Tristan Fox
Tristan sat leisurely on one of the stone benches in the green garden, he watched at Jasmine spoke to the green dragon Zhane. The garden which was on one of the balconies of the Emerald palace was a vibrant place, with a mix of yellows, and reds, with almost every other color. The place was peaceful, and admittedly beautiful.
Tristan liked it compared to the rest of the castle, everywhere else seemed to be false, deceitful. While he had told Jasmine this, she had only smiled at him, and told him she had everything under control. Tristan had urged to leave this place head back north, where he wished they would have stayed, but she liked it here, and he knew why.
Jasmine had been treated well, better than well even, like a princess once again, in the north they had treated her kindly, but as a guest not a royal guest. There was other reasons Tristan thought she enjoyed the western palace, he noted at Zhane took her hand to lead her to another patch of flowers. Tristan moved behind them, far enough to make them feel at ease, but close enough the kill the man before he could do anything.
While Tristan preferred the Relian, Green Mountain hadn’t been without its charms as well. Twice Jasmine had gone to the city of tents below the mountain, and both times even Tristan had enjoyed it. There were few places Tristan hadn’t traveled to in his youth, and that had been one of them. The vibrant colors, and smells reminded Tristan of a hundred different cites all mixed into one.
Part of him thought the reason he did not like the place they stayed was, because of the boredom he felt. In the north he had joined Flint on a hundred different quests, happy to be acquainted with an old friend, though he admittedly preferred the brother. However here, there was no riding no sparring, no chores, only boredom.
The west did have fighters, that was true, some of the best spearmen in the world came from some of the cities the green dragons ruled over, but they were far from here. Green dragons fought in the air as well, so there were no sparring grounds in the castle, something Tristan found preposterous. The guards themselves seemed better trained to stand up straight rather than fight in a battle.
Tristan had sparred one, on a day he had an argument with Jas, the guard barely looked to hold the thin curved Katana correctly. Tristan had dismantled the man, Zhane was the only one who was decent with the sword, having traveled to Leis to learn. Tristan had beat him, but was impressed with his fighting, he moved like a dancer, and struck like a viper.
Zhane was the only one that Tristan could respect in the castle, him, and the old bat Loong. That was a tricky one however, and as much as he respected her, he was cautious of her as well. Loong had insisted that Jas stay here if she pleased, and while Jas insisted that she was convincing them to follow her, Tristan wasn’t so sure.
Liana after all, who was Zhane’s sister seemed to have nothing but hatred for Jas. When Liana had insulted Jasmine however, Loong had sent her east to Southgard, another city that served under the green dragons. Though far from the war, which had gone east last they heard, it still made Tristan nervous seeing the green dragon fly east.
Once again however, Tristan had been ignored, he could not fully blame the girl, after all, it was him that insisted she stay for so long in the north. Jas had loved the north, but she craved more, she had emperors’ blood, and he knew she wished to rule.
When a guard came to inform Zhane, his presence had been requested, he said something to Jasmine that Tristan couldn’t hear. However, he could see Jas blush, and a stumble over her words, and then he saw Zhane be led away by the guard. Tristan smiled at that, it warmed his heard to see Jas happy, she had always been a sad child in Farlan.
Jas approached him after Zhane had completely left, she smiled at him “Zhane seems to agree that Kai is a bad ruler, though he is yet to agree to stand with us”, she said in a victorious tone. “Ah well consider the war already one”, Tristan said with a grin that had gotten him in trouble many times in the past.
Jasmine snorted at him, “it’s more progress than we made in the north, they would rather follow dead kings than a dragon”, she said In a tone of annoyance. “You could meet them halfway, maybe they’ll follow a dead dragon”, Tristan said causing her to snort once again.
The pair walked back her quarters, guarding their tongues all along the way, Jas may enjoy it here, but she did not trust the servants. Once they were alone, they spoke in earnest, “we should leave soon Jas”, Tristan said in a serious tone. Jas looked at him with a raised eyebrow, “not again, lets argue tomorrow”, she said with a sigh.
“Something is wrong Jas, they aren’t telling us something, Liu has left he castle for Southgard with his sister”, Tristan said his usual smile replaced with a serious expression. “Why would they need too dragons to guard a fortress on the southern border, unless they were meeting with southerners”, Tristan said to Jas who began to look at the books she had a servant bring her.
“Kai would not move west yet, and the southwest is lawless, with more bandits than soldiers, Kai would have too deal with them to reach Southgard”, Jas said simply. “Besides, Loong hates the Golden army, she would never allow them to come west”, Jas added.
“We have heard nothing of the Golden Army since the siege of Feos, no one knows what they are doing, who is to say they haven’t marched west to deal with the green dragons”, Tristan argued. “Kai was injured last we heard, and he is too stubborn to leave a city unconquered, to scared of being called a coward” Jas said waving his statement away.
“Kai is not the brightest lad, that’s true, but Reese Far is one of the most devious men in the world”, Tristan said. “Things have gone silent from the south, and the east, and that worries me”, he said realized he was pacing, and stopped.
“Tristan, you worry a lot, that’s true, but we have Zhane on our side, he’s a good man, Loong will never bow to another dragon either”, Jasmine said. “We are safe here, trust me”, Jas said looking up from the books, and into the older man’s eyes.
Tristan sighed, “I trust enough, just not them flying snakes is all”, he said with a smile at that last part of his statement. Jasmine laughed, “they do resemble snakes don’t they” she said with a wide smile, “aye, what kind of dragon has no wings”, Tristan said, outwardly smiling, but inside he worried.
Zhane, and Liu were close, and the other young dragon Jenna seemed to keep to herself, but none of them had seemed overly keen to help Jasmine’s cause. The western dragons were strong, and were powerful, but they were slow, and never made decisions fast. They had no king either, all the green dragons had to vote on any decisions having to do with ruling, especially on the matter of a potential war.
There were times where Tristan felt Jasmine had forgotten her potential war with her brother, where she used to try persuading Zhane to her cause, now they talked of other matters. Loong taught Jas thing about being a dragon, and a young woman, that Tristan could not teach her. Jasmine was not a fugitive here, she was a guest, and a happy one.
“Is it a good thing that she doesn’t focus on the war so strongly these days”, Tristan thought to himself as he watched Jas pick up a book and begin reading. The old man sighed, took a seat on the couch within the room, and grabbed the book he had been reading before Jas had left for the garden. Funnily enough the book was the telling of the bandit wars and had Tristan in it.
Tristan, and his greatest companion had fought many years ago, killing a man who claimed to be the Winter king reborn, he was just a pretender though. The book brought back memories, that often-made Tristan smile, especially when he remembered a certain medic with blonde hair.
Life had been simpler then, now it was muddled, confusing, and filled him with fear for his young princess. Times often led to war, and while there was war in the east, Tristan felt it coming north, sensed it.
Putting that out of his mind he focused on his book, when a servant nocked on the door, he stood and answered the door of the room. Two mugs of steaming tea, Tristan thanked the woman with a wide smile, and touched his relic to the two warm mugs. Tristan had the defense relic, which defended from poison as well, and would tell him if the mug meant him harm.
It did not, both mugs were safe, and he handed Jasmine hers, she thanked him, and they both read in silence. When Tristan grew tired of his reading, he used the privy, and then went to leave the room. “Where are you off too?” Jas asked him before he opened the door, “to walkthrough the castle, should you leave your room have a servant fetch me” Tristan said with a half wave as he left.
Tristan wondered through the yellow, and green halls, head up a few stairs, and towards the courtroom. When he got to the courtroom, he admired It, gold light shined throughout the room, and the pews for the advisors were made of emerald. The floor itself was made of white marble, and the ceiling reached high into the air, the room itself looked like it could hold a dragon transformed, one or even three comfortably.
Tristan took it in, he knew that most castles displayed their beauty in their gardens, and their courtrooms. The courtroom of a castle was a display of wealth, and power through that wealth, Farlan never had a beautiful courtroom.
Tristan had been to Brailent, and saw their courtroom, a great large golden room, where emperors used to hold court, and decided upon matters that changed millions of lives. Tristan remembered the court the bandit king had used to hold court, the heads, and the dried blood that had been used to decorate it.
Tristan had seen many courts, and he had to begrudgingly admit that this was the most beautiful, though he hated it all the more for it. Tristan gazed at the green, and gold thrones that overlooked the court, and sighed.
Thrones like that had caused so many wars in the world, and he had found himself in wars before. “We mustn’t fight amongst ourselves”, a loud voice was heard, Loong’s voice. Tristan could not hear other voices, so he assumed the older woman had shouted.
Tristan moved to where he heard the voice, to the back of the room, too the right of the thrones. A door in the corner of the room, that more than likely lead to a council room, if he was caught overhearing, the consequences would be dire.
Tristan noticed there were no guards in the court however, meaning they were having this meeting in secret, “can they not trust their own guards?”, Tristan thought as he crept to the door. “No power will be shared, and we know nothing of this- “, Tristan heard Zhane’s, it sounded heated.
“That does not matter, we have a good deal here let us put our faith in our sister she is no fool”, Jenna said. Tristan was close to the door now, if someone opened it, they would know he was eavesdropping. “No she is not, and that is what concerns me, dammit” Loong spoke again silencing the other voices, “she already threatened to marry, should she go through with it the stone will be cast”, she continued.
“That will not happen she will respect the right to vote, or we must condemn her”, Zhane said anger clear in his voice. Liana responded with the same intensity, “or what” she said, Tristan heard a bang as if someone had slammed their hand on something. “You can’t be serious, you would threaten your own sister, over her own choice in marriage”, Jenna said angrily.
“That is something she has no right to make, we must agree on who she should marry, we must vote”, Zhane argued heatedly. “You sound like father”, Jenna spats back, and Zhane groaned at her, “because the man knows what needs to be done, and Liu did as well”, Zhane replied sharply.
“Liu left without asking, without having us agree, the exact thing you condemn Jenna for” Jenna replied quickly. “You would allow your hypocrisy to start a civil war”, she said angrily, “I would prevent a war, from a arrogant child who wants power”, Zhane yelled.
Tristan was taken aback by that, he had never heard Zhane angry, let alone yell at someone. “Keep it down, we have guests here, and this is not their business”, Loong said louder than Zhane had been. “It does not matter, I have already sent word to father, and mother for that matter”, Zhane spat at his sister. "Soon they will put this farce to an end”, Zhane replied angrily “once word reaches him on Drifton, and mother on kingsrock, Liana will backdown”.
“You call allies for war is what you mean”, Jenna replied in a tone that could have killed. “I call those who will help end this farce, we cannot get involved with this golden child to the south”, Zhane replied, sounding calmer now. Loong spoke now, “you should not have informed your father, he is likely to do something we will all regret”, she said in a tired tone.
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“Father has a right to know, and right now we need drastic action to prevent war, is Liana marries this Golden Fist, we will be dogs of the gold dragons” Zhane said. “If you had your way you would marry Jasmine, it is the same either way”, Jenna replied, while Zhane sounded controlled now, she was fiery with anger.
“I do not intend to marry the girl, but she would make a far better ruler than this Kai, who burns cities, and villages for fun”, Zhane retorted. “The girl shows potential to be a better ruler that is true, better than the boy” Loong said. Tristan backed away from the door. Immediately he began heading back to the room where Jasmine resided. Years of practice allowed him to keep all expression off his face as he made his way through the green halls.
When Tristan entered the room and looked at Jasmine who had not moved from her reading place in bed. “We need to leave now”, he said immediately packing his bags, “what do you mean?”, Jasmine said putting her book down, and standing with alarm.
“I mean, I just overheard the damn green snakes, and they are on the cusp of civil war over your brother Jad”, Tristan growled at her. “What, Jad what do you mean, his likely in the east, how could he start a war here” she said not moving to pack her bags at all. “The girl Liana had gone south to discuss a potential marriage, she did so without the agreement of all the green dragons”, Tristan said, aggravated that she was not packing.
“That’s, that’s crazy” Jasmine said with wide eyes, and a mournful expression, Tristan did feel bad they had to leave, but they needed to move. “start packing, we cannot be here if war breaks out, or worse is she marries Jad, and they join the Golds”, Tristan said. Jasmine however did not move, she rubbed her chin, even though she had not hair there, a habit she picked up from Tristan.
“What of Zhane, and Loong” Jas said after a second, Tristan stopped packing, and looked at her angrily, “what of them?” he asked. “Do they support joining my brothers”, Jasmine asked hope in her tone, Tristan shook his head reluctantly.
“They do not, Zhane is against Liana marrying, and so is Loong, Liu agree with her sister however”, Tristan replied. “What of Laurice Emerald” Jasmine said with urgency “I don’t know, but this changes nothing they will not support you against their kin”, Tristan said angrily.
“We must leave Jas”, he said with conviction, in an almost pleading tone with the girl. Jasmine shook her head, a determined look on her face, “we cannot, if we leave, and my brother takes the west, we will have no hope against him, we need the west to fight him”, Jasmine said in a way that made Tristan proud of her, despite his anger.
“We cannot win any war if we are dead”, Tristan practically shouted back, “I will protect you until I die, but I will not see you throw you life away over a gamble”, he said angrily. “It is my life Tristan, I choose how to spend it, and I will not allow my brother to turn the world into his playground”, Jasmine said angrily.
“Your brother has killed all who defy him, if he finds you, he will kill you” Tristan replied in a pleading tone. “Please Jas, lets leave here, we will figure something out, don’t put yourself at risk in other nations politics”, Tristan added after a deep breath. Jasmine shook her head, “I’m sorry, but I am staying, and I will speak to Zhane about all of this.
Tristan took a deep breath, and pushed the panic down, he had done it many times before, then he smiled at her. “You remind me so much of your mother, just please if this becomes too hot, and you think it may kill you. Promise me you will escape, fly for the mountains, be safe”, Tristan said in a defeated tone. Jasmine smiled relieved that he hadn’t continued to press the issue, “I will, I swear it” she said to the old man.
That night Zhane came to their door with news, he knocked on the door, and Tristan answered, and let him in. “Sorry to interrupt you before you sleep, I just wished to inform you that late tomorrow my father will arrive here”, Zhane said to them both. Tristan felt a pang of anxiety at that, but he smiled at the young dragon.
Jasmine replied for them both, “I see, and tell will your sister Liana be joining us as well”, she asked the man. If Zhane was bothered by her question, he did not show it, “I believe not, she has decided to stay in Southgard, though Liu will be joining us”, he said with a smile.
“Ah, I see”, Jasmine replied, “does this have anything to do with the potential civil war amongst the green dragons?”, she asked bluntly. Zhane showed surprise for a second, then covered it with a questioning look, something he had no doubt trained himself to do. “Civil war my lady, I don’t follow”, he said in an innocently curious tone.
“Do not lie to me any further Zhane, I consider you a friend, and I’d like to keep it that way, I know of Liana, and Jad”, Jasmine replied sternly. Zhane shot a glance at Tristan who moved to stand at Jasmines side, “he figured that out quick”, Tristan thought as he watched the man.
“I see, well then you should know there is no civil war, my father will come put an end to this farce”, Zhane said with a sigh. “Liana has always been spirited, but when she met your brother a few years ago, when he was looking for some rebel girl” Zhane said sitting on the couch across from the foot of the bed. "We’ll Liana liked him, and they spent time together, since then she has talked about joining your brothers war”, Zhane added.
“When she was young it wasn’t an issue, but now she’s flown south, and scouts say they have seen a large golden dragon visit Southgard”, Zhane said a little head creeping in his voice now. “Meaning she allowed a gold dragon over the border, when I said I would go bring her to justice, Liu left to convince her to come back”, Zhane said with a shake of his head.
“Your brother, you said he will be joining you tomorrow, how do you know that?”, Tristan asked. “We received a message orb, all it said is that he will be joining us, but we have no other information from Southgard” Zhane answered. Tristan nodded to the man, “tomorrow is when you will find out what has happened with you sister, whether or not she is already married”, Jasmine said almost to herself.
Zhane looked at her, and then reluctantly nodded, “and if they are married?”, Tristan asked. Zhane hesitated, opening his mouth, and then closing it. When he opened his mouth again, he spoke, “If she has married Jad Vein, my father will be furious, he will likely fly down to challenge him to a fight”, he said in a sad tone.
“He’ll start a war with the south”, Tristan said, thinking out loud, Zhane nodded. “That isn’t the worst part, we have no contact with our southern lookouts, we do not know what has happened in the south”, Zhane said. “What does that mean”, Jasmine asked “It means that if troops move westward, we have no knowledge of it until Liu arrives tomorrow”, Zhane finished to Tristan’s horror.
“Tomorrow, you don’t find out if your sister is wed, you find out if you are at war”, he said with the horrible realization. “Aye, and with my father we have summoned our armies, tomorrow we see who will support us if we are at war”, Zhane replied.
“How could you not tell me any of this”, Jasmine said angrily, “you promised me safety here”, she added. Zhane looked at her apologetically, “we had no choice in the matter, Loong refuses to admit we are at war, she is likely the only reason Jenna has not flown off, until tonight”, Zhane said with a sad shake of his head.
Tristan’s gaze jerked from Jasmine back to Zhane, “your sister has left?”, he asked the man, who nodded confirmation. “That puts you with four dragons against four other dragons, that should concern you”, Tristan said suddenly wishing they left even more.
Zhane snorted, “we have four dragons, and two of them are the largest in the larges in the world, you saw my grandmother, my father is even larger than her”, he said with conviction. “There will be no civil war, once they realize my father has joined our side, they will call off any marriage ideas”, Zhane said to them both.
“If they don’t”, Jasmine asked in an anxious tone, she tried to hide it, but it slipped through. Zhane’s gaze softened when he heard it. “My father leads Drifton, kings rock, and Leif, all of our best warriors, my mother will join us if there is war, that’s five dragons”, Zhane said in a reassuring way. “Even in the Gold Army marches west, we would be able to fight them off, besides they are busy in the east”, Zhane said.
“There has been no news of Feos”, Tristan argued, and Zhane shook his head. “We have heard nothing from Feos, but we know they have not taken the city, we have contacts within the Black dragons, we would know”, Zhane said.
Tristan nodded, that made sense, Zhane’s own mother was the Black dragons younger sister. “So, it all depends on tomorrow then?”, Jasmine asked. “Aye, tomorrow this farse will be over, you have been invited to the meeting, however I should warn you, my father can be rough”, Zhane said with a smile.
Tristan gulped at that, he knew of Laurice Emerald, the man was a legend, he had put down two rebellions, and was said to be the largest dragon alive. “Sleep now friends, tomorrow all will be well”, Zhane said before leaving.
Jasmine Vein, the next day
Jasmine sat at the Pew within the courtroom, staring at the golden throne, her ancestors had placed on in every notable castle. Though she had no right to sit in it now, no one did, she figured they more than likely kept it around for the look of it. Zhane wasn’t there yet, he had gone to greet his father, Jasmine wondered what the older man was like.
Jasmine, and Tristan flew past Drifton, and she had seen the great city in the distance, but they did not stop there. Though she did not know the man had been residing there either, otherwise she would have likely dealt with him. Though reputation painted the man as a scary one, and she feared he would blame her for her brothers’ chaotic marital choices.
When the man did enter, she was shocked to see he resembled his son a lot, he had dark green eyes. With long black hair in a ponytail, he also had a thick black goatee. He wore green armor that looked to be made of scales of emerald, he had a katana at his hip. The man gazed at the room with a hard expression, his eyes resting on hers as he continued to walk into the room from the entrance of the hall.
“Father, this is- “, Zhane began entering behind his father, “Jasmine Vein”, the older man said, his voice deep but not overly gruff. Jasmine stood, and bowed to the man, “a pleasure to meet you Laurice, I’m sorry my brother has given you such a hard time”, she said as she rose to meet his eyes again. Laurice studied her for a second, then snorted, without saying another word he bowed to his mother on the green throne.
“Mother, I have come to end this farce”, he said when he rose, Loong smiled at him, “let us hope there is no farce at all”, she said with a tight smile. Zhane had told her that Jasmine knew, and so she did not deem to hide her tongue.
“When will Liu arrive?”, Laurice asked his son, Zhane smiled at him, “we have not seen him yet but he should be here within the hour, he is a fast flier”, Zhane replied. Laurice nodded, but said nothing else on the matter, he gazed back at Jasmine, then to Tristan.
“Tristan Fox, if I’m not mistaken”, the man asked with a smile, the most emotion Jasmine had seen from him since his arrival. Tristan smiled, as he so often did “your correct, pleasure to meet you”, Tristen stood, and did a bow of his own.
Laurice bowed back surprisingly, “You are well respected in the west, the bandit king caused my father, and mother no end of trouble”, he said with a look of respect. “They say you’re the best sword fighter in the world”, he continued as he walked closer to Tristan.
“Second best by my account, fourth best being your brother Crelan Green, a great man he was”, Tristan said with a smile. Laurice looked surprised, and smiled brightly at him, “I thank you for your words, I often miss my older brother, if you would be willing to. I would love to treat you to a meal, and drink, so I may ask you about my brother, and the wars”, he said kindly.
“You had me at drink” Tristan said with a smile, and both men chuckled. Jasmine shared a look with Zhane who looked bewildered, even Loong look shocked at the development. They stayed shocked when the two spoke of the old war for the entirety of the time until Liu arrived. When Liu did arrive however, everyone turned serious in a second.
Liu was out of breath and walked in through the door in a hurried stride. When he went to speak, he did so when he caught his breath, “Southern troops are here”, he said when he had caught his breath. “What do you mean boy”, Laurice asked on his feet now, and snarl on his face, Liu responded.
“Liana, and Jad Vein are married” he said, and Zhane shot to his feet as well, “she dares”, he began, but Loong shushed him. “Tell us everything Liu”, she began with a calm tone, Liu nodded his thanks to her, and began. “When I arrived in Southgard, I was greeted with Gold soldiers, and in fortress was Liana, along with Jad Vein”, Liu started.
Jasmine’s panic grew with each word the man spoke, until she was ready to leap out of her seat and fly north as fast as she could. “Not only that, but she has called for Green soldiers, only those to the east, and south however”, Liu said with angrily.
“None would support her over us they will see this as treason”, Laurice growled, and Zhane nodded grimly. Liu shook his head, “when I arrived, I flew over tents, gold, and green an army has been amassed”, he said.
“How is that possible, I was told Laurice held the loyalty of those to the east”, Jasmine said when the anxiety became too much. Liu glanced at her, and answered, “I do not know, but there were more green soldiers than gold, and by far, thousands of tents were pitched”, Liu answered.
“Do they march?”, Loong asked, and Liu shook his head, “they do not, when I landed, they welcomed me in, I spoke to the two rebels”, Liu said with a snarl. “They claimed to have gathered the men for their wedding, and said nothing of war when I asked”, Liu said looking at them all.
“We have already called our allies to fight for us, within weeks we will see who stands against who”, Zhane said heatedly, sounding like his father in his anger. “We do not know if it is war yet”, Loong said loudly, and her son snorted at her words.
“We both know what this is, we need to prepare, when they invade, we will be ready”, Laurice said placing a hand on his sword. “I should go lead out men down from the north drive out any gold’s who come to our lands”, he said angrily. “That is not the way to do this Laurice”, Loong said standing to shout at her son.
“Grandmother we must act, it is the law we did not decide on this as a family, it’s treason”, Zhane added into the mix. Loong shot him a withering look, “we must be willing to settle this peacefully lest we destroy ourselves, you are talking of fighting a war with your kin boy”, Loong said venomously.
“I am talking of preventing our country from falling to tyrant”, he said seriously, “we have heard the stores, heard of the burnings, do you really wish that to arrive on our doorstep”, Zhane said stepping in front of the throne.
“We must vote on it, and strike Jenna, and Liana from the vote, Liana for her treason, and Jenna for her absence”, Zhane said. Loong replied with fury, “this is ridiculous, I will not stand idle while my family destroys itself”, she said with rage.
“It is the Law, mother, it is your duty”, Laurice said with rage to match, mother, and son stared at each other, and Zhane was the one to speak. “Against using force to remove golden soldiers from our lands and trying Liana Vein for swearing our allegiance without proper authority”, Zhane said shakily. “Raise your hands”, he said, Loong raised her hand with a scowl on her face.
Three seconds passed until she put it down, and Zhane spoke again, “those in favor of using force- “he began before Laurice interrupted. “Those who agree to go to war with foreign in invaders, raise your hands”, he growled out, three hands were raised.
“The law of the west states that we must go to war”, Zhane said after they put their hands down. “I cannot stand for this”, Loong stated as snarled, “then sit with its mother, or complain about it somewhere else, the decision is made” Laurice said snarling right back. Jasmine was taken aback by how similar the two where to each other.
Loong stormed out of the room, yelling in rage, Zhane sighed, and turned to Jasmine. “You wished for a chance to fight your brother, will you join us in this war”, he asked her. Jasmine took a deep breath before answering, “I will help you keep your home”, she said standing as she did so.