Awakened Vaults are a matter of Energy or Energy-infused materials. Condensed Energy is used as storage. Energy Relics are tangible items that can be converted into and reconstituted from Energy Patterns. This makes Vaults a perfect storage medium, able to be accessed based on Energy Pattern Records without needing to physically transfer materials.

  An Inheritance Vault is a Vault set in place for a child who must be granted access by her parents or godparents.

  ~ * ~

  Once her mother dismissed them Anya turned to leave, waiting only for Seb to fall into step before striding out of the court without a glance to either side. Internally she was still seething at the attitude of the Court, glad to be done and shocked at how she and Seb seemed to have manage to control the entire situation.

  When the Seneschal stepped in front of her before turning to lead them to his office she followed automatically, running back through the few plans either of them had made in the case of success.

  Access to my Inheritance Vault, we definitely need that.

  You keep mentioning your Inheritance Vault as though I should know what it is, Seb answered, curiosity laced throughout the words.

  Awakened money and gifts. I'll explain later, I promise.

  Yes my Lady Anya, Seb sent back, his tone nearly making her stumble into the Seneschal. I had to pretend I wasn't angry, you can watch your feet.

  You-

  Shaking her head inside the hood she stepped into the office and took a seat, gesturing for Seb to sit next to her as the Seneschal sat opposite them.

  "Your mother was most distraught when she received the Shallows Contact report. The guard captain was lucky to leave her office alive."

  Anya blinked then intentionally lowered the hood, looking the Seneschal in the eyes but getting no reaction. "She has an interesting way of showing it by implying what she did, and by violating the agreement."

  "Child- your Highness. She did not know where you were, she still does not know where you live. She will never ask, she will never require any such agreements to be violated in spirit. Had she known where to go I doubt you would have had a chance to sleep before meeting her. Had she-"

  The Seneschal paused, steepling his fingers and looking at her. "She ordered that the guards were to wait until noon and then knock. Only if they were met with no response were they permitted to make their way to find you. Had she known for certain you would be safe making your way here, that there were no other Rioses, I believe she would have let you do so."

  "Had any harm befallen you today, had the guards been untrustworthy I would count myself lucky to meet the traitor's fate."

  Seb… she blinked, her fingers reaching out towards him without thought, his hand closing around them in an echo of how they had woken up.

  I think she was worried enough that she didn't care about the political consequence of you finding out that someone knew where you were, he sent without her having to say more. She isn't perfect, but she nearly broke her chair while I was talking in case you didn't notice.

  I did, I thought it was disappointment. I thought she- she paused, unable to finish the thought. Seb looked up at the Seneschal and glanced towards the door.

  "I know this is your office, but might she have a moment?"

  The Seneschal stood and took his leave, pausing before shutting the door. "Open the door when she's ready."

  The moment the door shut Seb had turned his chair to face her and Anya found herself leaning into him, shaking silently as the realization took hold. She never said anything, she never stopped anyone. Why!?

  She felt Seb's hand on her back, his other still wrapped around her own. If I had to guess, image. She couldn't, not without the Court seeing weakness.

  I hate them. I HATE them, she sent back, the emotion strong enough she could feel Seb rock back. I'm sorry.

  Don't be. I'm still here.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  It took her a few more minutes but finally Anya felt back in control of herself. Seb let her go then stepped to the door, opening it before sitting back down as the Seneschal returned. It doesn't change the violation. Sovereign Lys will need account for her actions even if my mother might be forgiven.

  "Thank you," she said once the Seneschal was seated. "For what you said, and for the moment."

  "Pending the review of events, however long that might be, we have three immediate requirements." She straightened her back as she spoke, focusing on the moment.

  "Assuming they are appropriate requests her Majesty will provide," the Seneschal answered.

  Seb was sitting back in his chair. She'd told him her intentions and he agreed with them, or at least agreed they sounded appropriate but that he was out of his depth.

  "Full access to my Inheritance Vault."

  "Of course."

  "And we require a temporary residence. I hope I do not need to explain to you that my current apartment is not adequate for a Household, even if a Household of two."

  "That can be arranged, are there any specifics?" the Seneschal replied, acknowledging the need and his knowledge.

  "Some form of stipend to go with the residence. I find myself without adequate clothing following the damage to my Husk. Nor does my retainer have appropriate Court wear."

  "I actually might, I just didn't-" Seb tried to interject and she turned to look at him.

  "Your appearance in Court reflects on me. I do not wish to assume your 'I might' will satisfy and not have a way to rectify it."

  I'm not broke you know. If we need clothing I can probably-

  Seb, please. They owe us right now, she sent back along with her understanding his desire for independence.

  Ah. Spend their money, not ours.

  Exactly.

  "That is reasonable, although the amount might vary depending on the residence option. If I might have a moment to review?"

  Anya nodded her assent before sitting back, allowing the Seneschal to go through his records to identify options. Thank you, you shouldn't have to deal with-

  I won't say I expected that, but as I said, I'm still here and not going anywhere.

  Before she could react the Seneschal cleared his throat, obviously aware they were communicating.

  "I have three options. The Arbiters are expecting to have a decision in three or four days, so I am ensuring that the choices are available for at least five. I assume you will be looking for something permanent in the meantime?"

  "Yes," she answered.

  "Very well. An executive suite in a nearby hotel that we keep reserved for visitors who do not wish to remain in the holding or a small condo that serves the same purpose. The condo would come with a slightly larger stipend since my understanding is that the hotel would usually include some meals?"

  Seb spoke up before she could. "It isn't uncommon."

  "You mentioned three options," she picked up after Seb.

  "Yes, the third is slightly different. It would not normally be an option but I personally believe it could serve your purposes." He paused, looking at Anya carefully before continuing. "It will come with the caveat that if you choose to remain after the verdict is rendered it will be considered the fulfillment of all the outstanding inheritance-related requirements your godparents lay on your mother."

  Anya froze, her godparents had been mentioned on rare occasions in her life. They had some connection to her mother, or perhaps it was to her father, however they had never visited in her memory. She knew her mother had made them some promises regarding her but never any details.

  Seb, find out-

  "What is the option? What makes it different?" Seb chimed in before she'd even finished the thought.

  "A house on the outskirts of Holding Lys. Two bedroom suites on the second floor, a third bedroom on the ground floor along with a third bathroom. More importantly, a Deep Low Construct is attached to the property, with Training Hall, Vault Access and Meditation Chambers already installed. The reason for the time limit is that should you decide to stay it will be ceded to Lysanya in perpetuity."

  A holding? she couldn't speak, her confusion over her godparents only magnified by the offered residence.

  Huh?

  If she cedes it to me it becomes mine by Awakened Law. A Holding is the establishment of ownership of a Construct on unclaimed territory. If she gives me the house and Construct that is outside Holding Lys then it is not a vassal or branch of the main Holding, it becomes mine by right.

  Oh… She could feel Seb's realization and imagined she could feel his thoughts churning through the possibilities, the knowledge he already had.

  Ask if we need to wait for the verdict to decide, he finally sent, excitement flowing through the band.

  "If we take the house is there a stipend? And can we decide before the verdict?"

  The Seneschal grinned, glancing over at Seb and nodding. "No stipend unfortunately, but you may decide at any time up until the verdict, after which you must either have left or have made the decision by default."

  We take it "We take it."

  Anya spun in her seat to glare at Seb, why was he deciding without even asking her.

  "Lisa, you're lucky you ran into him. The house is yours."

  Anya spun right back to the Seneschal, shock piling onto shock until it left her with only one thing to say. "It's Anya. Lisa was her, the Husk they wanted. I'm not going to salvage it."

  "Anya," he stretched the word out, clearly considering as he glanced between them. "I would suggest ensuring Sebastian has advanced sufficiently to have his Energy Pattern registered by the time you return for the Verdict. Even if that means showing up an hour earlier than you would prefer."

  He then turned towards Seb and addressed him while Anya worked through her thoughts. "You'd better hope the Court believed you didn't remember the right form of address. She's going to need you."

  Stepping away from his desk the Seneschal returned a moment later and set a box down in front of Anya. "The key to the front door and the Attunement for the Construct entrance. Address is on the lid. Now if your Highness has no more requests I have matters to attend to."

  Anya stood, picking up the box and staring down at the Seneschal as he turned back to his work. It took Seb pressing on her shoulder for her to regain focus and leave the office, leading Seb out the front entrance of the Holding soon after.

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