Chapter 54
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"The steppes! Why would Mika need to go to the steppes?" Lady Delju looked at her maid.
"Lady Delju, this is all I could find out. Just find out this much, was very difficult."
Lady Delju agreed, two months have gone past and they haven't been able to find out what Lady Jaelah schemed.
They knew Lord Mano was furious. Both Kamryn and Lulu were sent to elders for punishments. After Mano rushed them off to school early, they haven't been allowed back since. Their living expenses were cut and their courtyard searched, any and all magical items were confiscated.
All they can surmise was that Kamryn and Lulu did something major.
"Is Lady Lyra going with Mika?" Sienna wanted to know just as badly as her mother did. Regrettably, everyone involved was remaining tight-lipped.
"I don't think so. Lady Lyra was only having the servants pack youngest miss Mikaela things."
"This is even weirder. Why would Mika go but not Lyra? What business does Mika have in the Steppes?" Lady Delju was getting frustrated with the little information they received.
Pacing back and forth Sienna suddenly stopped.
"Mother's family is still in the Steppes right?"
"Yes...?"
"So the question isn't why would Mika go to the Steppes?, rather why didn't Father ask your family take her?"
Jumping out of her seat, Lady Delju realizes that her daughter spoke true. Why let Mika travel by herself instead of coming to her for help.
"Father doesn't just distrust Lady Jaelah, he is distrustful of us too."
"Why!? We didn't do anything to Mika! Why should we get pushed side along with them! Mano being unfair!" Lady Delju shouted out the injustice.
"Something very serious must have happened to Mika...Mother, maybe you can ask your family to find some information?"
Delju looked down in discomfort at her daughter's suggestion.
"Sienna...my family hasn't been doing so well in the Steppes lately. Their standings have fallen far from what we use to be. Your father has also refused to help them in the past. I don't know if they will be willing to help us."
"What has to happen?"
The Vlacca clan fall from the high clans was a story Sienna knew well. The Vlacca was once apart of the high clans but because of their connections to the Umuris Empire during the war, they fell from grace. Yet time heals all, the Vlacca clan rebuilt themselves as merchants in the Steppes.
Sienna has always show-off in Kaia. With Amara's high clan status and the Vlacca clan riches, Sienna has used her families connections to make a name for herself. Now hearing her mother's words, Sienna was a little shaken.
"The trees of my Vlacca clan have not been doing so well. We haven't been able to make the yearly tribute to the king in the last three years. With the Steppes clans always warring with one another, they have lost some of their lands as well."
"Mother!...how could you keep this from me?" Sienna thought she would be able the use her mother family wealth come next year to buy her placement into the celestials. Now she has to rethink her whole plan.
"Sienna, don't worry. My family just needs a bit of money, to buy back the lands they lost and everything will be fine. "
"Really...? It can't be that easy to regain their status. What about their honey trees?"
"They have already fixed that problem, it just the of loss of land that keeps them back...That's why I asked your father but he wasn't willing."
Sienna knew with her mother's clan wealth and father's high clan status, she'll have easy access into the celestials next year. She had missed her chances in the last five years because her gifts were never good enough. If she misses her chance this year she'll never get to enter.
'Desperate times calls for desperate measures.' Sienna thought as a plan took form in her head.
"Mother I have a plan that can help your family and us...."
_____
In the lands downwards to the south of the Steppes. Fifth prince Ailwin's resident was loud with cheers. Ailwin was sparring with Braeden, amongst a crowd of his private soldiers.
"If I win this time, you must give me your favorite sword. " Braeden taunted.
Spinning out, he deflected Ailwin's sword attack with his twin spear-swords. Sparks flew as they push off one another.
"You can't even land a hit on me and you speak as if you already won. Focus on keeping your head."
Attacking once more, Ailwin charged Braeden. Braeden quickly defended with his right spear-sword as his left came at Ailwin for an attack. Thinking a win was within his grasp Braeden didn't see Ailwin hidden smirk.
'His friend was so gullible.'
At the last minute, Ailwin pushed his sword off of Braeden's spear sword. Thrown off balance Braeden momentum propelled him forward as Ailwin raised he knee right into Braeden's stomach. With arms spread wide Braeden had no way to block, so he felt the full force of the hit.
"Ugh...I'm dying." Braeden laid on the ground clutching his stomach.
When Ailwin was about to help his friend off the ground, his steward came hurrying in.
"Fifth prince, there is an imperial decree that has come. We are waiting in the meeting hall."
Ailwin winning smiling face was wiped clean of merriment, as he left for the hall.
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"The steppes! Why would Mika need to go to the steppes?" Lady Delju looked at her maid.
"Lady Delju, this is all I could find out. Just find out this much, was very difficult."
Lady Delju agreed, two months have gone past and they haven't been able to find out what Lady Jaelah schemed.
They knew Lord Mano was furious. Both Kamryn and Lulu were sent to elders for punishments. After Mano rushed them off to school early, they haven't been allowed back since. Their living expenses were cut and their courtyard searched, any and all magical items were confiscated.
All they can surmise was that Kamryn and Lulu did something major.
"Is Lady Lyra going with Mika?" Sienna wanted to know just as badly as her mother did. Regrettably, everyone involved was remaining tight-lipped.
"I don't think so. Lady Lyra was only having the servants pack youngest miss Mikaela things."
"This is even weirder. Why would Mika go but not Lyra? What business does Mika have in the Steppes?" Lady Delju was getting frustrated with the little information they received.
Pacing back and forth Sienna suddenly stopped.
"Mother's family is still in the Steppes right?"
"Yes...?"
"So the question isn't why would Mika go to the Steppes?, rather why didn't Father ask your family take her?"
Jumping out of her seat, Lady Delju realizes that her daughter spoke true. Why let Mika travel by herself instead of coming to her for help.
"Father doesn't just distrust Lady Jaelah, he is distrustful of us too."
"Why!? We didn't do anything to Mika! Why should we get pushed side along with them! Mano being unfair!" Lady Delju shouted out the injustice.
"Something very serious must have happened to Mika...Mother, maybe you can ask your family to find some information?"
Delju looked down in discomfort at her daughter's suggestion.
"Sienna...my family hasn't been doing so well in the Steppes lately. Their standings have fallen far from what we use to be. Your father has also refused to help them in the past. I don't know if they will be willing to help us."
"What has to happen?"
The Vlacca clan fall from the high clans was a story Sienna knew well. The Vlacca was once apart of the high clans but because of their connections to the Umuris Empire during the war, they fell from grace. Yet time heals all, the Vlacca clan rebuilt themselves as merchants in the Steppes.
Sienna has always show-off in Kaia. With Amara's high clan status and the Vlacca clan riches, Sienna has used her families connections to make a name for herself. Now hearing her mother's words, Sienna was a little shaken.
"The trees of my Vlacca clan have not been doing so well. We haven't been able to make the yearly tribute to the king in the last three years. With the Steppes clans always warring with one another, they have lost some of their lands as well."
"Mother!...how could you keep this from me?" Sienna thought she would be able the use her mother family wealth come next year to buy her placement into the celestials. Now she has to rethink her whole plan.
"Sienna, don't worry. My family just needs a bit of money, to buy back the lands they lost and everything will be fine. "
"Really...? It can't be that easy to regain their status. What about their honey trees?"
"They have already fixed that problem, it just the of loss of land that keeps them back...That's why I asked your father but he wasn't willing."
Sienna knew with her mother's clan wealth and father's high clan status, she'll have easy access into the celestials next year. She had missed her chances in the last five years because her gifts were never good enough. If she misses her chance this year she'll never get to enter.
'Desperate times calls for desperate measures.' Sienna thought as a plan took form in her head.
"Mother I have a plan that can help your family and us...."
_____
In the lands downwards to the south of the Steppes. Fifth prince Ailwin's resident was loud with cheers. Ailwin was sparring with Braeden, amongst a crowd of his private soldiers.
"If I win this time, you must give me your favorite sword. " Braeden taunted.
Spinning out, he deflected Ailwin's sword attack with his twin spear-swords. Sparks flew as they push off one another.
"You can't even land a hit on me and you speak as if you already won. Focus on keeping your head."
Attacking once more, Ailwin charged Braeden. Braeden quickly defended with his right spear-sword as his left came at Ailwin for an attack. Thinking a win was within his grasp Braeden didn't see Ailwin hidden smirk.
'His friend was so gullible.'
At the last minute, Ailwin pushed his sword off of Braeden's spear sword. Thrown off balance Braeden momentum propelled him forward as Ailwin raised he knee right into Braeden's stomach. With arms spread wide Braeden had no way to block, so he felt the full force of the hit.
"Ugh...I'm dying." Braeden laid on the ground clutching his stomach.
When Ailwin was about to help his friend off the ground, his steward came hurrying in.
"Fifth prince, there is an imperial decree that has come. We are waiting in the meeting hall."
Ailwin winning smiling face was wiped clean of merriment, as he left for the hall.
"The steppes! Why would Mika need to go to the steppes?" Lady Delju looked at her maid."Lady Delju, this is all I could find out. Just find out this much, was very difficult."Lady Delju agreed, two months have gone past and they haven't been able to find out what Lady Jaelah schemed.They knew Lord Mano was furious. Both Kamryn and Lulu were sent to elders for punishments. After Mano rushed them off to school early, they haven't been allowed back since. Their living expenses were cut and their courtyard searched, any and all magical items were confiscated.All they can surmise was that Kamryn and Lulu did something major."Is Lady Lyra going with Mika?" Sienna wanted to know just as badly as her mother did. Regrettably, everyone involved was remaining tight-lipped."I don't think so. Lady Lyra was only having the servants pack youngest miss Mikaela things.""This is even weirder. Why would Mika go but not Lyra? What business does Mika have in the Steppes?" Lady Delju was getting frustrated with the little information they received.Pacing back and forth Sienna suddenly stopped."Mother's family is still in the Steppes right?""Yes...?""So the question isn't why would Mika go to the Steppes?, rather why didn't Father ask your family take her?"Jumping out of her seat, Lady Delju realizes that her daughter spoke true. Why let Mika travel by herself instead of coming to her for help."Father doesn't just distrust Lady Jaelah, he is distrustful of us too.""Why!? We didn't do anything to Mika! Why should we get pushed side along with them! Mano being unfair!" Lady Delju shouted out the injustice."Something very serious must have happened to Mika...Mother, maybe you can ask your family to find some information?"Delju looked down in discomfort at her daughter's suggestion."Sienna...my family hasn't been doing so well in the Steppes lately. Their standings have fallen far from what we use to be. Your father has also refused to help them in the past. I don't know if they will be willing to help us.""What has to happen?"The Vlacca clan fall from the high clans was a story Sienna knew well. The Vlacca was once apart of the high clans but because of their connections to the Umuris Empire during the war, they fell from grace. Yet time heals all, the Vlacca clan rebuilt themselves as merchants in the Steppes.Sienna has always show-off in Kaia. With Amara's high clan status and the Vlacca clan riches, Sienna has used her families connections to make a name for herself. Now hearing her mother's words, Sienna was a little shaken."The trees of my Vlacca clan have not been doing so well. We haven't been able to make the yearly tribute to the king in the last three years. With the Steppes clans always warring with one another, they have lost some of their lands as well.""Mother!...how could you keep this from me?" Sienna thought she would be able the use her mother family wealth come next year to buy her placement into the celestials. Now she has to rethink her whole plan."Sienna, don't worry. My family just needs a bit of money, to buy back the lands they lost and everything will be fine. ""Really...? It can't be that easy to regain their status. What about their honey trees?""They have already fixed that problem, it just the of loss of land that keeps them back...That's why I asked your father but he wasn't willing."Sienna knew with her mother's clan wealth and father's high clan status, she'll have easy access into the celestials next year. She had missed her chances in the last five years because her gifts were never good enough. If she misses her chance this year she'll never get to enter.'Desperate times calls for desperate measures.' Sienna thought as a plan took form in her head."Mother I have a plan that can help your family and us...."_____In the lands downwards to the south of the Steppes. Fifth prince Ailwin's resident was loud with cheers. Ailwin was sparring with Braeden, amongst a crowd of his private soldiers."If I win this time, you must give me your favorite sword. " Braeden taunted.Spinning out, he deflected Ailwin's sword attack with his twin spear-swords. Sparks flew as they push off one another."You can't even land a hit on me and you speak as if you already won. Focus on keeping your head."Attacking once more, Ailwin charged Braeden. Braeden quickly defended with his right spear-sword as his left came at Ailwin for an attack. Thinking a win was within his grasp Braeden didn't see Ailwin hidden smirk.'His friend was so gullible.'At the last minute, Ailwin pushed his sword off of Braeden's spear sword. Thrown off balance Braeden momentum propelled him forward as Ailwin raised he knee right into Braeden's stomach. With arms spread wide Braeden had no way to block, so he felt the full force of the hit."Ugh...I'm dying." Braeden laid on the ground clutching his stomach.When Ailwin was about to help his friend off the ground, his steward came hurrying in."Fifth prince, there is an imperial decree that has come. We are waiting in the meeting hall."Ailwin winning smiling face was wiped clean of merriment, as he left for the hall.
