"What about this one, Oorika, do you think it is beautiful?" I ask my trusted housekeeper as I place my fingers around the slithering creature. Pulling it out of the metallic-shaded flowerbed, I hold it steady with a firm hand. Keeping the poisonous fangs away from me as they hiss, I show off the pattern on the reptile's colourful scales.

"It is quite beautiful, yes, Lady Bosphama. But, please, put it down." she answers before she smiles in disbelief at my reckless action. Nearly giggling, I put the snake back in the flowerbed and it side-winds away from us. Flicking some pale, lifeless magic at it, I encourage it to stay away as I get back up.

"What day is it, Oorika?" I ask her as she wipes and pats down the knees of my kimono.

"Motrtha's Day, Lady Bosphama." she answers as she straightens herself out. Putting my arms into the opposing sleeve, I start to walk with her. I glance about at the literary art about my home and I frown.

"No, day of the year, Oorika." I clarify as misery sprouts from my heart once again.

"The third week of the Month of Vengence." she answers with a pointless nod. Something I have requested her not to do time and time again.

"Mmm, the Month of Justice, of Enorcoustice the Judge." I say as I come to a stop near a thin pillar.

"Is something wrong, Lady Bosphama?" Oorika asks as my gaze idles around statues of armour and the cloudy, lightning-blessed sky.

"Three-thousand five-hundred and twenty-two..." I answer as I look down to the ground.

Sighing, she places a hand against me, "Lady Bosphama, we know she is doing well."

"I last saw her rended bloody on a recording, and you tell my that?" I ask her as I start to frown my disapproval at her.

"She's shown herself to be strong, even with her unfortunate setback in life. She is safe, she is fine." Oorika says to me as she takes my hand through the sleeves of my kimono.

"It's so quiet around here without her..." I say as my mind wanders around the house. I see servants and guards doing their duties right and true. But, all the colour and life of my brightly painted, extravagant home is not there. It hasn't been for some time but now I...

"Lady Bosphama, Lady Bosphama!" my home's castellan, Joastelan, calls.

"What is it, Castellan?" Oorika asks on my behalf as I focus my mind.

"The Lord Barspharosa is here." he answers with a nod and my blood starts to boil.

"What does he want!?" I hiss at him even though I know I will only find out when I go to meet him. As is the way of our people, even as I am damned for something out of my control. Something my sweet daughter shouldn't have to suffer from...

"Lady Bosphama, if you please." Joastelan says as he offers me his armoured hand. Taking it up, I follow after him as he tries to reassure me with a hidden squeeze.

"He has not come with his judges and his court?" I nearly tear-up at. Barely holding myself together, a barrage of attendees come to me and fix the problem my tears nearly caused. I am glad I have them, I expect a lot of them with my failing confidence and willingness to live...

Bowing, they depart and the castellan comes to a stop. Taking both my hands into his, he looks me in the eyes. I try to smile back at him as he plays the part of a clown, a jester... But, he stops when I fail to meet him with a smile.

"Everything will be fine, Lady Bosphama, strangely... He's come on his own." he explains.

"With his staff, you mean." I scoff as we start to walk again. Clanking beside me, his armour offers me some comfort at the very least. He might not be able to protect me from the Senate or their verbal, legal talons. But, he can at least stay the blade of the impatient predators gnashing at my lands.

My daughter's lands-to-be...

"Shall you be meeting him out there, or would you rather he come to you."

"It's my home, in my lands. He shall come to me." I say as tears ruin my make-up once again. Nearly laughing, Joastelan calls for my attendees once again.

"Take her to the guest's dining room, one of the small ones so she can have some privacy. I will bring him in and one of you can whisper to me the room in question." Joastelan explains as he lets go of my hand and vanishes down a hallway. Watching him go down some stairs, he goes on for a little bit before the last I see of him is an armoured foot.

"Lady Bosphama, come, let's get you ready for him." they tell me as the four of them split into pairs for my hands. Bringing me along with them, we go into a small room and they let go to get everything ready. One brings out one of my favourite cushions and another coaxes in a bird from the menagerie and into a cage. One prepares tea and she smiles devilishly as she clumsily forgets the other cup.

The final one stays at my side and she fixes up her just ruined work...

"Are any of you perhaps privy to why he's here?" I ask as some of them finish up their tasks.

"No, we're afraid not." the four women answer in synch and I smile at it. Laughing their heads off, I try to join them before I look away. My frown brings the mood of everyone down and I silently gesture them away for now. Breathing carefully, my posture straightens out and I look down at my tea.

The bird sings and chirps in its cage and I reach for the steaming cup. But, I do not drink from it, I just look into the dark liquid as it swirls around gently. Pinching the end of the spoon, I conduct a minute piece of my magic into the drink. Little golden branches arc off of the metal and enter the tea.

My lip quivers but I hold back the tears as I start to think of my precious little girl. I never meant to ruin her life, but, somehow, I have. Her father would have never wanted this for her either, but, what I found myself joyful upon seeing makes the world foam with rage. She was so happy when she first started to use some magic, but, it was nothing more than a bad omen.

I should have protected my family the moment I saw it... But, I didn't, I tried to live my life as if there was nothing wrong since that day. It came back to gut me with a proudly ornate blade and a pair of shackles to remind me of what we are. Now, my daughter is gone...

Forced to hide out within a foreign land just to keep safe...

"Brewbrt... Please, can I count on you?" I try to ask him as I close my eyes. Bringing the tea to my lips, I sense the insidious presence marching into my home. Even though he's under close watch by my staff, all kinds of them, I do not feel safe. His desires are soon going to be the end of me...

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

I look towards the door as its doorplate is knocked on, "The Lady Bosphama, your guest is here."

"You may enter with him, Castellan." I answer as I quickly finish the cup of tea. Placing it down, I start to pour myself a second cup as greed walks before me.

"Lady Bosphama." he greets with a nod. Our golden eyes meet and mine shake as he stares back.

"Lord Burspharosa." I greet back as Joastelan glares daggers into the back of the visiting nobleman.

Looking at my cup of tea, the vile man gives me a look of disapproval before he hands me something. Staring at it as he slides it across the table, I frown and tenderly pick it up. I put the cup down and hold it in both my hands, one cupping each end of the wrapped-up scroll. Feeling like I already likely know its contents, I put it down and move to stand up.

"It is not a court date, or an order from a hopefully, soon-to-be-unified Senate." he explains, confusing me where he does not anger me. Rolling the scroll around so that its seal faces me, I sneer on the inside at the mark of his family before I apply magic to it. Melting the copper-mixed wax, my magic directs it elsewhere on the darkly-coloured wooden table.

I gently split it apart with my fingers and I look at the golden writing on it. It's far too pure to be his magic and it is uncharacteristic of him to write like this. I've seen many letters from him, all in black ink. Every single word of this is pure gold.

Traces of pure magic are everywhere in this letter, no, it's a report...

"What is the meaning of this, exactly?" I ask him as I cannot fathom as to why he'd show me this. I do not work for him and thankfully, I will never serve him. His will alone will never be enough to make me do anything. It's why he needs the Senate!

Bringing a hand forward in a gentle, sparking flick, his gaze turns away from me, "Read further, to the signatures."

Doing so, I read the names and my heart misses a beat, the scroll slips out of my hands and I freeze up, "Einervaene..."

"Rejoice, Lady Bosphama, your daughter has returned home." he remarks as he stands up to the sound of my household erupting into whispers.

Shattering the table to the crack of thunder, I growl as my hair comes to life, "Stay away from my daughter..."

"You have a duty to attend to, Mother." he tells me as he leaves my home. Seething with rage until I sense him leave the very edge of my gardens, I collapse to the floor. Crying, my staff come to me.

"The Lady Bosphama!?" Oorika cries out as she pulls me up as my fears get the best of me.

"S-She's... My... My daughter is back... Why's she back!? I... I told her... I... I'm going to be able to see my daughter again!" I heave panickedly at first, then, I start to cry with joy. Reaching for the scroll as my staff tries to keep me upright, I focus on the signature.

Einervaene.

It's hers, how can I ever forget it!? It's one of the few things I could use to remember her. But, she's back... She's back!

My daughter is out there, here, in Eusorochii!

"The Lady Bosphama, speak, explain?" Oorika asks of me as I start to kneel because of my own strength once again.

"Sound the bell... I want everyone to join me in the main dining hall!" I order Oorika as I stumble to my feet. Pulling up my kimono, I maddeningly run towards my daughter's room. Rushing into it, I laugh and cry as the undisturbed room has its streak of emptiness finally ended!

So many memories are in here... So many more are to come. I can finally hold my daughter once again. She'll be here again!

But, why did that vile man come here to personally tell me?

"Warning me? I sent her away because her own magic is her undoing here. But, the golden writing...?" I ponder near-hysterically before I calm down and straighten myself out. If this just-ended visit is meant to be a warning, then I will make him regret ever telling me it. Even if I never see her again, I will keep her safe. The Lady Bosphama will remind all of the carrion coming after my family's land and holdings that she is still -The Lady Bosphama!-

Turning to face my Castellan, he looks at me in concern, "The Lady Bosphama, shall we get going, or, do you still want the moment to yourself?"

Putting on a dead-serious expression, I Iook him in the eye, "No, take me to the main dining hall with haste, Castellan."

His fist slams against his ornate, muscle-sculpt armour, "Of course."

I take his hand and we begin to head there, "While we have some time in private, Joastelan."

"Of course, The Lady Bosphama." he answers as we come to a stop. Releasing my hand, he backs away and bows in respect.

"Can I trust you, Castellan?" I ask him as I look down the hall as one of my servants joins another on their way to the main dining hall.

"E-Excuse me?" he questions rightly, I have no reason to suspect him of anything. Let alone question him for it. Normally, I might smile to make it clear that I am teasing, but with the topic on hand... I need to make sure I am thoroughly understood to be serious in my entirety.

"My daughter is home. She's on her way home. I do not know how long it will take her. But I can say with absolute certainty that Lord Burspharosa will be seeking to make something of it. I need to know that I can trust you."

"I will be laughed at for admitting that I broke the leaf off of your meditation plants again and again if I have to." he answers as he smashes his chest thrice over. Hiding my smile as I remember that incident, I offer my hand so that he may rise.

"Your absolute honesty, no matter how embarrassing it might be for you, is appreciated." I tell him as I bow slightly towards him. I am very lucky to have come across such a man during my life whilst I was free of the rigidity of this place. It means a lot more to me than most honest people as well, because I first met him when all he could do was lie. A known liar who I came to trust...

I have known him for some time and he's been honest for far longer.

"How are we going to go about this?" he asks as I look around my house. Glancing up at the protective ofundas and talismans nestled about, I repeat their meaning in my head. Guardian. Protector.

Defender.

"The document Lord Burspharosa came to deliver to me is a report from somewhere in his realm. I want it to be found and for the pair to be watched carefully." I explain to him as he slowly nods.

"Ippmeiotyis Brewbrt is with her?" he guesses easily and I smile at the mention of my close friend's name.

"He is, thankfully, we do not need to risk sending out someone whose heart might be taken in by greed. Einervaene already has someone protecting her, but we need someone who can shepherd her to safety." I explain as I happen to spot a treasure me and Brewbrt found when we were younger. I won the bet to keep it, but, he was the one who shed blood to make sure it could see the light of day again.

Most of my memories with him have become fuzzy, little is clear to me anymore. But, the key details of the time I spent with all of my old party are all still fresh to me. I remember the roles we all played and the core idea of what they are. I might never see some of them again, but, I could not ask for anyone better to be there for my daughter.

I take a step away and I blink as I run a hand across the warped, damaged artefact of a lost people. So many things were found in our time together, some we just sold. Others, we found uses for beyond just displaying and for easy wealth. Some turned out to be tools we can still use...

"Head to my vaults, there should be something that looks like a small gong set in there. Bring it to me if you find it." I tell my Castellan as I start to make the rest of the distance on my own.

"Of course, The Lady Bosphama." he answers as he turns to go a different way. Striding into the Main Dining Hall, I look around before I arrive at Oorika. She bows fully and pulls out my chair.

Sitting down, I look around the table as she comes to stand by my side, "Oorika, if you'd please. Thank you."

"Of course, The Lady Bosphama." she answers as she uses her magic to project the contents of the scroll into a large, floating construct. She brings our focus to the pair of signatures and the murmurs start. I hear bickering over disbelievers being proven wrong and joy in relation to the main name of relevance,

"My daughter, but one of your masters-by-oath. Einervaene Bosphama... My daughter has returned." I make clear to everyone in the room.

"My Lady, what would you have us do?" one of my servants immediately asks as she stands up with a smile.

"First... I ask for a promise, from all of you in person. My daughter is coming home and I, in good conscience as her mother, I cannot allow anything to happen to her. I will not name you, but, I know many of you are mothers like me. Our children have interacted despite our differences in caste and I like to believe they have go-"

"Just give us the word, The Lady Bosphama." Oorika interrupts as she gently places a hand on my shoulder.

"I call on you, I call on your families and everyone you can convince to help me. If it is only because of who I am, fine. If there is genuine love for my family, I am grateful, but..."

"My Lady?" a servant questions as I get up from the table and walk away. Finding an open spot on the ground, I drop down onto it and prostrate myself.

"PLEASE HELP ME KEEP MY DAUGHTER SAFE!" I tearfully beg against the cold wood.