They were shown into the brothel entrance hall, then from there down a short flight of stairs into a small mess. This was a private room for the whores themselves, away from where the patrons could go. It had a good fireplace, and various tables and comfy armchairs. It was towards these that Matron Etna gestured to head.


Veridian leapt and took a seat for himself, curling up right away at the comforting warmth of the fire. Seeing the looks of consternation over the Matron's face and her brother's Philomel smiled slightly and opted for the footstool that matched the armchair. She crossed her legs beneath her and tucked her hooves under the legs. It took a moment for Etna to recover, find a seat for herself. Her brother blinked for a moment, not sure what to do.


So Philomel spoke to him. "If you could please fetch Celandine, and pack anything she has."


Ennis dropped his eyes to Etna, looking alarmed. But Etna nodded, a sigh forming on her lips. As the confused man bumbled out, Etna looked back up to her Matriarch.


"My lady, please reconsider-"


"If it is money that you worry about, Etna, it will still continue," Philomel said, her hands coming to rest on her lap. Her voice was calm and collected, the result of so many days' decisioning, worries and stresses. "I intend to pay you until what would be Celandine's eighteenth birthday, as I said I would."


The Matron shook her head. "It is not that, it is because I think she is happy here. She has friends, she has access to so much here."


"Yet she is being raised in a brothel," Philomel fixed her with a strong, determined look. "For the first few years of her life, it was always going to be fine, the rumour of her being Anthea Rose's daughter can still exist. But Celandine will get to the age - is at the age, I daresay, when she will begin to ask questions. And those questions will be passed onto others. In a brothel, in the middle of a busy city, anyone can seek her out, anyone can come here. She is not hidden. Therefore, before the rumours begin, and whilst I can now, it has come to the time when she must come out of the darkness and into the light."


Etna was shaking her head. "My lady, I can protect her here-"


"Not as well as the fortress can," Philomel replied, sitting up even straighter. Because the authority was with her, this was her time, and it was her daughter. "As I said there is a man come back, who has already threatened the well-being of so many. For the sake of the memory of a friend-"


If Shinsou is dead.


"Yes, thank you, darling, if he is dead," the faun inclined her head at Veridian, who had not moved and still had his eyes closed. Etna flinched with the idea of having him in her head, which of course she knew all about. Philomel went on. "For the sake of his memory, and if not his safety, for if he is alive he will do this himself. For the sake of ... a lot of things, I must go and find this man. Darkness is growing, and I have to protect those closest to me. Which includes Celandine."


The Matron swallowed. "Madam, you are speaking as if you expect to die."


Philomel nodded, still as collected. "I very well may do. And if I do, then Celandine will need help in running the Gilded Lily. I already have that all in place. Even her father-"


"Her father!" Etna exclaimed. "You mean you do know who it is?!"


The Matriarch rolled her eyes. "Of course I do. I have always known. Now, even he knows what to do. She will be well cared for, given choices, and if she decides that this whole project is not to her liking ... well. She has that choice too." She shrugged, "Either way, there will be many looking to her."


Not to mention she'll be rich, Veridian chuckled.


Shush you, Philomel hissed, You cannot say I have been generous in what I have given away.


Yes, but you have too much to be able to give it all. So this kid will be rich.


Philomel sighed, and stared hard at Etna. "No, I have made up my mind, and it is going to be this. Today I will take Celandine with me."


Etna opened her mouth to speak, but at that moment Ennis walked back through the door. He held the hand of a young faun, not looking older than four, with tiny nubs for horns and fair fur on her bottom half. Her blonde hair was in two plaits that drifted down her shoulders, and she was dressed in a light yellow, pretty blouse. As she entered, her silvery eyes gazed around with all the innocence of childhood, and they came to settle on Philomel. As they did they began to grow, and her lips parted, her hoofsteps suddenly becoming nervous.


Philomel's heart thumped. She moved slowly from the stool, matching the steady gaze of the young girl and knelt on the floor. Beside her Veridian slid open one gold eye and without blinking he watched.


Ennis gave one last, 'do I have to' look at his lover-sister, but Etna nodded, looking away with her own tang of sadness. As for the girl, however, she seemed to suddenly gain in energy, her tiny hooves trotting past the stools and tables to come stand in front of Philomel, their heads now the same size, her eyes huge. Nibbling on her lip she let go of Ennis' hand and stood there, blinking and staring.


Slowly, Philomel smiled finally, for the first time in a long time, and forced herself to relax. She held the look steady. And she breathed.


"Do you know who I am?" she said quietly to the girl.


And Celandine van der Aart nodded. "You are my mama," she mumbled.


Philomel let out a slow, happy gasp, and she nodded. "I am, my sweet. I am. And I have finally come to take you home."