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[Ariana Lenoir]

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Pale blue eyes silently drank in the contents of the numerous letters and reports upon her desk. So many changes had occurred in her absence. The changes that had taken place within the Order and the City of Umbra concerned Ariana to a degree that she did not trust the tornado of reaction that swirled violently within her mind. She and Catherine had been ordered to leave for their own safety months ago with the threat of Stonegate looming on the city. She had agreed partially out of self-preservation, but also due to an inner disgust at the idiocy of the events that spurred the wolves to her precious city. If she had been left to handle the matter than it never would have happened. How could she possibly be expected to keep the citizens of Umbra safe if Darrien kept diplomatically pissing on each proverbial doorstep?

Her rule had been a mirage and an illusion.

The lack of logic in this illusion however troubled her. She was wise enough to know that Darrien's own ego that rivaled her own would allow him to truly give up all power. A self proclaimed god never does so willingly, so the illusion in that aspect, was understood. However, his desire to have her safe when the city became threatened was counter productive to his desire for power. He should have forced her to take the brunt of the threat in his place. If she were merely a pawn and a figurehead than she was expendable. Isn't that why he placed her in the first place? However, he sought to keep her safe.

It was illogical.

She was approaching the time she was to return. The city by all reports had become more secure and old members of the Order had been summoned and awakened from their unproductive slumber. She had only to choose her part to play. Would she choose to usurp the heretic Dealthagar whose frail humanity had been the catalyst for the diplomatic disaster or would she decide another path? She had no doubt that upon her return should she wish control of the regency she would be granted it by Darrien without a second thought. However, her true desire was not global dominance.

Power, yes. False power, no.

Dealthagar's transgressions against her deserved repercussion. Justice was absolute. Punishment was not always immediate. As with many kindred and those of her intellectual prowess, time was meaningless. When true offense was given, she never forgot it. Whole generations would be born and die of old age and the memory would remain. Her methods were always meticulously planned. While it might take years to see them begin to bear the fruit of her labor, fruit they would bear and with it the sweet taste of justice. She had already given him a tiny taste of it when he had been humiliated and tortured him by Darrien. It was the seed she planted that had blossomed into the knowledge of his treachery with Ceinwyn and the disrespectful regard to which he had privately spoke of Darrien. Without that seed, he may have been able to exonerate himself to the Lich Lord and been spared his wrath. He deserved his punishment and she had given him his sentence even without doing it personally.

She had deemed repayment must still be given. The scales of justice had not yet balanced in their relationship. If they were to work together for the good of the Order, he must be made to know without any uncertainty that she was not someone to be toyed with. The scales must become balanced. She had several paths to that which lay before her. She could strip him of his title and take all he had done as her own. While he would maintain some significant power in the Order, all he had worked so hard to accomplish as the temporary regent would become hers and once again he would have to step down. It would spark rage if she did and while amusing as it would be rage wasn't the lesson she had to teach. He must be taught humility and respect.

Ariana smiled slowly to herself. When she returned, she would grant Dealthagar to keep his precious title, responsibility and the illusion of power that accompanied it. She would choose another path. A path that would remind him that he owed his life to hers. As powerful as his titles and technology may imply, he was still kindred. She had sacrificed herself for them. It was her blood that washed their sins and brought redemption in the Lich Lord's eyes. It was she who had granted them life and value again in His eyes. She was the Eternal Mother and even Dealthagar would be made to remember it in the end.
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