Just For Her
Mesha was different when it came to noble homes, it was much grander than any other. Once my mother got married to my father, her dowry when to building a castle as the family home. My grandfather on my mother’s side was a bit vain and materialistic. He wanted to flaunt that he was the father of the Queen of Vellum, specifically to the neighboring Maigny family. The Meshas and Maignys were not friendly with each other and it all really had to do with the House Batiste. My grandfather was best friend to Darren Batiste and Maximillian Maigny did not like that two of the more powerful families were linked especially since my father was to choose between my mother and Wilhelmina Maigny. Obviously, my father chose my mother so the Maignys didn’t much like having their noses rubbed in their loss. Wilhelmina eventually married a noble from the Seely realm and has since moved there, it was presumed that she wanted to flee her heartbreak. Since then, her brother William has hated the House Batiste since they believed Darren influenced my father’s decision. Darren had not done such a thing; it was really my grandfather who talked him into it over dinner. Darren was at that dinner that night and so William presumed he had a hand to play in it. He told his father Maximillian who had attended Alexandra’s coming of age ceremony. It was rumored that he was trying to use what he assumed was her naivety to make her a puppet to the Maignys. Unfortunately for Max, Alexandra is much more perceptive and sharper witted than he took her for.
I was overlooking the preparations for my small tea party that I was throwing in honor of Alexandra the next day when Panshad knocked on my door. I bid her to come in and she walked in to me and bowed, “Your Highness, I had word from the spy that is trained on Blackwood. Apparently, The Batiste was attacked earlier today…” I cut her off furious at whoever dared to try again, “Who did this?! I will find them and make them pay!” She sighed, “Please, Your Highness, let me finish what I was going to say.” I nodded, “Fine.” I threw myself in my chair and gestured for her to sit down. She sat leisurely and crossed her legs, “It was her room that was attacked while she was with the Queen Mother. Her bodyguards swept her room before they allowed her into the room. She had a threat written on her wall in blood. Unfortunately, the spy was tailing Alexandra so he didn’t get to see who broke in but they used no portal. Her window was shattered.” I leaned my elbows against my knees and clasped my hands, “So did he see what was written?” She nodded and continued, “It was something along the lines of essentially leave or die. He also observed the investigation the Citadel was conducting. They believe she did this herself since the scent of her blood was faintly the same as the scent of the blood on the wall.” I slapped my thigh, “They know nothing. Those people are idiots.” She shrunk at the dangerous look I had in my eyes, “The Chalshin said they will test her blood against the wall sample. The spy says that the Citadel is currently conducting an interview with Lord Malinus in attendance. They are using a Meshan stone as well.” I nodded, “No doubt my brother sent him as her legal representative since she is only 18. I will have to thank Lucien later. I want to be updated on the investigation, send a spy to plant a stone in the General’s office so I can listen in.”
She rose from her seat, “As you will it, Your Highness. I will inform him right away.” I went over to the window and looked down at the tables being set up in the rose garden and I furrowed my brows. I knew that if they even thought Alexandra did this herself that she might be detained. I didn’t want that for her, the Citadel’s dungeons were no place for her. She was the light shining through the darkness and I just knew that her light would dim if she was in such a dark place. I drew in a sharp breath, dropped my head and whispered, “Aphrodite, keep watch over her and help her through this.” I felt a cool air brush my cheek which turned into a hand, “My goodness, you are a beautiful boy. No wonder she thinks so highly of you.” I looked over my shoulder and saw a woman who looked almost the same as Alexandra but her skin was glowing and the color was almost ivory-like. She giggled, “You asked me to keep watch over her, I figured I would show myself and let you know that she will be fine.” A look of surprise came across my face, “Aphrodite?” She smiled, “Yes, it is rare that I show myself so count yourself lucky child.” I nodded, “You said she would be fine. Do you know who did this?” She shook her head, “I am not able to see all aspects of her life. I observe her where she goes but I do not have the ability to observe her home. I was told by Brigit that she was not the culprit but that someone is using her family to frame her in a way that they are unaware. Brigit says there are two noble houses backing The Order but she is not allowed to say, the All Mighty forbids us from interfering completely. He has allowed me this leave to assist you a little. He needs her for Vellum so He is willing to let us help a little.” I rubbed my chin, “Why me though? Why not Lucien?” She smiled, “You are willing to do anything just for her, Lucien is tied to the official channels and rules that his position requires. Do what you must to find out the details for her. I want her to be safe and you are the best choice to ensure that happens.” She disappeared shortly after she said those words to me.
I knew that I would need help to root out who it was that was amongst the nobles trying to hurt Alexandra. I walked over to the drawer that I kept the magical tools and stones in and pulled out a mirror. It was black with vines on it, I had obtained it from Dorothea on the night we had the long conversation about The Order. I had gained a lot of operational knowledge from her and this helped to penetrate some of their operations. We were able to disrupt their supply chain but I was trying to go bigger. With the knowledge that two noble houses were involved in this endeavor, I needed Dorothea to assist me in trying to find out who. I spoke to the mirror, “Please connect me to Dorothea the Wise.” I rolled my eyes at having to say that because she irritated me and sometimes, I didn’t feel that was anywhere close to being wise. Her face came into view and she smiled at me, “Hi brat, is there something you need?” I sighed, “Yes, I was just visited by a very interesting visitor that is a very powerful and close ally with Alexandra. She said that there are two noble houses involved with The Order. Did you know this?” She looked up and had an expression that indicated that she was thinking hard, “I only know of one, there must be a newcomer to the game. What do your spies say?” I closed my eyes in frustration, “They say that everyone is masked so we aren’t able to see who the identities are and they use portals so it’s not like they can tail them.” She chuckled, “I will have to show you a neat little trick that Z came up with when we were little. She was clever but stingy in her information.” I rolled my eyes, “That sounds familiar.” She grunted, “Watch your mouth brat! I am nothing like that pretentious hag! Bad enough she’s going to get a bigger head now that she has been summoned by the current King.”
She looked around her room and rustled through a few things before she said, “Ah! Here’s what I’m looking for. I will bring you this book for the party tomorrow.” I nodded, “Is there any other way to find out who the nobles are?” She shook her head, “Nope but I can tell you that their lone assassin really is something. I caught a glance at his eyes once. They were an oceanic blue and he had a look about him that seemed like he never experienced emotions before.” I furrowed my brow, “I thought they had a small unit of assassins. What do you mean their lone assassin?” She shrugged, “They used to but this one was so good at what he did, they had him kill the rest for their entertainment. The humans had this thing called Gladiators back in their ancient times, it was sort of like that.” I furrowed my brows, “I don’t know if word has reached you yet but they threatened her again. Left a blood message on her wall. Apparently, they used her family’s blood somehow.” Her jaw clenched, “Has anyone accounted for her parents or grandfather? Her cousin Malinus?” I shrugged, “I know Malinus is fine. They suspect her so he was acting as her legal representative in her interview. As for the others, I can find out quickly. I can quickly find out about Darren quickly.” She smiled at me, “Please do. It would ease my mind if I knew my old friend was still okay.” I nodded at her, “I will see it is done.”
I heard another knock on my door, “Enter.” Panshad entered, “Your Highness, The Batiste has been cleared. Her blood sample only partially matched the blood in her room. Given that it was a partial match the General now knows that it is a family member so he, with the King’s permission, has ordered that his soldiers will take the blood samples of Malinus, Darren, Reginald and Talia.” I looked at Panshad, “I need to find out if all of those but Malinus is okay. I don’t believe any of them are helping The Order but they may have been kidnapped and I am concerned for Alexandra’s family.” She nodded, “I will check myself.” I looked at her, “Make sure you aren’t seen in Terre using a portal.” She bowed, “Understood, Your Highness. I shall endeavor to be stealthy.” I heard a throat clear on the other end of the mirror, “Pardon me but from what I remember your witch isn’t the best at portals. I would like to accompany her.” I sighed, “Fine. Get here as fast as you can.” Just then a bright light came into my study, “I had intended to brat.” She held her hand out to Panshad and shook it, “Nice to meet you, I’m Dorothea the Wise.” She gasped at Dorothea, “Oh wise one, I am honored that you are here to show me the way.” She smiled at her, “Come I will help you fine tune your portal skills. We can start with a portal to Blackwood, I want to check in on the young lady before we set out to Terre.” Panshad’s eyes widened and she looked at me, “I don’t know if I am allowed to look upon her most divine face.” I smiled, Panshad had revered Alexandra as a deity since she was the soul child of Aphrodite. She felt she needed to ask my permission to look at her so I nodded, “Please check in on her and report back to me before you leave for Terre.”
