“Flying through the sky, like a bird? Really, Lady Bulemi? How could you believe such nonsense? ‘Tis just rumours the peasant masses came up with! Only a fool would believe such things!” Lady Hunata scoffed.

Lady Bulemi stared at her, her mouth agape. “Am I… am I a fool?” She questioned, despondent.

Lady Jupalo spoke up. “Pah! Quit with your whining, Bulemi! We have much more important issues at hand than your ridiculously low self-regard! What are we to do about the General? And her forces? We can’t just let her take control of Delruse! It should at least be one of us, no?”

Lady Retalle slammed her hand on the table. “A vote! We call a vote!”

Bulemi eyed her. “To decide if I am a fool?”

“What? Of course not! We need to decide on how to deal with the General! And who shall control Delruse!” Retalle practically snarled.

“Finally, someone is speaking sense!” Lady Hunata smiled. “Now, who will vote for me?

A resoundingly negative response echoed through the room.

Bulemi straightened. “You don’t think I’m a fool?”

“For Delruse’s sake! Just be quiet, Bulemi!”

Lady Yarratu entered the room, carrying a platter of steaming baked-snacks. “It’s sounding awfully lively in here, ladies! Scones, anyone? I have crumpets, too!”

Retalle launched to her feet, smacking the tray of food to the floor. “We have no need of your crumpets, Yarratu! What matters is th-”

Staring at the crumpets and scones that had been scattered across the floor, Yarratu spoke, her words furious. “How. Dare. You. How dare you! I made those myself!” By the time she finished, her voice had turned to a shriek.

Lady Retalle didn’t have time to react as Lady Yarratu tackled her to the ground.

As crumpets were throne and her was yanked, Grace Stone could do naught more than shake her head. “You’re all just so, so stupid. How are you even the head of a family? Ladies? Hah! Bickering old crones, more like!”

As one, every Lady in the room turned to her. It was Hunata that spoke up. “Crones? Crones?! You’re just some upstart merchant! I don’t even understand why you’re here!”

With another shake of her head, Grace turned to leave. “Neither do I, Hunata. Neither do I.”

The head of the Stone family left the throne room, disgust radiating from her in waves.

Preoccupied by a battle of tea, crumpets and scones, none of the ladies noticed the slight, flickering distortion that slipped out of the room behind her.

*****

“What do I have to expect? Poison? Assassins? Traps?” Jane questioned.

Patrick smiled wryly. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about, General.”