Three Square Meals Ch. 116

The second sister glowered in anger. "Just because you're the eldest, you don't have seniority! Mother never put you in charge!"

"Please take a seat." Sarinia waved her over to a chaise longue, then turned to greet her next two guests.

Lieralia and Rosanae stalked inside, looking equally indignant.

"Myrdina's quite correct," Lieralia scowled. "We're not at your beck and call!"

"It's an insult demanding we come scurrying to your office in the middle of the night," Rosanae sniffed haughtily. "I feel sullied even being here!"

Conceding their points with a conciliatory nod, Sarinia said, "I did not mean to insult any of you. If you give me a chance to explain, I shall."

Myrdina stood by the sofa but refused to sit, tapping her foot impatiently. "Where is that imbecile? How dare she keep us waiting?"

"Tehlariene will be here shortly. Her quarters are in the furthest wing of the palace," Sarinia replied, leaning back against her desk.

Lieralia snorted with disgust. "Ah here she is. Thank you for gracing us with your presence... at long last."

The final sibling to enter was Tehlariene, who yawned and gave her elder sisters an anxious look of apology. "Sorry I'm late, I tried to get here as quickly as I could."

Rosanae tutted and looked down her nose at their youngest sibling. "Banning the use of neural whips was a travesty..."

"Please take a seat," Sarinia said, gesturing towards the sofa.

Tehlariene cringed away from Rosanae and quickly moved to sit where her eldest sister had requested.

"Alright, we're all here... finally," Myrdina snapped, glaring at Tehlariene. She turned to look at Sarinia. "Now stop wasting my time. What's this all about?"

Taking a deep breath, Sarinia said, "I spoke to mother earlier this evening. It was a very disturbing conversation."

This announcement was met with an uncomfortable silence.

"Disturbing... how?" Lieralia asked cautiously.

"Rather than me attempting to paraphrase what mother said, why don't you see for yourselves," Sarinia said, turning to swipe her hand over her desk console. "I recorded our call as you might expect."

All four of her sisters nodded, knowing full well how furious Gaenna Baelora could get if her orders were not followed to the letter. They waited without further complaint as Sarinia activated the recording, then watched the entire conversation in mounting disbelief.

When the call concluded, Sarinia raised an eyebrow and looked at her stunned siblings. "Now, do you still question my decision to ask you here?"

They all shook their heads.

"I don't believe it..." Myrdina said in a hushed voice, eyes wide in alarm. "She smiled!"

"Then she actually thanked you," Rosanae whispered, shooting a disbelieving glance at Lieralia.

"And she wasn't being sarcastic either," Lieralia muttered, looking deeply unsettled.

Tehlariene nibbled her nail nervously, then said, "Is this an elaborate prank, Sarinia? I don't mind if it is, but please tell me... If you intended to frighten me, you've succeeded beyond your wildest dreams."

Raising both hands to protest her innocence, Sarinia replied, "This is no joke, I promise you. My initial reaction was just the same as yours..."

Myrdina began to pace back and forth. "So, what... are you being groomed for succession?" she asked, jittery with nerves. "Is that why she was being... pleasant... with you? Is she planning to abdicate?!"

Sarinia looked at her sister incredulously. "You think Gaenna would ever voluntarily give up power?"

Blushing, Myrdina shook her head. "Alright, I admit... I'm not thinking straight!"

"She wants to trade Vrysandral Spice..." Rosanae murmured, then shivered as if someone had danced on her grave. "With Edraele Valaden!"

"I know," Sarinia said, nodding and looking solemn.

"I've never seen her so distracted," Lieralia said, looking around at her sisters. "She's getting older now... is there any chance it could be a form of mental incapacity?"

"Mother must have at least another 60 or 70 years before we have to deal with that nightmare," Rosanae replied, shaking her head. "Such cases are unheard of before your third century."

Sarinia stared at the image of their white-haired matriarch. "Her behaviour has been peculiar ever since she set up residence on Genthalas."

Myrdina snorted. "As if setting up home in the Valaden witch's home system could ever be considered normal! I think Rosanae might be right... perhaps she is finally losing her mind."

"We desperately need more information," Sarinia said, drumming her fingers on the desk. "Do any of you have active spies on Genthalas?"

The sisters all shook their heads.

"I still have a contact there... I'll see if I can find out anything else," she said, looking pensive. "In the meantime, we need to prepare the entire fleet for travel to Genthalas for the refit."

"Leaving our homeworld defenceless..." Myrdina muttered, shaking her head. "I tell you, she's gone mad."

Sarinia gave her a helpless shrug. "I don't have any answers yet, but I wanted to forewarn you of her... change in disposition."

Myrdina let out a heavy sigh, then gave her eldest sister a respectful nod. "Thank you for warning us. I apologise for my brusque manner earlier."

Lieralia and Rasanae echoed her sentiments, while Tehlariene smiled hesitantly.

"I've kept you up long enough," Sarinia said, pushing off from the desk. "I shall inform you if I hear of anything else noteworthy."

Her sisters thanked her and left her study, with Tehlariene closing the door behind her.

Sarinia returned to her desk and sank into the high-backed chair, her attention drawn inexorably to the image of her mother. Her golden eyes narrowed as she hissed, "What are you up to now, you conniving old bitch?"