Lucy now sat alone staring blankly, deep in thought.
Just outside spring-crest pond, those who had vanished from Lucy's presence, reappeared and looked back at where they came from.
"What do you think?" Lusa asked and there was a sigh just beside her.
"Her? She seems exactly like I imagined her," Kylna answered.
"It's weird, I'd say. Even amongst us, we are weary of her. Her name makes my hair stand," Xier chuckled.
"Is this the effect you hoped for Matriarch? We have seen her and we are even more weary of her," Vion asked and the grand dowager empress chuckled.
"You don't understand. The trait of the direct blood line is loyalty. History has proven that the direct bloodline always have the rest of the lineage in mind. Why? Only she can tell you that. But things have escalated to another level. She needs to know we exist," she said.
"Protection? That's unusual," Vion said.
"You don't need to want her protection, we all want different things. But, the direct blood has always been the most relaxed of us all. She doesn't want anything; is what Nanny Han had said. All of us are different, but the direct blood line is the weirdest. You all came because, Lucy knowing of your existence is to your benefit. No other reason, so keep it at that," Matriarch Lilac said and vanished.
***
A clear field had been prepared by morning; it was going to be the burial place of Nanny Han. By the rise of the sun, guests had started to arrive. Most powers on This-side sent representatives if they could not come themselves.
This was a funeral for a maid, but they did not dare stay back. Most came with their wives, after giving them a good scolding. The ladies of society had started to understand that Lady Wickshire was not some little girl. Listening to their husbands speak, they closed their mouths and obeyed. Many ladies left behind by their husbands, gathered for tea at Lady Dockstorm's.
"You were left behind Lady Jeuteh? I thought you said yourself and husband held the most trust for each other," a lady said in mockery. She was Lady Jeuteh's half sister, married to a official Yrum.
"Yes, I may not be worthy to go, but he took my daughter with him. My daughter is friends with Lady Wickshire," Lady Jeuteh said and they all quieted.
"You say it with such pride. It is but just a little girl, this Lady Wickshire. There is nothing to be so proud of," Lady Dockstorm said and Lady Jeuteh chuckled.
"Your husbands did not tell you about her? Why noble society would not offend her?" She asked and they waited for her to speak.
"What trouble can a child cause?" Madame Yrum said and her sister chuckled.
"Why should I tell you? I hope you do something. That way, your entire family will pay the price," she smiled and they frowned.
"Like the beaumont? You actually believe she had the ability? I thought you had grown up Lady Jeuteh," another lady said.
"You ladies never learn. That is why Lady Beaumont caused the downfall of her family. Do you think that this kingdom of Juhntt is the most powerful in the world? Do you think that being married to some lord here makes you so high, there could not possibly be anything higher?" Old Lady Trent said, her voice filled with disgust and the ladies went silent.
"Out of all my sons, only my eldest remains in Juhntt. The others that stepped outside tell me things. Juhntt is classified a first rate kingdom, but it is the weakest of all the others. So weak, it looked like someone wrote the title wrong. My son once said that the Juhntt became a first rate kingdom because Late Lady Torgenn decided to marry into the kingdom. He said there are powers out there that are not even kingdoms, that could flatten this small kingdom in a minute if they wish it. They are just so powerful, they don't care for the likes of us," Old lady Trent said to the listening ladies.
"Like the ancients? What are they?" Lady Rhog asked.
"I see you have been listening to your husband's conversations," Old Lady Trent said and Lady Rhog reddened in embarrassment.
"I heard the Ligrel clan is one of the ancients. But what do they do? Are they that powerful?" Lady Rhog asked.
"Lady Steinhouse is a descendant of the Ligrel clan. They have the ability to destroy all the first rate kingdoms, was what my son had said. But, I heard that the ancients fear whatever family Late Lady Torgenn was from. My bet is, the beaumonts had it coming. As for you ladies, I thought this was just tea. I have no intention of discussing amongst such stupidity. If you feel your small husband is the beginning and end of the world, go ahead and dig your grave. I'm leaving," Old Lady Trent said and left them silent.
Lady Jeuteh laughed coyly as she also took her leave. The rest of the ladies no more had this smug expression on their faces. They started to wonder, could a little girl be that scary? That lineage of hers, was it enough to cause people to tremble?
Back at the spring-crest pond, guests had gathered and many held their breaths. The likes of Lady Wickshire does not make habit of sparing them her shadow. Most have only heard of her and only felt the waves of her power as it glides by them.
The Ligrel clan members that were in Juhntt were in attendance too. They had received invitations and knew that the lady was aware of their presence, regardless of how strongly they had tried to suppress it.
Of the younger generation of the Ligrel clan only five were taken; they had been warned to be obedient and act with caution. But they, themselves, had heard rumours about the Thraine family. They knew that Lady Wickshire was a Thraine and they had no intention of causing trouble. They obeyed and stood behind Protector Klienn with the rest of the guests, surrounding the dug ground.
They looked to the procession coming at a slow pace, in tension. That meant that Lady Wickshire was arriving. They did not know what to expect, as they were not sure who she was. Only words had ever explained the silhouette of Lady Wickshire. They trained their eyes in hope that besides words, they would see with eyes.
The procession gave way to a girl holding a porcelain jar, which they assumed was filled with the ashes of the dead Nanny Han. Her steps were slow and clothes grey, then their eyes trailed to meet her snow-white hair.