"Mir'fea, how long was I to wait before you told me of your Fanu? Was I to find out about her on the wedding day?" Enesa Seulnine was perched in her favorite chair embroidering one of her new projects. The woman was the Mun'ei of the family. The matriarch of the family and the Estate Master after her husband died. She also cared for the estate in Ienia's place until he was able to after his injuries had healed. She still helped him even now as neither trusted anyone else with the affairs of the estate.

At fifty she was still very healthy and considered a timeless beauty. She had a classical look that many older women strived for in Vahnaine. Long auburn hair was unbound and free to flow down and around her delicate form. She had huge curls that seem to stay perfectly in place, never tangling. Her skin was a warm blush that deepened in the summer. Her eyes stood out the most as they were a washed out pale jade.

Ienia remember his mothers features in his mind perfectly and knew she was staring at him with her stern face that could break into a smile at anytime. She was angry with him and he was thankful he was mute. He wouldn't have the words to save himself from her. It was better to not even try. He had forgotten to inform her of his new concubine and had no real excuse.

"Pueya is near you, speak." she commanded him with a note of annoyance in her voice.

Ienia grimaced knowing he was in hot water. He took his Rini's hand and noted how sweaty it was already. "It was not my intention to slight you mother. It was an oversight that I am embarrassed to admit, due to the situation."

"Oh... so the first night you closed your eyes during this situation you did not give one thought toward your mother?" she countered as quickly as it took for him to respond to her.

Pueya stepped back almost cowering near him. He could feel his Rini's discomfort through their bond and completely understood the young man. He would be implicated.

"Rini, you must have an answer as to why you have not informed me." Pueya flinched and Ienia was positived those sickly colored eyes landed on him.

The Rini dropped into a low bow, "Mun'ei please forgive me. I have been lacking in my duties."

"Clearly." Enesa said. Her burning gaze must have been on the Rini and Ienia felt for him but he was fortunate to be blind.

"You two are disregarding me."

"No never!" Pueya replied automatically. "Master has dealt with much and truly became drawn into a dangerous situation. He had to place all his attention on the issue at hand lest Seukine suffer."

"And this is why Mari'nei is angry with you. You do not ask for help and disregard us older ones. Charging ahead without telling your trusted ones anything." Enesa's scolding was warranted even if Ienia felt somewhat justified.

"I fear Aunt's grudge against me goes deeper than mere disregard."

"I'm sure that it does. There must be a better reason for the two of you to act like children when you meet." His mother said sighing.

Ienia knew her eyes were on him again. She was very much still upset and had much she wanted to say but left it unsaid.

"Tell me about this Fanu. Where does she come from?"

There was silence in the room for a long span of seconds before Pueya answered quietly, "Asila."

The sound of a cup shatter on the floor suddenly even startled Ienia. Enesa mood was dropping quickly. The warmth he normally felt in her presence was dispersing leaving nothing but cold rage.

"Are we on amicable terms with that estate? Did I miss something?" She asked barely concealing the boiling anger. Ienia sighed inwardly before grabbing Pueya hand and speaking through him.

"We are not, but I have no choice Ai'ma. Our reputation was on the line." Ienia explained in a tentative tone.

She shifted in her seat and he knew she was staring out of her window with the same forlorn expression burned into his mind. "So a ploy to let snakes into the garden"

"In a sense, it is Ghain'dea's way of getting my attention. But let me explain before you make up your mind." He said and began to explain to her what happen in the past couple of weeks.

The woman listened silently until he finished. The exploded, "An insolent dog until the very end. The offspring of vipers and vermin! How dare he stick that wench in our noble estate!"

"Mun'ei please calm yourself. You will become heart sick again." her Sa rank servant, Miq'u whispered to the woman.

"Do not tell me to calm down. Have we not suffered enough as victims at that monster's hands. He still wishes to stir up more trouble for our estate and for Mir'fea!" Her voice cracked as she was bordering on sobs. The woman had a temper and could be emotional at times but this display was more than Ienia wanted to witness. His mother swallowed many insults and injuries over the years but his father's death and his incident broke her heart.

"He is a parasite intent on harming you. What do you want me to do, Mir'fea? I will not sit here idle while he plots to do harm to you again. I would sooner kill him and die in the public square than allow him to force us to play his game of misery.

Pueya moved him closer to his mother and he took her hand into his. *"Ai'ma."*

"You can't even call me with your voice. How can I remain calm at this injustice?" Her voice was barely above a whisper but it was clear to him. The tension in the room dissipated leaving only somberness in its stead. Her rage subsided but now all that remain was her sadness. An all-encompassing pain that would not abate no matter what she did.

He wanted to tell her something, anything but nothing he could say would bring her peace. So he swallowed down his own anger and helplessness and took Pueya's hand, "She is an innocent girl from a noble family. Unfortunately she will not tell me her family name due to an oath to her mother. I've sent someone to investigate. For now I want to keep her safe. She is an unwitting pawn in Ghain'dea's scheme."

"A noble family? Noble families never lose their ranking to that extent. She should be a Ganu not a Fanu." Miq'u said confused.

"She was a unclean Danu." Pueya answered.

"Unclean, he's forced an unclean person on you." Enesa almost fainted and Ienia heard her maid rush to her.

"Mun'ei?" Pueya inquired.

"I am fine," she answered pulling her hand away from Ienia. She was angry with him again.

"She has already been cleansed." Pueya explained and that seem to only lift the woman's mood a little.

"Your father would die again if he knew this. Why must you suffer for her?"

"There was no choice but this one. She would have died if I did not help her" Ienia said.

"And you are responisble for her death as well?"

"She was forced to do this. I figured this out and could not sit by and let her die wronged. Though she is not a part of Seukine, Father would hate that I did nothing more than than anything else. Our reputation is important but helping her was the right thing to do."

Enesa sighed heavily, "You are right. Ai'fei could never stand to be cruel or watch the cruelty of others. A stupid man. Such a stupid man."

"What will you do with the Fanu?" Hia Seulnine asked entering the sitting room without announcing herself. Hia was his younger sister. She was the mirror image of their mother. Pale green eyes and dark brown hair. The only real difference other than age was Hia had pin straight hair that was cut right above her shoulders. She hated to grow her hair so she kept it short to the chagrin of her mother.

Ienia was sure his sister wanted the girl gone, but he couldn't allow that. Not only because she was innocent but because she was different. "She will stay here as a Fanu unless she shows that her loyalties are with Asila.

"That is fine but do not forget those who seek your seat as Estate Master. I know she is a problem that you are concerned over but do not forget the true issues that plague Seukine." Enesa said back to her typical stern tone.

"Yes mother." Ienia nodded. He was well aware of his father's brother. The man had lived in Seukine for many years causing trouble under the cover of darkness. His mother spent years fighting off the man after his father died.

"I trust you Mir'fea. Do what you see fit."

"I agree with mother. I do not trust this woman but since you will give her a chance so will I. I will do my best to support you and her. For now I will watch over the harem for you." Hia said sitting down beside her mother.

"Then let us foil his schemes." Ienia said with a small smile.