[Lauchenoiria]

Pierre Household, Kerlile

“Mother, are we going to be safe?” asked Eva Pierre. “In light of the leaking of this so-called Secret of the Six, do you believe we are at risk of foreign intervention?”

Eva had not known the Secret beforehand, being a second daughter. Only the direct heir would be told unless there were exceptional circumstances. Certain things could not be spoken of, even within the Council’s own households. Or, that used to be the case at least. Now, all the cards were laid bare on the table for everyone to see. There were few secrets left in the secret archives of Kerlile that the world had not discovered.

“It is doubtful,” Pauline assured her daughter. “After all, Xiomera kidnapped and tortured a pair of Lauchenoirians in the present day, and nothing happened. The Secret refers to something that happened nearly ninety years ago; something our grandmothers and great-grandmothers were behind. They know they cannot change the past.”

“Nonetheless, I do not like that Eiria has such access to a member of our own family,” Eva replied. “Camille would make a useful hostage if they desired. And please, mother, do not give me the spiel about how democracies do not do such things. Nothing in this world is guaranteed but death. It’s not like Darrin’s regime is ancient history, either. Clearly there have been people in Eiria in the past willing to do such things; so, we cannot count on Eirians in the present to be more magnanimous.”

“Eva has a point,” Gabrielle Pierre, the third daughter, agreed. “Frankly, I’m surprised you’ve allowed her to stay with the traitors this long as it is.”

Gabrielle and Eva were both of the mind that Carmen Robinson should have been executed, alongside her daughter Natasha. Indeed, upon learning that there was indeed precedent for the execution of an entire Council Family for (perceived) treason, the pair were even more outraged that the present-day Council had permitted Carmen to leave. If they had known it was their own mother who had ensured Carmen’s safety, there would have quite possibly been a miniature civil war within the family unit.

“I will remind you that I had little choice after Olivia chose to anger the Patels,” the Councillor turned to her eldest in reproach.

“I regret nothing,” Olivia asserted. “They would have tortured Reena to death. I had no choice, and then to prevent civil war you had no choice, I do understand that. I’d rather suffer a couple beatings to prevent a civil war than be responsible for all the carnage that would cause. What I won’t allow is for Camille to suffer the same.”

Camille had, of course, ended up living with the Robinsons in a convoluted response to Olivia partaking in a plot to rescue Reena Patel, who had been held prisoner by her own family. Olivia had fled the country, and would only return in exchange for Camille’s safety and release after Camille was imprisoned in lieu of Olivia’s presence. Olivia had duly negotiated and had returned, only to suffer for a week or so until the Council decided to do yet another U-turn on the matter. As was usual.

“And what do you think will happen if the Eiria decides to have another military coup while Camille is in the country?” asked Eva. “Do you think they’ll give her milk and cookies?”

“I’m not naïve!” Olivia snapped. “But there’s no way Eiria will let that happen again. This is all an unlikely hypothetical, and surely we have bigger fish to fry right now?”

The three daughters turned to their mother, awaiting her thoughts on the whole matter. Councillor Pauline Pierre mused over what her daughters had said. Each of them had good points; and it was far better to deal with the matter of Camille now than later. She was rather heartbroken, if she was honest, that her thirteen-year-old daughter would rather flee across the planet than come home to her. Pauline kind of hated herself for letting the Council imprison her back then. Pauline kind of hated herself a lot these days.

“Camille should be here, with her family,” Pauline said eventually. “I don’t think it likely that Eiria will suddenly turn into a military dictatorship, but that does not matter. Camille doesn’t belong in Eiria. We must be careful, however. We should not do anything hasty, that will anger the Eirians. Someone needs to speak to Camille in person, convince her to come home of her own volition.”

“No offence, mother, but Camille is safer in Eiria,” Olivia shook her head. “Here we have the threat of the other families, the possibility of the world attacking us, and not to mention that whole Zichitla nonsense. I heard you saying she apparently broke out some prisoners the other week? This place is not safe. I won’t bring my kid sister back to this.”

“Very well,” Pauline replied. She had not expected Olivia to cooperate. “I can hardly go myself; I am not permitted in Eiria. One of you two will have to go.”

“Yeah, uh, I think I might also be banned from Eiria,” Eva said sheepishly. “Last time I checked, anyways, they had some absurd warrants out for my arrest. Gabrielle, please tell me you’re allowed to go there?”

“As far as I know… unless they ban members of the Kerlian military I guess,” Gabrielle shrugged. She was in the middle of her national service – which was not compulsory for Daughters of the Council, but which was still expected of younger Daughters unlikely to inherit as a matter of culture.

“We can find out,” Pauline said. “And if everything’s safe, then you can be on the next flight to Eiria. Just, please, Gabrielle. Bring your sister home.”