Checking In
The Order was stacking up favors that I owed them for messing with my beloved and I would definitely pay them back. The audacity that someone would continue to threaten someone clearly so close to the crown was flooring to me. They were cocky just because we haven’t caught them yet. It was then that a thought popped into my head and I pulled a paper out of my desk and started to write it out. I would have to talk to Dorothea about it when she got back from her mission. I was grateful that she was willing to teach my witch how to create portals properly, this would come in handy in the future. Panshad was taken in by my family when she was little, her family was killed in the dragon attack just as she was supposed to receive her aptitude tests for training. Her mother was only able to conduct the wind magic test to which she was average. Vanessa conducted her fire magic test which was slightly above average. To create portals efficiently, you needed the proper training which she did not have. Vanessa was too busy with school and Panshad was not able to attend because she was very different from those in Vellum. The Fae are looked down upon in Vellum because of the great wars and her father was fae. He had been kicked out of the Seely realm for wanting peace with the Magical realm. He came her under my father’s protection but that didn’t exclude him from discrimination. Because Panshad has the pointed ears associated with being fae, she wouldn’t have had a peaceful time. My father decided that she would self study and she has done well so far but Dorothea teaching her about portals is invaluable to her.
Just as I was finished writing down my plan, my stone buzzed and I heard Panshad on the other end, “Your Highness, we are awaiting audience with The Batiste. The maid said she would fetch her for us. Do you have a message or orders for me?” I spoke to her, “Just assure her that Mesha is behind her and that we are doing everything we can on our end to protect her. Leave the stone on so I can listen and I will go silent. I’m working on something right now so I need to keep my focus on it if I want it to succeed.” Panshad assured me that she would keep the listening end on. A door opened on the other end and I could hear Panshad, “Your Grace, it is an honor to meet you. I am Panshad, I work for His Grace the Duke of Mesha.” Alexandra spoke, “Nice to meet you Panshad. How is His Grace? Not working too hard, I hope.” The gentleness of her voice when she asked about me made my heart skip a beat. Before when I met with her, she would be friendly but awkward like she didn’t know what to think of me. Now it sounded like she was genuinely was curious about my well being, I had wondered what had changed. Panshad said, “He works hard but it is for your safety Your Grace. He truly cares about you and wants you to remain alive and well. In that spirit, he is trying his best to dismantle The Order. We heard about your latest threat and he sent me here to check in on you. I hope you don’t mind.” Alexandra giggled, “I appreciate the sentiment but I don’t know if I was really in danger this time. It is merely a threat. What is more troubling is that someone has used my own family against me. Please assure Prince Blake that I am well and thank him for his hard work to keep me safe. It really has not gone unnoticed.”
I could hear Dorothea speak, “Your Grace, my name is Dorothea. I reside on your land to the north.” Alexandra spoke, “Dorothea, I understand that you are the one who made the antidote for my poisoning. Thank you for that.” Dorothea said, “It was not a problem Your Grace. Your family has always treated me well so I felt that I must repay that kindness.” I could hear movement, likely towards Dorothea then Alexandra spoke and it was louder this time, “Whoever decided to bestow their kindness towards you probably did it because you were considered a friend which means you are my friend too.” Panshad broke in to the conversation, “Miss Dorothea, we must get going to complete our tasks. His Highness will be expecting to hear from us to make sure all is well.” Alexandra spoke, “Oh? Do you mind telling me what your task is?” Panshad hesitated but I didn’t mind if she told Alexandra, “He wants us to check on your remaining family members to see that they are safe. Since the blood left here was of your family, we are making sure The Order didn’t harm them.” Alexandra gasped, “I hadn’t even thought about that. Would you mind letting me know how they are when you come back through?” Dorothea said, “Absolutely, I don’t believe the brat would have any objections if we report back to you.” Alexandra asked, "The brat?" Panshad answered, "Apparently, this is a nickname she has given His Highness.” Alexandra asked, “And he tolerates this?” Dorothea chuckled, “Not really but he gives as good as he gets. He calls me old hag.” Alexandra giggled and I felt a blush creep into my face, “I think that’s really cute. It’s like you two are like grandmother and grandson. I like that. Well, don’t let me keep you waiting. I will walk you ladies to the door.” I could hear some walking, Alexandra saying her goodbyes and the door closing.
Panshad spoke again, “Your Highness, we are going to move on to Terre. I will contact you again once we confirm Darren Batiste is okay. Dorothea says that we can’t portal directly from Vellum to Terre so we need to use the gateway.” I told her, “Okay, I don’t need to listen in. Just let me know if all are accounted for once you are done checking in on them. Make sure to let Alexandra know how her family is once you are done.” I could hear a whoosh of a portal opening on the other end and Panshad replied, “Understood Your Highness. We will be going silent now.” With that I heard the click on the other end and I went back to drawing out my plan. I would need to bring in my head spy to the meeting with Dorothea to implement this. I had thought to myself that this would be the best way to find out more about The Order and I would need to know the best way to implement it. I would also need to go see my brother to borrow an item that I had heard he commissioned from Vanessa before or maybe I should ask her to make me an item less conspicuous. She might be willing to help me out if it means protecting her goddaughter. Vanessa wasn’t really on Team Blake since she thought that I would actually think about harming Alexandra. She had found me both possessive and obsessed which she felt made me dangerous. I could never harm Alexandra, at least not willingly.
Once my plan was done and drawn up, I went back to overseeing the preparations for the party I was going to hold in Alexandra’s honor the next day. I wanted things to be perfect so that she can maybe see that Mesha could be her home one day. I had invited some of the more prominent families in Mesha along with some of our noble allies and Lady Kellen. I know Alexandra highly valued her friendship with Jess and I wanted her to feel comfortable. I probably would have invited Lady Kellen anyhow since her family is highly valuable to the Royal Family. Lord Kellen is our finest diplomat and has been on many successful missions to bring peace to Vellum. His first mission happened to be to the Seely realm. I found myself in the garden looking at how the crew was setting up the tables. I stopped one of the workers to ensure that the name cards were placed properly. I wanted to make sure I was sitting with both Alexandra and Jess. I had also asked that the flowers be in a smaller vase which consisted of white Asiatic lilies and lavender roses. This was a subtle symbolism of our two houses being together. Our flower color is actually red but it clashed with the lavender roses when put together so I opted for white. I had intertwined roses within everything of this party, the teacups had roses on the rim and roses on the saucers.
As I was overseeing the finishing touches, the stone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled the stone out and spoke, “Panshad, how is the situation?” Panshad spoke on the other end, “Your Highness, everyone is well and accounted for. His Grace was concerned that someone would use blood from family to smear in The Batiste’s room. He said that the Esperanza’s have another son of course which is the Count of Helinia but they know that he is well because he was actually in London at his sister’s invitation. They are not aware of any other family than Malinus.” I thought back to when Aphrodite appeared before me and told me that the family member was not aware that they were assisting The Order. I furrowed my brow and wonder aloud, “I wonder if someone was hypnotized or being puppeted.” Panshad cleared her throat, “Are you alright, Your Highness?” I let silence fall as I regarded the words that Aphrodite said to me during her visit. I think the key to finding anything out was to implement my plan. I spoke again, “I’m fine. Are you done with Alexandra then?” She sighed, “Yes but I didn’t want to leave. She had to shoo us out because she needed to go buy a new dress for your party tomorrow. Dorothea offered to make a portal for her carriage so that she could get to Mesha easier.” I asked, “Did she take her up on that?” Dorothea chuckled, “Of course she did, especially after Panshad told her how long it takes to get there via carriage. She offered for me to go with her so I will be arriving with The Batiste.” I spoke to Dorothea specifically, “Can you stay for a while when you bring Panshad back? I have an idea on The Order front but I need your input.” You could hear the smile in her voice as she said, “Sure kid, I think I can spare a few moments. It better be what I think it is because if it is I really want to assist.”
