Timothy stopped tapping his foot, rising with his hands behind his back. He paced from side to side, like a nervous professor. "Mr. Grace Twindell is your mother-in-law’s uncle. Of course, you probably already knew this in the back of your mind because I sent you a list of important people to remember and he was on it. He is on the council of elders. His oldest daughter married into the royal family. She is one of the few females from another tribe to squeeze into the high walls of the palace. That is why their family acts so arrogant."

Sienna blinked, stunned. "So, I have beaten up the niece of a royal relative? No wonder she struts like a peacock and talks arrogantly. I bet her older sister is the same."

Timothy winced. "Please, don’t repeat these words outside. If word spreads, the fox council will be a little complicated."

Sienna’s lips curled into a half-smile. "Complicated? I like complicated. It is my specialty. I have already hit Jacky with a pan so it is complicated. What we should focus on now is how to kick Mr. Grace Twindell out of the fox council of elders. He needs to stay home and educate his children."

Timothy winced again. He guessed she was about to suggest a frame job. It was her go to idea. Was there anything else in her brain?

"But if he doesn’t give me attention, I will do the same." She stretched her legs and laid down. "That’s it, I am going to sleep for a while. Wake me up when we get to our next destination."

***

It was coming to 4:00 P.M, when Sienna returned home. After a long day of official business, she was ready to eat and sleep. But the air smelled of hay and vegetables, drawing her curiosity. She headed straight to the stables, where caretakers were caring for the newly arrived horses. Some were brushing them, others feeding or fussing over the newborn foals.

The sight softened Sienna’s heart; the foals numbered two and they were wobbly, their ears twitching like curious children.

"Sienna," Geo greeted her with a smile, "You have found the new attractions of our home I see. Everyone wants to touch or take a picture of them. Would you like to touch them too?" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

She nodded, going ahead to stroke the muzzle of a chestnut mare. "Beautiful creature, strong legs. She will make a good riding partner for Ali in future."

"Not you?" Geo asked.

Sienna laughed. "I will stick to my bee." She drew her hand back, then lowered her voice. "Geo, how much do you know about Grace Twindell?" He was like an information mine to her. Whatever she asked, he always had a clue.

The brush in Geo’s right hand slipped from his fingers, clattering against the stable floor. His ears twitched nervously, and he glanced around as though shadows might be listening.

"Sienna..." His voice was low, hesitant. "Have you crossed paths with him? Did Lady Cadelaria take her problems with you to her family? Rumor has it that you are taking office from her. Such a position of power, it is not surprising that her family is stepping in. The royal family gives the office of women and cub affairs three billion beast coins annually. Money like that is tempting."

Sienna almost fainted. "Three billion! I didn’t even know that." Her eyes widened. No wonder her mother-in-law was reluctant to give up the position.

Geo nodded. "Well, now you do. Half the people that work in that office are related to the Twindell’s or some other noble families. They carved up every corner of it like a company. It is a political matter. The royal family turns a blind eye to nepotism as long as the work which is meant to be done is accomplished and all the funds are accounted for."

She snorted derisively. "I am sure some money goes missing here and there and everyone acts blind. But, that is not why I am asking about Grace Twindell. I am asking because I disciplined his daughter and she might go running to daddy."

Geo gestured that she walked ahead, and he followed, giving her a silent tour of the stables and new horses. But, his words were not related to horses. "The Twindell’s come from old money. Most of them live off the family fortune and businesses established by their ancestors. But not Grace. He made a name for himself, used his money to buy powerful friends and finally, a seat on the council of fox elders.

There is a rumor that his personal fortune came from piracy. Not the kind fought in open seas but raids on ships in the sky. His group targeted merchant ships going from this kingdom to the empire of Dilram.

Ships vanished, cargo was stolen, crews were never seen again. There was a lot of lawlessness before the former empire established an army for economical warfare specifically. But by the time he gained control, Grace Twindell was already wealthy. He grew rich while others bled."

Sienna’s eyes narrowed. "A former pirate? And yet he sits on the council of elders, cloaked in dignity."

Geo nodded miserably. "There are many unsavory characters on the councils of all beast tribes. But Grace Twindell is a class above them because he is ruthless. Any witnesses that came forward disappeared mysteriously. He was clever. He bought silence, erased records, buried witnesses. You did not hear this from me but Elias got something tangible on him.

However, Lady Cadelaria was not going to just watch the scandal ruin her maternal family. Moreover, Grace Twindell’s daughter had just married into royalty. She took many gifts and a substantial donation to the royal family.

They even donated billions to the public in the form of charity. I guess it was considered a kind of penance. So, behind closed doors, Grace’s crimes were cancelled. The royals shielded him. Who else would dare accuse a man with ties to the throne?"

Sienna let out a cold laugh, "So his arrogance was built on stolen goods and royal protection. I am surprised Elias let the matter go. He does not strike me as the kind of person that would let a corrupt elder sit on the council."

Geo thought that Sienna was truly clueless in a cute way. Elias was the fox lord, all his decisions were made after consideration for what benefited the tribe. His father Marius had allowed Grace Twindell to sit on the council after the man made significant contributions to the tribe. Once upon a time, he was a pirate. But today, he was a just a wealthy philanthropist.

But how much of his old skin had he truly shed?