Hannah stood outside the front of the manor with all the other members of the house, both noble and staff. While Rayne and Kaden stood in front of the main doors the staff lined up either side on a V pattern. Male staff were on one side and female staff on the other. The gravel beneath Hannah’s feet was smooth but she knew it wouldn’t have been as comfortable as her new shoes were. It was still a strange feeling to be wearing shoes again and the fox couldn’t help but glance down at them. Anna was also glancing down at Hannah’s shoes but not with the same smile Hannah wore, she just looked angry.

Anna wasn’t the only one giving the fox mean looks while waiting for Lord Hamish. Kaden kept glancing at Hannah in ways that made her fur stand on end. Though he was on the cusp of being a man, to Hannah he still had a baby face even if he wore it with confidence. It was also surprising to Hannah that he didn’t share his sister’s coal black hair and sported a light chestnut instead. That was all the studying Hannah dared do of the youngest Hayward sibling who looked at her as if she had personally wronged him. By the time she looked away and to her mistress she found her giving Kaden an eye of her own. Not only that but Rayne added a sharp, “Kaden,” that straightened the young man back up and brought his eyes to the approaching carriage. 

It wasn’t long before a lavish gilded carriage stopped in front of everyone and let out a man who looked to be in his mid twenties. His hair was a perfect in between of his sibling’s and he also stood at a height between Rayne and Kaden. It honestly just made Hannah marvel a little more at how tall her mistress was.

“Sister, brother!” Hamish said with a large smile on his face before walking over and giving his older sister a hug. “Oh, it has been too long.”

“It has,” Rayne said with a genuine smile of her own. “Though there were a few instances that I can recall where you elected to stay at the campus instead of returning for a visit.”

“Well, what can I say, dear sister? When inspiration takes, I must listen to her.” The eldest brother chuckled before going to shake his brother’s hand. “Kaden, how have you been? Must be excited to be officially a man.”

“I could have been better,” the youngest sibling said with a side-eyed glance at the vixen that vexed him.

“I don’t believe that for a second. It’s your eighteenth, what could possibly make this event so—” Hamish turned to see where his brother’s eyes went and found Hannah looking back at him, “—ur…” The fox averted her eyes from the lord and gave a curtsy along with the rest of the female staff as his eyes glanced their way. Hamish looked confused before his attention was drawn back to his sister.

“I will explain, but first let us get inside and sit down.” Rayne of course gave him a familial smile before turning to her youngest brother with a slight glare. “Come, I’ve already gotten tea prepared.”

“Yes,” Hamish said, giving the fox another glance before looking between his siblings and their not-so-subtle animosity to one another. “James, please bring my belongings to my room.”

“Yes, my lord,” a new valet that had also gotten out of the carriage said before grabbing said belongings. James quickly made his way behind the family, followed by the rest of the staff.

Hannah could hear Mr. Williams quietly whisper to James, “I will explain as well.”

Rayne led her brothers into the drawing room where tea and cakes had already been set out for them. Grabbing herself a cup, the lady found herself sitting down in her usual seat, and purposefully did not meet her youngest brother's eyes as she waited for Hamish to sit down himself. Kaden elected to stay standing, probably feeling more secure in a situation where he was taller than his oldest sibling.

“Alright, now will you tell me what is going on?” Hamish said, finally sitting down.

“The other day when I was i—” Rayne started before being cut off by Kaden.

“Our dear sister broke our family’s ‘belief’ on not owning a beast slave. That’s what happened.” The childish snark in the young man’s voice was telling of his true maturity. 

“So says the one who was excited by it because he thought I bought her as a sex slave to be gifted on his eighteenth!” Rayne spat back with venom in her voice.

“”Kaden…” Hamish turned to his brother. “You didn’t believe that, did you?”

“What?! It’s tradition in the Empire to give a man coming of age a beast slave of his own. I’m not in the wrong here!”

Hamish sighed. “Kaden, I know of the friends you have and discussions you partake in, but—”

“You knew of his beliefs?!” Rayne cut her brother off. “And you didn’t tell me?”

Hamish sunk into his seat a little more. “I wouldn’t say I fully knew, but had an inkling…” he admitted sheepishly.

“What is wrong with my beliefs? They are animals. Barely intelligent animals who are but savages when left to their own devices. Slaver is a kindness.” Kaden looked fully convinced by his beliefs he had so proudly stated.

“Oh really? Then how do you explain Hannah being the most well-educated person on this estate? Her knowledge is above ours!” Rayne so proudly stated.

“Oh, that’s a fat lie,” Kaden said with an expression as if he had been personally attacked.

“Did Richard not inform you of the discussion that was had at the servants dinner last night?”

“What happened at their dinner last night?” Hamish asked, both confused and intrigued.

Rayne smiled. “It was discovered that not only can Hannah read and write, but she can also do it in the two other languages she is fluent in. She knows mathematics and is well versed in freeland, Ziteas, and Empire history. She even impressed Mr. Williams with her knowledge of the Orc Invasions as well as even owned the book he's always looking for. Oh, I almost forgot to add she is teaching the hallboy how to read.”

Both of the lords looked at her in disbelief. Rayne was a little surprised that Richard hadn’t told Kaden of this, which was a little telling of the relationship they had.

“How can that be possible?” Hamish was clearly confused now.

“Before Hannah was taken as a slave after the fall of Ziteas, she used to be a schoolteacher for her village.” Rayne felt so proud of her vixen. 

Kaden rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on. You really expect us to believe that? What a load of horse shit.”

“Would you like to test it?” Before either of her brothers could answer Rayne was already ringing the bell to summon Mr. Williams. He was ever quick to enter. “Would you be so kind as to bring Hannah here for me, Mr. Williams?”

“Yes, my lady,” the butler said with a bow.

“Also, what was that book Hannah had that you’ve been searching for?”

The older gentleman held his composure mostly, but Rayne could see a little shock in him at the question. “The book is General Griffith’s account of his service during the Orc Invasions. It is one of the most detailed accounts of the invasions ever written. Though sadly it has been many years since it was last printed, and copies are hard to come by now as most have been taken by collectors. Especially as it was originally in Tresian and was not often printed in Celian.” Now the man looked just slightly embarrassed. “Since I am not fluent in Tresian it has made my search harder, my lady.” He gave another light bow before he quickly excused himself to go fetch her fox.

Rayne was rather pleased with herself and looked to see her brothers reactions. Kaden just looked mad about the whole thing and was purposefully not looking at her. Hamish just looked intrigued but clearly skeptical. 

“Rayne, if this is some sort of prank I am not fond of it,” the eldest brother said.

“I promise you, this is not a joke.” There was excitement flowing through Rayne in proving to her brothers that beastkin weren’t savages as they believed, but most of the excitement came from being able to show off how smart Hannah was. If it was any other beastkin with this knowledge, Rayne knew she wouldn’t have felt this proud inside.

“This is all a joke…” Kaden mumbled under his breath. Though Rayne could see Kaden was set in his beliefs, the confidence she wore did visibly worry the young man. Hamish just sat there and sipped at the tea, clearly not sure what to think at this point.

After a minute or two the door opened and in stepped both Mr. Williams and the fox in question. Rayne couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her vixen, even if Hannah was clearly trying to hide the worry she was feeling. The lady also noted that when Hannah looked around the room, Rayne was the only one she met eyes with and just gave shy glances at her brothers.

“Ah, there you are, Hannah. I was hoping you might be able to answer some questions my brothers and I have for you.” Hannah’s eyes weren’t meeting the lady’s anymore but her large ears were solely focused on her. Rayne turned back to her brothers. “Ask away and find that I’m not lying.”

With a scoff and barely a glance at the fox, the youngest Hayward spoke out in slow and mildly broken Treysian, “How are we believe that dog can understand?”

Hannah paused at his question that to her looked as if it was directed at Rayne, but her mistress looked at her and smiled, telling her it was okay for her to speak. “I can understand you perfectly well, Lord Kaden. Though I must apologize, the word for what I am is not dog but fox. It’s understandable that one would get confused as the two words are very similar in Treysian, but they are two different words.” Though there was a large misconception that dogs and foxes are they same, they aren’t, and to call a fox beastkin a dog was very offensive in her culture. She didn’t want to say that out loud though.

Rayne felt her heart sore at hearing Hannah speak perfect Treysian to the clear shock of both her brothers. Kaden’s look of shock quickly turned to a grimace however.

“You must have told her how to say that,” the youngest said in denial of what just happened.

“Oh, really, Kaden? In this impromptu questioning, I rehearsed with her how to fluently say what she did? Even knowing that you would call her a dog instead of a fox? Why don’t you ask some more questions and easily find that she is fluent.” The lady wasn’t afraid to let her words come out with incredible snark.

“Your name is Hannah? Correct?” Hamish asked in Treysian.

“That is correct, Lord Hamish.”

“Would you happen to know any Treysian poetry?” There was a gentle smile on his face.

Hannah quickly nodded and began to recite:

“My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;

It rains, and the wind is never weary;

My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,

But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,

And the days are dark and dreary.”

The fox paused for a second before saying, “Though I know the poem well, I must admit I don’t share Javes Charinta’s view of rain being akin to something dark and dreary. I quite enjoy the rain, but my father, who is the reason I know the poem, never liked the rain.” Her father was always such a happy man and she never fully understood why he loved such a dark poem. Maybe with everything that's past since she last saw her father, she understood the poem a little more.

“You know Javes Charinta? I must admit even I don’t know his poetry well enough to recite any, let alone in Treysian,” Hamish said with a light amused chuckle. There was still a little bewilderment on his face but it was now mostly replaced with excitement.

“My father was a large fan of his poetry and often read it to me, though I am sad to admit that is the only one I have memorized, my lord.”

The youngest of the siblings groaned loudly before saying, “Fine, the animal might know how to speak Treysian.” Kaden didn’t notice the death glare Rayne gave him when calling Hannah an animal. “But can she actually read? Reading and speaking are two different things.” A look of premature success took over his face.

“Then pick a book,” the lady said, guesting to one of the small bookshelves in the room. “I’m sure if I were to pick one you would say I already taught her what it says.” Though she had told Kaden to do it, the boy didn’t move to get one. With a sigh Hamish stood up and grabbed a book from a shelf.

“Here, would you be so kind as to read this for us?” Hamish asked Hannah as he walked over and handed the book to her.

The fox took the book and read the title from the cover. “Judgment.” She opened the book to the first page. “It has long been said that one can tell the merit of another man through his eyes. The judgment can be made from the clarity of which the man sees the world. A wives tale to be sure, but I have always found that to be tru—”

“Enough!” Kaden spat angrily. His face was bright red with both embarrassment and anger. “Fine, it can read, but that doesn’t mean its as intelligent as you say, Rayne.” The lady wasn’t even slightly fazed by the venom in his voice and just calmly sipped her tea. “You said the fox knows history, well lets see that you’re just talking up her abilities.” Turning his glare from his sister his eyes landed on Hannah. “In the war of Duurha which territory was the battle of Hayfield City fought in, Brahams or Sheferlock?”

It took a second for Hannah to remember her teachings on Dewathian wars. In actuality the knowledge didn’t come from her own studies, but from her fiancee’s love of war history. “ I’m sorry, my lord.”

“See, she knows nothing!”

“But the battle of Hayfield, not Hayfield city, was fought in the Cettal territory, in the hayfield outside of the town of Grivens. It wouldn’t be till a hundred years later that a new war changed the names of the territories again and build the city of Hayfield in place of the ruins of Grivens.” When she and Elaine first met, Elaine hadn’t been the best of readers. On their first dates they spent time reading out loud to each other and one of the first books talked about this battle.

“Absolute hog wash. The beast is just making stuff up on the spot!” The anger in his voice couldn’t be mistaken for anything else but bigoted hate.

A cough from behind Hannah brought everyone's attention to Mr. Williams. “I am terribly sorry to speak up in such a manner, my lords and lady, but Hannah is in fact correct on all accounts. Hayfield as a city was not built until a century after the battle for which it is named.”

The eldest two siblings looked at Hannah and Mr. Williams with impressed smiles, while Kaden looked on in a mix of bewilderment and slight horror. Even Mr. Williams wasn’t on Kaden’s side in this matter.

“See, Kaden, Hannah is in fact well educated despite your belief that her kind are but savages when left to their own devices. She is even better educated than you appear to be, dear brother.” With a smug look on her face, Rayne happily took a sip of tea. Though there was part of her that loved her youngest brother, it felt so utterly good to see him proved wrong so thoroughly. Before she could turn to see just what face he was now making, the young man stormed past her, knocking the tea from her hand and spilled all over the carpet. “Kaden!” The problem child didn’t look back at her whilst he pushed his way past Mr. Williams and Hannah to get out of the room.

Without even thinking, Hannah acted and went to clean up the mess the youngest Hayward child clearly made on purpose. It was a little strange to have a mess purposefully made that wasn’t made with the intention of having her clean it. At least she didn’t think Kaden had thought that far when knocking the tea out of her mistress’s hand. 

“Oh, thank you, Hannah,” the lady said gently while she fought the urge to get on her knees and help her fox. Any lady would be caught dead if she was on her knees helping a slave, but that didn’t stop Rayne from wanting to. Maybe if her brother and Mr. Williams weren’t here she would have. “Though don’t worry about the stain for now. We can have it cleaned after my brother and I finish our conversation.”

“Yes, Mistress,” Hannah said, giving the spill one last dab before rising to her feet and pouring Rayne another cup of tea.

“Thank you,” Rayne said again as she watched her vixen, eager to reach out and pet her head between those large ears. “I think that will be all, Hannah, unless you have any more questions for her, Hamish?” She hoped she did as she would get to be around Hannah for longer.

“I believe we have asked enough to prove her intelligence. Maybe in my time at home I will find more questions to ask. Thank you Hannah, for putting up with our brother’s antics,” the lord said.

“It’s alright, my lord.” The fox curtsied before heading out of the door. As she reached it, Hannah couldn’t help but glance back at her mistress and found those gray eyes looking back at her. Before a blush could form, she turned away and walked out of the door Mr. Williams held open for her. Why did meeting those gray eyes always make her blush?

“Hannah,” Mr. Williams said after closing the door and before Hannah could make her way back to the room she was cleaning.

“Yes, Mr. Williams?” She asked, turning to him.

“Your knowledge is very admirable for your kind. You should be proud of your intellect,” the elder gentleman said with sincerity. “Now hurry back to work.” He gave a gentle nod of dismissal.

Hannah felt strange about that compliment that also sounded like an insult at the same time. Though she decided to take it considering yesterday he hadn’t even thought her worthy of sitting at the same table as him. Maybe with time he would come to see that being a kin should have nothing to do with how smart one could be.