Holder Family retreats.

  The largest of Holdings often sprawl across multiple locations. They have their primary Holding, the seat of their power. Secondary Constructs for their Heirs or Cadet branches to administer, or simply to ensure they have a ready presence in various Ponds should they require them.

  Then there are the retreats, private residences only for the family and most trusted of advisors. A location meant to be enjoyed away from the everyday challenges of the WidePond. Sometimes the location is known, somewhere of historical importance to the Holding. Other times it is a secret, a private Pond or simply a unmarked Construct in a popular destination.

  Retreats are for family, for privacy, for comfort. They are rarely for friends or new relationships.

  ~ * ~

  Lyselle stormed through Holding Lys. Guards turned towards her in recognition then slammed to attention and stared blankly in to space, courtiers raised a hand in greeting before dropping into bows. Her Seneschal fell into step behind her, saying nothing, simply attending.

  She had been talking with Anya, opening up to her daughter for perhaps the first time in her life when she'd felt it. She'd been taking a moment, considering her next words, trying to find the phrasing that would let her explain why she'd been so distant, why she'd never shown her any warmth.

  She'd barely been a parent to either of her children, but especially to Anya. She'd been focused on what was best for the Holding, not what was best for them. She'd been cold, frigid- She barely paused as she felt the resonance once more, as though her whole being rippled. Understand herself, it really was that simple.

  She'd excused herself, barely followed the proper forms and watched Anya, a young woman who had already surpassed her, close herself off and take her leave. She'd held herself together, held the writhing energy at bay. For once she registered the ice coating her cup, for once she felt the chill in the air. Looking back she'd known, she'd always known, she just had refused to see.

  "Cancel everything," she snapped as she stepped into her quarters.

  "Your Majesty?" Tomas said.

  "The wall. I understand."

  "Consider it done."

  She barely nodded, her eyes glued to the door to her private meditation chamber. She was ready, she was more than ready. It was time.

  "Good luck Elle," she heard him whisper as she shut the door.

  Sinking to the floor she tried to center her thoughts, tried to calm herself enough to grasp the Energies she needed to. Her thoughts raced, memories of every time she'd ignored her tendencies. The chilled drinks, the cold food, the frost cracks on her furniture. The intensity that came when her emotions ruled, when everything took on the clearest of hues.

  She let herself accept the blindness, how could she not. She let the moments pass, the memories filling in the blanks. She would do better, she had to. She would be past the wall, she would be able to finally advance once more. Her Holding would be able to advance, her trusted few, her elites, and her guards finally free to make their own attempts.

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  Her breath steadied, her thoughts calmed. Everything grew still as she focused on the resonance, when she grasped the thought that had shown her the way.

  Frigid. She was frigid, she was the calm, the lens, the moment of stillness. She felt the moment stretch, felt herself advance. She didn't know how long she sat there, how quickly or slowly she made the transition. It didn't matter, she was at peace and she was in the moment she needed to be.

  She came face to face with her awareness of self and tried not to flinch. She was past the wall, she was Sovereign Lys and she understood. She owed apologies to Tomas for the small acts that had hurt him over the years. She owed her daughters more, she vowed to do better.

  Rising to her feet she felt the smallest of cracks forming on her cheeks, frozen trails of tears shattering as her skin moved. She took the briefest moment to steady herself before exiting the room. She could feel the difference, she couldn't explain it, not yet, but she knew it was there.

  Tomas was waiting outside, rising from her chair to bow in greeting.

  "Twenty-eight hours," he said.

  "It didn't feel that long, but it also felt longer. It…" she couldn't explain, how could she explain how it felt without explaining everything that went along with it, without telling him what her memories had shown her.

  "I've been cruel," she said at last. "Uncaring. I lashed out when you didn't deserve it. I'm sorry."

  "No need your Majesty. It is your right-"

  "Tomas!" she snapped, cutting him off. "I'm sorry."

  "Elle, there's nothing to forgive."

  "Thank you. You're wrong, but thank you."

  He nodded then bowed once more.

  "I'll have dinner sent. Will you be letting your court know tomorrow?"

  "Yes. Thank you."

  Once he left she found herself yawning. Twenty-eight hours of what was essentially meditation and yet she was exhausted. Tomorrow would be a busy day, as would many of the next. But she'd be able to Dive again, she'd just have to gain access to appropriate Depths.

  ~ * ~

  Valene stared at the newest reports in disgust. Useless, wastes of time, incomplete. What was the point of requesting a Senior Seer to collect information for him if they couldn't find anything he didn't already know. This was the seventh Seer in as many months.

  He hadn't had this much trouble with his reports in years. He'd tell Phelann what he wanted, sometimes have to answer a request or two for clarification, and then the report would show up in his feed in a reasonable amount of time. It might not be perfect, she might need to dig in and provide subsequent reports for elaboration, but at least it was always actionable.

  He didn't agree with her choice to leave the Council, how could he. She was giving up access to so much. He hadn't stopped her, she was clearly happy with her choice, determined to move forward. She'd told him more than he needed to know, actually volunteering information about how close she'd gotten to the pair.

  He understood why she was concerned about how the situation might have been perceived, it certainly was questionable. Even knowing her as well as he did, having seen her ability to remain professional at all times, he would have had doubts had she told him earlier.

  Joining as family? Their making the offer, accepting her without hesitation? He was happy for her, he wouldn't hold it against her in the slightest. Leaving him without anyone competent when he needed true research done? That was the issue.

  He couldn't assign the work to her, he couldn't have it count towards her responsibilities to the Council. He couldn't… could he?

  His feed flickered, barely able to keep up with his pace as he dove through the records and rulings that applied. Seers who were part of the Council were expected to perform work for the Council and were compensated at fair rates for success. Faster and more complete work meant greater compensation, allowing for faster advancement.

  Holding Seers were limited in their access to Council information based on their Holding's policies and standards, as well as their advancement. Compensation rates were based on Council rates, adjusted for market needs. Seers in good standing could be-

  There it was. Phelann was in good standing, her advancement granted her access to almost all available knowledge, except that which was restricted by OverSeer purview or above unless directly approved. Holding Syl did not have any of the typical Feudal limitations on knowledge. She'd be able to perform the same work as she had when she was his protege.

  Nodding in satisfaction he sent off a message, asking whether she would be interested in the work and ensuring she was aware of what the compensation would be. He doubted she'd refuse, the Seer he'd seen advance to this point was not the type to turn down a challenge or opportunity to push her advancement.

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