Chapter 28

Weeks passed. Eleanor didn't go back to coming to morning lessons every day. But sometimes she came, and other times she was there in the early afternoon when they were done, and Hayden was released.

Their relationship remained tense—at one moment, Hayden's ignorance about her own body might provoke Eleanor's compassion and sympathy. But then Hayden would do something else, turning her cold with anger or envy.

It was still better to have a sister sometimes than not at all. With her around, Hayden stopped caring about criticisms from Mrs. Boylston about using her powers outside of lessons.

"The night watchman saw you on the grounds last night," Mrs. Boylston said, at the beginning of the day's lesson. "Your daemon was much too large."

"She was a furret," Hayden answered, meeting the tutor's eyes from her desk.

Mrs. Boylston stalked over, looming down on Hayden. Her daemon's psychic presence no longer pressed on them as he once had, however. He could push on their minds all they wanted, and Hayden brushed it aside easily. Or Liz did, for both of them. 

"We've had this conversation already, Hayden. I expect an apology, and a commitment to more diligently focus yourself to your training. You are already a lifetime behind. You cannot learn to be a proper lady if you distract yourself with lesser forms."

Hayden kept her expression as neutral as she could. Just because she'd been planning this confrontation for a long time didn't mean she wanted to make a scene. She could still learn from her tutor's training.

"I'm afraid I cannot do that, Mrs. Boylston. Apologies." She kept her hands folded in her lap, Liz resting on her shoulder. The pokémon pretended to relax, but her tail curled slowly around Hayden's neck, protective. She crouched there, ready to fight.

Mrs. Boylston stiffened, making herself as tall and imposing as she could. "I'm sorry, I think I must've misheard you. Lady Hayden, could you repeat yourself? I must be imagining things."

Hayden didn't look away. She'd been scared of this gardevoir once, and even more afraid of what Lady Gracidea would do if she stepped anywhere near the line.

"I have learned a great deal from you, Mrs. Boylston," she said. "I remember what you taught me about the importance of a lady keeping her word. I will not make a promise I do not intend to keep." She kept her voice as neutral as she could—copying Ilene's calm, when she had casually told Hayden she would drop her to her death if she was lying.

For a second, Mrs. Boylston didn't react. Then her pokémon moved, raising one hand towards Liz. His eyes glowed, and a blast of psychic power emerged. But this was what they'd been expecting. When people disagreed, when conflict escalated, it was natural for their daemons to fight.

Liz floated into the air away from Hayden, where the more-fragile human wouldn't be accidentally damaged by whatever happened next—into the brilliant sunlight from the nearby window. She drew a faint circle ahead of her with one paw, forming a glittering outline in the air. 

The Gardevoir's attack struck against it, then faded. Liz didn't strike back with an attack of her own, or at least didn't seem to. She hovered in the sunlight, just as the shaymin taught.

"I suggest you stop," Hayden said, not moving from her seat. "I think it would be better for both of us if you avoid the embarrassment."

Mrs. Boylston glowered down at her, the first to lose her calm facade. "You overestimate yourself, child. You're an accident. You have no idea what you're inviting."

Gardevoir lunged towards Liz. The air shimmered around him, and a sweet-smelling fog filled the room where he stepped. Hayden hadn't ever seen an attack like that before—what was he doing?

They never found out. Before Gardevoir could reach her, Ahuiliztli finished charging the solar beam. Brilliant light filled the room, blinding yellow and orange that forced Mrs. Boylston to shield her eyes.

Gardevoir went flying across the room. He slammed through a wooden desk, shattering it, before crumpling against the wall.

Mrs. Boylston grunted, catching herself on Hayden's desk to keep from falling. Physically, she was completely unharmed. But every pain that her daemon felt, she would share. 

Hayden pretended not to notice. She kept her expression as neutral as before. Liz landed on her shoulder, tail wrapping around her arm this time. "We learned a new healing move last week, if you need our help."

Mrs. Boylston did not need their help. She turned her back on Hayden and hurried to help her daemon stand. Together the two of them hobbled from the classroom without a word.

"Was that too much?" Liz asked, as soon as they were alone. The occasional servant peeked through the open door, staring at the broken wreckage of her attack. "Should I have gone easier on him?"

"No," Hayden said flatly. She rose from her seat, straightening her gown. Mrs. Boylston insisted she always dress like a lady for their lessons, which meant every morning was spent in profound discomfort. "He attacked you. I gave Mrs. Boylston a chance to call him off."

She brushed herself off. "Maybe we're stuck here, that doesn't mean we have to let them walk all over us." 

With lessons over for the day, Hayden went straight back to her room to change into something more comfortable.

Her closet had plenty in it by then, all tailored to her true body. There was only the one mew gown, in so many layers that she'd probably never wear it again of her own free will. Most of what the tailor gave her were dresses from the illustrations about noble ladies—flowing fabric that reached all the way to the floor, or outright kimonos that would've been at home in the noble mansions of three centuries past.

Nothing quite reached the level of anything Hayden wanted to wear. She imagined getting skirts like her older sisters, simple tops that wouldn't restrict her motion or drop too low on her chest like the fancy gowns did.

The closest thing they'd given her were a few outfits meant for athletic training—dresses made out of a single piece of flexible fabric, with straps for the shoulders and leggings that went with them instead of going past her knees. She picked her favorite, laying out different pieces in the air where they floated into an outfit of sorts. It was easier to take in how it would look that way, rather than putting it all on and changing over and over.

But then the door opened, and Lady Gracidea strode in.

She was less formally dressed herself, given there were no noble guests to impress. Her huge hair was still far more complex than anything Hayden would've done with hers. Even without it, she radiated power. Her emotions remained unreadable, her little daemon resting placidly in her arms. From that position, she'd never be able to see what he was thinking. Or… she, more accurately. Land-forme shaymin were always she.

No servants followed her. The lady clicked the door shut, then locked it. "Hayden. I heard there was an incident with your tutor."

You heard fast. She must've come right over to you after the doctor.

Hayden caught her dress in her arms, then looked down, respectful. She didn't bow, she'd learned better than that. "Her daemon attacked mine, Lady Gracidea. It did not go well for her."

There was a long silence. The lady circled her once, her eyes never leaving her. If she'd come in one minute later, Hayden would've been dressed! But now she didn't dare move. Lady Gracidea was no tutor. If she wanted to, she could rip Hayden apart.

"She described that situation differently," Constantine finally said. "She told me you were being insubordinate. Refusing her instructions. Discipline is a part of the upbringing of any child."

The lady was inches in front of her now. Her daemon's eyes focused on Liz and didn't look away. If she decided to fight, it would be brief and brutal. Hayden already hurt just thinking about it. "From you, lady. We have… tried to obey all your instructions," she said, speaking very slowly. 

"But Liz and I won't let ourselves get attacked. When someone's daemon lunges for us, we can't wonder whether they're just going to beat me, or if they're an assassin who wants to kill me. We'll protect ourselves."

"From your own tutor?" Lady Gracidea pressed. "The one I hired to train you from your woefully inadequate state. It's a miracle that the Mew steward let you live."

Hayden looked up and met her eyes. "Ilene didn't even ask about any of the stuff Mrs. Boylston teaches me. She spent most of our time together teaching me teleportation. She's my friend."

Lady Gracidea laughed, far more sharply than Eleanor had ever demonstrated. At least she knew where Eleanor got her cruelty. If her mom raised her to act this way, then why shouldn't she? She was exactly what they wanted.

"Ignorant child. You have no idea how dangerous that creature is. She is ancient and her power is vast. No one in our world makes friends. We are all either adversaries or tools to be wielded. You are useful to her, that's all." She turned her back on Hayden, stalking over to the window. "Perhaps I should beat you. You deserve it. Or—even better, I could punish someone on your behalf."

Hayden scrambled into the dress she'd chosen, leaving the accessories on the ground. With the noble lady looking away, she might not get another chance. 

As soon as she had it on, she hurried across the room, with Liz zipping around her, always close. Hayden felt her resolve, even eagerness to fight. This woman had changed them against their will, stolen them away from their family. She wanted a little payback.

But if it came to a conflict of daemons, she wouldn't get it. "You could, Lady Gracidea. You could and we… couldn't do anything to stop you. But I don't think that's a very good idea."

"Oh?" She glanced over her shoulder at Hayden, eyes harsh. "And what wisdom does the lastborn child of a tailor have for the ruler of a region? The shaymin who fought and won wars, who crushed chaotic pokémon who would've threatened whole cities? Who even now manages all of Sinnoh?"

Again, Hayden could do nothing but keep her voice neutral. She imagined Ilene saying each word and tried to do it the same way. "The Eldest wants to retire," Hayden said, as though she knew what an Eldest even was. "Ilene says that Mew House wants their heir to have a wife, so they can join their ancestors knowing the future is secure."

Constantine tightened one hand into a fist. To her credit, it was the first real sign of frustration Hayden had actually seen from her. She really had the discipline and dignity of a noble lady. Even in private, she didn't raise her voice or strike Hayden. "I know why I'm negotiating your contract of betrothal, daughter. I've known about the Eldest's desperation to yield his role since before your grandparents were born."

"Of course, Lady Gracidea. And if you get your way, one day I'll be married off to the most powerful man in the world, ruling the most powerful family upon which Shaymin House will depend for its prosperity. If you hurt my family now—I'll hate you. I'll hate you as long as I live."

She didn't dare say more. The threat underneath was obvious enough, in the same language these nobles used to speak without speaking their real intentions. Liz felt the reaction instantly, anger boiling over the surface powerfully enough to overcome whatever mental discipline this ancient noble had. She was so overcome, she hadn't even formed words yet.

So, Hayden went on. "It would be better if I loved you. If I was overflowing with gratitude for everything you've given me. Shouldn’t you want to cultivate this virtue? I could be grateful for every day, for this chance at a world I don't deserve to join. I would be there to make sure that House Mew and House Shaymin shared a special bond that lasted forever."

Lady Gracidea spun on her and stalked across the distance between them. She towered over Hayden, far more than her physical stature would suggest. She filled the whole room, though she was shorter than every male member of Hayden's family. "You think you've found a weapon to wield against me, commoner? You think you're going to crown yourself ruler in my house?"

"I would never tell you what to do, Lady Gracidea," she said, looking down. "I'm just seeing. I see that if you break me, Mew House won't take me. You could do it anyway. You could kill me, if you want. You could take away everyone I care about; you could make me suffer in ways Liz and I can't imagine. But why? That doesn't get Shaymin House what it needs."

Whatever anger had washed over the lady, it faded behind her defenses as quickly as it came. That didn't mean she was any more forgiving, of course. It might just mean she was hiding it better.

"I see you were not as ignorant and worthless as I initially imagined, Hayden. You've been learning after all. There's one truth I'd like to plant in your mind, while you're young enough to learn."

She leaned down, until she was inches from Hayden's face, her voice harsh. "No matter how valuable you think you are, there is nothing worth more to me than the sovereignty of Shaymin House. If you ever question my authority, if you ever question me, if you ever disobey me—"

She didn't finish her sentence. Instead, she stood up straight, then backed away from Hayden, giving her back her space. "You were wise enough not to. I see you growing into a creature of value, despite the odds against it. If you can do what I require, if you accept your responsibilities, then there is no reason I can't make accommodations. As you say, we can be… friends. Just understand, my forbearance is conditional. Continue to impress Mew House. If they reject you, all the value you think you offer to my family will be forfeit. What would that make you then?"

Lady Gracidea didn't wait for a response, just turned and stalked back out the way she'd come, leaving Hayden alone with the weight of her threats.

We can't be helpless anymore, Liz thought, settling up against her shoulder. I have to learn how to fight like they do. Sooner or later, that shaymin is going to kill.