《The Songstress Song: Rise of The Lady Fair》


 Chapter 1: A desperate plan

    Bella snarled as she entered her room, her anger a raging heat beneath her skin. Her father had offered her as a bargaining chip in yet another deal. Luckily, the man knew what had happened to the last man who accepted her father''s offer¡ªher mother''s blade had killed him after she caught him trying to take Bella. Her mother flung the man into the street. She would have killed her father, but their marriage vows¡ªsealed under the goddess Neroa¡ªbound their lives together.


    Not for the first time did Bella bite back a curse at the ox people''s goddess as she made no allowance in the upholding of vows made in a moment of passion. The wording of which made it impossible for her mother to leave her father. Who had turned into a controlling monster that cared more for coin than his family as the years had gone by.


    Calming herself first, Bella sat at her vanity to examine the latest bruise on her cheek, courtesy of her father. She sighed. Bella knew leaving would be better, but because her father headed the merchant''s guild, she couldn''t escape the city before the gates sealed. He didn''t dare harm her mother, as the goddess made him experience her pain whenever he harmed her. However, this didn''t deter him from hurting her. She didn''t even have the options others of her station had of marriage or business, as her father was rather conventional on the surface, keeping her from being able to run a business because of Fartell''s laws. Without, her father''s permission and Bella''s own desires for a partner in marriage put them at an impasse as thankfully for a marriage contract to be made the woman must give willing consent for the magic to bind the two as one least the paper burst into flame when forced. Even if drafted, they transferred the document to a new sheet of enchanted paper. That brought a smirk to Bella''s face. Her father had to pay a hefty sum that day to avoid the matter being looked into his part of the attempt. Else, the provost examined his other dealings too closely.


    The sounds of her parents'' raised voices and her father''s sharp scream jolted Bella from her thoughts. Bella winced, not in sympathy for him, but for her mother. She had gotten quite vindictive with their shared pain early on when he had the gall to harm Bella and refusing to allow her to be given healing. Bella held her breath as her father''s footsteps passed her room. She exhaled only when his study door slammed. There was then a quiet knock at the door and in entered her mother.


    "I hope your father was no rougher than usual, my dear?"


    Bella found her mother inspecting her cheek with her bandaged hand. She was quiet for a moment before answering, "He has done, worse mother. What drove you to harm yourself and father this time?"


    "Your father was refusing to let me take you to Soalis and Naomi''s temples in the morning. So I made sure we had to go as a family, at least to Soalis'' temple. I am sure your father will have to rush off to some meeting afterwards. Luckily, the way to your music instructor''s home passes by Naomi''s temple. We should have enough time; I believe, to stop by after your lesson."


    Bella half-turned before hugging her mother tightly around the waist. She always did this, and it gave her the strength to persevere despite her father''s cruelty. She always forced her father to meet her needs and ensure her happiness. Bella felt her mother hold her tightly for a time before finally stepping away.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Rest, my child. We will have a busy morning, no doubt. I know your father will want to get our trip out of the way to attend to guild business, no doubt."


    ##


    Bella found her mother''s prediction to be true, for her father sent for them to be roused just as the sun rose. The man dressed and glaring at Bella, silently blaming the whole situation on her. No doubt it still amazed her she had yet to be thrown to the streets by the man if she wagered a guess. She was only spared that fate by her mother. Bella wolfed down a meager meal of oatmeal and fruit before making her way to the carriage. Tense silence filled the trip to the temple. This followed her mother, forcing her father, through their relationship, to do something against his will.


    Feeling relieved when the healers of Soalis'' temple finally examined her, Bella, like always, to relish any moment, allowing her to escape her father. Reza, a strong and snarky Moraki healer frequently sold before finding work at Soalis'' temple, treated Bella. Her help to other slaves and women in need ended her escape attempts.


    "So, you had to face your father''s wrath again, Lady Bella? May I request permission from Soalis to use my fire magic to set him ablaze in prayer? The wolf eared girl joked, making Bella laugh at the idea.


    "I doubt the healer god and protector of men will allow such a thing, my friend, though I wish he would."


    "You never know. After all, he and Naomi have been at odds lately. The last time that happened he made amends by giving to her mercy those that had used his protection for misdeeds against the moment who call for her aid.", Pointed out Reza as she wrote out the characters for healing the bruise on Bella''s cheek watching as it faded from view.


    ##


    "Counter parry Quarte, double, and disengage." Lady Devein barked out. Bella retreated as her instructor advanced. As: As her instructor mirrored her movements, Bella rotated her foil left, leading into the double. Bella advanced forward as she disengaged her foil from Lady Devein''s and ended the bout where they started.


    "Good, you have improved quite over the years, Heir Bella."


    Bella beamed at her music and secret fencing instructor''s praise. While waiting for her mother''s carriage, Bella stored away the equipment, then shook Lady Devein''s hand and grabbed her violin case from the hallway. Bella asked something that she had often thought about when she had learned that Lady Devein was originally Heir Contrass who had run away to the city of Norek where she had married Lord Devein.


    "Did it prove to be worth it? Leaving behind the other family members that you loved to escape the monster that controlled your family Lady Devein?" Bella watched her teacher with a appraising eye as she sat down taking the time to smooth out her skirts before giving Bella''s hand a gentle squeeze taking a moment to collect her thoughts before answering, "It was. There were many things and relationships that I lost in my escape. But I would do it again in a heartbeat. Child, a gilded cage is still a cage."


    "However, if you plan on breaking free, take your time and plan it out; you can''t rush this, Bella. That was my biggest mistake; I was reckless, and without Lord Devein, I wouldn''t have built this life. Now, I believe your mother''s carriage is here."


    ##


    Bella breathed a sigh of relief as she entered the inner courts of Naomi''s temple. Men were barred from this place alone in Fartell; it was one of the few places where she and her mother could escape her father. As Bella strolled through the courtyard speaking with several other women and girls when she came across a group fantasizing about snatching a ship from port and making lives for themselves elsewhere or as a crew for hire.


    Bella drew closer, having joined the group''s discussion. "That is a rather daring plan, ladies. One I find rather appealing myself because not only does it give me the personal freedom that I am currently denied, it has the bonus of hurting my transgressor in several ways. What is preventing your attempt, if you don''t mind my asking?"

 Chapter 2: Setting the Board (part 1)

    Brushing her fingers along the rough jade walls of the courtyard, Naomi walked through her temple, taking in the conversations and prayers of the surrounding women. Waiting at the temple, she hoped to see Bella, the young girl who had piqued her interest when a servant of Soalis prayed to her about the girl''s situation. The girl and her mother intended to visit her temple. She waited to see if they had already arrived, relying on her heightened senses to locate them.


    Naomi, thankfully, didn''t have to wait long for the two to come into sight. Upon taking the form of a white cat, Naomi brushed herself against each woman, peering into their memories to list the wrongs she would rectify in the future. Brushing up against Bella, Naomi felt her anger flare as she examined the many abuses the girl suffered regularly. From being locked away, starved, and beaten, feeling that she couldn''t flee because of her mother being trapped in marriage by another goddess. But it was the disregard and the active destain the head of the merchant guild held for her domain of protecting women, but greedily sought the protection Soalis offered. Naomi let the young Bella pet her and, as she did so, she passed on a blessing of protection, giving the girl courage to do what she needed for herself. Dashing off as the girl went to join the group, discussing a way to escape their abusers.


    Naomi traversed the temple, concealing herself from mortals. After stepping outside, she altered her plane of existence and reappeared in the immortal realm as a jade woman. Approaching the Forger''s ethereal forge, Solias met her, appearing as an orange calcite man. "I felt your anger from here, Naomi. What could have made you angry in the mortal realm?"Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    "A rather contentious mortal that seeks the favor of one protector but dismisses the other," anger staining Naomi''s voice as she slipped her arm through the other immortal''s, keeping at him at her desired pace.


    Soalis let out a throaty laugh in amusement. "Ah, mortals, such brief notes in the queen''s song, but surprisingly varied."


    Naomi glared at Soalis for finding amusement in the pain of those she protected. Her already inflamed anger growing as she couldn''t help but think that perhaps it wasn''t only the mortal men that she had to protect her charges from and that it wasn''t all the mortals of Fartell''s fault but the patron god who watched over said city.


    While Soalis laughed, Naomi considered how she would show her displeasure at the dismissal of her domain by Bella''s father, knowing Soalis had always kept the other immortals'' influence on the port of Fartell limited. Then she recalled the mother''s vow that trapped her and thought of leveraging it to her advantage, knowing his great dislike of the Namiakes Patheon.


    "You know, Soalis, I would really like to teach this mortal a lesson. The problem lays in the scale needed to do, so he cares little about anything but himself and coin from what I can gather from his daughter''s memories. His position in mortal affairs in your city needs to be compromised. Now there are several ways I could normally do, but I feel anything I do is to be seen as Losea''s influence finally coming for the man."

 Chapter 2: part 2

    "I see, and you want to clarify that it is our Patheon or in truth you who corrected this perceived wrong. Your plan requires a catastrophic event for the mortals of my city. What did you have in mind? I do hope it will be entertaining else I am afraid I won''t be able to assist you in this endeavor."


    With a roll of her eyes at her fellow immortal''s cavalier attitude and prioritizing entertainment over his followers, Naomi explained what she wanted to do.


    "My thoughts turned to assisting the daughter in her escape. I believe stealing one of her father''s prized vessels, perhaps a gallon, would require significant confusion. I thought a large fire would suffice. It would also damage the father''s standing. I intend to turn that ship into a floating temple, using it and the girls aboard as my revenge, attacking Fartellian ships for the daughter''s lifetime. This will limit the city''s damage and strengthen your followers'' faith with a show of healing or two during the fire."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    "I think what you suggest is doable. I can check with the spider and see what is required for a favorable outcome in my plans should the fire disrupts major points. After all, they play a crucial role in the songstress''s song with the young Urhalla''s future creations. Besides, it will be interesting to watch," said Soalis with a wave of his hand as they reached the ethereal forge''s entrance, a glowing doorway of green light framed by delicate woven patterns of silver that wove down to the base of sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and other precious stones. Naomi gave a nod to Soalis, watching as he bowed, sensing their conversation had ended.