Chapter 28 Always Read The Fine Print, Folks (And Don’t Trust Men)
“All these new people, Isabella,” Guinevere was whispering as she pulled her daughter aside— daughter who was now currently having more than ten different papers in her hand— contracts, of course, and was barely paying any attention. “We cannot— I don’t think we can afford—”
“We can’t at the moment, your Grace, you are correct,” Maeve felt like her head was going to explode anytime soon. There was a crowd of people right in front of her— a crowd of Banister servants— and Calista Banister as well, her Vessels not allowed to be here.
Lucien still wasn’t really talking to Maeve, except the usual grunting and silent glares at the people around, but he stayed behind her, watching— glaring.
Amir could not be here. She had tried pushing for his release, but there was only so much pushing she could do really, especially with the fact that Cassian truly did not want Amir out of that place. And with her… with her quite pointless excuse which possibly only worsened the situation.
“I would like to escort Amir back to his homeland, Satyr,”
That was the statement she had gotten out before he practically shot out of his sit, his eyes burning as if she had just sworn to stab him directly in the heart and walked away without checking if he was really dead, “He is a prisoner of the crown,”
“And a prince of another realm, which makes him someone to tread carefully with,” Maeve did not enjoy watching him look the way he did. There was so much pain in his eyes, and anger. She didn’t much like the muddied waters that were emotions, but she managed to stay focused as she turned to the Queen, “You swore an oath to him,”
Eldoria didn’t waste her breath. “I did.”
“I am… certain that our relationship with other kingdoms… or realms might not be favorable, but at the very least, we can start with something,” She continued, “If news got out that my vessel caused any sort of harm to me, then the presumptions the other realms already have you… well, all I’m saying is, we need good publicity,”
“And you, dear one, can fix it?”
Maeve almost snickered. “I am not trying to brag but… I am good at damage control. Plus, I believe I can be of use to them— to the curse that plagues their lands. I am certain you have heard of my acquiring the lovely lands you gave my family and how I’ve accessed it for my own… purposes,”
There was a pause there, a slight second where Maeve was sure the woman in front of her was thinking… analyzing, “Are you certain?”
Maeve looked up from her bowing, unsure if she was the one being spoken to, “Sorry?”
The Queen’s eyes glazed for a second— and in that same timeframe, Maeve was sure she saw something quite dark in those eyes, “Are you certain that you suffered no injuries when you walked into those lands? No pain? No… suffering?”
Maeve did not want to admit it. Not especially with the way she was slowly feeling like something was trapping her in a box and lying was something she knew better than doing. Still, she wasn’t going to do that in the first place, “Not that I know of yet,”
“Then it is settled,” The Queen's voice grew lighter, softer. “You will go as a representative of Aeltherra to these lands, and of course, build a better relationship than the one we have currently,”
“No.” Maeve’s ears perked up at that voice— at Cassian’s voice. He was staring at her as if he couldn’t believe that she would even think of something like that, “You do not understand, Lady Montague. Those people are… the roads are unsafe. And it would… it would take months to even—”
Okay. Okay. Maeve didn’t know that part. “Months?”
There was too much to leave behind. Too much to abandon. Too much work. Too much money. Too much—
\[ALTERNATE KEY BEAT: ACCEPT THIS QUEST?\]
“Is there a shortcut, your highness?” Maeve looked different now— posesssed— possessed by a second day of rest. Ah. She could taste it again. Smell it. She would teleport to France. Which country had the softest beds? She would find out soon enough!
“There are many shortcuts,” The Queen stated, a slightly amused smile coming to her lips, “But they are all… well…”
“Mana Beasts live around those roads,” Cassian cut in. He was practically digging his nails into his chair. “The elves are the only ones who know how to avoid these pathways better,”
“Then perhaps, I promise Amir of Satyr that our Vessel bonding would end if he returns us safely to his hometown,” Maeve was looking at him now. “I believe Elves have specific… mates they spend their eternity with. It must kill him to have me as his Mate and so therefore, if I promise to set him free and also safe his realm, he would possibly give us every safe route he knows,”
Cassian wasn’t listening to the rest. In truth, he stopped listening when she mentioned the Vessel bond ending. It was as if his brain decided to stop working at that point in time. Which Maeve instantly picked up. “He will not… return with you?”
This was far too easy. “No. He will not.”
“Then it is settled,” Queen Eldoria waved her hand forward. “Adrian will escort you both, to keep you safe as well as ensure nothing untoward happens again. If it does, he will lose his head. Is that alright with you?”
Was Maeve insane to say otherwise? “Fine with me,”
Now— now, presently, it was almost as if she had to write her will in such little time and time was being cruel to her.
Think. Think. Think.
There were three things she had to manage before she left. The mercantile guild. The farm or lands or fields, Maeve couldn’t care what they wanted to call it. And Montague Silks and Singularity. All of these things she could not imagine to leave behind without proper hands guiding them.
She took out another paper, her eyes scurrying over the words on it. Affinities.
Kinetic (Force, Gravity, Telekinesis). Vital (Healing, Growth, Decay). Mental (Illusion, Empathy, Telepathy). Spatial (Wards, Teleportation, Storage). Rare/Abstract (Light, Shadow, Time).
If she followed this like, it would mean that each Pillar was the pinnacle of the other affinities— the most powerful that is. So the other three pillars would be Vital, Mental and Spatial.
And Royals would be Rare.
Since Guinevere was Kinetic, it meant the entire Montague line fell under that category and that they usually fell under one of those clauses. It also meant construction. Ground work. And Calista— Maeve looked up, staring at the girl whose Affinity NACE had so kindly shown her once upon a time.
Spatial.
A plan formed in her head.
Maeve shot up from her seat. “Okay! Everyone!”
Now, for everyone there that had noticed her being quiet for hours jolted slightly in surprise at the woman standing in front of them with a mad look in her eyes and papers spread all over the table— with the only exception being Lucius and Guinevere who were clearly used to her madness, “I will be travelling for a few days so sadly, we cannot have the get together that we deserve. BUT, as your new boss, I will make all of this clear to you,
“First, servants of Banister— I do not need you people to leave your posts. Yes, I know, I placed a bet on you but you’re all human beings. You can stay at the Banisters if you so desire, or here— if you wish. You can accord yourself as free people even,” Then she put her fingers together, “I just need a little favour from you. Gossip. Tea parties happen frequently at the Banister Estate, yes?”
They were all murmuring, nodding. Calista spoke first, “So what?”
Maeve didn’t even look at her. “I need to know what people want. As everyone here is rightfully aware, I ran an illegal event some nights ago— don’t look all surprised, Calista, I know personally that you bought a dress— but I need to know now what people truly want. And what they say. And every little trivial gossip they make— on each other. FOR FUTURE BLACKMAIL!”
As soon as she shouted those words and pumped her fist in the air, the servants of the Banister household did the same and screamed too— all excited for reasons unknown to them but excitedly regardless. Guinevere looked like she was trying to hide her shame. And Calista… “You.. You jest,”
“Nope.”
“The girls expect— they expect privacy!”
“And they will get privacy. Privacy in the walls of this room.”
“I will no longer hold tea parties,”
Maeve’s face went dead. “Did you.. did you not read the lovely fine print your beloved Vessel signed on your behalf without reading?”
Calista went silent.
Maeve smiled again, this time, turning her attention back to Isabella’s lively Mother, grabbing Guinevere by the arms as she said with a grin that had the woman in question, who was supposed to be feeling Motherly love, feel terror and bile rise up her throat, “I have a better plan for you,”