Seek and You Shall Find

The tension rose a notch as the soldier made his entrance. Before he could catch his breath, Ysora stood up abruptly, eager for information. "Speak, soldier! What is happening?"

The soldier, still panting, swallowed hard. "The... the Queen," he began hesitantly. "No, I mean... Damaris. She has reappeared." A murmur of disbelief swept through the room. Some matrons exchanged surprised glances, while others remained frozen, trying to process the news.

Neralda turned to Almera, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Is this what you were hinting at earlier, matron Almera?"

Almera, still seated, merely smiled enigmatically. Her gaze darkened slightly, adding an air of mystery to her expression. Mervyln, her face hardened, broke the heavy silence. "What are you waiting for? Deploy troops immediately to stop her!"

The soldier, pale, shook his head nervously. "Lady Mervyln... She is not in the capital."

Zesstra growled impatiently. "Soldier, speak clearly! What does this mean?" Other matrons chimed in, their voices blending into a chorus of indignation and confusion, making the poor man tremble.

Mervyln raised a hand, demanding silence with an authoritative voice. "Enough!" Her usually calm tone had taken on a threatening note that instantly silenced the murmurs. She then turned to the soldier, her gaze piercing. "Where is she? Answer calmly and precisely."

The soldier, taking deeper breaths to calm himself, cast a quick glance at Almera, which did not go unnoticed by her. Then he looked back at Mervyln, his voice steadier. "Damaris... is currently forcefully taking over the Yseris house."

A chilling silence fell over the room. The matrons seemed to hold their breath, the impact of this news spreading like a shockwave. Mervyln, her eyes narrowing, straightened up, her face set in a chilling calm expression. "The Yseris house?" she repeated, her words like a whisper of threat.

"Yes, Lady Mervyln," the soldier confirmed, now more assured. "The news just reached us from Rei Raja Aelwen herself. Here are her exact words: Damaris Zahad is attacking the Yseris house."

Mervyln slowly turned her gaze towards Almera. The tension in the room was palpable, each matron waiting for the reaction of the one who, somehow, had become the most involved in this surprising news.

Almera, still seated, smiled mysteriously. Then, rising with calculated grace, she let out a frenzied, almost unhealthy laugh. No one dared to interrupt her; each matron held their breath, fascinated and disturbed by this strange scene.

Still laughing, Almera scanned the room before turning to her fellow matrons. "I told you, my dear matrons," she declared in a soft and mocking voice. "Damaris is not someone you seek, but someone you find." She paused, observing the dark faces around her. "Why such grave expressions? Was it not our wish to find Damaris and stop her?"

Ysora, visibly exasperated by Almera's attitude and still standing, intervened: "Matron Almera, your house is being attacked at this very moment, and you find this amusing?"

Mervyln stood up abruptly and fixed Almera with a piercing gaze. "Matron Almera, we will go together and stop my mother," she declared in an authoritative tone. "Let the other matrons organize the security perimeter and block all escape routes."

Almera raised a hand, still smiling. "Oh, Lady Mervyln, you have it all wrong. Damaris chose my house and not the palace, clearly showing her intentions towards me. She wants me, so she will have me."

The room was engulfed in shocked silence. Almera turned towards the exit, her calm steps contrasting with the urgency of the situation. Nerys cried out, her voice filled with anguish. "Matron Almera, do not make this a personal matter! Let's work together to stop Damaris!"

Almera stopped dead, an enigmatic smile spreading across her lips. Without turning around, she responded in a mockingly playful tone. "Who said this was still about a simple arrest?"

And with those words, heavy with mystery, she left the room.

Mervyln, her brows furrowed and her gaze darkened. She had understood the hidden meaning behind Almera's words.

Nerys stood up abruptly, indignation painting her face. "Are you really going to let Almera handle this alone?" she asked, her voice trembling with anger. "Do you remember who the adversary is here, don't you?"

Ysora vehemently protested in turn. "We cannot let Almera face Damaris alone. We must ensure she does not escape, and the only way to guarantee that is by intervening together."

Xune, her face marked with skepticism, shook her head. "Almera has no chance against Damaris, even with the support of her house. Damaris is much more powerful, and we all know it. We need to go and stop her, together."

As the three matrons prepared to follow Almera, Mervyln raised her hand to stop them. "Calm down," she ordered in a cold but firm voice. "We must remain rational. I will personally support Almera. Your role will be to stay back, block all escape routes, and secure the area. Putting all our eggs in one basket would only give my mother another chance to escape."

Nerys, her face marked by doubt, replied defiantly. "Lady Mervyln, with all due respect, you have already failed at this task once. What assures us that this time will be different?"

Ysora added, her voice icy. "You are not our Negestat, Lady Mervyln. We have no official duty of obedience to you. Who gives you the right to command us? Are you trying to save your mother from our hands?"

Zesstra then stood up, her gaze hard and reproachful. "How dare you? Your insolence is intolerable! Lady Mervyln has been elected regent, and she has every right to command this council, especially in such circumstances."

Ysora was offended, her face marked by cold anger. Her eyes flashed as she stared at Zesstra. "Matron Zesstra," she spat, "who do you think you are to speak to us in this manner? Since when do you think you are above us? Keep playing the grand dame, and I'll show you just how much you're nothing more than an appetizer before we deal with Damaris."