The next day, Maria, Katarina and Lady Cavendish were off to the capital. Maria briefed Lady Cavendish on what to expect and cowardly inquired if perhaps her father's plantations would be willing to allow the Gerudo among them to reside there, where they might be more comfortable among people who knew their language and ways.

"I will make inquiries," Lady Cavendish deferred, "but it will depend on the where they hail from. The Gerudo on our plantations are from Sheikah, of the Mipha, Linkle and Aryll tribes. It shouldn't be a problem if they're from one of the allied tribes, like the Impa, the Midna or the Sheik. If they're from a rival tribe, however, like the Tingel or the Agahnim… it might be better for them to remain with you."

"I… see," Maria said. "As I am ignorant as to Gerudo ways, I shall defer to you."

"How will you know what tribe they are?" Katarina asked. "Do we just ask?"

"Part of their customs is to name their tribe when introducing themselves," Lady Cavendish said. "So I should be able to tell you fairly quickly whether they would be accepted at my father's plantation."


"I'm sorry, but they wouldn't be accepted in my father's plantation," Lady Cavendish said once they had met with the rescuees and everyone had been packed into open wagons to be brought to Maria's estate. "I'm afraid they're of the Yiga tribe. According to what I have heard, they are a violent and untrustworthy tribe. Even their allies speak ill of them, and few trade with them, owing to their combative culture and the fact they're slavers who raid other tribes for men and women to sell. They would not speak of it, but these women seem to have been considered dishonored for some reason and cast out of the tribe, which is why they are here. Yiga seldom sell their own, and only as some kind of punishment."

Maria was glad Katarina had decided to ride with the Ashina women. "I see," Maria said. "Do you have any suggestions? Foresee and problems?"

Lady Cavendish almost but didn't shrug. "Treat them according to their own merits and not as their reputation suggests? The fact that the Yiga have allies likely means they have some sort of redeeming point, or capability at empathy."

"Sound advice," Maria said. "I will likely need to trouble you more in future, but for now, thank you for agreeing to come today."

"I was glad to be of aid," Lady Cavendish said. "Should you ever need me, you have but to ask."

"You are very kind," Mari said. "I shall strive to not abuse your generosity."

"Knowledge is power. Power unused is without point or purpose, save vanity and indulgence," Lady Cavendish said…


From where she was riding with the women from Ashina, Katarina felt a chill, and sighed in relief to be away from whatever exponential noble-behavior feedback loop Diana and Maria were making. She could almost feel the propriety and formality bouncing off each other, getting stronger and stronger.

Honestly, sometimes it was like Maria-chan had never been a commoner! She didn't remember her having that kind of personality setting, but maybe it was part of whatever hard-mode run Maria was doing…

"Okay," she said as she continued what with Chiharu had beseeched her . "To say Arigato Gozaimasu in Sorciergo, you say 'Thank you very much'. I'll repeat it slowly. 'Thank yo-u ve-ry much."

"Fanku yuu be-ri machu," Chiharu repeated.

Katarina did not sigh, but it was a very close thing.


There was a surprising crowd in front of the gate of her estate, all milling about as Maria stepped down from the carriage to open the gates.

"Mayor," she greeted as she fished out the key to the gates and unlocked them. Unfortunately, these were simple gates, and there was no lever to have them simply swing open. She got ready to push. "Is something the matter?"

To her gratitude, the mayor, as well as some of the other men lingering around, assisted her in opening the gates so she didn't have to push each half by herself. "Just being friendly, your ladyship. We came to greet our new neighbors. Brought some gifts, some welcome baskets, and we're willing to help with any more heavy lifting if they need it."

"That is very kind of you," Maria said as the gates finally swung wide open. She waved the carriage and the wagons behind it forward as she and the mayor stepped out of the way. "Though I must beg you to spread the word that casual visitors are discouraged for now, especially male ones. These people have been ill-used by a terrible beast, and will likely be very wary. They will likely regard those unknown to them with fear and suspicion. But your welcome will likely be appreciated."

"We heard the stories, your ladyship," the mayor said grimly. "Don't worry, we'll keep randy boys looking for exotic beauties away. Makes me sick, hearing about that happening." He spat in disgust, then seemed to remember who he was talking to and glanced at her worriedly.

Fortunately, Maria had conveniently looked away at the last moment and had seen nothing. She turned back to meet his relieved gaze. "Yes. That is the welcome they received on first coming to Sorcier. I hope to show them better. Though unfortunately, I will need help. It unfortunately slipped my mind yesterday, though it should not have, but I wonder if I may trouble you against, Mayor Alvere?"

"Of course, your ladyship," he said.

"I wonder if you could spread the word that I am in need of staff for the manor," Maria said, sighing at herself for not doing this earlier. "Preferably those who have worked here before and had to leave when the Marchioness met her deserved fate. At the very least, kitchen staff will be needed, though at the moment, I must require that they all be women."

The mayor nodded. "I'll ask around, your ladyship. I know some have been hoping to get something like their old jobs back. Not many things they could turn their hand to in the village, and they were struggling."

"Thank you, mayor," Maria said. "Tell them that if they are willing to begin immediately this day, I will arrange for a small bonus in apology for the inconvenience."

"I think some might be willing to sign on for that," the mayor said, giving Maria a strange look.

Maria nodded, already drafting the employment agreement in her head. She hoped they would be satisfied with alternating weekends off. "Also mayor, you imply that there is a surplus of those in need of work in the village? Beyond simply those dismissed from the Marchioness' service?"

"Just the usual, your ladyship," the mayor said. "Old folk not growing old fast enough, so the young folk have to leave if they want to become more than what they already are. There's always work to be done, so hands don't stay idle long if they're willing."

Maria nodded. "I cannot promise anything, but I will see what I can do about providing more employment. At the very least, I can hire men to raise new buildings that I need, and likely over the next few weeks I will be looking to fill positions that I realize are needful. I warn you that some of the jobs might be… undesirable or require the applicant be a woman."

"I'm sure we can find someone, your ladyship," the mayor said. He sounded surprisingly dry for some reason.

The last of the wagons passed through the gate, and Maria waved at the lingering townsfolk to come forward. They stepped towards her hesitantly, clutching at the gifts they had brought. "I thank you all for taking time to come here," she said. "I am sure your welcome will be appreciated, though I caution you to be restrained. These people have lived in fear until recently and it is a hard habit to break. I ask your patience and understanding. If you will all come inside, I can close the gate and we can all walk up."

They helped her close the gates too, which was very kind.


When Maria and the villagers got to the manor, the children in her care had already found… well, the newer children in her care and had already pulled them into some childish game that… seemed to involve a lot of yelling and running around. The yelling wasn't all in the same language, but as it was yelling and everyone seemed to be enjoying each other's company, it didn't need to be.

Those older were looking around fearfully. Maria supposed there was a non-trivial similarity between the place she had taken them from and where they were now. A large, no doubt foreign-seeming building on a field, and now Maria came to them with many strangers in tow. Katarina and Lady Cavendish were occupied trying to explain things, or so Maria assumed since they were talking in foreign languages.

The dragon-kin girl, Maria noted, was already among the children, her bare feet kicking up dust as she ran as happily as the other children, the clothes she'd been given already getting dusty. In the direct light of the sun, she seemed Cainhurst-kin or ever Pthumerian save for her eyes and scales, with her pale skin and hair so like what Maria once had in another life. Only now did Maria notice the pale purple tail that emerged from an added modesty skirt above her posterior, barely reaching her knees and covered in delicate scales.

The girl spotted Maria and let out a cry, changing course as she rushed towards her, causing small groups of children to follow.

Maria almost rolled out of the way on instinct as the girl leapt at her. Only the realization that the mayor following her might be struck kept her in place, even as she prepared to be bowled over and torn at by claws…

Surprisingly cool arms wrapped around Maria as the latched on to her. "Thank you!" the dragon-kin cried. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! The fields are so big! I can run and run and run forever!"

"You're welcome, little one," Maria said. "I'm sorry, I don't even know your name."

"Shio! I hope I can make friends."

Maria looked towards the children, many of whom were staring at her tail in fascination. One was looking down at his crotch and her posterior as if comparing if they were the same thing. "I think you'll have many friends from now on, Shio."