Finn and Mayra arrived at the Provider's house just as the morning Council meeting would be beginning. Hopefully Ashley's mother was home alone and would consent to see them.
Mayra stepped up to the door, being the more extroverted of the two, and knocked with the ornate door knocker that graced its surface. After a short moment, a man in formal livery opened it. He looked surprised, if a little annoyed.
"Good morning to you both," He observed the basket Mayra held. "If you have a delivery for the kitchen, it must go to the back door."
Finn shrunk under his gaze. It was not unkindly said, but implied a more formal social striation than she was used to. It made her uncomfortable to be perceived as impolite or presumptuous, though her mouth got ahead of her often lately.
"We're here to visit the lady of the house. We heard she wasn't feeling well and thought a nice social visit might do her some good." Mayra smiled brightly at the servant.
He analyzed the two young women. The situation was unusual; the Lady had not entertained visitors for years other than those who came to see The Provider, and then only together with her husband. Still, his duties were to serve them both, and perhaps a change of pace would suit the forlorn, slightly insane mistress of the household.
"Please come in, you may wait in the sitting room while I see if she is receiving visitors." He finally decided.
The two young ladies entered the grandest home either of them had ever been in. The General's home, while very fine, had a utilitarian nature to it that was quite different from this empty, grand place.
The floors were fine white marble, with large, intricately designed carpets covering much of them. The ceiling was high above, with hanging lamps that looked as if they could be lowered and lit before being raised again. The furniture was carved, dark wood with fine cushions gracing each seat. They were led into a side room from the entryway and directed to wait.
Mayra gasped and stopped as she saw a breathtaking painting on one wall of the room. It was large, almost a mural in breadth and height, with a golden frame containing the scene.
It depicted a cliff over a stormy sea. The detail was astonishing. Mayra moved closer and studied the figure standing on the edge of the cliff, staring out to the waves where a galleon was fighting against the wind and currents. The perspective was from above the shore behind the figure, perhaps perched on a higher section of cliff or mountain.
A woman with her long skirt being whipped about by the gale. Her face was unseen, but the set of her shoulders was one of tension and defiance. Her head was bowed slightly against the wind as a wave crashed against the rocks and blew salty spray up as if to intimidate her.
Mayra turned her eyes to the ship. The perspective made it smaller than the figure, though it was clearly a large vessel. The detail on the image was meticulous, with tiny figures blurred by the ocean's spray scrambling to keep from being pulled overboard by the waves. A streak of lightning highlighted the water streaming across the deck. The use of light and shadow was immaculate.
"It's... phenomenal," Mayra whispered as Finn came to stand beside her. Though she had never seen the ocean, this painting made the girl feel like she was there with the woman on the cliff, facing down the danger of the storm as together they helplessly watched the plight of the boat.
It spoke to her soul as she felt she'd been standing on the sidelines of this brewing war with nothing to do but watch as others struggled against its pull. Her eyes shined with unshed tears. The two stood in silence until a quiet voice spoke behind them.
"You like it?"
They whirled around, and Finn gathered her wits first. "It is wonderful, and scary at the same time. I could stare at it for hours."
A diminutive woman in a fine but simple day gown stood before them. The servant who had let them in was nowhere to be seen. The lady bore an unmistakable resemblance to Ashley, but far more genteel and refined. Ashley was beautiful with her golden hair and fine bone structure, but had been dressed in a utilitarian military uniform each time they'd seen her.
Though older, this woman was stunning. Her golden locks were woven into an elaborate hairstyle that framed her delicate face. A touch of powder brought her countenance a hint of life, and the flowing gown made her appearance like something out of a fairy tale. Finn could see how any man would want such a beauty at his side.
Mayra continued Finn's thoughts, "Oh yes, it's magnificent! I feel like I'm really there on the sea shore looking out into the storm."
A small smile graced the woman's features, "Thank you. It took a long time for me to complete."
"You painted this??" Mayra asked incredulously. The painting was larger than the woman herself by far! She realized after the words were out of her mouth that they might sound rude. Instead, the woman's smile grew a tiny fraction.
"Yes, after my first and only trip to the sea. I am Lady Dierdre. Might I ask who has declared their intention of visiting me today?" She looked between the two girls.
"Oh! We're so sorry, we didn't mean to be rude. I'm Serafina, and this is Mayra. We're friends of your daughter, Ashley. She loves you very much and thought you might be sad that she's been gone, and so we've come to visit. We hope... that is, if it's not presumptuous, that you might enjoy some company?" Finn faltered on the last bit of her introduction.
Dierdre gestured for the two girls to sit, and they complied.
"Would you care for some tea?" She asked, pulling a cord near the door before joining them to sit.
"That sounds lovely, thank you," Mayra replied, sitting on the edge of her seat with prim, straight posture. Finn suppressed a smile at her friend's best attempt to appear that she belonged in this fine room and simply nodded her agreement.
"I wondered if Ashley still thought of me," admitted Dierdre, "truthfully, I'm glad she found a way out. I feel much better knowing that she's a little bit freer, somehow. I'm a bit surprised, actually, that she spoke well of me to you. I haven't been a good mother in such a long time."
Finn blinked, startled at the woman's frank assessment and openness with absolute strangers. Dierdre laughed lightly at her expression.
"You see why my husband has cut me off from most of society. I speak too freely. He convinced most of our friends I have an illness of the mind, and that my words cannot be trusted. It was the only way to keep his secrets safe. He used to tell me everything, back when there was nothing to hide. Now, I know very little of my Heart's doings. He's practically a stranger to me, especially this past year."
Mayra and Finn stared blankly at the woman. How did one respond to such a speech? It seemed horribly rude to pry, but was she inviting it by telling them this much? Mercifully, a servant entered with a tray of tea and small treats. Mayra felt inadequate for the small package she'd brought as a small gift. Her simple fare could not come close to matching these beautiful little cakes.
Their hostess poured them tea and they drank gratefully, each searching for a polite question to ask or observation to make. Finn finally spoke first.
"This tea is delicious, and I have to say your home is beautiful. I've never seen anything like it." She smiled, but Dierdre frowned.
"I've seen it every day for years. I'm all but trapped here."
"Is there any way we could help?" Asked Mayra. "You could come for walks with us on pleasant mornings. We're not from the city originally and we still find the sights rather fascinating."
"I'm afraid that is unlikely to be allowed. Though my faithful servant at the door allowed you entry today, one of them will surely report the visit to my husband when he arrives home. He will undoubtedly restrict or ban future visits." Dierdre sighed.
The girls were horrified at the level of control the woman's husband exerted over her. The grand home suddenly seemed like a gilded cage, and Dierdre a delicate songbird encased within its grasp.
"Is there anything at all we can do?" Finn asked softly. Suddenly she felt as if the servants shouldn't overhear her, though she wasn't explicitly offering to help the woman escape.
"Yes. You can listen to all I have to say and get the information into the right hands. My husband is a traitor to Klain and a collaborator with its enemies."