Cearea Azurefold's eyes fluttered open. The sun filling her bedroom from the large open windows as the curtains fluttered from a light breeze. She lay still for several moments. Staring at above her at her bed's canopy. Her mind not quite awake yet. Frowning when she heard a knock on her door.
"Cearea?" A voice called.
She sat up and called back, "I'm coming Lana." Slowly pulling herself out of bed and pulling off her thin white nightgown.
"May I come in my lady?" Nilana called again.
"In a moment I'm dressing." Cearea often preferred to dress herself without the help of any servants. Her mind lost in thought as she pulled out a fine gown from her wardrobe. "Nilana why didn't you come to wake me sooner?"
Nilana stayed silent for a moment before speaking. "I'm very sorry, my lady. Your father had me wake early this morning to prepare for your brother's arrival. I had lost track of time."
Cearea let out a huff as she finished dressing. 'Why wasn't I told he'd be home?'
"I was told to do up your hair today my lady. So if you'll excuse me." Nilana seemingly appeared out of thin air and had already begun taking a brush to her hair. Cearea jumped slightly but had gotten used to Nilana doing such things long ago.
"Ow! Lana you're only going to make it worse!" She complained. Nilana only hummed in response. The two of them already well aware that Cearea's thick curly hair wouldn't be tamed by a brush alone. The faster any tangles were removed the sooner something could be done with it so she'd have to endure it in the meantime. After removing all the tangles Nilana began digging through the young lady's vanity to find a sterling silver circlet with a band of azure jewels running along the base. It had been a gift from her father on her birthday. The same year he had announced she was ready to be considered an adult and begin proper training in the arcane. Nilana set the circlet and began braiding the hair around it. While still well executed it was obvious that Cearea's now frizzy hair still wasn't done struggling yet. With several bits refusing to stay perfectly in place. At the very least the circlet was in place, and Nilana seemed happy with Cearea's dress choice. The dress was more on the simple side for her wardrobe but the pale yellow matched fairly well with the azure gems and Cearea's own ashy blue eyes.
"You look stunning dear." Nilana softly spoke. Cearea wasn't certain if the pride in her voice was meant for her, or the work she had done on her hair.
"Thank you. Why is brother coming? Is something important happening?" Surely if mother had cared enough to force her to get her hair done something must have happened.
Nilana's smile grew wider. "Your brother's gotten a promotion!" She clapped her hands together, "And not only that he'll be serving under the ranger general, or so your mother says. Wonderful isn't it!"
Nilana continued but Cearea had already stopped listening. Her own mind buzzed with the news. 'If brother is doing well, maybe he'll convince papa to let me become a Farstirder too.' Many times Cearea had protested against her father's insistence she become a Mage and perhaps some day a Magistrix. She found the prospect so boring. As a farstirder she'd spend more time doing hands on training and less time listening to old stuffy men lecture her.
"Cearea!" Nilana began snapping her fingers bringing her head back down from the clouds. "I said you had better go to your father's study. He'll be there waiting for you."
"Sorry Lana!" She quickly sat up and gathered her shirt to run out the door. "Thank you for doing my hair!" She called as she ran out.
She headed to the third floor of the house. The smallest floor as it only housed her father's study and her parent's bedroom, as well as a large balcony looking over the southern side. Upon reaching the landing she could easily look down the two other floors to the main foyer and peer her head into the main sitting room. She leaned over the banister, craning her neck to get a good look into the sitting room. Frowning when she didn't see any signs of Farstider officers, or her brother.
'Perhaps I really am late and they're in the study." She frowned. 'But why would father be entertaining them in his personal study?' Cearea continued to ponder the mystery before figuring that they simply must not have arrived yet. While the Farstriders were respected her father was always devaluing their merits and complaining they were merely a bunch of hooligans. 'If I'm late then they're even later, and papa will be eating this up…"
"Papa that's ridiculous! " A loud, and particularly whiny, shout caught Cearea off guard. The door to the study a crack open Cearea finally took notice of the arguing voices inside. Her older sister Sinstra and her father were arguing about something. The day was going from strange to stranger. Sinstra was always daddy's little girl. Creeping closer to the door she could begin to make out her father's cold and sickly calm voice.
"Far from." He shot back. "If it's good enough for the Prince of Quel'thalas then it's good enough for you." Cearea could already picture him in his mind. Both hands folded and propping his chin as he looks on with a bored expression. Everything was always below the Azurefold patriarch.
"If anyone needs to be sent off to better serve our family it's Tanstra!" Cearea winced. She wasn't certain about the way Sinstra had said the name like some sort of insult. "She's the one galivanting in the woods healing the animals and screwing guards." Her father, Parr'thas only let out a snort. An uncomfortable silence filled the room. Cearea now feeling much happier she hadn't entered the room at all yet.
"I'm ready. Nothing any of the humans could teach me could help me could help me anymore than what you've taught me." Sinstra softly pleaded. Cearea leaned in. Hearing every ounce of pain in her sister's voice. Already an accomplished Sorceress it seemed inevitable that she was to finally rise up the ranks to become a Magistrix. Now it seemed she'd be doing so later than any would've expected. She could fight father up until the moment she'd be sent away. If she fought hard enough he might just drag her all the way there by her hair. 'Poor sister.'
"There is so much you still need to learn."
Cearea felt her own heart skip a beat as her father spoke with such uncharacteristic gentleness. She could picture her sisters lip quivering. Sinstra was always the type to crack up into tears and theatrics, even when desperately trying to hold her head high. Cearea herself was unsure of how she'd react. However, right as Sinstra began yelling in response, Cearea felt a hand creep around and firmly latch over her mouth. Her surprised scream muffled. She whipped around to the ever present cocky smile on her brother's face. As he was clearly giddy over having surprised her. So'thas giggled before shushing his incredibly upset little sister.
"Quiet or we'll have to go in!" He whispered. "Not that I think it matters. They probably won't hear us over their yelling match. What are they fighting about anyhow?" He released his hand over her mouth.
"Maybe I would have told you if you hadn't scared the sense out of me."
"Geez don't be so loud! Besides you've never had any sense. I'm shocked I haven't come home to a burnt down house with your temper." He laughed and ruffled her hair so well that all of Nilana's work had been for nothing. The laughing was cut short as the door creaked open.
"I see you're both having a nice reunion." Both So'thas and his father scowled as their eyes met. The resemblance was uncanny to Cearea who was now dangerously standing between them. "You were meant to immediately come to me and report whether or not you were able to properly do your job."
"Obviously I was able to Father. Not much depended on me, but I found a good messenger."
"Don't talk any further." A burning rage began to simmer in the eyes of the Azurefold patriarch. As typical with elves he bore no wrinkles to signify his old age, only deep blue eyes that bore into his current target. Cearea felt fortunate that he was looking right past her. So fortunate that she hadn't bothered to think further on the exchange and its potential meanings.
So'thas however did not shy away from his father's burning stare. At that very moment an upset and teary Sinstra brushed past behind their father and marched down the stairs. Her presence wasn't regarded by anyone other than her sister. As the exchange continued.
"I was expecting you early this morning So'thas. It's not acceptable for you to be missing for the lodge for this long and now that it's daylight I have no doubt you'll be spotted leaving here. If anyone reported your absence from your patrolling area the promotion you've worked so hard for will be taken away."
"Father you worry too much. Do you really think I don't already have my own ducks in a row. Besides, I wanted to see my beautiful sisters. I've just now seen two and figured I'd drop by Tanstra in the village before heading back." So'thas was practically purring with contempt as he spoke.
"You will do no such thing. Now come in and give me a full report immediately. Cearea…" she winced as her father's eyes flicked down to her. "your lessons are postponed for today. Now go."
Giving her brother a curt nod goodbye as she finally was released from the strenuous situation; flying down the stairs as her brother entered the study. Just because her lessons were postponed didn't mean Nilana or her mother wouldn't have any chores for her to do, and she'd better get them done before her father appeared again from his study. Less than an hour past helping Nilana with the embroidery on her mother's new dress. Having been taken in by the flowery pattern of lilies and daffodils. It wasn't until Nilana put a gentle hand on her shoulder that she snapped back to reality.
"Cearea you'd better hurry back to your father's study if you want to catch So'thas before he leaves." Nilana spoke gently. "I'll take over and finish the dress."
Cearea did not reply in her hurry to get to the study and wait for her brother. Immediately pulling her work off her lap and handing it over to Nilana before. She returned to the door of the study to attempt to listen in again, but found nothing but silence. For a brief moment she made a mistake pushing the door open a crack thinking she'd be able to determine if the two men were still inside.
"He's left. Now begone. Bother me again and you'll regret it." Even the smallest crack alerted her father immediately. She opened the door enough to appear and give a small polite bow.
Excuse me Papa it won't happen again." She said before flying down the stairs a second time that day. Hoping to catch her brother before she made it across the channel to the village. However upon reaching the guards posted by the skiffs she was informed it was too late. Her chance of getting an exciting tail of the line of duty dashed until her brother could return for some holiday or celebration. She wondered to herself when she'd be able to see him again as she listened to the sound of the waves hitting the beach. With this new promotion would her brother have even less time to visit home? She looked across the channel at Goldenmist Village and wondered what her eldest sister Tanstra was doing at this very moment. She wondered when father would let her come home again.
She didn't want to dwell on it any further.