CW:

ZIGDARA POV!!!! WOOOW! Pretty like... clean though. mhm.

I am not happy with this arrangement. It was not part of our plan. One of my charges heading off alone into a manor to speak with these Keepers and the Arudian males.

But… Rahdian insisted on being here. And between the two of them Ina is quite possibly my equal in physical altercations when mingled with her Goddess. And… they refused for any of these lovers to be anywhere near them at the chance of danger.

So alone it was.

While an attack was not a worry of Ina’s for this lover, the attention of their Elder Sun Spoken very much is.

My second charge is mostly oblivious to that real worry. And is even beginning to relax while having a nice little talk with a couple of the men and a Keeper as they wait for their turn with Jevita and Kque about checking on their Glyphs.

Ina returned with this first group soon enough. They were terrified and filled with doubts and hesitations. But Ina’s lovers and Redrogal calmed them quickly. Have been answering endless questions since.

Especially because it seems Ina’s demands had altered a bit. She expects the Azure Compact to ensure that not only are the Keepers monetary needs met, but that preparations are laid so that their charges may reconnect in the future with ease.

The second group seems more calm than the first as well. Especially when the others gift them somewhat excited words about their future. Worries have been dissolving quickly and easily.

But Ina did not return with them. When I politely inquired, the eldest Keeper told me she was already heading to speak with the last group.

Another deviation from our plans, and Yrelia’s been trying to carefully pull answers from the group without alerting any listeners to her worry.

But… It doesn’t matter.

Emarial’s eyes already glimmer with purpose and ideas.

So... I let out a sigh, decide to head off this conflict before it can start, and move to stand before my previous Path found lover.

“I’m going to ensure Ina is okay.” Are the hard words I set before the tired Sun Spoken, then lower my voice to something none others will hear. “You will not speak to Rahdian while I am away.”

She hides her bristle well, but I prodded at her pride enough along the Paths to know how much my words slice into her. How she’s not used to letting anyone, especially a simple duenna of Lyttoral, instruct her on expected actions.

Even holds my gaze before the shame cracks her resolve, and she looks past me. “And… if she seeks out a word with her elder Sun Spoken?”

“Then you will make it a brief talk within easy earshot of one of Ina’s lovers.” I purr, then let myself grin a vicious thing. “Do not test my patience here.”

She lets out a large sigh, then nods. “I won’t. See to your charge’s safety and well being, honored duenna.”

Her flattery settles my worry while boiling my blood.

So I turn and nod at Tasii, who was watching the entire exchange, and stride off in search for Inamatorii.

Even this side wing of the Rell Manor is… far too large for my liking. And far less logical in it’s layout than even some of the worse sea-port villages along the coasts. Barren of all others and apparently cleared for only the Academy’s former Keepers and men to occupy. The techniques used to hold in the heat against the bitter cold also muffling even the sounds of my footfalls

The first I hear of another person is a heated argument coming from one of the bedrooms.

“What? Was this your… stupid fucking plan to separate us? Peel us all off?” A younger man snaps.

“Wophetra, mind your tone.” A woman replies evenly.

Ah, the first and final group. I sigh in relief despite the budding argument and continue down the hallway toward the open door.

“No. Fuck that. Where’s Tak?” This… Wophetra presses.

There is a tense pause.

“Keeper Unvay, it really is quite important that we see Takroth ourselves.” An older man presses just as I reach the door.

Look in to see… a small room. Overcrowded with almost a dozen figures.

But no Ina.

And whatever reply was to be made is cut off as two of the boys and a woman spot me looming in the hallway.

“Apologies.” I say quickly yet firmly. “I did not mean to interrupt. I’m merely looking for the woman I’m sworn to protect. Has she come this way?”

Brows furrow in confusion and worry, then an older woman speaks up. Not the voice from before. “There should be no one in these halls save us. You need to leave.”

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Ina did not come here yet to explain.

So… Where is she?

“Ah, it seems more apologies are in order. And introductions.” I straighten and give them a shallow but formal bow. “My name is Zigdara, I am sworn to protect Arudia’s High Duenna. She… Sun Spoken Inamatorii entered these halls alone to speak with the three groups that had formed to ease worries and explain future plans. You were the last, and she’s not returned after sending the second to us.”

“No one has visited us save our Keepers.” The older man replies. “But… we are missing a lad. Named Takroth. He stepped out to relieve himself and has not returned.”

“And neither has his Keeper.” Another woman tries to placate. “She was hoping to talk to him anyway. They probably just… found a quiet place to settle and work things out. Especially after we… we found out about the High Duenna’s plans.”

I nod. “I can look for all three of them if you would like to remain here, or you can head to the entrance of this wing and–”

“No.” Another male rises to demand. “Jessry and him don’t know you. We… We’ll go with you. Find Tak, at least. Maybe even this Sun Spoken lady.”

The woman who was sitting beside him begins to stand and open her mouth to protest but… hesitates. Then nods and adds. “I think that’s an okay idea.”

A few of the older women eye her and him.

“What? This room is cramped and kinda smells bad. And we’ll be together.” She explains, then looks at me. “If… I mean you can’t really stop us from following you.”

I can’t help but smile at her through my worry. “Not efficiently. And you are welcome to walk with me.”

There is a brief pause, then a bit of a scramble to rise and gather up and pull on some extra clothing before they all slip out into the hallway where I stand.

“I suspect that one or all of you know these pathways better than myself.” I muse as we begin walking. “If you have any ideas to the location of my charge or your missing friend, please don’t hesitate to direct us that way.”

“Takroth would sometimes sneak to the rooftops.” The smallest of the group offers quietly. One of the men who has a Keeper standing close but actively refuses to get near to her. His skin is the most unique of the group. The least vibrant but still warm. And with the fewest Cultivation touches from my untrained eye. Possibly a mark of his mother being from Lyttoral?

“Truly? Is the stairwell near?” I ask.

He swallows and hesitates under my gaze.

“Not as much lately.” The man carrying what seems a big notebook offers in his stead. Even stepping closer to bump shoulders with the man to help him calm. “And no. It’s kinda at the farthest edge of this wing. A side door that’s kinda hard to spot.”

“Hmm… It’s cold tonight. Anyone but my charge would not stand to remain up there long. We can check that spot last.” I reply and begin moving.

This hallway is empty of those we seek, which I already knew but double check the rooms to ensure none are simply sitting in quiet seclusion. Then we’re moving through a few more passages before a word elsewise is asked.

“So, is it true what our Keepers are convinced of?” The older man steps up to ask me.

I glance back to regard him, see the oldest woman sighing in exasperation.

“I cannot speak to your Keeper's understanding, but can talk of the High Duenna’s plans in general terms.” I offer. “She’s demanded and arranged your freedoms, bargained even for a group that will understand some of your struggles well to aid in this.”

“Huh?” A young man from behind sounds in confusion.

“She will explain this better,” I turn back and smile apologetically. “But among the Azure Compact are Arudian Men like yourselves alongside some who’ve claimed more unique perspectives on their gender and such.”

“That’s… Better than I’d expected.” The older man muses. “There was a great worry that this would just mean our separation, but not a true end to our service.”

I consider telling them about the Zeridii’s actions but…

“The High Duenna has gone to great ends to ensure your protection from old expectations.” I supply as we approach a new long hallway. “But I do not wish to offer less than precise explanations.”

He nods easily, already falling into deep thoughts about my words.

“So… What’s she like? This… Sun Spoken lady?” A younger woman asks part way through the next hallway’s search.

Between one empty room checked and the next I consider the best answer to give the women who worry for their soon to be former charges safety, and the men who’ve little choice but to accept a new life from Ina.

“Young, passionate, and endlessly considerate to the pains of those around her.” I reply. “But all of that is drawn from her own past of… of pain. And the loneliness that comes from no one seeing or acting to help ease her suffering until more recently. Ina herself has only braved the Paths for less than a year now.”

“How long have you known her?”

I sigh as we find this hallway devoid of those we seek as well. “As she is now? Less than four weeks. But I knew of her in passing for years, but that was before she was free to bloom into the woman she is now.”

“So… Why did you choose to become her duenna?” One of the men asks. “Or… I’m guessing you chose that. Are there more?”

“No, just me. And That’s a more… complex question, and one with personal details that are not mine to share.” I reply, but glance over to give him a shrug alongside the easy denial. “But a simple part was because she needed someone to give her a sense of safety and ability to lower her guard. Her lovers are passionate as well, but have no training in physical altercations.”

“Has there been many of these… physical altercations?” A woman murmurs carefully.

“More than we would like, but… not for some time.” I respond with open annoyance, but sigh follows. “Which is good. Such things are not preferable to calm discussion.”

“And… the event we keep hearing about at the Obelisks?”

Another hallway, this one with a stairwell leading upwards to a second floor and more of this tangled mess of a home.

“Breaking chains, and the conflict there was something she did everything in her power to try and convince other… parties, to cease.”

That doesn’t settle their worries at the talks, but does make many of the Keepers to calm as we take to searching more spaces until…

Voices.

Then a girl I do not recognize is poking her head out of one of the far off openings. Not a bedroom but… a sitting space.

“Um… Hi.” She says carefully, eyes dancing over the group to settle on me.

Slowly filling with carefully repressed worry.

“Keeper Jessry, is Takroth with you?” The older man steps forward to speak before me.

“I… yeah.” She murmurs and looks back into the room.

A moment later a bigger and youthful Arudian male appears. Face weary with signs of distress slowly settling.

“Hey. Sorry. Just…” He rasps, but then his gaze takes me in. “Oh.”

“Have you seen another girl pass? She’d be a stranger to you.” I ask.

They both pause at the unexpected question.

“Zigdara, this is Takroth and Keeper Jessry.” The older man introduces, then turns to explain. “The High Duenna has arrived, and is apparently coming to each group alone to speak about our future. But she hasn’t seemed to return since the last two groups. This woman is her personal duenna.”

Takroth takes a deep breath to relax himself, while Jessry smiles through a grimace and shake of her head.

“No, you’re the first we’ve seen of anyone since we came here.” She replies.

I try not to let my worry show as I carefully offer. “My first duty is to my charge. You can all wait here for either her or another to send for you, or head toward this Wing’s entry hall. There you will find the other Keepers and Arudian males alongside those helping Ina organize all this. They can explain more.”

“We’ll talk it over.” The eldest Keeper nods to me.

“Thank you all for your patience in this. Now… could you please point me towards those stairs that lead to the rooftop?”