“I want power Celeste.” Tabitha responded and Celeste’s stomach knotted. “I want the power that men have held over us since the gods abandoned us.” Tabitha shook her head. “Short of that? I’d settle for my cut of the Southshore pie.” Tabitha lounged back into her cushions once more. “What of you, Celeste. What do you want?”

Celeste was caught by surprise at that question. A question she had never really been asked before. What did she want? As the thought lingered in Celeste’s mind, a slender Fershya woman wearing barely more than thin silk straps slinked into the room, placing a cup in front of them both. As the servant floated out of the room, Celeste caught Tabitha’s eyes lingering on her graceful movements.

“I want to help people.” Celeste eventually answered, pulling the Jöln woman’s attention back “I want to make the lives of our people better.”

“Our people?” Tabitha asked. Celeste nodded. She said what she had meant.

“Yes, Tabitha, our people.” Celeste looked at her, met the woman’s keen eyes. “I see you care for these women; I see you care for this street gang of yours. As you love them, I love all of Terminia.” As Celeste spoke the final word, Tabitha scoffed bitterly.

“Terminia, girl? Really? What has this kingdom ever done for us? I know where you come from, I know the streets you ran along. Do you know how many widows from the war live under my care? How many children born of soldiers’ drunken whoring? Or careless noble spawn? Terminia is nothing but a boot pressing upon our necks.” Tabitha sniffed and drank her tea. Celeste followed suit, sipping her own. It was sweet with a floral scent.

“Then why summon me?” Celeste asked, growing frustrated with the circles. If she knew what Tabitha wanted, beyond some abstract power, then perhaps she could help her. “What is it that you want from me?”

Eventually Tabitha sighed and placed down her drink. “What is it that I wish to speak with you about girl?” She clicked her tongue. “The same thing everyone wants, save perhaps that pretty king of ours.”

“And what is that?”

“Change.” Tabitha let the word linger, taking a sip of her tea as it hung in the heavy air. “As someone in my position, the idea of a woman ruling the city brings to mind certain… opportunities.” Tabitha smiled at Celeste. “Or hopes of opportunity as it were.”

Celeste swallowed. Did this woman think Celeste intended to rule? To take the throne? Celeste shivered at that. She was born to serve, not to rule. Her duty was to enact the mercy of the First Mother, not the justice of the True Father. Still, she needed to find out what Tabitha wanted if she were to make a difference here. “And what would that mean?” Celeste asked.

“As above so below, little girl. A woman on the throne, a woman ruling the underworld.” Tabitha raised her glass into the air and shone a toothy grin. “You can have the ballgowns and crowns child. I have seen the halls of the nobles and found them filthier than any shithole in the Mudport. Be their queen, and I shall be the Slum Queen of Southshore. Then we can compare hands and see whose are cleaner.” Tabitha finished her speech with a raising of her cup. Celeste looked up at her, only now realizing that the woman had stood up. She was short, even for a Jöln, but in that moment Celeste could have sworn she looked a giant.

“I…” Celeste stammered. “I don’t know what to say.”

“I didn’t expect an answer tonight girl. If you did give me one, then it would speak enough of your intelligence as to tell me your answer’s worth.” She grinned at Celeste. “Ask around when you are ready. Someone will know how to find me.”

“What is it you want from me then? What would you bring to Southshore?” Celeste asked. She could see Vallerian staring at her, his gaze burning into her back. She ignored it for now.

“I would bring unity. No more gangs or gang wars. A united people, working together.” Tabitha answered it. She seemed honest.

“And the protection rackets?” Celeste had heard merchants praying to the First Mother of that intimidation before. Terrible men who forced money from the hands of hard-working peoples at a dagger’s point.

“The king takes his taxes. Will you be any better?” Tabitha raised an eyebrow, as if she expected Celeste to give her some sort of answer. No, she was right. The king cared little for Southshore; she had seen that these past few days. If Tabitha could bring peace here, some sort of order. Then perhaps it would be a worthwhile endeavour.

“Go on now child, it is late, and you look exhausted.” Tabitha eventually filled the silence. “As I said, think on this and come find me.” Tabitha snapped her fingers, and the two Korek women once more entered the room. One of them, Celeste didn’t turn to see which, pulled her to her feet.

“Mistress Tabitha, your actions and the actions done in your name over the coming days will weigh heavily upon my decisions.” Celeste spoke as she was pulled away. “I have seen the violence of Southshore, and I would expect any would-be ruler would need to rise above such things.” Celeste felt herself being pulled away. Tabitha studied her, clicking her tongue as she did so.

“You impress me child, more than I expected.” Then Celeste was pulled past the red curtain.

In moments, her and Vallerian were pushed out the base of the tower once more, stumbling into Valleresa and Arabella. Valleresa seemed to be sporting a new black eye, but from the unconscious Khazimi woman being attended to not far off, it seemed she had been the victor.

“What a miserable little piece of…” Vallerian was cut off.

“Watch your tongue Fereni.” The braided haired Korek woman snapped. Vallerian grumbled, but otherwise kept quiet. Celeste briefly laid her hands on Valleresa, infusing her with a ripple of vitality. A black eye wasn’t too draining, and Celeste found herself oddly energized. She quickly checked in with her sisters, each proving to be in good health and relatively unharmed. Arabella did manage to slip that the scuffle Valleresa had gotten into had been of her own making.

The tattooed Korek woman showed them their way back to the main road, and shortly they resumed their journey home. As if none of the past hour or so had happened.

“What she said in there.” Vallerian said, striding up beside her. Celeste eyed him warily. Could she trust this man? “I wouldn’t trust her. You can’t trust a slum lord, and she seems the worst of them. You must remain above all of that if you are ever to rule.”

“Is a tree above the dirt in which it grows its roots Lord Vallerian?” She responded. She was growing tired of his pretty words and charming smile. And she had no intentions of ruling. He was just like the rest of the nobles she had met over the years. Only around her for her eyes. But he had one difference. A darkness that festered within him, one that scared her. He turned to her with a grin.

“I thought I told you…”

“And I thought I told you that there would be no more violence.” She very nearly snapped at him. She composed herself before continuing. “I believe. Lord Vallerian, that for the time being at least, I think it would be best if you returned to your manor.” She avoided his gaze.

“Celeste…”

“It is your Radiance or Prophetess.” She couldn’t look at him, it hurt too much. She had thought him a friend, but when she looked to him, she saw pain. She saw suffering. She saw a helpless man beaten before her own eyes. It was too much.

“As you wish, Your Radiance.” He said, stepping away from her. A single tear fell from Celeste's eye and rolled down her cheek.