Selene placed the sweet treats on the Tray of Travesty with care; everything must be perfect for this particular scene. She glided up the stairs with elegant ease. She donned her most winning smile. She had asked Claudia to list her reasons for unpreparedness concerning the Magincian Rebellion; this would be the test of the careful conditioning that Selene had so painstakingly persevered for the past few weeks.
Cole-Kat was beside Claudia in bed, reciting her adventure with Ta'lin while braiding her mother's long bitter chestnut colored hair. When Selene entered the bedchamber, Katrina closed her mouth and smirked at Selene.
Pretending not to notice her granddaughter's defiance, Selene placed the tray of desserts into Claudia's lap. "Eat these and then you can continue to rest up. Did you finish the list?"
Claudia handed the parchment to her mother and chose a raspberry tart for her first taste of real food. The Fasting Vow she had taken at Empath Abbey and then the sickness had left her weak and groggy. How long have I been in bed? she wondered.
Selene scanned the list, grateful that Nicholas Tarrant's name was not present. "Why is Lynne Zellinous the first name on this list?" Selene could not hide her disgust but she quickly recovered and continued in a more pleasant tone. "She is the cause of this conflict. Her new attitude is one of arrogance and selfishness, not peace. Your affection and loyalty towards her is misplaced. Please listen to reason and preserve HearthFire Village."
Claudia said nothing and chose a coca fudge square as her next edible.
Katrina continued to smirk, still braiding Claudia's hair.
Selene continued. "Fig is one of the oldest members of the Pack of Wolf Woods: do not forget that they were originally wolves. He is territory minded. His status as ally & friend will be jeopardized if we side with the Rebels of Magincia. Ta'lin will go with the majority and he does not have it in him to hate; he will respect our decision, either way. Fern..." Selene shrugged, "Who knows what a creature like that thinks. Lord Elladan would be seriously grieved if we chose the Rebellion's cause."
Selene stopped reading the list of names when she came to the next - WildStar. She knew that Claudia's great admiration and affection for the Duchess of the Kingdom of Dawn might be enough to break Claudia's conditioning. She must choose her words carefully. " The Duchess will choose neutrality, as she always does."
Claudia began to blink and wobble. Katrina glared at Selene, knowing that the sweets had been BlackRock-imbued too.
Selene smiled sweetly at her progeny while she took the tray and placed it on the elvin wash-basin. "Alright..." she began. "Before you doze off again, Claudia. I want to tell you that the gold for our prosperous village does not come from your daemon hunting; it comes from our BlackRock Trade with Umbra. We are poised to prop-up Lindae into their Patriarchal Senate, if he so chooses; we can offer a safe haven for the gypsies in our village; and I have the Vampire Cabal in Doom safely within my grasp. We have worked many long years to get to this point. Please ponder these points while you rest."
Selene watched as her daughter slipped into sleep and her granddaughter trembled in fear. Katrina knew that when this scene was over, a punishment would follow.
War will come. Lynne will make sure of that! HearthFire must be prepared. Selene thought as Claudia drifted into slumber. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Katrina bolt out of the room. To Dar's Tamer Temple, no doubt.
Lady Cleopatra Selene cackled.
[For the lead-up stories, go here: http://vboards.stratics.com/hooded-crow-inn-%5Bfiction%5D/256813-prisoners-war-familias.html ]
Cole-Kat was beside Claudia in bed, reciting her adventure with Ta'lin while braiding her mother's long bitter chestnut colored hair. When Selene entered the bedchamber, Katrina closed her mouth and smirked at Selene.
Pretending not to notice her granddaughter's defiance, Selene placed the tray of desserts into Claudia's lap. "Eat these and then you can continue to rest up. Did you finish the list?"
Claudia handed the parchment to her mother and chose a raspberry tart for her first taste of real food. The Fasting Vow she had taken at Empath Abbey and then the sickness had left her weak and groggy. How long have I been in bed? she wondered.
Selene scanned the list, grateful that Nicholas Tarrant's name was not present. "Why is Lynne Zellinous the first name on this list?" Selene could not hide her disgust but she quickly recovered and continued in a more pleasant tone. "She is the cause of this conflict. Her new attitude is one of arrogance and selfishness, not peace. Your affection and loyalty towards her is misplaced. Please listen to reason and preserve HearthFire Village."
Claudia said nothing and chose a coca fudge square as her next edible.
Katrina continued to smirk, still braiding Claudia's hair.
Selene continued. "Fig is one of the oldest members of the Pack of Wolf Woods: do not forget that they were originally wolves. He is territory minded. His status as ally & friend will be jeopardized if we side with the Rebels of Magincia. Ta'lin will go with the majority and he does not have it in him to hate; he will respect our decision, either way. Fern..." Selene shrugged, "Who knows what a creature like that thinks. Lord Elladan would be seriously grieved if we chose the Rebellion's cause."
Selene stopped reading the list of names when she came to the next - WildStar. She knew that Claudia's great admiration and affection for the Duchess of the Kingdom of Dawn might be enough to break Claudia's conditioning. She must choose her words carefully. " The Duchess will choose neutrality, as she always does."
Claudia began to blink and wobble. Katrina glared at Selene, knowing that the sweets had been BlackRock-imbued too.
Selene smiled sweetly at her progeny while she took the tray and placed it on the elvin wash-basin. "Alright..." she began. "Before you doze off again, Claudia. I want to tell you that the gold for our prosperous village does not come from your daemon hunting; it comes from our BlackRock Trade with Umbra. We are poised to prop-up Lindae into their Patriarchal Senate, if he so chooses; we can offer a safe haven for the gypsies in our village; and I have the Vampire Cabal in Doom safely within my grasp. We have worked many long years to get to this point. Please ponder these points while you rest."
Selene watched as her daughter slipped into sleep and her granddaughter trembled in fear. Katrina knew that when this scene was over, a punishment would follow.
War will come. Lynne will make sure of that! HearthFire must be prepared. Selene thought as Claudia drifted into slumber. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Katrina bolt out of the room. To Dar's Tamer Temple, no doubt.
Lady Cleopatra Selene cackled.
[For the lead-up stories, go here: http://vboards.stratics.com/hooded-crow-inn-%5Bfiction%5D/256813-prisoners-war-familias.html ]
