“Announcing the arrival of Lady Aura Hedera, head of House Hedera, Peer of The Realm, accompanied by her daughters, Grappa and Fern Hedera.”
The announcement was made by Turquoise to a mostly empty audience chamber. Though the business of the state had far from ceased, Lady Everstar was holding Court less and less often, leaving the day-to-day running of the Kingdom to her subjects, who by and large were able to keep things moving along. The system was meant to function in her absence, and this was hardly the first time the Lady had become a recluse. Indeed, nearly two hundred years ago, she'd disappeared for the better part of three decades, came back to a thriving country, and stepped back into her role with no issue, and no explanation of where she had gone, what she had done, or if she would do it again.
So it was with no sense of unusual behavior that Lady Hedera had answered the summons to the Court, her daughters by her side. She felt only a small thrill of trepidation, the normal sensation one might feel when summoned to kneel before their monarch, for she was certain that Lady Everstar could find no real offense with her or her conduct.
“You may rise,” Lady Everstar said after a moment, and Lady Hedera and her daughters did as they were bade. “Lady Hedera, your prompt response is appreciated. You have brought Grappa and Fern as well, which is good. How old are they, now?”
“Eleven, my Lady,” Aura said demurely. “They've been getting taller when I'm not looking, it would seem.”
Lady Everstar smiled tolerantly through thin lips, showing no teeth. “I'm sure”. She gestured to one of the ponies on the side of the wall, a unicorn wearing the robe and stole of a court Mage, one of the many who nominally served under Libra. “Stardust will watch your children for us, Lady Hedera. I had you bring them so that you may discuss what you have learned at the earliest opportunity.”
Stardust strode forward, waiting on the twins, and Lady Hedera, a bit hesitantly, shooed them forward. Grappa and Fern, both uneasy, allowed themselves to be led away by the mage, leaving Hedera and the Lady to speak mare to mare.
Lady Everstar rose from the throne, her horn lighting up, and with a rush of air, a table coalesced on the floor of the throne room, with a chair for Lady Hedera and a chair for herself. She gestured for Lady Hedera to sit as a full tea service appeared, steaming and ready. Lady Hedera did so, gratefully accepting a cup from the Lady, who dropped in a single cube of sugar, Aura's preferred method of taking her tea. How she knew this, Lady Hedera had no idea, as she had never taken tea with the Lady.
“You have no reason to worry, Lady Hedera,” Everstar said, sipping at her tea and not breaking eye contact for a moment. “Stardust is a capable pony, and I assure you that no harm will befall your children. He is the pony who watched Serale when Libra was engaged with other tasks.”
“That is good to hear,” Lady Hedera said, meeting her monarch's gaze unflinchingly. “But I wasn't worried. You of all ponies would know how important a child can be.”
“Indeed.”
“I must admit, my Lady, I am curious as to why you summoned me along with my children. Grappa and Fern were both ecstatic to receive a royal invitation, but it was rather sudden.”
“Allow me to elucidate, then,” Lady Everstar replied. “By now, I'm sure you are aware of your son's situation in the north of Equestria.”
Aura nodded her head, running a nervous hoof through the blonde of her mane. “I know it was going to happen soon,” she said. “Vino was optimistic about his chances, but passed along instructions regarding his...his will...in case of the worst.” Her eyes widened. “Have you heard news?”
“Aura,” Lady Everstar said, leaning forward. “The duel was this morning.”
Lady Hedera bit her lip, her already pale face going even paler. Any harder and she would surely draw blood. She took a deep breath. “Is my son alive, Lady Everstar?”
“That's unknown at this time,” Lady Everstar said, her eyes serious and hard as flint beneath the jet back bangs of her mane. “He, along with my daughter and another pony, an apprentice mage, disappeared at the climax of his duel. A party has been dispatched to retrieve them.”
“I assume they are alive, then?” Lady Hedera asked, a tremor in her voice. “Or have I misunderstood, and we are both waiting on bodies to be retrieved?”
“No, they're alive,” Lady Everstar replied. “Alive and as safe as could be expected. They're up north, though I've been reassured by Cadance that they are in a more hospitable part of it. However, more than that could not be determined. An expedition has been sent to fetch them. It’s expected to take somewhere around a month.”
“A… a month?” Lady Hedera asked, shocked. “Why, anything could happen in a month! They could freeze to death, or starve, or be eaten by some horrible monster! What am I supposed to tell Grappa and Fern? I can’t give them that kind of hope and then tell them in two weeks’ time that their brother has died!”
“Which is one of the reasons I asked you to the palace today,” Lady Everstar replied calmly, before taking a sip of her tea. “I’m in danger of losing Serale, just as you are of losing Vino. I wish to offer my support until we know for certain that they’ll be alright.”
“And you do know they’ll be alright?” Aura asked insistently. “I’ve sent expeditions of my own to the North, Lady Everstar. I know just as well as you what it’s like up there.”
“There’s always a possibility I’m mistaken, Aura,” Lady Everstar said, “But I’m confident in Princess Cadance’s predictions.”
“Princess Cadance?” Lady Hedera said doubtfully, her tea quite forgotten, “I beg pardon, my Lady, but why would you trust her?”
“Because if I find out she’s been lying to me, I’m going to personally lead the army that mounts her head on a pike. Also because while she may be a disreputable bitch, she still maintains some semblance of decency, at least to keep on my good side,” Lady Everstar said cheerfully. She drained her cup of tea and refiled it from the pot, still steaming. Aura was impressed, as her own tea was still piping hot.
“The point of the matter is that while Vino, Serale, and Cobblestone may be missing, they won’t be for long. With that in mind, I’ve made arrangements. For the next month, you’ll have rooms here in the Regia.”
Aura’s eyes widened, and her grip on her cup tightened, almost to the point of cracking it. “My...Lady?” She asked, perplexed. “The offer is kind, very kind indeed, but it’s entirely unecessary.”
“It’s hardly any trouble at all,” Lady Everstar replied.
Lady Hedera shook her head. “That won’t be necessary, my Lady.”
“I insist,” Everstar said. “Unless you have other business to attend to?”
“Well, I…” Lady Hedera half-spluttered. “I do need to see to the running of my House, Lady Everstar, surely you can understand that.”
The unicorn nodded sympathetically, the crown on her head glinting as she did so. “Of course, of course. I’d be more than happy to dispatch members of my staff to assist you. Some of them are your own success stories, aren’t they? Reformed ponies? I seem to recall you had some interest into adopting Cobblestone as one of your reform cases.”
Aura flushed a bit. “Well, I suppose so, my Lady. I’m actually surprised you would know that, you don’t seem the sort to pay much attention to servants. No offense, I assure you,” she added quickly. “It’s just that you seem to be awfully preoccupied.”
“That’s another of the reasons I brought you here, Aura,” Lady Everstar said. “I’ve been investigating the activities of House Hedera. Purely from an official standpoint, nothing nefarious, of course.”
“Of course,” Aura replied, guardedly. “And might I ask why?”
“Well, you were the target of an attack by a necromancer,” Lady Everstar said pointedly. “I’ve launched an investigation into the events leading up to the attack itself, which by necessity involves looking at yourself.It really is quite remarkable, Lady Hedera, what you’ve managed to accomplish with your House in such a short period of time.”
Aura’s hoof tightened imperceptibly on the hem of her dress. “Thank you, Milady. It was my late husband who accomplished most of it, I’ve merely built off what he created.”
“It’s a shame Vino’s set to inherit when he returns,” Lady Everstar continued. “But I think he’s the sort of pony who’d do well with some good advice. It’s such a tragedy when a family falls apart over something as…” Her eyes flicked up from her cup to meet Aura’s own, piercing her. “Trivial...as money. But there’s quite a lot there. You’ve averaged a growth of six percent per year since your husband’s death. Not only that, but your famed philanthropic work is notable as well.”
“There are many ponies in the Kingdom who could use a helping hoof,” Aura replied levelly. “My outreach programs are what I truly care for.”
“And they have a truly outstanding reform rate,” Lady Everstar replied. “Almost unprecedented. Your butlers and maidservants are highly sought after in this city. Why, I’d say there’s at least one of your ponies in every House, wouldn’t you?”
Aura’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not quite sure what you’re implying, my Lady.”
“Implying?” Lady Everstar replied cheerfully, setting her cup down with a clink and folding her hooves. “I’m certainly not implying anything, Lady Hedera. Merely stating a fact. Just like I’m telling you that this investigation I’m mounting will get to the bottom of things. That’s a promise from me to you.” She tilted her head. “Is something the matter, Lady Hedera? You’ve hardly touched your tea. You did take it with one lump, correct?”
Aura picked up her cup, inhaling the steam. It was a good blend. “My apologies. I was...absorbed in the details of our discussion. How did you know how I take my tea?”
Everstar’s smile didn’t waver a bit. “I employ several of your ponies as servants. One of them remembered how you take your tea.”
“Well,” Aura declared, after swallowing a warm mouthful, “I thank you for the tea, my Lady. But I’m afraid I have business to attend to in the city.”
Lady Everstar raised her eyebrows, which disappeared underneath her jet-black bangs. “But we haven’t discussed the issue of your daughters!” she exclaimed.
Aura froze. “I’m...sorry?”
“Whyever did you think I wanted them brought to the palace with you?” Lady Everstar asked. “Aside from sharing news about Vino with them. Stardust has expressed interest in taking the girls on as apprentices. He’s in the next room, speaking to them now.”
To her credit, Aura only gasped a bit, by the slightest reflex. “My lady, I...I don’t know what to say. This is rather...unexpected. I had thought that I would need to find another teacher for the girls, I had already sent out a few scrolls…”
Lady Everstar waved an airy hoof. “I can assure you that whomever it was you were going to contact would pale in comparison to the mages in my service.”
“Of...of course, my Lady,” Aura said hesitantly. “I wouldn’t dream of implying otherwise, I apologize if I offend, but...well, it’s all rather a lot to take in.”
“They’d need to stay here in the palace, of course,” Lady Everstar said. “But they’re near the age of leaving home as it is. Your time here will give them an opportunity to learn the layout, where they can and can’t go, and so on. We wouldn’t want them getting in trouble, now, would we?”
Aura shook her head mutely.
“And you can rest assured of their safety, Aura,” the unicorn continued fervently. “They’ll be safe as could be here in the castle. I’ll be sure to keep a close eye on them, and Stardust has promised the same. A magical education is important, but the continued safety of your family, and indeed the entire Kingdom, is of paramount importance. I know I can trust in you to help me uphold that security.”
Aura’s eyes narrowed. The message was clear. “Of course,” she said. “I have nothing but the utmost desire to see the reign of the Evening Kingdom continue for years to come.”
Lady Everstar smiled at her. There was a faint sound from the hallway, easily recognizable as the excited laughter of two small children. One of the guards posted along the wall shifted slightly, the tip of their polearm gleaming sharply in the light. “Then I think we have a perfect understanding, Lady Hedera. I’ll have the guards dispatch a group of staff to collect whatever you need, after they show you to your rooms.”
Aura rose from her chair, and gave a stiff bow as the doors to the throne room swung open, revealing Grappa and Fern, flanking the court mage Stardust, who regarded her impassively. Lady Everstar watched them all depart as a group, smiling pleasantly as the doors swung shut once more, leaving her alone with an almost-empty hall and a table containing a still-warm teaset.
“Well?” she said expectantly. There were a few gouts of emerald flame, and the guards in the hall dropped their disguises to reveal shining black armor. One of them stepped forward, a Changeling subaltern, and bowed low to the ground.
“She’s hiding something, milady,” he said quietly. “We all felt it, she was almost petrified the entire time. And she was especially afraid when you threatened her children.”
“I did no such thing,” Lady Everstar said, her voice hollow and expressionless, matching her blank face and eerily calm features. “I merely offered her a place to stay in a trying time, and help with educating her children.” There was a pause. “Ensure we have Changelings near Aura and her daughters at all times. They go nowhere in this castle without my knowing.”
The Changelings bowed as one, and filed away silently through different doors, each attending to a different task. The effect was a bit unnerving, and Twilight had to remind herself that they were likely fresh from the hive, and as such, would probably take a while to lose their more eccentric habits.
There was a quiet cough from the chair in front of her, and Twilight turned back to the chair, which had creaked only a moment ago. “Yes, Turquoise?” She asked. “What news do you have for me?”
Turquoise took a sip from the teacup in front of her, whetting her sudden thirst. “Magus Libra is calling on your scrying mirror, Milady,” she said. “She said that she has...news...about Captain Fidelis.”