#hamdil

As Magister Palecrown took to the fighting ring Hoovanil watched him, the man was absolutely ruthless, it was what built their friendship on. Palecrown looked for opponents with enough skill to make him look good, but never beat him. Hoovanil’s only experience fighting had been in these confines, a world of dulled blades and padded tips. It was nothing compared to those who had actually taken the field in conflict like Palecrown had. Hovanil was solid with a bit of flash that he learned in his days of fighting those worse that him, it made him the perfect opponent for the magister. Allies had been made in lesser ways. 

The fights today were no different, Palecrown won, Hoovanil would have a number of bruises, but he would make it look like it was a fairly even match. With a salute they both went to the side of the ring where others would not hear them. “So it is going well? I know that serving the papers had a big impact.” He didn’t say he knew because his son had stormed into Hovanil’s fiancée’s manor demanding to talk to him. When they were situated in his den, Hamdil took him to task and threatened to expose him. Hoovanil had claimed it had nothing to do with him and acted surprised at the news, which wasn’t believed but the threat of his secrets coming to light made him nervous, he would have to get that smoothed over, hopefully before this legal machination was handled. 

He did not plan on even being at the court proceedings for that very reason. None of this could be linked to him. He and Palecrown were opponents in the ring, but not thought of as friends or acquaintances outside of the club. 

“You didn’t tell me that she would be so prepared, was she tipped off in any way?” Palecrown sneered at him. 

Hoovanil thought for a moment, only Banictusia had known of the plan, and then only in general. She cared little for the method, only the result, and currently the result was not that pleasing to her, but she would be loyal to him to the end. “No, no one could have warned her, and as good of a performer as she is, the surprise was real.” 

The magister looked him over, as if he would pull out his soul if this didn’t work in his favor. “She has retained some of the best lawyers in the city, and my office has been buried under a mountain of paperwork that has been filed with the courts in her defense.”

“She has proof of her birthright?” That was impossible, even if someone had made the same claim against his children, it would be hard to prove it. Just like with Nahilvi, most of the records were lost with the Scourge attack, and his family had never  been concerned about filing things with the court system.

The other man began to stretch. “No, they are all financial records. We are having to wade through inventories and deeds, banking records and legal documents about her mother. If her mother was not dead we would never have a shot at this at all.”

Hoovanil had assumed that, he had flipped through the things she had brought with her when Nahilvi first returned with her declarations about her and her mother’s presence, and how she would kick them out if they didn’t comply. He never thought that she would really do it. Banictusia just had to know why Nahi didn’t want her mother bothered and kept making attempts to get them inside the Dowager’s House, couldn’t leave well enough alone. “A good thing she is dead then.”

He had been making inroads at getting his debts settled before the losses to the estate would be noticed after she came back. His niece’s anger at their refusal to honor her wishes, had been swift and harsh. 

He couldn’t believe she would even kick out Hamdil and his children, the cousins had always been close, maybe too close when they were young. It was part of how Banictusia had become so dedicated to Hoovanil, she was always jealous of Nahilvi and Hamdil together, but was no proof anything improper went on with the two, unlike he and his daughter-in-law. 

“I had no idea. She always seemed out of touch with anything but her own needs.” Had she really changed that much since her spoiled behavior as a young woman? He figured that she had become like her mother, not caring about much but her own pleasure. “In fact, with the request to keep her mother sequestered when they came back from Dalaran, I thought that she was stealing from the Diva and needed her silenced.”

Palecrown threw him a filthy look. “These attorneys of hers are sharks, they will tear apart any weakness. Make sure your witness is ready, and there better not be any others out there to speak for her or we will lose for sure.”

He had given the star witness just enough inspiration for their appearance, and they would never betray him. A deep sense of right and wrong made a zealot, even if it was for a poor cause. 

There weren’t any that would, or could, testify differently. The only loose end would be if his brother came back from the dead, which Nahilvi herself had verified that he couldn’t. That was something he had doubled checked through, his brother was truly lost with so many others that had followed their Prince. “I will make sure everything is in order with the witness. Will the date be delayed?”

“No, it seems they are not looking to drag this out.” Palcrown sighed, “That is a good sign, it gives them less time to find witnesses, but it also gives my office less time to go through all the documents. Hopefully, this will be cut and dried once we get to the courts.” 

Hoovanil took a breath and nodded to his friend, “Good, see you next week?”

The Magister looked around the club, “No, better to not be seen together until after we win.” Gold eyes fixed back on him, “And we better win, a loss like this will look bad for me.”

He nodded at the man and then threw one of his gloves to the ground looking like he was mad about the match and stormed off. Look bad for him? This would be devastating to his family if it went wrong. The magister was right, this better not go wrong.

As Nahi crested the hill that held the narrow pathway down to the ocean-view house known as the Dowager’s House, she saw the group gathered at the doorway: her stepfather, the two nurses who lived there, her cousin Hamdil, and strangers, though one looked familiar.

Nahilvi never liked to meet people on uneven footing, but there she was in her running clothes and nothing she could do about it. She slowed to a walk, neatened her ponytail, and calmed her breathing. Hamdil noticed her first and gave an apologetic look. Irenthalas and the nurses were all talking to the men there and Nahi tried to puzzle out what had drawn this to her doorstep.

Hamdil turned to the men standing there. “Magister, this is Lady Nahilvi Summerhold.”

The use of her title told her exactly what type of issue she was looking at, at least. Drawing on every ounce of stage presence and authority, she stepped forward, placing herself just ahead of Irenthalas, not to diminish him, but to shield him.

One of the men at the front, wearing the red and gold livery of the city guard with the higher insignia of rank, stepped forward as though she were a threat. She addressed him first. “Captain, is there something wrong here?”

A man in a Magister’s robe spoke instead. “Ah, Miss Summerhold. I was hoping to see you.” He did not introduce himself, merely looked her over with a superior look at her attire. With his power worn like a mantle, he positioned himself above everyone in social power.

She had seen him before, though the name eluded her. Hamdil recognized that she was at. Slight disadvantage and helped immediately. “Magistrate Palecrown and his retinue.”

City guards to give him weight, to make his words carry more authority. She inclined her head only as far as courtesy required. “Magistrate. Would you care to come in for tea?” Making it clear that she was a respectful hostess,not a threat, the guards with him relaxed at her offer.

“No. We are here to inform you that you are to cease and desist any action concerning the Summerhold estate.” That explained Hamdil’s apology. This had to have come from his father.

Her polite smile remained, chin lifting slightly, a warning to those who knew her well. “On whose authority? I am Lord Mianos Summerhold’s daughter. My mother was Aecandalia ‘the Diva.’ These lands were left to her upon my father’s death, after they followed Prince Kael’thas to build a power meant to protect our people.” Everyone knew how that had ended. “I was appointed by the courts of Silvermoon as her guardian when her health failed.”

The full explanation was for the crowd, not the man. He knew exactly who she was. She placed him now, Hoovanil’s ally, a fixture at noble functions, including some of those in Suramar she performed at, but not too many of those, the Shal’dorei could be selective in their invitations.

“No one questions that you are your mother’s daughter. But with her death, you no longer have the right to make decisions for the property, including who resides here.”

Hamdil bristled. “She is Uncle Mianos’s only child. The estate belongs to her.”

Palecrown’s lip curled, that was exactly what he needed to make the exclamation to show why he was there. “Ah, but that is precisely the matter in question. There is testimony that her father is not who she claims.”

The words struck her square in the chest, old rumors, finally being given some place to be believed. Her uncle had whispered this her whole life. The thought that he would weaponize it shouldn’t have surprised her, her polite smile never waver, she refused to let them see her true feelings.

The guards shifted as Hamdil stepped forward, fists clenched. “That is utter bullshit. She is as much Mianos’s daughter as I am Hoovanil Summerhold’s son. You can leave this estate immediately.”

Guards moved to intercept him, the Magistrate never took his eyes off Nahi.

“Hamdil.” Her voice cut cleanly, measured, and he stilled. Even the guards hesitated. “Fighting would only cause more issues. Ultimately it will be settled in the courts.”

“I’m glad you’re being reasonable, Miss Nahilvi.” Palecrown said with another sneer.

“With a pending case, your authority extends only to serve the papers, Magistrate.” She made an assumption as she didn’t know exactly his power.

His scowl told her she was correct. “Your guests may not remove property from the estate.”

“How would you know what they brought and what was here ready? Do you have and estate ratified inventory filed with the courts?” she asked sweetly. Nahi had done one as Fio suggested when she had made her Uncle Hoovanil and his family leave. Mostly so she could note what they took with them. 

He did not have one, there had been no time to do anything of the sort. 

“I will make sure to provide such a copy to the courts,” she continued, turning her gaze deliberately toward the Captain, softening. “The nurses cared for my mother until her death recently. They will take their belongings and personal effects, but this is the only place they have lived for a year, they came here with us after Dalaran fell.” Playing on that sympathy card was not above her, the intention was to garner a favorable outcome for those she cared for.

The Captain’s expression shifted, but Palecrown took control back. “They may take their things, but I expect you to provide that the list.”

She was winning this polite battle, his support was fading making him look like a petty dictator lording over a family in mourning.

Irenthalas’s hand settled on her shoulder. She turned, genuine sadness in her eyes. “Pack some things, Iren. You can stay with me in the city.”

“Ah, yes,” Palecrown added smoothly. “The city residence you occupy was purchased while you managed the estate. It will be seized pending resolution as it is part of your mother’s property.”

That finally made foundation rock, stealing her breath for a moment. It made her feel truly shattered and she couldn’t hide it, even if it was a point scored for the Magistrate, yet she replied calmly, “I see, but yet again you have no ability to tell me what I can, or can not do in that time. I bought the house and everything in it.”

“Do you have records?”

“I do.” Nahi kept organized records, the legal machinations she had used to take care of her mother’s finances and the card of the estate had taught her that. 

His glare deepened. He shoved the papers he had been holding into her chest with just a hint of force, but she acted like it was more letting herself stumble back. The Captain caught her arm to steady her.

“Thank you, my lord,” she murmured, meeting his eyes, then letting her gaze fall away.” The Magistrate hadn’t been ready for her defense of his little show, she was too good of a performer to let him steal the spotlight.

The Magistrate’s eyes burned. “The court date is three weeks from today. File your counsel’s name and your documentation within one.” Then he turned and began to stride off.

The guard captain dipped his head to her before following, it looked like he wanted to say something but his duty overrode that.

Nahi stood watching them until they disappeared over the hill. Only then did she take Irenthalas’s hand and led him back into the house. She glanced down at the papers in her other hand, then tucked them into her bag. “They can’t make you leave immediately. We have until the eighteenth.” Her jaw tightened. “I don’t know what the court will decide, so it’s best we prepare for every outcome.”

Turning to Irenthalas, she took both his hands and gathered what warmth and certainty she could. “I know this has been your home since Dalaran, but until the court decides, perhaps it’s best you don’t stay here. You can come stay with me in the city, or we can find you an inn. Whatever you need.”

He squeezed her hands and looked around the room, nodding slowly. “A break may help. There are good memories here, and bad. I’ll pack a few things. Once we’re out, we can decide.”

“That’s a good plan.” Her smile held, but her nerves were on edge, “I need to speak to my solicitors today. Three weeks isn’t far off, and I need to know our best path forward.”

She stepped onto the deck overlooking the sea while he went to pack. Hamdil joined her, jaw tight, anger radiating from him. For a long moment he said nothing, then the words came sharp and furious. “They’re going to call you a bastard. That’s absurd. Father’s lost his mind.”

“He passes rumors,” she said quietly. “Rumors alone won’t convince the court. They may sway Palecrown, but he wouldn’t bring this without something to support it.” Her mind shifted fully into analysis. “I don’t know what they have. The midwife is still alive, I think. There were staff present when I was born. I can find them.”

“I’ll speak for you,” Hamdil said immediately. “I was there.”

She leaned into him, grateful for the arm he placed around her shoulders. “You were a child,” she said gently. “You wouldn’t have known.”

“This is bullshit, Nahi,” he snapped, turning to lean against the glass railing, ocean at his back. “You don’t even want this place, and you’ve still cared for it better than Father ever did. They have to see that.”

“The courts don’t always weigh care,” she replied. “If they’re impartial, they’ll follow the law. If they’re not, it becomes harder to prove what matters.”

He turned back to her, rage simmering. “Do you want me to talk to father?”

She placed a hand on his arm. “Only if you want to, and only if you can do it calmly.”

They both knew that would be difficult. His father had betrayed him deeply. She didn’t blame Hamdil for his anger.

“He’s betrothed now,” she added softly. “That gives him allies. Noble marriages create leverage.”

Her shoulders sagged, just slightly. “I’ll figure this out. I always do. I just need more information.”

Irenthalas came down the stairs with a case, the nurses following behind. The eldest woman spoke first. “We’ll come back for the rest later, Nahi. Less friction now is best.”

Nahi turned to them with a grateful smile. “Thank you. Reach out to Hamdil when you return, they didn’t ask him to leave.” Likely his father’s doing.

She turned to her cousin, apology in her eyes. “I’m sorry. That leaves you managing the house.”

He met her gaze and nodded. “I’ll keep things running. I’ll reach out if I have questions.”

For a heartbeat, anger flared, she wanted to snap, to tell him to call his father since this was his mess but she swallowed it. It wasn’t Hamdil’s fault. She wouldn’t lose control now.

“Ah, Lord Summerhold. Imagine my surprise, finding you at the hawkstrider races once more.”

Hoovanil sat as the man gestured to the seat. “Yes. Well. I came to see you about our business.”

“And not to wager?” The man glanced toward the track. “Not even the one you just placed?”

“That is all for fun, sir.” The word curdled in his mouth. One step above jail scum, no more, but Hoovanil’s face betrayed nothing. “I have stepped into a new venture. One that will ensure both our prosperity.”

The man leaned back in the private suite, as casual as a noble at leisure. “Yes. Your betrothal.” A faint smile tugged at his lips. “A longshot. I am surprised it paid out. She hasn’t looked into your finances, then?”

A flicker of surprise crossed Hoovanil’s handsome features. “Oh? You know about that?”

“Your business is my business,” the man replied mildly. “It is the only reason I have not come to find you.”

Hoovanil swallowed. “As you know, once the marriage is finalized, I will be quite well off…”

“And you expect me to wait until the wedding?” The interruption was gentle, almost amused. “We both know how long those take to plan  in Quel’thalas.”

It was exactly the opening Hoovanil had hoped for. He kept his voice measured. “No. Not that long. I was merely hoping for a little patience while I regain my estate.”

“Your niece has done an admirable job in your absence.” The man steepled his fingers. “I attended a wedding there this month. She has a head for business the rest of your family seems to lack.”

Hoovanil felt his pulse tick louder.

“I was surprised to see your son,” the man continued. “Did he uncover your little secret?”

Hoovanil had many secrets, thin streams branching from a much darker source. “No,” he said quickly, too quickly. “There was a misunderstanding with his spouse. They are reconciling.”

Silence fell. Not an idle silence, one that pressed in around him.

Hoovanil forced himself onward. “I asked him to keep an eye on the estate. Nahilvi has been training him. I may allow him to continue managing it.”

Still nothing.

The roar of the crowd below felt distant, muffled, unreal. Hoovanil shifted in his seat. “As you can see,” he said, unable to endure it any longer, “I am prepared to act the moment the opportunity presents itself.”

“You had better hope so.” The man’s voice was soft now. “I have been more than patient.”

“I am assured it will succeed,” Hoovanil said. “I have friends who will see to it.”

Gold eyes fixed on him, unblinking, cold. Hoovanil had the unsettling sensation of being measured, and found wanting.

“It had better,” the man said at last. “And it had better be soon.”

Dismissal, plain and final.

Hoovanil stood. “I will be in touch.”

The man did not look away as he left.

“I am sorry, I am not sure I heard that right, you want me to do what?” Banictusia’s voice was riding that familiar edge, brittle and high, the one that meant she would soon dissolve into screaming or tears. Hoovanil had heard this tone so many times he could map the progression of her emotions like seasons.

He took her hand and knelt in front of her, not out of humility, he didn’t have much of that, but because it usually calmed her for a breath or two. “Listen, Poppet, it makes sense.”

Her eyes widened in that way that told him she wasn’t going to let him finish, so he pushed forward before she could cut him off. “When I get the estate back, I want you to go live there. Hamdil is already there, so it makes sense for you to join him. And if you stay here along with me, Eilyne will start to question things.”

Her voice rose, the beginning of a wail curling around her words. But in her golden eyes, he saw the hurt surfacing just behind the anger. That part always hit him, stung, even. Not enough to change his plans, but enough to make the moment uncomfortable.

“I am not running to him,” she snapped. “He wants a divorce, and only your friend is blocking it. I would look like I’m begging him to take me back.”

“I know, but you aren’t. We know the truth.” He tried to soften the words, taking both her hands again. “If you stay here when your husband is at the estate, people will talk. Right now, us not having the estate gives you a reason to be here. But once we do…” He hesitated, searching her face. “You know I love you. I’ll come by as often as I can. But I can’t live in two places, and we need Eilyne’s money to get the estate restored, and her influence to keep Nahilvi from stealing it back through her connections, and to get her money, I need to marry her.”

He watched her jaw tighten. She always hated hearing Eilyne’s name. He couldn’t blame her, Eilyne Goldenreaver was everything Banictusia wasn’t, and everything he needed.

“So I am the one punished now for that woman’s actions? She takes the estate from you and now I am banished for it?”

He looked into her eyes and felt that familiar duality rise: affection and calculation living comfortably side-by-side. He loved Banictusia; he never doubted that. But he also needed what Eilyne offered. He wanted both, and he didn’t see a reason he shouldn’t have them.

“No. It’s because I trust you,” he said gently. “I trust you to keep the estate in order. And I want you to get Hamdil to stay and help. Having the children there might get him to back off the divorce.”

The tears came then, slow, hot, predictable. That was the worst part for him. Not the cheating, not the manipulation, he felt no guilt for those. But hurting her like this? That he wished he could sidestep.

“What if I want the divorce?” Her voice trembled. “What if I’m tired of being married to someone I don’t love, while the person I do love is so close I can feel his breath but can never openly have him?”

“Bani, my love,” he murmured, “you know we can’t be together like that. You’ve always known.” He could picture it perfectly, the scandal, the whispers, the laughter behind closed doors. Becoming the stepfather of his own grandchildren would bury every social ambition he’d worked for. They both understood the rules they were breaking.

“We love one another,” he said instead, “and that’s what matters.”

She pulled away, clutching a pillow to her chest like a shield. “Is it though? If you moved back to the estate when you get it back from Nahilivi…”

“When we get it back,” he corrected quickly. “It is yours too.”

She didn’t soften. Her voice dipped into that stubborn, aching certainty she’d used a dozen times before. “When you get it back, we could live how we want. No one would know.”

“If people found out, it would ruin us both,” he said. He climbed onto the bed and pulled her into his lap, her body folding against him out of habit more than agreement. “We’re going to have everything we want, estate, money, prestige.”

She settled into him physically, but he could feel the argument still simmering in her. “You mean you get everything you want. I want those things too, but I want to be with you when you get them. Not sent off to a decaying estate you barely cared about until your niece took it. Not forced back into the arms of a husband who doesn’t want me. I will be alone there.”

Hoovanil stroked her hair. “Hamdil will come around. And the children…”

“I don’t want him,” she whispered. “And we both know the children might not be his anyway.” She let out a defeated breath. “I suppose it doesn’t matter what I want. This is my life if I want to be with you.” The doubt in her tone struck him harder than the words.

He held her tighter. He wanted to tell her she was wrong, but they’d danced through this same argument so many times that he knew exactly where every step led. This was their pattern, messy, painful, necessary.

“You know I love you,” he said into her hair. “I’ll always be there for you. Even if we’re not in the same home for a little while.”

Her tears soaked through his shirt, warm, familiar, guilt-provoking in exactly the way he hated. “We’ve never been apart before.”

“We’ll message. And I’ll visit often. I’ll need to supervise the repairs and make sure everything is in order. Once I secure the Goldenreaver money, we’ll start restoring the estate, and being there more often will make sense to her.”

Banictusia nodded, but her eyes told him she was nowhere close to believing him. And if she wasn’t reassured soon, she could unravel everything. “As you say,” she murmured.

He lifted her chin gently so she had to meet his gaze. “We’re a team, even if we sleep in different places for a bit. This gets us more in the long run. We deserve more.”

“You’re right,” she whispered. “We do.” But the doubt was still there, quiet and dangerous.

He would have to handle her carefully. He always did.

It was done, finally. His sister-in-law had been laid to rest and, to his surprise, Nahilvi had invited both him and Banictusia to attend. Hamdil had been there as well, glaring with a jaw clenched tight enough to crack stone. The anger his son held for him would pass with time, he was sure. 

Hoovanil had not taken his betrothed. He did not want her to see the estate; not in its current state. It still needed a lot of work, nothing like the treasured family legacy he had explained it as. If she learned that Acenadalia had been alive all this time, she would have wanted an explanation as to why he had not brought the operatic star to her parties. Certainly she would have expected him to convince the Diva to perform at them. In that regard, he agreed with Nahilvi’s choice to keep her mother hidden. Explaining the Diva’s memory troubles, and her status as the estate’s true heir, would have been more effort than it was worth.

He had not told his daughter, Tirorastraza, about the funeral. The girl was sweet, but she was not smart, and newly married. There was no chance she could have explained the family situation to her husband well enough to handle all the questions he surely would have had, and the fewer people who knew about their troubles, the better.

The service itself had been small. Deliberately so, Nahilvi had clearly curated the guest list. She made the introductions: most were staff who worked the estate or as nurses with Acen. Then there was Acenadalia’s new husband Irenthalas, a woman named Tinnaire, and a Shal’dorei noble presented as Viscount Jes’champe Vidroth. Neither of them had any obvious connection to his sister-in-law. Hoovanil assumed they were Nahilvi’s lovers, why else would they be the only outsiders present?

The ceremony was brief but touching. Afterward, his niece sang. Her voice was lovely, impressively so, a clear echo of her mother’s talent, then, the guests were led to a small buffet laid out on the estate’s patio. It gave Hoovanil the opportunity to take in the gardens properly. They were beautiful, restored to something close to what they had been in his youth. Banictusia would entertain well here once she returned to the property.

He spoke very little with Nahilvi or Hamdil. What words were exchanged were cordial. Nahilvi thanked him sincerely for coming, treating him like he was merely another attendee, not family at all. The small slight burned, though he probably would never have invited her if the shoe was on the other foot. He wanted to say something about her theft of his property, but that would only serve in sparking his ire, instead he held his temper.

Banictusia did not. She cornered Hamdil near the edge of the patio, her voice sharp enough to draw attention. When it looked as though the argument might turn into a scene, Hoovanil moved toward them. He arrived just in time to hear the accusation, Banictusia was claiming Hamdil had been sleeping with Nahilvi.

Hamdil’s anger flared visibly. He said nothing in reply, only clenched his fists before turning and storming off. It was for the best, it was better that the matter ended there before his lover completely lost control of her tongue. Hoovanil took Banictusia by the elbow and steered her away. Together, they offered their respects one final time and departed.

By this time next week, the estate would be his again. Nahilvi’s legal manipulations would collapse, and he would ensure that she never set foot on the property again. The thought drew a small smile to his lips. He was very much looking forward to the future.

Nahi lay in bed, half-asleep. A week full of parties had been a lot. Noble weddings in Quel’thalas lasted that long, but they weren’t all-day, all-night affairs. This was constant. She was getting time to sleep, but it wasn’t on a consistent schedule thanks to the rotation of her performances. Worse, she hadn’t even started the event on a full night of rest, only a couple of hours. That part, at least, was her own fault, though it had been worth it.

She dozed again, and when she opened her eyes properly, she guessed it was mid-afternoon. Stretching across the too-big bed, she smiled. Just a couple more days, and then she’d sleep for a couple of days straight to catch up. Slipping out of the bed and padding into the kitchen in a tank top and loose shorts, starting water for coffee and pulling out leftover quiches she’d claimed from the kitchen.

Picking up her comm unit, she flipped it open. A few messages waited. One was from a client who wanted to hire her again, she could deal with that later. Another was from a number she didn’t recognize, which she ignored. The third made her pause. Hamdil.

The message was short and cryptic, sent that morning.

Hamdil: Nahi, reach out when you get a chance.

She replied immediately. There was always a lot going on in his life, and she wanted to support him however she could.

Nahi: Hey, sorry, I was asleep. What’s up?

The reply came quickly.

Hamdil: Sealine quit this morning. No notice. Left a note on the kitchen counter.

She sighed softly and rubbed the indent in front of her ear, an old stress response she’d had since childhood. Would the headaches with the manor never end? Maybe she could just burn it down.

Nahi: Alright. We don’t have anything booked until the end of the month, so we can use the time to get you ready to take over fully.

There was a short pause.

Hamdil: About that. We have a last-minute booking. Someone who saw the pear orchard deck during one of the brandy tastings wants to book it for a dinner on Saturday.

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she poured coffee into a mug and added sugar, something she only did when she needed extra energy. Then she added cream, watching the clouds bloom in the dark roast. Nahi smiled. It was a small thing, but she’d always loved watching that happen. She knew the science, but it still felt a little magical.

Taking everything out to the patio, she stirred her coffee and took a bite of a spicy sausage and pepper mini quiche before replying.

Nahi: How many people?

Hamdil: Just two. He wants the lights strung. He’s going to propose. Said it felt like a magical place.

Nahi: Special food requests?

Hamdil: Something romantic. Wine, champagne, desserts. Music for dancing too.

Her mind immediately started running through a list. It was manageable. Even if the cook had walked out with Sealine, Nahi could handle things in a pinch.

Nahi: Alright. Quote a decent price, about ten percent over a nice restaurant. Call one if you need a reference. Check in with the rest of the staff, see if anyone else is quitting with Sealine. I’ll figure out the rest in the next day, and we’ll get the process started if they accept. Make sure the contract’s signed. Half the gold up front.

Hamdil: One day you’ll have to tell me where you learned all this magic.

Nahi: It’s not magic. I’ve been my own manager for a long time. You learn things. Let me know what you find out and if they sign.

She set the comm unit down and leaned back, letting her head fall against the chair as she took a few slow breaths.

Jes cleared his throat. “Not good news? Is your mother alright?”

She lifted her head and smiled. “She’s fine. Just a small hiccup with something.”

Irenthalas talked with him about their lives, but she’d kept her work with the estate from her stepfather. She didn’t want him worrying more than necessary, so she wasn’t going to give Jes’champe another line into her life. Gesturing to the chair across from her, she noticed Jes was already in his tux, minus the tie, a look she found distractingly sexy, next thing you knew he would roll his shirt sleeves up his forearms. “I’m not ready yet?”

He slipped off his jacket and laid it over the back of a chair before sitting, smirking. “I can see that. You’ve got time. No one expects you on a stage for a few hours yet.”

She didn’t ask why he was there, they’d agreed she would be on his arm when she wasn’t performing, though she’d declined his offer to stay with him for the week. The guest house was written into her contract, and she was using it to recover from the schedule, and to keep more distance.

“Do you want me to call my masseuse?” he offered, with a knowing look.

Nahi might be stubborn about how much time she gave him, but she wasn’t foolish. The masseuse was a perk of spending time with him, especially when she did stay on his estate. “Thank you. That would be great.”

His silver gaze lingered on her, opaline arcane tattoos flaring faintly along the backs of his hands as he steepled his fingers. “Nahi, you’re magical, and a pain in the ass. You know that, right?”

It may have been cowardly, but she popped the rest of the quiche into her mouth, eyes shining with humor as she pushed the troubles of Quel’thalas to the back of her mind. There was nothing she could do about them right now anyway.

Nahi sat at the desk in the small office she used at the estate, her face down on a ledger, arms sprawled beside the open book. One might have thought she was sleeping, if not for the muffled murmur of “I hate this,” swallowed by the pages.

Hamdil, her cousin, stood in the doorway watching her for a moment before speaking. “You keep that up and you’re going to put a permanent crease in your forehead.” He took the seat across from her. “All right, what’s wrong now?”

A stifled reply came from the book. “Same old, same old.” She didn’t bother lifting her head. He had seen her struggles growing up; she didn’t care if he saw her like this. After all, it might become his headache one day, soon, hopefully.

“We have the two weddings booked in December. Everything except decorating is done.” He paused before adding, “That has to help, right?”

She finally lifted her head, a small smudge of ink marking her cheek. With a sigh, she nodded. “It helps. The expenses for those are covered by the deposits so the rest is all profit but I’d like something in January. Taxes will be due soon, and if I start working at a clinic or hospital after I get my certification, my performances will become even more limited.” They were actually on decent footing financially, but it was in Nahi’s nature now to make sure she could handle anything that might come up.

“You have that big thing in January, don’t you?”

Her violet eyes hardened slightly as she looked at him, but she relented and gave him a nod. “I do, buI I still have living expenses too. Including the nurses for my mother.”

He gave her a moment, but he didn’t say what she expected, he knew her mother would die soon, so nursing wasn’t a long term worry. Instead, he said, “You could always move back here. One less expense.”

“In no way is that happening,” she said emphatically. “I love my house, and it’s closer to school and, possibly…. probably, work.” Nahi still hadn’t decided what to do after certification. “Besides, if I’m here I’ll have to fix more of the house before it makes financial sense.” There was no way she could ignore the rundown state of the manor if she lived in it full-time. The kitchen, foyer, and lower bathrooms had been worked on enough to be passable for guests at the events she rented the gardens for, but the rest still needed a lot of work. And she would miss her house, it was too special to her to lose.

Hamdil leaned forward, elbows on his knees, looking just as serious. “So, how do we get more business here?”

That was much better than the alternative she’d expected from him, at least he was starting to think of the estate as a business like she was. “Word of mouth is working so far, but until the gardens are more established, a lot of people want them to look less… new, we will still be limited in bookings.” She rubbed her eyes. After Dark had been only a few days ago, and she still wasn’t fully recovered. “We just have to take whatever business we can get.” 

He studied her closely, and she could see the reluctance in his expression, something he didn’t want to say. She waved a hand. “Out with it.”

He met her eyes. It seemed he was determined to bring up unpleasant topics while she was already in a mood about the books. “We need to discuss Sealine. She’s been talking to a lot of people, even outside the house. You know she feels you’re ruining the estate’s reputation with all this event hosting.” A small smirk tugged at his lips. “As if my father and I ever did anything to help our reputation.”

Nahi appreciated that he was taking his share of the blame on that front. “At least you married and had children. I’m sure she’d be thrilled if I let anyone start a conversation in that arena.” The chatelaine had been very vocal in her thoughts on how noble estates should be run, how nobles should act, and how Nahi was far from those ideals.

“She would, but that’s not the issue.” He folded his hands. “If you’re trying to keep your return to the Summerholds fairly quiet, she’ll ruin that happily with her nonsense."

“I can’t get rid of her. This house has been all she’s known since we were children.” The performer pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’ll talk to her.”

Hamdil didn’t look away; he wasn’t yielding. “Again? How many times will you tell her that you’ll run the estate as you see fit? I get it, you feel obligated to keep her on. She should be grateful to you, but instead she thinks it’s her place to tell you what to do.”

Nahi was tired. Running the estate, becoming a nurse, bartending, organizing and performing for the Tarts, and still taking singing bookings to continue to bring in an income, it was a lot. Not that she would ever admit that to anyone.

Plus, she still hurt, physically and emotionally from her mother’s attack. She didn’t notice it when she was busy in body or mind, but the aches lingered, the healer told her they would if she didn’t rest, but last week had not been the time to take that advice. Nahi needed a break, even a small one. Maybe this weekend. With Pilgrim’s Bounty she had a couple of extra days off from training since the office was closed. 

“I don’t want her to feel unappreciated for all she’s done. Plus she was our governess, it was her job to teach us such things.”

He leaned back in the chair again. “You’re too soft.”

Nahi scoffed, though she knew there was some truth to it. “I certainly am not. I’ll talk with her. Or you can, if you want.”

Hamdil looked at her. “I want you to let her go. You can take my salary for a bit to pay her severance since you are letting me live here, but she really is detrimental to what you want to do with all this.”

Nahi sighed deeply and shook her head. “We’d have no one to run the household if we fired her.”

“I’ll do it,” he offered, clearly he had given thought to this discussion. “You tell me what needs to be done and I’ll handle it. You guide her already, because you want everything done right.”

She frowned at him. “You make it sound like I’m a control freak, I’m not hovering over every detail myself.”

He held up his hands and shook his head. “I’m not saying that. I’m saying that if you’re already telling her what needs to be done, why couldn’t I do it?”

“You don’t have experience running a household.” Nahi wanted him to understand Sealine’s worth, and why she didn’t want to let her go. “When she was no longer our governess, Grandmother let her work with the management of household staff, and she continued doing that for your father, plus overseeing everything else. She might not have been called chatelaine under him, but that was only because he never bothered to give her the title.”

Hamdil considered that. “All right. I’ll talk to her, then. Since she hasn’t listened to you, maybe she’ll listen to me. I did the right thing for the family, after all.”

Nahi offered him a smile, “Thank you for listening.”

He stood and looked down at her. “Stop fretting. The numbers are what they are, and you fussing won’t change them. What time are you coming over Thursday?”

She stared blankly. Had she made plans with him on Thursday?

“Pilgrim’s Bounty?” he prompted. “You’re coming to eat with us here, right? The staff who aren’t busy have planned a dinner.” Her expression didn’t change, and he sighed. “Didn’t Beine tell you? I assumed he did.”

“No, he didn’t say anything.” She wouldn’t have expected him to since she didn’t want to spend more time on the estate than she had to and that was why she hired him as a manager.

Golden eyes peered down at her, “Well?”

“Well what?”

“Did the bookkeeping dull that brain of yours? Are you coming on Thursday, or do you already have plans?”

She wanted to say she did, but she didn’t, not really, not until Sunday at least, but she planned to go to Winterspring and visit the hot springs for a few days. His look was hopeful, and she realized this was his first holiday without his family. How could she turn him down with everything he was going through? She could spend two days in Kalimdor instead of three.

(Please excuse typos and editing, this came to me late and I had to get it out of my head)

Nahi was out at the estate, she still didn’t call it her estate, it was like a puppy, if you named it you had to keep it, resting on the railing of the veranda with a glass of water in her hand. She was sweating from her run, and was dressed in the least lady like clothes possible, grey sweats, a teal cut off tee and a white sports bra that was exposed on one shoulder. 

Sealine, the woman Nahi had made the chatelaine, and one of the four staff that remained, stood with her, her mouth slightly agape. “What is going to happen, Miss Nahi?”

The correction in her title didn’t come, Nahi could care less about it anyway. “A woman of my acquaintance will be running a yoga class a couple times a week on the veranda.” It was the second time she had said it, and the message didn’t change.

“But, why here?” The older, heavyset woman looked absolutely stunned.

“Would it be better if I opened a brothel?” Red cheeked Sealine began to gasp but had no words. It was a neat thing, when she and Dori talked thye both decided that was a bad idea, though tempting just to thumb their noses at the other noble families, alright Dori just thought it was a dangerous idea, Nahi wanted to thumb her nose at aristocracy. That is when Dori asked about holding yoga classes out in the gardens and Nahi happily agreed. 

Finally the other woman found her voice, “No, but, it is one thing holding ladies teas, or the wine tastings out in the orchard, but yoga? Why that?”

Standing up and pacing to keep her muscles loose, Nahi explained, patiently, “Because we need to make more money. The stipend I get from the title is barely covering the renovations to the gardens and we have so much work to do in the house. “If I choose to do anything with it but sell it.” “Taxes, salaries, food, renovations, they all take money and I am not performing as much with classes and other interests. The house needs to make money for itself right now.”

“Maybe I can help with some of that.” A male said from just inside the doors, a voice Nahi knew well. Her cousin Hamdil stepped out and Sealine went to hug him while Nahi just stared. She had never been as angry at anyone, other than herself, as she was at him. Even months since the meeting at the solicitor’s had passed and she still wanted to scream when he walked out and accepted the sweet chatelaine’s embrace. 

Sealine smiled, “I will go get some food and lemonade.” Then she bustled off into the kitchen not worrying at all that Nahi might break a chair over his red-blonde head. 

With a glare that would turn others to stone, Nahi stopped and crossed her arms across her body. “What the fel do you want?”

“You were right, Nahi, right about everything.” He didn’t elaborate, but when he was met with silence he went on. “We didn’t take care of the property, dad was taking money to gamble and Light knows what else, and my wife is a horrible person.” 

Oh, he was going that far back, Nahi remembered the day he got betrothed and she had told him not to, but he was in love and that was that. “Yes, I know.” No quarter given.

Hamdil stepped closer, she loved her cousin still and he was banking on that. “It was leaving here that made everything worse. We had so little to our names, and then I started finding out things. Dad would be drunk and tell me all about how you didn’t deserve the estate just because your dad died. How he lived here and used the money for debts. Now your dad was a sl… now he slept around and probably had ten bastards out there.”

Nahi interrupted then. “He doesn’t, I checked, at least no woman is claiming a child as his, guess that is what happens when you only sleep with other married people, who wants to admit their child is not their husband’s.” 

“Yes, well, then I found out other things, Nahi he was sleeping with my wife!” She knew that, she had been tempted to get proof and send it to him, but that felt like the Nahi of old. “I left, I have been working on a couple different estates without them knowing my name, not the ones my father associated with. It has not been much, mostly just handyman things, then I heard you have been working here, so I thought I would come by.”

“To see if I would take you back in? Forgive and forget that you sided with your father against me?”

He looked sheepish then, “Not really, I just wanted to see you. I thought you were dead and then you swoop back into our lives and turn everything on its head, and yet I still missed hanging out with you, even when you kicked us out.” There was more than a hint of pain there, pain she had caused.

With a tip of her head she was about to say something when Sealine came out with sandwiches for them. She pressed up to kiss the tall man’s cheek then fussed until they both sat.

After some of the sandwich she felt like she could talk, and not blow up now. “All you had to do was leave mother alone, but your /wife/,” there was a cold inflection on that word, “had to go and see for herself what mother’s health was like. Mother talked with her, I can only imagine what was said. Mother is not well, I told you that, and I have all the documents in place…”

He held up a hand and Nahi saw callouses there, he had been working, “I know you do, dad tried to find a loop hole, even hired someone to play your dad at a magistrate’s office, but when they said you needed to be present the petition was withdrawn.” 

“He did WHAT?” Nahi’s voice rose, not a yelled word but certainly loud eniugh that they would have heard it inside.

His hand remained up, “I told him not to. That was when I found out that his debt was scaling and he had no way to pay. It is bad.”

“So you came to plead with me for the estate back for him? Let him collect money and not even fix where the scourge damaged it? Not fix the wing where grandmother died of a broken heart because the place she gave all of herself too had been attacked?” She was almost crying, out of anger and love for her grandmother, a love she hadn’t felt for her mother in all this. 

Hamdil sighed and shook his head. “I left Banictusia with father, maybe they will marry, or maybe they will just keep up this disgusting affair, but I left. The divorce will be finalized soon. But I don’t have a place to live so I can have the kids.”

There it was, he had come to beg, that hurt even worse, that he thought she wouldn’t listen to him and maybe make peace on their own. “So you want to live here again? And what? Be lord of the manor?” 

“No, no, well, yes part of it. I want to work here, help you restore it. Yes I need a place to live, but I want to exchange work for it in lieu of rent. I need a place Nahi and this is the only home I have ever known.” His voice grew quiet and he just let it sit. 

If there was ever anyone in her life that she loved besides her grandmother, it was Hamdil. He protected her when she was young, played pranks on her, she would never forgive him the shark thing, and was her best friend. Here he was, without anything and she was so mad, so bitter that he had chosen his father, who had lied about the finances of the estate because his wife wanted new clothes. Now he was here, asking for help and she wanted to turn him away, wanted to just slam the door on him again. She didn’t want to be vulnerable, she hated being vulnerable, she needed that cold place inside her, it was where she knew she was safe, but…

Nahi wanted to change, she wanted to be warm, to be loving, to be a person that found enjoyment with others and didn’t feel like she would be kicked like a broken down hound with a cruel owner. And she didn’t want to hurt him anymore than his father and wife already had.

“Two weeks, you will answer to the estate manager, and not Sealine, she would let you get away with murder and he will not. If he okays your work, then we can talk about something more stable, but if he doesn’t…”

She didn’t have to finish, “I have to go, I get that.” He reached across the table and Nahi barely flinched away, then she saw the pain in his expression, “I really did miss you, Vi.” 

A hint of a softening of her expression at his nickname for her p, “No one calls me that.” No one ever had but him, he couldn’t say her name when she was born so he said Vi and that was his name for her even when it pissed of his wife that they were so close. 

“Two weeks,” then she stood, the run home was going to be miserable after cooling down and eating, but she needed to get out of here, needed to be home. “Tell Sealine I will send details about the classes.” She figured that the chatelaine was eavesdropping anyway, but always better to be safe, and she hoped taking him in again wouldn’t make her sorry.

“I will stop in over the weekend.” Ghouls right.. “I will come by Friday, see how things are going.” The look in her eyes said they better be going well, “I a, still so angry with you, Hamdil.”