“Are we close?” Yana asked annoyed.

“In a few minutes.” Ailen forced a polite smile, while her daughter stared at the potential enemy with a complicated expression.

Yana wasn’t oblivious to their deliberately stalling, and she could even guess their motives, not that she cared about it in the slightest. The last couple of weeks of running ‘urgent’ chores at the province capital had been extremely boring except for the enjoyment of observing poor Asha succumbing to her playful pressure, still, she went along with her hostess's obvious attempt of delay. Contrary to what the elves thought, she wasn’t interested in catching any potential acts of treason that any of the border provinces would surely have.

The young Clow didn’t have any delusions of being an actual Overseer. She knew very well that her mission was either a stunt to free the court of her undesirable presence or a trap to clear her name from the family records once and for all. Of course, whichever reason would also have the benefit of putting some pressure on the elven court by sending a message that the Clows held a tight rope around the neck of their promising highness.

Well, leaving the Clow nest wasn’t all bad as she could finally breathe without fearing being poisoned by some cousin. Still, to be formally made unwelcomed hurt. Fortunately, Yana had developed a tough hide through all of those years of being despised and humiliated. So, she would rather face the situation as an opportunity to plot her revenge.

Asha knew better than antagonizing and giving more ammunition to the woman who already seemed to have something against her. However, how should she react to such an unexpected change? Aside from the trick of the Minister on the castle balcony, she had never been exposed to an open display of neuromancy. So, reacting confusedly was still acceptable. Wasn’t the girl coming to Mountainend to throw the weight of the Clows? So, why was she giving up on the power of the name?

“You call me Yana of Emperorseat in public, understand?” The young woman who had magically transformed her purple hair and eyes into a common brown said. The commanding tone left no doubt that this was an order and not a question.

“Yes, Lady… Miss Yana.” Asha answered while Ailen only nodded.

The young elf cursed herself silently. Besides putting her family and city in such a situation she still gave the hateful Clow such an ease handle on herself. She was failing her parents’ education and shaming her royal blood, but everything was happening so fast. How was she to adapt to it?

However, she knew that this was just an excuse. Her mother had been placed in the same situation but never failed to react accordingly. She didn’t even flinch when Asha came crying at the Clow meeting, nor when the Overseer revealed the power of her craft by casting an illusion inside the carriage without muttering a single word. Ailen Treefehl could be annoying as a mother, but she never failed her duties and name. If it wasn’t for her resourcefulness of somehow sending a message to Mountainend even before they left the Seat, and later boldness to fool around with the Clow for two weeks while ever smiling, her family would have been done for.

Yana’s actions of using her holomancy to impersonate a commoner instead wearing the titles of Clow and Overseer could be confusing to most. However, for Ailen who was kind of an expert on fighting a war on two fronts, against a powerful enemy and an overbearing family, the girl’s bold stance was but child’s play. Though the girl's mastery of the illusion craft almost got her. She couldn’t understand how the Clows could consider such power undesirable. Well, she would concede that more than often royal families could lack in the department of common sense.

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On the other side of the carriage, young Yana couldn’t be prouder of her double-edged attack on her family and hosts. Naively, she would never imagine that her motives and plan had been seen through by the smiling cunning elf. By using her despised craft to spit on the consolation title given to her, she was sending a rebellious message to the court while protecting herself with the excuse of going undercover to better complete her mission, which was, publicly, accompanying and helping the gifted Asha; officially in Clow ranks, monitoring the girl while keeping an eye for rebellions; but truly, just getting rid of annoyances for the family, both herself and the Treefehl girl.

The carriage entered town and proceed towards the town square, where a small entourage was waiting for them at the entrance of the Town Hall. Once they arrived, the tired driver tidy himself before moving to open the coach’s door and helping the ladies down. Asha and Ailen went out first, the latter exchanged a warning glance with the mayor who waited accompanied by the town assets manager and a few other officials. Then, a brown-haired fair skin young woman exited the carriage earning a confused look from the officials.

“This is Miss Yana of Emperorseat, daughter of a friend. She will be staying in town for a few months… I hope everyone can show her the borderland's hospitality.” Ailen quickly explained.

The shocked Ehran got the message and readily composed himself. He looked back at his subordinates with a threatening glare before stepping forward to welcome Yana.

“Welcome, Miss Yana. I’m sure you’ll love the stay…” He said politely while feigning an unfinished bow. Though he despised nobility, especially the Clows, it was better to tread carefully.

The others offered polite greetings with a clear respectful distance which reveal that they knew her true identity. Then, the mayor guided the ladies towards a small but luxurious house beside the Town Hall. In small towns, the governance would receive distinguished guests either in an official guest residence or in the mayor’s or one of the wealthy merchants’ houses. There was also a sumptuous meal expecting the Clow but it was customary to give the guests some time to clean themselves before anything.

Surprisingly, the girl refused the banquet and just asked for the meal to be sent later before excusing herself from their company. She also asked to be attended only by two servants, one for cleaning and a couch driver, sending most of the mayor’s ‘spies’ away. The Clow didn’t have to nor bother being polite with the elves. Unfortunately, she couldn’t refuse the housing arrangements since the town probably didn’t have another proper lodge, nor the servants because she was strange in town, and bringing someone from the Seat would just be inviting a more dangerous snake.

The day passed and only after a new dawn, the Clow decided to leave the guest house. She walked around the city passing by the market and tavern, completely fooling the mayor’s expectations who was prepared for her visit and scrutiny of the town’s records. Instead of playing into their enemy’s hands, Yana was more interested in actually understanding the town and looking for a handle on her hosts.

Her cunning behavior proved fruitful as she learned about the town's current hot topic. An unknown store that was bringing sudden success to a former failed hunter and that had picked the interest of a few adventurers and out-of-town mercenaries. The place called ‘The bookstore’ seemed to be a magic emporium according to Yana’s big city expertise. Which brought all kinds of questions. Why would a respectful emporium open in such a deserted place? And how was it bringing fast changes where many failed in the last ten years?

Regardless, she knew how propaganda could easily influence the common folk, so she could only draw any conclusions after seeing the place. The young Clow smiled wickedly satisfied with already finding something interesting. She didn’t have any hesitation in calling the coach driver and setting towards the famed bookstore.

A hurricane was coming to the bookstore. Would Anne’s roots be deep enough to survive it or…