“With all fifty-seven of them?” Mother said.

“Yes! They’re really extreme up there in the grasslands.”

The Viscountess was listening too, a chalice of wine in her hand. She looked lighter than ever and her face was pretty flush. I guess I knew who to blame for my weak liquor holding ability. We were just finished with lunch and moved onto eating dessert and drinking light wine. Although, not light enough apparently.

“Remarkable tradition,” she said.

“What your daughter forgets to mention,” Zaya said, “is that they were all also extremely drunk.”

“Honey!” So what if I wanted to brag a little? Was that a crime? Was that a sin?

“Somebody has to keep your head normal sized, or else you would never be able to walk through doors.” My wife said primly.

“Well said, darling.”

“Mother!” I said laughing. What was this connivance! Was I already being replaced as the favored daughter? “I’d just invent a transportation spell.”

The Viscountess inclined her head “Re-invent,” she said swishing her glass. “The adept Adelxis managed to move his cow a whole league away from the starting point.”

I gasped at the misinformation.

“Father!”

“Mother.”

“Other Mother, that was a proven hoax!”

She looked torn between rebuking me and asking more information.

“Indeed? How so?” She finally said. Aha, knowledge always wins!

"I’m curious as well, sweetie. Didn’t the Legates from your university confirm everything?”

The viscountess gave her a surprised look. Things like these reminded me that they didn’t know each other besides, er, physically. Once. I think. Mother was a very learned woman and liked to keep herself up to date with the latest magical findings. Of course, it helped having me as a daughter.

“They were from the Solisian University,” I corrected “and all they confirmed was that there was magic taking place. They sent this adept’s equations back to their university and once someone spotted the mistakes littering them...” I shrugged and mimicked a man being hanged. He was unlucky in his victim of choice- Solisians were a pretty harsh bunch.

“So how was he fooling them?” Asked Zaya.

“Turns out the man put a timed sleeping spell on them.” I took a tiny sip from my glass as well. “And then levitated his cow to the spot.”

The Viscountess barked a laugh. It was weird hearing such an indelicate sound coming from her mouth. Her military past must have beaten some decorum out of her.

“Goodness. The things one does for fame,” Mother said.

“And academic acclaim,” I added.

We got to talking the rest of the afternoon away, sharing good laughs and amusing anecdotes. When the servants had cleared everything away (and I was surprised to see the butler was there too, back from his kitchen or garden shenanigans) our chef came by as well.

“Chef Rollo! Everything was delicious as always.” I told him. Have I already said I missed his cooking? Eating the food I’d hunted was certainly satisfying, but alas not very high on the deliciousness scale.

He gave me a nervous smile and a deep bow, then he turned to Mother.

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“Mistress Azura, I must tell you something.” He gave a wary glance at the Viscountess. “Privately.” He looked very jittery. What was he up to? He usually was such an easygoing and hearty man.

“No.” said Father. I agreed. Whatever it was he could tell it to all of us.

“Rollo, there’s no need for secrecy.”

He gulped and then nodded.

“Mistress Azura,” he began again. “You know I’ve always been grateful to you; you know I’ve always been loyal…”

“Of course!” Mother put a hand on his arm “My good man, what is the matter?” He looked ready to cry.

“Mistress Yanai sent one of her people to be a kitchen boy, but I recognized him! He said she wanted him to put some potion in the food I was making for you! My lady, please, I know the boy- they were threatening his family.” Mistress Yanai, that old rival of Mother’s? It seemed she was one to hold grudges. Well, so was I. The utter gall.

Mother’s expression didn’t change. She was calm and collected. To be fair, she was an old hand at this. One didn’t come to be the most respected and influential ah, artisan in Venixia without breaking a few politicking and plotting eggs along the way.

“Rollo, that you worry about the boy does you credit. Give him some warm tea and have someone bring his family to the manor. The same offer goes to anyone working with Yanai, spread the word among those you trust.”

The chef bowed and bowed again. Then he left to do his mistress’ bidding.

“Azura, is that wise?” said the Viscountess with hint of scolding in her tone. Big mistake.

“Viscountess, with all due respect, this is my territory. My people. I will do as I see fit.”

She must have heard the utter chill in Mother’s voice, because she only inclined her head in acknowledgement. And she didn’t seem the type to follow other people’s orders.

“Let me leave my guards here at least,” she said then. “I trust them with my life, and they’ll be a boon to you.” I trusted Mother, but I admit I felt touched at Other Mother’s offer.

“Very well,” she said, in a slightly less glacial voice. “Beatrice.”

“Yes?” I did not stand straighter, and I was not apprehensive in the least.

“Never mind tomorrow, you must go now. This does not bode well.”

She quelled my upcoming protestations with a look, and I closed my mouth with a click.

The Viscountess jumped to her feet.

“I’ll go to the ship and prepare everything. Girls, be there in half an hour. Azura.” She hesitated, “Thank you for everything.” She bowed. I had a feeling she wasn’t talking about lunch. She also didn’t look like a woman who bowed often.

Mother bowed in return. “It was my honor.” She said, with a glance at me.

Then she straightened and rang for the butler.

“Guide the Viscountess to the courtyard and tell the maids to bring the girls’ luggage to the airship.” Well, at least we hadn’t unpacked anything yet.

“Sweetie, come with me in my rooms. I have to give you something.” Good, I needed some time alone with her to say goodbye properly. Everything was happening far too quickly.

Zaya must have sensed my mood, because she grabbed my hand and squeezed.

“I’ll go with Arianne, then,” she said. I gave her a grateful look and kissed her hand. Mother gave her a grateful smile. We got up and went our separate ways.

When we came into Mother’s rooms, she immediately went to her heavily warded drawers.

“Mother-”

She held up a finger.

“I wish we had more time to explain things properly. But there isn’t.” She turned around and she palmed my cheek.

“You’ll always be my darling girl, no matter what. Remember that.”

“Mother,” I said, my voice cracking a little, I admit, “all this rush and drama is not exactly giving me a reassuring feeling.” She gave me a sardonic smile.

“It’s not meant to. But remember, we’re all doing this for your safety.” She returned to rummaging around.

“Here it is!” She took out a silver round pendant.

“It was my mother’s. And now it’s yours.” She took my hand and put the necklace in it. “Something to remember me by.” She said with a teary smile. The pendant wasn’t really my style but...

I put it on and hugged her.

“I don’t need a necklace to do that.”

We stayed there a bit longer and then we rushed into the courtyard. The Veli’s sails were all up and it was giving a low humming noise. The thing was chock full of magic and ready to fly. It also looked much shinier from this close.

Zaya was waiting for us near the airship’s entrance, a small round crystal door.

Mother hugged her too.

“Write when you arrive.” She ordered us.

“When we arrive and weekly after.” I promised.

“Good. Go.”

We went in and closed the door behind us. Zaya pushed a button and the door sealed itself with a load clack. I didn’t look back. My wife led us through the small corridor until we reached some stairs. She was much more used to being on this kind of vehicle and it showed. She moved around with confidence and purpose, even if she must have been inside once at best. But the layout wouldn’t change much even between different models.

We reached the upper part and I saw the Viscountess at the helm. She was in a chair, a crystal panel in front of her.

“You’re here, good. Strap yourself in.” She said and pointed at the leather seats behind her.

We were close to the edge, even if were protected by the magical anti-wind barrier.

“Wait, can you pilot this thing by yourself?” I asked, my curiosity overwhelming my apprehension for a moment.

“I can.”

She made a slew of complicated gestures at the panel in front of her and the ship got up from the ground. It stood there for one moment, levitating above the grass.

Then she said: “Fly.”

And the airship launched itself into the sky.