Chelsea ArrivesIt had been a week since Biyu had Lord Sebastian sent home. Since then, she had restarted her studies with her Master. Learning in her Hell was a strange experience. On the one hand, she had the freedom to share the shapes of techniques in the open air. On the other, techniques did not work in her Hell. Mana was a thing of the world, and the soul could not contain it. Curses affect body, mind, and one's mana pool, but not the soul. After she left her Hell, she would have to recreate them from her memories.

  Except, her Master taught her a new godly technique. She was taught how to pass on techniques through a blessing. When she asked her Master why she had to make them manually before, Shishi told her, "Because, my adorable disciple, learning to make the shapes helps you learn how modify them ter. It was training to make the techniques your own, over time. Now, we need not waste the time when I can simply bestow them. You can py with the techniques on your own ter. Now, when you have cultists, you can bestow them Awakenings and techniques. Why do you cultists are willing to risk the Hells worshiping demons?"

  Practicing with thralls was a difficult proposition, as even within the main residence privacy was hard to ensure. There was a technique room, where a formation etched into the floor would hide her from observation, but she was not sure if she could trust it. Still, she practiced and improved.

  One of the hardest tasks her Master set for her was becoming used to inhabiting both her soul and her body at the same time. It taxed her in a way she could not define, but her Master told her that was normal at her current Step. With increased Divinity, she would have more to shape her separate 'selves'. Eventually, she would be able to make thralls of herself, although those were accurately called Avatars.

  Biyu was rexing, after another day of practice, on the veranda with Iris. They were looking at the desote garden which had been prepared for winter, when a runner came from the Greater Pace to inform them that Lady Chelsea had arrived. Iris immediately barked orders that sent the servants scurrying about cleaning and preparing additional rooms, and preparing a repast for weary travelers. Iris's eyes gleamed with uncharacteristic excitement. Crice looked on, offering a few words of advice to smooth out preparations.

  "Are you looking forward to meeting Lady Chelsea?" Biyu asked Iris between orders.

  "Hmm? No, Lady Biyu. It's Anya I'm looking forward to meeting."

  "You still intend to invite her into our family?"

  "Perhaps. I'll interview her first. If I think she's a good fit, we will be having a frank discussion." She gave Biyu a smile. "Don't worry, My Lady, my goal is happiness for us all."

  With a sigh, Biyu allowed Iris to bustle her off to get changed, with Clio along to help. Iris selected her clothes, loose trousers that were bound at the waist and ankles, a hip length tunic, and a tasteful over robe of bck and purple. Iris chose a matching loose gown over hose, and a simir over robe, also decorated with the Elderwoods emblem. Once they were ready, they went to stand before the gates of the estate. They passed the servants, who completed their duties and lined up in the courtyard to receive the master of the estate on her arrival. Sir Stuart and Crice joined them in front of the estate, at the gate, as her faithful retainers.

  They watched the road, rexing until the first of the oxen came into view. Lady Chelsea followed after the first cart, still riding Anton. The gates were ceremonially drawn open in greeting, while they all gave a deep bow. The oxen drew up before the gate, where Lady Chelsea's servants began the arduous task of unloading and stacking boxes off the cart.

  Lady Chelsea followed, and easily dismounted. Her eyes took in those greeting her, lingering on Crice and Iris, as they remained patiently bowing.

  "Lady Chelsea, welcome to Lonely Knoll. Allow me to introduce you to Defender Elderwoods," Sir Stuart said. Lady Chelsea looked first at him, then at Biyu in surprise. "Lady Biyu Kimmel Lostkes Elderwoods, and her concubine Miss Iris. This is Miss Crice, Viscount Lonelyknoll's concubine, who is serving as our steward for our stay."

  Lady Chelsea's eyes looked over the strangers, before turning on Biyu with a touch of suspicion. "I see. Any more surprises?"

  "Yes, Lady Chelsea. We can discuss them ter," Sir Stuart said with aplomb. "Refreshments have been prepared." The Knights who had disembarked their own carts all perked up at those words.

  Lady Chelsea faced her greeters, and said, "Thank you for the greeting. Please, show me my residence in Lonely Knoll." They all raised from their bows at being acknowledged.

  As Iris and Biyu led Lady Chelsea and the Knights into the courtyard, while Crice remained behind to direct the servants unloading the luggage. Crice and Iris had decided how to parcel out the buildings days ago, and now it was just a matter of seeing the pn completed.

  After the servants in the courtyard all greeted Lady Chelsea with deep bows, curtsies, and enthusiastic greetings, they and Biyu's sves all went to help with unloading the luggage unless otherwise assigned. Some came to escort Knights to the rooms assigned them, and a pair of female servants came to conduct Lady Chelsea to the main residence.

  A quick wipe down, a time for rexation, and a small meal waited the weary travelers.

  Chelsea's journey had been long. She envied Sir Stuart and Lady Biyu being able to quickly traverse with the speed of the Awakened. Oxen could only travel so quickly, and while she nominally enjoyed the company of her companions, An was the only one in reasonably good spirits of te.

  Anya had been childishly peevish when Lady Biyu left without a word to fight the Wizard. When Lady Biyu returned severely injured, she had pyed the professional Healer taking care of her charge. That was the way Chelsea liked the woman best, but it had not sted. The st was the worst. Despondent, because their 'courtship' was broken off. A few days ago, at a stop in a small vilge on the road, a barmaid had shamelessly flirted with Anya, and she had merely brushed the woman aside with a smile, and thanks for her service. While it was true that Anya preferred married women, she usually reciprocated when she was flirted with. Unless she was drunk, when she would do a bit more in dark corners before st call.

  Worried about her companion, Chelsea tried to chat with her, which was met with polite conversation and indifferent acquiescence to more of the same. Part of Chelsea was angry at Lady Biyu for doing this to Anya. A more rational part of her nagged her that this was all her fault. That she should have been trying to help the two get together again. That led to a feeling of self loathing, entertaining supporting such a crass retionship.

  An was fine now, but he had been moody for a short time. It hadn't sted long, and Anya's depression seemed to fuel his own recovery. He was nice to the Healer, but more than once he asked, "Isn't it time you got over her?" Anya had smiled, and said that it wasn't that simple.

  Sir Richard's response to Anya's loss of spirit was to withdraw into himself. They had not in together since the fight with the ogres, and Chelsea was beginning to feel frustrated. At this rate, she might have to find another partner for the winter. That was a discussion she would have with him when they could get some privacy.

  Sir Leon, on the other hand, had just become a miserable git. He compined frequently about the weather, the travel, and the monotony of the road. She also suspected he had an ulcer, like his father, since his diet had turned bnd and he frequently clutched his gut. Another sign of Anya's despondency was that she never noticed her friend's affliction. Why he didn't ask her for help Chelsea couldn't guess.

  Such was the condition of her party that she began to miss Lady Biyu, if only for someone she could bme. Not that she would actively yell at her. It was just easier to bme her in her own mind when the woman was present.

  Finally, face to face with her, she found the situation far different than she expected. Lady Biyu was dressed in beautiful clothes, with her face bare. Only, it was not her real face, but a poor forgery. That was a relief, as the woman's face was too much to be around without her mask or veil.

  They were also staying in a pace complex. Not a new experience for Chelsea, who had stayed within the paces of Shadow Gate when her father was called to court. But, it was Lady Biyu who had secured the invite for them, as a guest of a Count's wife. And she had become the head of Kimmel Elderwoods if they were calling her 'Defender Elderwoods'. Then, there was the woman beside Biyu… touching… her…

  Sir Stuart coughed awkwardly, returning Chelsea's mind to the present. They had all had time to refresh themselves from travel, and they were wearing leisure robes intended for comfort and modesty while in one's own home. Lady Biyu came with her new woman, greeting not just the master of the estate, but all the Knight and Anya. They were not alone.

  "Allow me to formally introduce my Master and her household," May procimed, holding out a hand to indicate them. "Lady Biyu Kimmel Lostkes Elderwoods, Defender Elderwoods." Sir Leon choked. Sir Richard looked like someone had walked up and spped him when he wasn't expecting it. Anya just looked on, bemused. How did she become Lord of the Fortress?

  "Her concubine, Miss Iris." The woman besides Lady Biyu gave a pretty smile and a nod of her head, though she only had eyes for Anya. Anya returned the gaze, staring hard.

  "I am Lily May, her retainer. This is Chattel and Clio, the sves she came here to purchase. There are two children in her employ, but they are off today."

  "Defender?" Sir Leon squeaked.

  Lady Biyu's concubine was pretty enough, although Anya was far more… more. She held Lady Biyu's arm in a familiar way. Chelsea turned to look at Anya, who was gring at Iris. Iris gred back. Their gazes were fixed upon each other after, measuring the other from head to toe. There were small adjustments in their stances, little hints of body nguage Chelsea could not quite read. Their smiles brightened by degrees. Tension ratcheted up, although Chelsea could not quite tell how she knew that.

  "I have the better figure," Anya decred. "Your hips are a bit too wide."

  "And yet, I'm the one she picked."

  Chelsea prepared to intervene as their smiles widened to show more teeth. Crice was smiling beatifically, which seemed like the entirely wrong sort of expression to be making under the circumstances. Everyone seemed content to let the confrontation go on, rather than stopping it. Sir Leon even took a few steps back.

  "You never even thought about lying with another woman before her, did you?" Anya asked.

  "Of course not. I expected to marry, bear and raise my husband's children, and be the master of the house. That said, I prefer my current circumstances."

  Again a moment of dagger-like smiles. Then the tension went out of Anya, whose smile became frail. "So, it really was just me." She gave a now frowning Iris a bow. "Don't worry, Miss Iris, I won't be troubling Lady Biyu… pardon me, Defender Elderwoods."

  The frown on Iris's face deepened. "That's no good at all," Iris said, her arms folding as she looked down on the other woman. "I expected more fight from you. Well, prepare yourself for an interview." She turned to Crice. "Miss Crice, please arrange for Healer Anya and I to have supper in private this evening."

  Worried, Chelsea said, "I'm coming too. I am responsible for her safety."

  Giving a bow to Chelsea, Iris said, "Very well, Lady Chelsea. Miss Crice?"

  "Very well, Iris. I'll also accompany you, as your second, if that's fine with you."

  Iris's brow wrinkled, but she nodded. Chelsea sighed. She was not looking forward to dinner, even in this opulent pace. She turned her attention to Lady Biyu. "We'll talk ter, after dinner, if it pleases you, Defender Elderwoods." Polite demands were easy to level at the woman.

  "Of course, Lady Chelsea. Please call me Lady Biyu. All of you," she said, indicating the Knights. "Defender Elderwoods is a bit much to have to say every time." She turned to Crice. "Miss Crice, if you could arrange for us to share drinks ter?" Crice gave a bow at that.

  Finally, Chelsea had a few hours to stretch and rex. A small troupe of musicians began to py in the courtyard. A young man, still a boy, sang as they pyed. The sve, Clio, danced to the music, and she noted that the men's eyes were all drawn to the curvy woman. Waiting for the servants to finish unpacking their luggage and arrange their rooms, Chelsea listened to the music until servants came to collect them.

  "Dinner will be ready soon. Will you follow me to the private lounge, Lady Chelsea?" the servant asked her.

  She followed the servant as she collected Anya before leading them to a room in a building on the sunless side on the north side of the inner courtyard. The room was lit by strategically pced mana gems. Iris and Crice waited for them at two of four personal tables. Two of the tables faced each other, close enough that they almost made a single table for two. To the side and just behind them was a table for Crice by Iris, and Chelsea by Anya. This was a meeting between Iris and Anya, so rank was dismissed in favor of principals and seconds. Principals to the fore, and seconds pced to support.

  They waited as servants came to serve them, each pcing small ptes or bowls with portions of food on their respective tables. All but one servant left, this one kneeling besides a pitcher of water and another of wine, ready to serve them.

  "What are you interviewing me for, Miss Iris?" asked Anya carefully, after they gave their gratitude to the gods for the meal.

  "I didn't say? This is a marriage interview. Which I suppose leads into the first question: Will you still marry Lady Biyu?"

  Anya paused in reaching for her food. "What's the point? She doesn't like me. This is pointless."

  With a snort, Iris said, "This and that are separate things. I have told Lady Biyu the benefits of making you her consort. The same ones you told her, I understand? She remains open to the idea. So, tell me, do you still wish to marry her?"

  "Yes," Anya said.

  "You can't," Chelsea said. "Not here. You'd have to go to Elderwoods, so she can give bring you into her home. To give you your house, for that matter."

  "My family is indebted to Lady Biyu for her recent actions," Crice said. "We have gifted her a permanent residence within the city." Her words were clear and simple, but her look at Chelsea carried chastisement.

  "As she said," Iris said. "Have you had training in managing a noble's home? Or a commoner's?"

  Anya slowly shook her head. "I don't think it would be difficult to learn, in Elderwoods. We could get a steward, or… I suppose I thought it would work out somehow. Worrying about it was putting the oxen before the cart."

  "Yes. Usually, there are senior servants who can do the job as well as or better than a wife," Iris agreed. "Fortunately, I am trained in managing a house. However, I cannot be Lady Biyu's wife. Unlike you, I ck the necessary status."

  "I'm sure a noble family would be happy to adopt you as a daughter," Crice interjected, and Iris gave her a look. Crice continued, ignoring the gre. "You're Awakened. Or you might find a Guild that would enjoy your membership if it brings with it a noble patron."

  "I would prefer to keep my family's political entanglements to a minimum," Iris said, and Crice accepted her answer with nod and a smile.

  Iris turned back to Anya. "Let me tell you why I favor you marrying my Lady Biyu. First, if she has a consort, there is far less pressure for her to find another. That is to my and Lady Biyu's benefit, especially since it will prevent a man attempting to usurp the head of house.

  "Second, I am trained to manage a household much more eborate than a Lord of the Fortress typically has. If you're willing to be the public wife, and allow me to be the 'wife' in private, I think both of us will benefit."

  "You wish for me to deal with the social obligations, like hosting guests, but you will decide who the guests are?" Anya asked.

  "Essentially. Obviously, there is far more to it than that, but I will be there to both help and train you. I promise to make you a good wife, if you're willing to make a pact with me."

  Nodding along to her words, Anya said, "I can accept that."

  "Obviously, I also intend to take advantage of your skills as a Healer. Those are my terms. Lady Biyu may have her own for you to agree to. What are your terms, for both of us?"

  Anya ate quietly, and they joined her when her answer wasn't immediate. She took her time to think it through. "I will never be compelled to entertain a man in private," she said at st.

  After a pause, Iris asked, "And?"

  "That's all," she said.

  Iris frowned at her. "Entirely too docile. I expected someone far more energetic from what Lady Biyu told me."

  "I'm tired," Anya said. "I'm tired of the constant pressure to marry a man to be a pretty thing on his arm. The expectation that my greatest goal in life is to give some man children. I'm not sure if I want anything more than to just be able to say 'I'm taken'."

  Iris shook her head slowly. "Lady Biyu will be required to spend a certain amount of her free time with you each week. We'll provide a stipend for you to keep a Mistress, if you so desire. Have you any duties to your Order that we should be aware of? Or, need to help you with?"

  Putting her food aside, Anya focused on Iris. "I don't want to force Lady Biyu to have retions with me. It would be hypocritical."

  "That's not what I meant. Even if you and Lady Biyu hate each other, you still need to have a working retionship. To that end, you must spend time with each other."

  "Won't you be jealous?"

  "Of course. Still, this is for the good of the family. Just your status as a Healer would be a boon."

  "Is it hard, having to think of your family first?"

  Iris shook her head. "It's how I was raised, I suppose. I always knew my husband might have other women. Rather than hating her, I was taught to find leverage. If she was no good for the family, like she spends too much of my husband's money, well… I know how to disappear a woman too. If my husband wouldn't listen to me."

  Anya swallowed. "I see. My Guild expects me take on an apprentice or two. I've put it off for a while, trying to find a way out of the marriage they were pressuring me into, but it is getting about time I trained someone."

  "Your retionship with your parents?"

  "When my parents wouldn't listen to me about my needs, and tried to marry me to the miller's son, I ran away from home. I met a Healer who took pity on me and made me her apprentice. Once in a while I send them money through the Treasure Hunter's, but we haven't traded letters."

  Giving a nod, Iris said, "Very well. As a Transcendent, you do not need your parents' permission to wed. If you wish to contact them, we would be happy to mediate. I suppose you don't, but I have to ask. Do you have any children?"

  There was silence, and Anya's face was stony. Chelsea swallowed at the expression. As far as she knew, Anya was childless, and for obvious reasons, but with this heavy silence she began to doubt.

  "Yes. I left them with the Healer who trained me."

  "Abandoned? Why?"

  Anya turned her face away, unwilling to look at them. Her expression was even harder. "Every time I saw the child, I remembered how they came to be. I think I would have killed it if I hadn't given it away."

  "I see," said Iris. "Do you know who the father was?"

  "No."

  "You didn't get his name?"

  "… I didn't get all of their names," Anya said. Chelsea felt her stomach drop. She never expected the usually cheerful Healer to be harboring a secret like that. "Afterwards, I met my Master when she found me in the gutter, half dead and bleeding out. She called me a coward for leaving the child with her, but I like to believe she also understood."

  "I see." Carefully, Iris said, "You don't need to be involved with the child, but it would be problematic if we didn't at least offer the child patronage." She watched the other woman, measuring the effect of her words. "If you don't wish contact, and I think I understand why you wouldn't, then you won't be forced to. That said, we do have to offer to take your child in. Otherwise, we can be criticized and it can turn into a scandal. We can cloister the child if we need to."

  "Not like Lady Biyu was!" Anya snapped.

  Iris did not look upset, but only amused. "Do you think Lady Biyu would allow that? I simply meant that we can keep the child in a separate estate. Perhaps a Lord of the Lands estate. Well cared for, properly educated and raised, and… how old are they?"

  "Perhaps eight years of age?" Chelsea scowled. Anya was the same age as her, which meant… old enough, if just barely.

  "Old enough to be sent to school at an Order or Guild. That's another option for keeping the two of you apart."

  "I'm not the parent," Anya said. "I gave her up. She's my Master's child now, if she didn't give the child away."

  "Then we'll give her a gift for having been the parent you could not be. We will offer them the opportunities we have avaible now. All we have to do is offer support and opportunities. If the Healer refuses, then we have done our duty. If they accept, we'll take it from there."

  Anya gave a nod. "I understand. It's one of those noble things, then."

  "Your child isn't a noble," Anya said. "Well, unless… never mind. Your child is not a noble of our household. This is familial obligation due to the child of a wife of a noble."

  "Being a noble isn't easy, is it?" Anya asked.

  "Not usually. We can marry for love, but the politics always show up eventually. If your lover… do you have one?"

  "No. My retionships always ended poorly, so I prefer attached company. It helps to keep my expectations… reasonable. Married women never leave their husbands for a woman."

  "I know one who did," Crice chimed in. Her meal was eaten, and she was sipping at a gss of wine as she listened. "So far as I know, they're still together. The divorce was a mess, though. Her husband refused to acknowledge it until their lord stepped in."

  Anya gave a smile. "She was a noble?" At a nod, she said, "Married commoners are much less likely to do that, especially when their lover is a traveler just dallying for a few days."

  Crice dipped her head. "That's a fair point. I would point out that, just because it rarely happens, that doesn't mean it won't. You're a lovely dy. I'd be surprised if none of them ever at least fantasized about running off with you."

  "Perhaps, but I'm gd they never told me. Any more questions, Miss Iris?"

  Shaking her head, Iris asked, "Any for me?"

  "Will we be lovers?" Anya asked.

  Pursing her lips, Iris contempted. "I don't know. That remains to be seen, I suppose. It would save on the purse strings." At the disgusted look on everyone else's faces, including Crice, she lifted her hands. "I need to consider these things, but I wouldn't agree to it for just for that reason."

  "I see. Will you recommend me to Lady Biyu?"

  "Oh, I would have wanted to just from your looks alone." Anya smiled and straightened herself up at that. "I think we can come to an arrangement. Miss Crice, has the Viscount settled on a house within the city? While we need Lady Biyu's permission—"

  "You need mine as well," Chelsea interjected. Silent until now, she had found the sterile conversation at the beginning a bit off-putting. She did know how marriages worked, but knowing and seeing it in action were different things. It rather ruined the romantic nobles she'd read about when she was younger. "She's my retainer—"

  "I'm not," Anya cut in. "I'm under a contract. My personal affairs remain my own."

  "You are by contract," Chelsea argued. "That's what being contracted to a noble means. You are a temporary retainer. I will not permit this wedding."

  All eyes turned upon her. "Why not, Lady Chelsea?" ventured Crice.

  "Lady Biyu has become a Defender. She has responsibilities, not least of which is preparing an heir. Somehow, I don't think Anya can provide her one."

  "There are options besides a blood heir." Iris was matter of fact about her opposition, but her eyes were icy. "Or, if it comes to needing a blood heir, her brother is coming. I'm willing to take on that responsibility, if it becomes necessary."

  Eyeing Iris, Crice spoke up again. "Do you have a proper reason to forbid this marriage? As a lord, you should only consider your own political position."

  Chelsea frowned. "Allowing my retainer to marry prior to completing her contract with me would be irresponsible. She has stated she would abandon it for marriage to Lady Biyu."

  "Lady Biyu wouldn't allow her to renege on a contract," Iris said. "Or do you believe she cks basic integrity?"

  "No, I don't, but that doesn't mean it's an invalid reason. Furthermore, having my Healer marry a woman could become a scandal that'd affect my own marriage prospects."

  "Denying it could, too, since it might imply you wished to keep her for yourself," Crice said.

  Chelsea stared dumbfounded. The idea anyone would assume that made no sense in her world.

  "In fact, allowing Healer Anya to marry will have less impact. You can even denounce her, which will work better than attempting to feebly leverage a contract like that. Makes your argument weak, Lady Chelsea."

  "It will be better for Lady Biyu to have a husband," Chelsea finally said.

  "Not your decision to make, and she has other options for gaining renown. After all, she humiliated Lord Sebastian a week ago."

  "Lord Sebastian?" Sir Stuart had been hesitant to make his report, emphasizing the need to rex after a long trip.

  "Lord Sebastian, the son of Archduke Marble, was the former fiancé of our Isolde. When we realized his character was poor, we sought to break the engagement. Archduke Marble was disappointed but understanding. Lord Sebastian didn't understand, and he attempted to kidnap our Isolde. Unfortunately, Lady Biyu did not arrive in time to save her. Lord Sebastian vished us with insults, attempted to rob Lady Biyu, and was taken prisoner as a bandit and ransomed. Of course, we negotiated the ransom on behalf of Archduke Marble. That is why she has an estate in the city."

  Chelsea felt her eyes gze over, and her hand wanted to cover her face in exasperation. She asked, slowly and politely, "Should I assume that was when she met Miss Iris?"

  Crice gave her a bright smile. "Ah, did you forget? You should remember Iris as one of the women freed from the Wizard who was making ogres. You would have met her then."

  "I don't remember someone that fshy," Chelsea said, while inwardly cursing Sir Stuart for deying his report.

  Iris considered. "There is a polite fiction there. It is best you agree to it for now, until we can tell you the details in confidence."

  Anya sighed, her eyes closed and her head down, and Chelsea could feel her slipping back into depression. Chelsea massaged her scalp. Lady Biyu kept having adventures, usually when she wasn't around. She would grill Sir Stuart about it ter. More and more, she wished she had overridden her companions decision to have Sir Stuart accompany Lady Biyu instead of herself.

  Iris looked at Anya with sympathy and concern, before she returned to Chelsea. "Do you intend to stand in the way? Lady Biyu is making stories of her own. Surely, a wife will do little to ruin her reputation."

  Chelsea was forced to admit that was probably true. "Fine, but I won't condone it."

  "As you will." Standing, Iris curtsied. "I am going to speak to Lady Biyu." Chelsea stood up. "Alone. You can have her in an hour. Healer Anya, please enjoy the rest of your meal. Just let the servant know if you need anything more."

  Miffed, Chelsea said, "I'm going to find her a proper man."

  "I must object. She has two perfectly fine women. However, if you must insist, do take care. Should I not like the man, I may have to have him killed. Oh, and if he even tries to touch Healer Anya… I am sure May will be amenable to helping me."

  Chelsea stared at Iris as she dispassionately admitted her willingness to commit murder. Anya was giving her a considering look at well, but Crice gave an approving nod.

  Chelsea felt threatened, even though the woman didn't seem at all dangerous. She didn't move right for a fighter.

  Deciding she would have a word with Sir Stuart now, to get answers and dress him down for letting Lady Biyu run rampant, she heard Anya ask Crice as she left. "Should I be afraid of her?"

  "Only if you seek to hurt her family. It seems Iris was as well raised as our Isolde."

  Iris sat with Biyu, who was sipping a gss of watered down wine.

  "So, Lady Chelsea intends to find me a husband."

  "Do you wish her to?"

  "No," and Iris was surprised to the heat in her voice. "I have made my choices. Or perhaps in this case I should say that I agreed to it."

  "Don't you want to bear a child?"

  "Do you?" Biyu asked.

  "I never thought about it before. Now that it's no longer expected of me, I do feel a loss. I find myself thinking about it."

  Nodding, Biyu said, "I had an abstract acceptance that it was part of my future. Now that it is not, I find myself… indifferent. I have May, and you… and I suppose I will have Anya too. I am satisfied."

  "What do you want to do about an heir?" Iris asked.

  Giving it some thought, Biyu said, "I think I will select someone. Perhaps adopt them." She considered Iris. "You said that Anya had a child…"

  Iris shook her head. "I don't think Healer Anya would appreciate that."

  With a sigh, Biyu nodded. "There is another choice, but it is too soon to consider. There is a question in need of an answer before I can properly consider them a choice."

  "Oh?" Iris asked.

  Shaking her head, Biyu said, "I cannot say. Not yet."

  "Will it upset Healer Anya or me?" Iris asked.

  "I think you will be pleased, Iris. We will discuss it ter." Biyu hesitated. "Am I at a disadvantage?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "You and Anya. Can you two decide matters for me?"

  "We will both be your advisors. Family elders, really. You didn't have grandparents, or aunts and uncles in your family?"

  Shaking her head, Biyu said, "I do not think so. I am not sure. I did not know I had siblings until recently. Do you?"

  Iris frowned at that admission. "I see. Yes, I do. Lady Tabitha is my aunt, and Count Lonelyknoll is my uncle. His parents are no longer with us, but his other brother, sisters, and a few aunts and uncles remain in his court to advise and assist him. Do remember, a viscount is an office under a count. Viscounts are something like elders of the family who hold office. So, my father is an elder."

  "I wish I had grown up living as a daughter, rather than just learning about it." Biyu tapped her fingers. "What do you think of Lady Chelsea?"

  "I have barely met her, but she seems to be the dutiful type. I think she sees you acting recklessly, like an errant child. That to her, you are a noble daughter not being a noble daughter. Of course, you are no longer a daughter, but a Defender. I suspect she will be harder on you from now on."

  "A daughter dutiful to a family that would kill me?" She swirled her drink. "What is your judgment of Anya?"

  "She is in despair. I think Lady Chelsea recognizes it, but prioritizes you doing your duty to the hold. I'm not sure if she has ever met someone with an unhappy past, so you and Healer Anya confuse her." There was concern in Iris's face. "Why did you refuse her repeatedly?"

  "I… did not. I made mistakes." Closing her eyes tightly, Biyu said, "May has expined, but… do you remember when I told you about going to fight the ogres?"

  Nodding, she waited.

  "I did not tell her I was leaving. It took a day for her to find out, and this was after we started courting. She did not take it well, and saw it as proof I did not care about her. I let her stop pursuing me, believing I had rejected her."

  Iris stared at her, and for a moment Biyu was afraid she was going to get spped. "Do you regret it?"

  "Yes."

  "Does she know the reason you are against being in a retionship?"

  "Some of it."

  "She still pursued it?"

  "Yes."

  "… do you agree she needs help?"

  Licking her lips, Biyu said, "Intellectually."

  "But because she is in no physical danger, and you don't see her being harangued to marry, but instead among companions who show her respect, you have trouble accepting she's in danger?"

  "I agreed to help her. Until she found someone else."

  Iris gave her a disappointed look. "I think Healer Anya is on the verge of hurting herself. That to her, risking the Hells would be better than marriage. She has no family or friends to help her. Not really. Lady Chelsea does not understand Healer Anya's resistance to marrying a man. Not many people seem to. She is alone in a way I cannot fathom. I imagine that everywhere she looks, all she sees are enemies."

  Biyu imagined the Elf vilge without Hak and Indu. Her master did not count. She was kind enough to Biyu, but she was a somewhat distant master just like she was a distant mother. Again, she felt pain at leaving Indu behind, but she had gone to a better pce at least. And it occurred to her that that was what was driving Anya. That Indu had done what Anya might be contempting. She felt a stab of pain and regret in having a hand in it a second time.

  Comparing Indu with Anya, she could see a few simirities. Both showed a pleasant face, while feeling tortured by their circumstances. Anya was more honest in loving herself than Indu, who wished to be like everyone else but simply could not be. Yet, in the end, she was making the same mistake in the same situation.

  "I am not sure if I can forgive her if she did that, even if life would be that horrible for her. So long as you live, there is a chance to make your life better."

  "From what I've heard, Biyu, I think you should imagine growing up in the city without mask or veil. Walking the public street each and every day."

  Biyu shuddered. "I… turned my eyes away from her problems, did I not?"

  "It is hard to see another person's problems as they do. Do not try to understand. Just listen, respect it, and if they ask for or need help, offer it."

  "I do not know if I should. I do not know how."

  "Before that, what do you want the outcome to be? Even something general like 'everyone is happy' is fine."

  Biyu lifted her fingers, and enumerated points. "I want Anya to be protected. I want to grant her a pce where she can be safe, and try to be happy. I want you to be secure, and by my side. I… want to build my own family, instead of accepting the one I was born with."

  "Healer Anya's child?"

  "If the child is happy with how things are, then what finances we can afford to offer. If we take the child in, then I wish to adopt them into the family. We will respect Anya's wishes, and provide a home for the child, but… what is your retionship like with Crice?"

  "I expected you to ask sooner. She is… my second mother. My mother, Vanessa, had Crice as a maid most of her life. Since they were both children. Crice followed my mother in her marriage as her personal maid. I'm not sure how Crice was taken in, but I think it may be that… it was a triangur retionship. Even I find it embarrassing to ask my parents about things like that. I do know Crice and Mother are very close. Crice raised me and my brother for the most part, including selecting our tutors. Mother was kind to both of us, but she was often busy with merchants and nobles and other political things."

  With a slow nod, Biyu asked, "Is that normal?"

  "No, I would say it isn't. If my brother and I were both men, I think my parents may have fallen out. That's what usually happens. Some of the minstrel tales are about mothers murdering each other's children so that theirs can inherit the title. A lot less civil than the Midnds way."

  Giving a nod, Biyu contempted that. "Then taking in a second wife, or a concubine, to raise the child wouldn't work?"

  "A concubine would be preferable, to be honest. Their children are lower in rank in most families. Well, except that we are a Midnds family." She considered. "No, a concubine would still be preferable. Except, I wouldn't want you to take in another woman for a reason like that. A nanny and tutors would suffice, if you don't send them to a Guild or Order. That would be best, although… we should meet them if they join the family."

  "I think I want family to be raised by family. But, I do not want to send you away."

  With a nod, Iris thought. "We can revisit the issue when we hear back from the child's guardian.

  Otherwise, right now I see marrying Healer Anya as the best way to accomplish all your goals. I am not opposed, and defending your wife is a natural thing. Does the fact she likes women bother you? Will you cajole her to y with a man to give you children?"

  "No."

  "It seems easy, then."

  "I am not sure if I can love her."

  "That's not necessary, Biyu. I'll help you two learn to live together, and that's all that's really necessary for a marriage." She smiled. "Even if you never love her, you will reach a point where you miss her when she's gone."

  Tipping her head, Biyu just gave her a curious look.

  "People miss people they are accustomed to. Even people they hate."

  Chelsea ruminated on what Sir Stuart had told her about Lady Biyu's exploits. No, not Lady Biyu. Defender Elderwoods. She sighed to herself, and her mind went spinning again. The mystery of Lady Biyu was solved, and it left her with a pit in her stomach. A woman who was neglected, or if she was honest with herself, imprisoned by her family. Imprisoned for her own safety, but that didn't lessen matters. Better than when they sacrificed her, but again, that was a poor metric to use.

  She went on to be Awakened and learn from a Sacred Beast. After that she wandered, and did things that no sane cloistered daughter of a noble family did. She killed people, and from what she understood she showed no remorse or concern for the lives she ended. Not that the woman emoted all that much. A fsh here and there, but sometimes it came across as her pyacting emotions rather than experiencing them.

  Now she was a Defender, and rather than finding politically savvy consorts, or at least someone who could get her pregnant, she took in a woman who forfeited her old life to escape an abusive fiancé. Now her concubine was intent on having her marry a lesbian. She… could not fault the former, but she could not understand why Iris would want Lady Biyu to marry Anya. Taking in Anya as a concubine made more sense to her. As a concubine, Anya's Guild could apply pressure to have her released for marriage, but that was it. By contrast, being a retainer would only be a minor impediment. Being a concubine would prevent the issues, and she didn't actually have to have retions with her. Why a wife?

  Chelsea saw the perfect person for her to talk to. Lily May was stretching in the yard after an exercise session, and her master was nowhere nearby.

  "May I speak with you?" Chelsea asked the sweaty, under dressed woman.

  May looked at her, and her face did funny things. "You know she hears all my conversations, yeah?"

  "I was certain you could choose not to share, if you wanted."

  "Well, I can, but I usually don't wanna."

  "Would you please talk to me… not privately, but by yourself?"

  May grimaced, and something about her seemed… less. So much less. Chelsea was startled at the change in atmosphere.

  "How may I help you, Lady Chelsea?"

  "Can you… expin to me the retionship between Miss Iris and Lady Biyu?"

  "Me too?" she asked, amused.

  "That would be helpful."

  May mused, while looking up at the darkening sky. "Looks like we'll have rain, and its cold out today. Wanna go take a bath together? We can get a drink and soak a bit while we talk, yeah? You can see I need to clean up." She sniffed, and wrinkled her nose. "Smell it too."

  Lady Chelsea waved her hand, letting May lead her.

  They said nothing as they stripped, except to give the servants instructions to fetch them clean clothes. They were attended to in the bath up until it was time for them to soak.

  Rexing in the hot water, Chelsea looked at May again. Long and slender, with tightly corded muscles. A bit of her was jealous, since May was perfectly feminine in figure, if not in anything else.

  "Did you agree to taking a bath with me so you could get an eyeful?" May teased.

  "So, what is it between this Miss Iris and Lady Biyu?" Chelsea asked, ignoring the dig.

  "Iris has a hero fetish. You know those books, the ones for women where a man rescues a woman, and she becomes his prize?"

  "Lady Biyu isn't a man," Chelsea needlessly pointed out.

  "Anyone that's seen her face knows that." She considered. "Turns out it didn't matter. What turned her on was being saved, and then being… possessed."

  Chelsea shook her head. "I don't get it," she said.

  "Lady Chelsea, you see a handsome man, and sometimes you think 'I wonder what he's like in bed', yeah?"

  "I don't usually think of it that way."

  Giving a shrug, May said, "I do. That's what I'm like. I see a handsome man, and I wonder what he's like in the sack. Biyu ain't like that. What she is like, is she sees a person, and most of the time she assumes they'll assault or hate her. Obviously, she just isn't interested in that."

  That made sense, from what she heard.

  "When she was with the Elves, she met some Kin. You know what they are?" After a shake of the head, she expined. "They're the humanoid Monsters we hear about sometimes. The children of Elves and Sacred Beasts who take after the tter. Too much to be considered people by most Humans."

  Seeing Chelsea understood, she went on. "There was two. Hak, the only man Biyu was remotely interested in, and Indu, who she came to like quite a bit. Indu annoyed her at first, ya see, because she wanted to touch and cling to Biyu."

  "I can see that," said Chelsea.

  "Right. But she was friendly, and what she wanted most in the world was friends. See, you would think Elves would look at the Kin and go 'oh, yeah, that's my god's family'. Be worshipful, or at least respectful."

  Chelsea shook her head slowly. "They would see them as deformed children. Parents… people tend to… it's usually not considered unwful to kill them."

  May looked surprised, and Chelsea wondered why May wouldn't know that. That wasn't important.

  "Oh. Well, they were a god's children, so they couldn't do that. Not if Lady Serpent acknowledged the child. That said, yeah, they culled the Kin. A few slipped through for reasons, like they didn't look like Kin.

  "That was Indu. She was friendly, liked kids and people, and her favorite activity was just cuddling. All around her were people who didn't trust or like her. Parents would pull their children away. Adults would chase her off. Indu wanted to be friends with anyone, and so she tried with Biyu. So what if she was a Human? She's the first person who wanted to be close to Biyu without seeing her face first. I'd say her first friend, but… Hak was pretty much nice to Biyu too, but she thinks it's because his sister got along with her.

  "Biyu had to leave, and the person she liked the most in the entire world couldn't come with her. When Biyu met Iris, there were bits of her that reminded Biyu of Indu. That attracted Biyu's attention. If it goes past that, who knows?"

  "They are both women," Chelsea reiterated.

  "Yeah, I think that's one of those 'huh' things. Biyu doesn't give a damn about coputing, and Iris is flexible so long as… well, ain't my pce to say."

  "This is one of those senseless things that just is, isn't it?" Chelsea sighed, defeated. "So, why is Miss Iris pushing for Lady Biyu to marry Anya? Don't most women hate sharing their men?"

  "Eh, I never much cared myself, but I guess so," May said. "But she doesn't like the idea of sharing. Its politics and gain. Anya is a lovely woman and a Healer. That's bonus points, like I'm sure you already get. It also secures Iris's position."

  "How can it possibly do that?"

  May clicked her tongue. "Come on, give it a good guess, Lady Chelsea. You should know this stuff too, yeah?"

  So Chelsea thought about it. First she thought about who Iris was. A noble raised to be a wife, and trained in court politics. Why would a wife be better for her? Well, she couldn't be the wife, not with her being presumed a commoner of no status. If Biyu married a man, he would likely assume the title… and what would happen to Iris? Become his? Get tossed out? If Anya married Lady Biyu, Lady Biyu kept the head of family role without challenge. Anya… was a commoner. Their roles were… ah.

  "Miss Iris can run the family like a wife, and Anya can be the figurehead wife? And it protects all three of them, because Biyu won't get pressed to take a consort that will try to take over as head of the family."

  May looked honestly surprised. "Yep. For a woman with power, a woman consort is a pretty good deal if you want to keep that power." She shrugged. "Though I think they get to keep it sometimes."

  "That's why there are husbands, wives, and consorts," Chelsea said.

  "So, there you have it."

  "One problem. Heirs."

  "Not like they have to have them themselves. Open their court, pick an heir from minor sons of other nobles, or even just adopt a kid they like. Lots of ways. Actually having the kid yourself is traditional, but traditional ain't this family. Hells, the middle daughter became Defender, and that usually only happens because everyone else died except the daughters."

  Chelsea sighed at that. "Better to find one soon and start teaching them. It's her duty. I guess her time traveling is over."

  "We're going to Shadow Gate to spend the next winter."

  Chelsea stared at her. "Who is running her nds?"

  "Her cousin, Lord Jeffery Lostkes, is acting as steward. He has agreed to remain until we return."

  Chelsea sighed heavily. "Wonderful."

  "Her brother might be here in another month or so."

  Chelsea lifted her brows. "Why?"

  "Swear fealty and request clemency." She shrugged. "They are no longer acknowledged as members of Kimmel Elderwoods. Biyu gets to do what she wants with them as disloyal subjects."

  "Has she made any decisions?"

  "So far as Biyu is concerned, being alive means you get to do better." May shrugged again. "I think she intends to give them some money and exile'm."

  "It's what we do in life we get judged for."

  "Yeah. Probably why pointless murder is so unforgivable for her. You take away someone's ability to do better."

  "Also their ability to do worse."

  "Yeah. Obviously she knows there's a line there's no coming back from. Like the Ogre Maker." She lifted a toast to that with Chelsea.