"Sail for the dark sky, he said. On lightning's tip, go forth." I recite as I focus my power through the shining, banui feather. Carving black letters onto the parchment, I sign off on yet another tapestry and I start to fold it. Placing the banui feather down, back into its special, ornate container, I hear foot steps. Bringing my head up on a straightened back, I turn my gaze only slightly.

The door behind me slides open and the guard grating is lifted on its chains. The footsteps enter the chamber and I start to fold up the tapestry. I gave very specific orders not to be disturbed unless it was important. Any matters that were of grave importance I would handle when I work, not now.

"Esteemed, Thunder-Chosen Lord Burspharosa... An important deliverance." the servant tells me loud and clearly as he assumes the formal posture. Putting the tapestry down, I mark my space in the process and place my hands on my legs. Rising to my feet, I put my arms behind my back and I turn to the still man. Reaching for the contents in his hands, I grasp it by the very edge.

"From the coast..." I comment as I see the port town's seal upon it. Picking it up fully, the servant drops down and prostrates himself before me. Worming away, he goes as far as my chamber's entrance and he waits. Flicking the seal off with a volt of golden power, the letter unrolls itself.

Gripping its bottom, I hold it up and read it. A brow raises as I skim over the name 'Boisenmarck' and they both furrow over another name. Einervaene Bosphama. Clapping my hands together like thunder, the castle trembles.

"What has been done with Lady Bosphama's daughter?" I ask as I clench the crumpled letter in my toga-bearing hand. Pointing my freest arm down at the servant, I await an answer of any sort.

"The word is, is that she was left alone to leave the port town." he explains, his words bouncing off the wooden floors and up to me.

"Hm, very well. I suppose I can forgive such transgressions." I comment as I step over the submissive man. Walking out into the halls, the song of dutiful steel rings out as the guards stand to attention with their honoured aspis. Naginata reflect the light along my path and my skin sparkles as I walk through the guarded path. Behind me, the guards relax their posture and snap back into their allowed casualness.

"Ah, Lord Burspharosa, I see you have received the news." Minister Yriaish remarks as he gently swings his bubbling glass of wine around.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"The news of a dead King of the Seas?" I ask just to make sure we were on the same page.

"Yes! Quite the interesting tale, no?" he asks as he offers me an empty glass. Shaking my head, I refuse the drink and any other edible compliments.

"I find myself more irked by the details, personally." I tell him as the letter is further crunched in my grip.

"Of course, Lord Burspharosa, it is your coastline that was affected."

"Watch that tone." I tell him calmly and he steps away with wide eyes.

"My apologies, Lord Burspharosa, I meant no disrespect."

"But, no, that is not what bothers me." I start to explain to the minister, chucking the letter at him. He catches it with ease and a servant takes his drink.

"The Lady-Heir has finally returned?" he notes sternly.

"Yes, our report from the colonies proves true. My plan for her arrest, however, went on by without even coming into the slightest chance of implementation!" I nearly hiss as the sky cracks beyond the glass dome ceiling. He swaps the message back for his drink and it returns to me.

"With what I just read in mind, can this really be held against them?" he asks and I sigh quietly with a nod.

"No, I cannot hold it against the officers or their men. However, I am now of the need to hurry along with my plans." I explain to him as he lingers the edge of his glass near his lips. Taking a ponderous sip from his drink, he smacks his lips as he takes it away.

"You will need to speak before the Senate, then. A Trial of Blood Purity for someone like The Lady Bosphama cannot just be hastened. The fact even after the Lady-Heir's sudden vanishing she remains unjudged is proof enough of that." he explains needlessly. I already know this! But, I am more frustrated by how he speaks honestly. Securing the future of my clan has been and remains a tedious affair...

"I will need to present a motion that makes it a priority. Speeding the process up by weeks at a minimum. Nothing less than that." I say as I snatch up a piece of gold-brushed bread to vent my immediate stress onto something. Biting down strongly, I swallow it after one bite.

Minister Yriaish leans his glass towards me, "The Lady-Heir's return must be kept quiet."

"No." I answer as I turn to leave.

"Lord Burspharosa, have you gone mad this past moment?" he asks me as I glance down at the decorated aspis of a nearby guard.

"A mother deserves to know her daughter has returned home." I explain to him, ignoring the slight in his mannerisms towards me.

"The Lady Bosphama is still a powerful woman, even with all you have done to pull the stones of her castle from out underneath her. She will muster what aid she can to assist her daughter." he says as he slightly steps after me.

"Let her. Let the Sparkmaness roar one final time in pride."

"You set yourself up for failure." he comments and I scoff, shaking my head ever so slightly.

"Her men might find the Lady-Heir first even with no clues as to where she is. They might even bring her home so that she might go to the Imperial Courts and upturn my efforts with but one bedazzling display..." I start to say before lightning strikes with power once again.

Golden lightning.

"But, when she arrives, she will come wreathed in -blue- lightning." I finish as I turn to leave.