Note: Story chapter; no sex.
The events of the day were just short of bizarre for Neral to begin with. A riot erupts with no reasonable explanation. Then a reasonable explanation appeared which sent a rush of fear through her for the potential conflict it represented, and an example of how such a conflict could spiral out of control. For the first time, she could envision being called upon to fight the war that drove the mages out and underground untold generations ago once again and, with the loves of her life mages themselves, she didn't know if she would have the will to do her duty.
Then the unrest dissolves at the first hint of resistance, leaving different mayhem in the aftermath. Dead and wounded littered the streets alongside burnt buildings, with the acrid stench that assailed her eyes and nose made her home look and feel like it'd been sacked by war. Homes and business were gone now, and more were set to go up in flames as citizen and soldier alike struggled together to restore order to the world around them.
When the runner lived up to his title, coming at her full bore before seemingly defying the laws of nature by stopping in front of her as if instantly, to deliver his message, she was surprised that he didn't seem winded because she felt so just watching him pass ground beneath his feet like a horse might. "A message for you, General, from your house mistress. I'm to tell you that it was delivered to Colonel Dion, and the colonel handed it directly to me with orders that no one see it but you."
"Thank you," she said, taking the paper from him with a renewed sense of dread. Tessa would not have contacted her in such a way unless the situation were dire. Perhaps whoever was responsible for this had tried to spread chaos elsewhere in the city and Tessa thought the wisest course would be to evacuate. Her eyes scanned the paper and as they did so her jaw tightened and her blood ran cold. Even as the dread and a wave of anger took hold, there was some small sense of relief because it also provided a hint of clarity.
Neral didn't look up from folding the paper as she whistled a quick series of high and low tones to which Stenna, her mount, responded. She pocketed the paper and met her horse half way. "Major Vix," she barked.
"Yes, sir." His voice was some distance away with just as much power behind it as her own.
"Circumstances have called me away," she began, mounting her horse in a single fluid motion. "You are in command here. Proceed as you think best."
He looked around at the monumental task before him, knowing all he could do was act as a bandage for the worst of it, but, at least he could get the remaining damn fires out. He was already in the process of setting up chains of man, beast, and machine to get the last of the blazes out and was determined to see that through in any event, "Yes, sir."
Hearing him acknowledge the order was all she was waiting for before she headed of the makeshift clinic to find Deres.
* * *
Life on the side street looked normal once again by the time the two arrived at the blacksmith's shop. The hulk of a man quenched the metal he was working, giving them both a friendly nod as he turned toward them to avoid the rush of steam while they tethered their horses. "In the back."
They moved quickly, Deres slightly ahead because, despite being told that all was well right now and knowing she could take care of herself, he would be the first to meet anything unexpected, even if only by half a step. He opened the door and Neral rushed in to the small kitchen built for one. Khylen sat with a paper as Cassea hunched over, hands over hers, showing her how to fold paper into a particular shape. As soon as the young one saw who entered all else was forgotten. "Mother! Father!"
Neral dropped to her knees and squeezed as hard as she dared, pressing cheek to cheek, her eyes closed, just enjoying the feeling of being back in her presence. She was mostly successful at fighting back tears, though her eyes did reflect the light with just a bit more intensity than before as she pulled away and touched those cheeks. "Are you all right? I hear you had quite the adventure today."
"I'm fine," she said, her usual good nature in full force in a testament to childhood resilience. "Some soldiers tried to say that I was supposed to go with them, but they didn't know the right words, so Tessa and Cassea wouldn't let them take me and we ran away. We wooshed through the streets so fast it was crazy, but Cassea found this place and a nice man helped, but we're all right. Are you all right, Mother? They said people were burning things and fighting."
She sighed. "I'm just fine." She thought a moment about how she could explain it in a way that her young mind would grasp without a million other questions that she didn't have the answers to, much less the ability to explain. "People weren't feeling well and were upset that they weren't feeling well. We're getting them help now and they're getting better. Don't worry."
The look of pride suggested that she expected nothing less from her mother. "See? I told Tessa that you'd fix it."
Neral cleared her throat with zeal, pushing back another rush of emotion hearing in her voice that she was still at the age where her parents could do anything. It gave Neral something to aspire to. "I just do the best that I can." The moment she'd let her loose the little one went to her father for more hugs while Neral stood. Tessa saw how her eyes had drifted to the blood droplets on her dress at the shoulder and quickly reassured her. "It's not mine, Mistress."
She drew closer to the redhead, examining her deep green eyes, "Also good to know. Very good to know." Her fingertips grazed the pale skin of her round cheek before touching Tessa's forehead with her own. "Thank you, Tessa."
"Please don't. There is nothing to thank me for, Mistress," she said softly but firmly, "Truly. My responsibility to her isn't just baking cookies or seeing to it that she has clean sheets. She is part of our home and of my home. Aside from that, I did nothing for her that I wouldn't have done for any child in need on the street."
Neral grinned, "I know that's true. That's part of why I am fond of you. And why you are the beating heart of our House," Her smile broadened, "And do not contradict me."
She blushed brightly, her cheeks instantly becoming several degrees warmer. She might have, but the true House Mistress had commanded, and so it would be. "As you wish, Mistress."
Neral's hands lingered for a moment more before she took a step to face Cassea. She saw the fierce determination and the iron will was always there behind those blue eyes as well as the softness that, for her to show it at all, was like a gift she bestowed. "You know what's about to happen, yes?"
"Under the circumstances, it does seem unavoidable," she said, resigning herself to her fate.
"I'll be quick, I promise." Neral wrapped her in a hug and rested her chin on the other's shoulder. "Thank you for protecting her."
Cassea's tone suggested that she was speaking to the village idiot. "What else was to be done?" She found herself mirroring the embrace at the last moment just before Neral let her go. "Her House is my House. Keeping her safe saves wagon loads of tears and anxiety for everyone involved."
Neral knew she was in a better place now than she had been all day in that she had it in her to bait the woman. "Yourself included?"