the actual damning stuff at the very bottom of the drawers and piles...
"It may be wise to take what time we have, then, to set up a contingency, rather than hopes to delay the will of Senator Burspharosa."
"Tsk, Bastard." I swear at the mention of that horrible man.
"The idea of disrespect only halts people so much. Fun as it has been to watch some of the investigation try and power through it. All of those who we know are in Senator Burspharosa's grasp are wising up to the quality of your personal chef." Senator Caetusi explains as a member of my household staff slides open the door to the chamber set aside for the senators. I am guided around to my seat and let go of the Senator's arm before sitting down.
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The rest of the investigation move in and take up their seats with one who is clearly in the Bastard's employ taking up a seat close by. I silently motion for my Castellan and he sets himself up on my left to block off the unwanted set of eyes. If I cannot speak then I will write and gods and goddesses help that man if he wants to peak over my shoulder like a nosy brat. The door to the chamber finally slides shut once my guards have filed in and unevenly set themselves up.
Everyone who I know is not an ally of mine of any sort has a length of freshly sharpened steel behind them. Members of my household staff step forward and start to distribute what they can. Their orders to otherwise draw the process out with whatever contrivances they can come up with. Any attempts by the senators to combat this with complaints and raised tones are dealt with by my guards acting on behalf of my staff.
"Is all in order, Senator Caetusi?" I ask, establishing that it is now time to get to work with what they have.
"I believe so, The Lady Bosphama. The rest of you, let us get to it." he tells the rest of the investigation as I get busy writing down what first comes to mind regarding any future plans. The most obvious thing I can do if I am removed from the comfort of my home is make it clear where I am going. Thankfully, the law dictates that I am to be kept fully informed as to what is happening and where I might be heading. If plans change, either my Castellan or Housekeeper can pass on this information.
Einervaene... The only reason she would be coming home would be if she has something that can resolve this. It was a tearful affair all that time ago, when she left in as much secrecy as we could all give her. But, when that ship left the docks, she was fully aware of the stakes and why she had to leave. This question of my blood's purity and the exaggerated assumptions about the one I have married, at worst, I will be executed.
If the worst does come, my daughter will have no inheritance to fall upon so that she may go on to live her life. Not one piece of wealth will be to our name, something which will serve as nothing but a curse in her life. The common folk might not care unless there is some authority dictating otherwise, but the nobles will. If she ever does manage to rise from the pits she unjustly ends up in, they will push her back down into them.
I cannot think of much that I can do, admittedly, my efforts to gather funds to do what I can to help her are being interrupted by these senators. If I do any more then I am giving them all they need to put me away into royal custody. Yet, I am also in a very privileged position right now. The Senate is growing to believe that I am unfit to rule my lands which I have otherwise been fine in doing ever since I returned home to take up the position.
With their choice obvious, I can be quite reckless and simply live up to what I know is already going to happen. I can go and finalise the deals and transactions I have been forced to sit on because of these politicians. If I move with as much haste as I can, otherwise bound by decorum and my clothes, I can get the last of my available resources mobilised. Shipments of goods to come here, troops and mercenaries to clean up the land with greater diligence than usual.
For whatever reason it has taken Einervaene so long to get here, I can comfortably rely upon the other individual of note in the land's concurrent, great rumours. Brewbrt, he has come with her, powerful and as capable as ever! I guess that means I should also make sure all my staff are fully aware that Einervaene is likely with a foreigner... But, how much has he changed physically, I do not know.
Wind magic has its telltale signs like the power of lightning so blatantly does even to the most accustomed up on these flying isles. I rise to my feet with an uncertain jaw, seemingly upsetting some of the senators as I move to leave the chamber. The member of staff by the door bows respectfully and the door starts to slide. A chair squeaks horribly against my floors.
"And where do you think you are going!?" a senator demands to know before the guard behind him steps close. Their weapon's edge not near, though their hand is certainly loud in reminding them all of how easy it is to grip handles.
"That is The Lady Bosphama to you!" the guard snaps as my Castellan rises to his feet. His heavy, ornate armour rattles and bangs as he otherwise walks up quietly.
"Back to your post," Joastelan orders quietly before he looks upon the hair-raised toga-wearer, "It is My Lady Bosphama's right to walk where she pleases within her home. Lest you forget, I suggest you mind the banners on man and stone."
I bring my servant along with me once she is done with the door, "I will be heading to my office to sort some things out. Please go and find Oorika and bring her to me, time is of the essence and we cannot afford to waste any of it not preparing for Einervaene's return."
"The Lady-Heir has been found!?" the servant girl questions as she nearly trips.
"To my despair, no, it is only a matter of hope and certainty at the moment. Now please, go." I explain and remind as I forgo the usual habits of nobility and enter my office without assistance. Scrambling for all that I need, I dump it on my desk and scrape what I can out of the way. Slowing down, I stop and look over what I have, turning to the direction of my secret vault. Heading in its direction, I instead pull out the disturbing gift that my daughter gave to me somewhere after half but not a full decade ago.
A famous Jhermonikra school, Suhurlodst as the container states so clearly before the wind people's lengthy naming blurs my mind...
"While I hope my daughter has not undergone any great changes since I was last able to see her... I will need to make sure that this gift from Hycidna Aaedrii is put to good use. I do not like what I see my precious daughter go through in it... But, it is our best source of what she is most likely to look like now." I ramble to myself before my office door is opened with a display of magic that makes it clear who it is.
"My Lady Bosphama, you sent for me?" Oorika asks as she steps in and stands to attention.
"R-Right..." I go as I try and collect my thoughts amongst everything I have half-done so far since entering the office myself.
"Sit down first, My Lady Bosphama." Oorika encourages as she steps around and pulls out my chair. I do as asked and with a trembling hand, I put the magic recording down onto my desk before looking up to her.
"When the senators go to the guest house for tonight, I need you to gather all those you can. The men most likely to be posted on external sentry duty most of all." I say as my eyes keep going towards the Jhermonikra engineering.
"Of course, My Lady Bosphama. Anything else?" she nods in response as the rest comes to mind.