“A difference in Tier is not insurmountable. Even so, common wisdom would suggest that one should not bother with the attempt without good reason. Can anyone posit what some common reasons might be?”

~Unknown

If one were so inclined, they may argue that technically - technically - I did not know the scope of Rosita’s pair of equally daunting titles. Technically. By that same logic, I could technically tell them to fuck right off if they felt said inclination. It did not take a genius to infer that any title prefaced by the descriptor ‘grand’ comfortably resided in ‘do not trifle with’ territory.

I continued drawing steadily from my Skills, urging the resulting trickle of mana to keep my mounting anxiety at bay. Mentally, I checked in with my legs - a litmus test, of sorts.

Any shaking going on down there? Being legs, they did not respond, but I still became cognizant of the fact that they remained steady. Thank you Perseverance.

I wrangled with my erratic coping mechanisms at the speed of thought. Mere seconds had passed and, save for the persistent growling of Vigil and Fudge, no one had yet responded to Rosita’s pronouncement. The gaze of a grand Inquisitor swept over everyone. Watching. Waiting. There was an intensity to the attention, a scrutiny, a weight. I knew not yet what Rosita was searching for, only that hiding it from her would be folly.

It was impossible not to be reminded of Bella, albeit in the same way one might compare a faint drizzle to the vehicle throwing might of a typhoon. At the thought, my eyes flicked towards Bella’s family who remained huddled together, as if doing so would allow them to weather the living storm.

Someone needed to break the stalemate, and Tina had fallen uncharacteristically silent. Conjecture as to why would not change things.

I gulped.

Fuck it.

“They do not normally send Grand Inquisitors to do this, do they?” Despite wishing for the contrary, my voice cracked. I reached out to rest my hand against Fudge, the familiar feel of rough fur between my fingers enough to retain what little nerve I’d been able to muster. Beneath my touch, Fudge’s growl slowly receded into a deceptive quiet. His hackles remained raised.

In response to my question, Rosita raised a polite hand to her mouth and chuckled.

“I do so appreciate the perceptive ones. Yes, child, they do not normally send the Grand Inquisitor.” It was not just amusement I heard, but approval.

“Why are you here, Rosita?” Tina finally spoke up, and I did not think the timing was a coincidence. Behind Rosita, her escort scowled.

“You will address the Grand Inquisitor with her title,” he barked, taking half a step forward. At the very least, he seemed the loyal sort.

‘Peace,” Rosita interrupted flatly, her face suddenly devoid of any mirth. “You must forgive Guardsman Lenzo,” she added sweetly, briefly turning her attention back to me. “His passion is not yet tempered.” The man in question bristled but otherwise returned to his position.

“As for you, Lady Duscall, you were once granted permission to address me casually as a gesture of respect, one primarily for your father’s benefit. Given the nature of this conversation, you may consider that permission temporarily suspended.” Rosita shifted her posture slightly, angling her dead down to make it clear she was speaking to Bella and I directly.

“With that matter settled, I shall attempt to answer the initial question. Unfortunately, Ms. Duscall’s choice of words left much to be desired. It would be perfectly reasonable to interpret such imprecise language as evidence of inattentiveness, for I already stated my purpose.”

Rosita referred to my mother as Lady Duscall, a detail that roused curiosity and threatened a cognitive tangent if not for Perseverance.

You can only take one shit at a time, Will.

“You know exactly what I was asking,” Tina snapped back, taking a step towards the Grand Inquisitor. Tulos placed a hand on her shoulder; I couldn’t tell if it was a show of support or an attempt at restraint.

“What of the children?” Lianda added her voice to proceedings in an admirable attempt to refocus the discussion. “We wish to petition against their conscription.”

“Parents in your particular position usually do.” Rosita tapped her chin with a single finger. “I wonder, do you know who it was who informed The Crown regarding your daughter’s Core Skill?” The implication was enough to inspire a flash of visible fury that shattered Lianda’s composure.

“Who. Was. It?” Venom dripped from every word. Figuello flinched at his wife’s sudden vitriol, which felt uncharacteristic even to me.

“Unfortunately, I cannot disclose that information,” Rosita replied, seemingly unbothered by the outburst. Lianda seethed at the empty answer. Figuello’s stare grew vacant, burdened by the sudden realization that every one of his relationships would now fall into question.

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Rosita was uncannily adroit with needled words, unnaturally so. It was a Skill, it had to be.

“The petition,” Tulos rumbled. There was an edge to his voice, a subtle shift that betrayed his frustration to those who knew what to listen for.

“Any petition will need to go through the proper channels in Sentrodah,” Rosita replied curtly. “Here, today, I will not be swayed. There is sufficient evidence for me to make an informed decision on the matter.”

Tulos frowned.

“You can not just-”

“Do not presume to dictate my capabilities.” Rosita sighed. “Children, come here. We will not delay any longer.” There was a finality to the words, said with the easy confidence of someone who knew their will could not be opposed.

“No…” All thoughts of anger abandoned, Lianda knelt down and pulled Bella into an embrace. “Please… you must not take her away from me.” A final, desperate plea that came out as barely more than a whisper. The death throes of a mother’s hope.

Bella leaned into her mother’s embrace and started to tremble, the reality of the situation finally dawning on her. She shook her head from side to side and I heard her muttering but could not make out the words. I didn’t need to.

“What happens if Bella and I say no?” I stepped away from my parents, hoping that my apparent value would allow a measure of insolence.

“Will, you-”

“It is quite alright,” Rosita interrupted Tina’s attempt at a warning. Not that I needed to hear it. I knew what she was going to say. “Questions from an inquisitive child are to be expected.”

Rosita closed the distance between us before easing into a modest squat. I felt a stab of panic through the Tamer Bond.

Easy, boy, she will not hurt me… I think. Fudge stayed back, but I got the impression he was not entirely convinced.

“Inquisitive or not, you are a child. The choice is not yours to make. You will come to Sentrodah where you will be taught how to best use your Skills. Your needs will be seen to. You will be educated. You will be given a purpose. It is a privilege not afforded to many. Be proud. Be grateful.”

If you remove emotion from the equation, it doesn’t sound like an awful arrangement. Not that I expected her to present the situation as anything other than a positive opportunity. Rosita watched me, once again wearing a gentle smile as she waited for my reaction.

“What if I refuse the lessons? What if I try to run away?”

“As I said, you will be educated.” The gentle rebuttal was given with no apparent mind for how ominous it sounded. “Does that answer your question?”

“It does not. If anything, you were imprecise.” Forethought abandoned me as I jabbed at Rosita’s hypocrisy. Instead of a frown or a scowl, she responded with a grin that would unnerve the Cheshire Cat.

“Correct, child. Imprecise language is unnecessary and understandably infuriating… When wielded by your mother, I refused to indulge her curiosity. When one wants something that must be given, it is best to be precise. If you wished to similarly deny me, I would respect that position, yet I would not go wanting. Can you guess why?”

The more Rosita spoke, the more I felt my stomach twist into an uncomfortable knot. I nodded.

“Tell me,” she said.

“You could take from me what I do not give.” It was all I could do not to spit the answer.

“Correct,” she cooed before leaning in close enough to whisper. “If you do not like that reality, then grow strong enough to resist it.” In one fluid motion, she stood back up before once again addressing everyone.

“It is time to leave. I will not say it a third time, so-” Rosita’s eyes settled on Tina and Tulos, who stood hand-in-hand and watched her warily. “How very curious,” she mused. “Given the circumstances, one might describe your reaction to your son’s imminent departure as… underwhelming. It begs the question as to why.”

“You are already taking our son away,” Tina said flatly, her eyes full of reignited defiance. “You do not get to watch us lament the time you are stealing.” Tulos nodded his support.

“No, that is not the reason,” Rosita practically purred as she stalked beyond me to get closer to them. “There is something else, something you are hiding from me. You will tell me what that something is.”

“You are overstepping your authority,” Tina’s reply came after a moment’s hesitation. I’d spun to watch the confrontation, leaving Rosita with her back turned to me when she froze in her tracks, becoming eerily still.

“For one so presumptuous, you seem to lack confidence. If you insist, I will act within the bounds of my authority.” I could feel a pressure pouring out of her, growing increasingly oppressive with every word. “Bella of Elbura and Will Duscall are, from this moment, officially in my charge. During deliberations on the matter, the Bonded Beast of one Tina Duscall displayed open acts of aggression. Until such a time as the safety of the children can be guaranteed, the animal shall be incapacitated as a precautionary measure.”

Tina ripped away from Tulos, her hands curling into talons as she advanced on Rosita.

“You bitch,” she snarled. Responding to the needs of his Tamer, Vigil snarled and looked poised to leap at the Grand Inquisitor.

Rosita’s arm blurred, moving with a speed I struggled to comprehend. Tina opened her mouth to say something else, but cut off with a strangled cry. I barely heard it. Not at first. Not over Vigil’s sudden yelps of agony as he collapsed into a writhing, crying mass of torment.

When Fudge’s Advancement remade him, and mana ripped and tore at every fiber of his being, I was there to hear his cries. The sounds coming out of Vigil were worse, primal and soaked in despair. I could only imagine what Tina was experiencing through the Tamer Bond, for with every passing moment her involuntary spasms were joined with increasing feral screeches. Blood poured from her nose and the fresh wounds on her palms, lacerated by her own fingernails.

Vigil thrashed, giving me a glimpse of what looked like a large, metal porcupine quill sprouting from his shoulder. It had to be the culprit.

Mere seconds had passed. Rosita watched with a cool indifference. I felt Fudge’s anger and aggression through the Tamer Bond and knew he was preparing to attack the woman responsible for hurting his sire.

“Fudge, no!” I screamed, both aloud and through the Tamer Bond. It was enough to galvanize me into action.

A rush of air from behind me. The distinct clash of metal against metal audible above the agony. It was enough to make Fudge hesitate; someone else had moved before him. I skid to a stop and stared with my mouth agape.

Dad?!