33 Wealth Redistribution (2/2)

Wrapping the weeping child in her arms she made no mention of the silver streaks that had appeared on Sylvia's fur, instead focusing on comforting her.

It took her hours to do so, until she finally laid a cried out child to bed, having heard the whole story and extracting a promise from Sylvia to never use the magic on another living thing ever again, a promise Sylvia eagerly gave.

This had not stopped her using it entirely though, as Sylvia continued to grow she watched as the poor and the hungry grew more numerous on the streets, at first she would sneak some of her own food to give to a beggar boy called Justin, but she had quickly realised how little she affected the overall suffering she saw.

At this point most individuals would give up, either rationalizing away the situation, or turning their eyes from it.

But not her.

When she was thirteen she liberated a sack of grain from a wealthy merchant after watching from the shadows as he feasted on meat and wine while the beggars outside his gate froze and starved.

The magitech locks he employed to secure his warehouse fell before her magic with such ease.

Sylvia took the grain and made porridge, and with the help of Justin they fed the neighbourhood destitute for three days.

There was no stopping her after that, food, valuables, she liberated them all from the uncaring wealthy in order to fund her growing projects.

Of course she tried, and failed to hide it from her mother, Anastasia had gotten word of what she was doing, and when she got home sat her down and waited.

Sylvia hadn't lasted five minutes of twitching and sweating before she crumbled to her mother's stern look and the awful silence.

She came clean and confessed what she had been up to.

She got an earful that night, but not on the topic she thought, her mother was mad at her for hiding it and stupidly selling goods to whichever slick hander fence would take it, not only would they cheat her of its value but it could be traced back to her.

Instead Anastasia proposed that they funnel it through her workplace, Avarice's Descent, thereby ensuring maximum value and confidentiality.

With these plans in place Sylvia started an orphanage and soup kitchen, claiming an anonymous wealthy donor as the funder, she ran them by day with her growing cadre captained by Justin and ran across the rooftops at night, ever seeking wealth to liberate from the callous and uncaring.

Back in the present Sylvia reached the roof of Little Paws orphanage, and sliding off the edge and down a narrow pipe she swung into her open office window.

Sylvia landed silently on all fours and waited for a moment to ensure the coast was clear before she rose and stretched, enjoying the feel of her tired muscles after a long moonlit run, then made her way to a couch.

There she curled up as she sank into its luxurious plush softness.

It was one of the few things she legally owned, having saved up from some of her more legal side businesses to purchase it.

In truth Sylvia had never touched a cent of what she stole, it was never something she ever considered, the money being destined for needier hands and paws than her own..

The door opened and her ears twitched but she recognised the familiar quiet footsteps, how could she not, having heard them all her life.

”How did your weekly stroll go my little mushka?” Anastasia enquired

Sylvia answered by lifting an arm over the back of the couch, handing over her swag bag to her mother who hefted it before peering inside.

”Good, this should bring in enough for most of this year's graduating children to get apprentice assignments in the crafter's quarter. I shall make the necessary arrangements for them tomorrow, now I must be off to the council, the other matriarchs do so hate it when I'm late.” Anastasia leant over the couch and kissed Sylvia's cheek, eliciting a squim from her to which she responded with a gentle smile.

”Sleep well now my little mushka, I will see you later.” She murmured.

Anastasia covered Sylvia with a blanket and left the room, her footsteps firm and sure as ever.

........

Anastasia Rebekah Calgaree stored the bag of valuables in a floor safe, which she locked with both glyph and key.

She then raised her hood and left her house through a secret passage that opened from her closet, travelling for a time along secret Calgaree paths under the city.

She reached her destination after a time, and showing a particular signet ring to the guards at the door she was granted access, entering a room lit only by small sconces set into the stone walls behind each of the twelve chairs.

All the current occupants sat at the round table, ten of them in total excluding Anastasia who swiftly took her seat.

”You're late R” a mellow voice purred, ”No trouble I hope?”

”None that need concern you V.” responded Anastasia.

”Enough!” demanded a cracked and dusty, but nonetheless commanding voice, ”Save your bickering for later, we have much to discuss. The Matriarch Council of the Calgaree is now in session.”

A figure, bent with age and infirmity reprimanded the two of them, D had never been a patient one, and age certainly hadn't mellowed her.

”H! What's on the agenda this evening?” demanded D

”Yeees!” squeaked H, as the youngest of them she was tasked with the duties none of the others wanted, and she still struggled to adapt to the presence of all the other matriarchs.

Anastasia remembered filling that role not so long ago and felt a drop of pity for her, but at the same time was quite thankful it was no longer her duty.

”We have the distribution of Calgaree welfare allotments across the different nations to decide on, and then the new security measures for the banker's guild to discuss and ratify.” H finished reading from her notes and sat down.

”And what about R's spawn?” inquired V, ”Her child flouts our rules, stealing as she wishes and riling up the human nobles with her antics. How is she ever supposed to-”

Another matriarch lent forward, one of R's allies on the council and the one who had first invited her here, M.

”Peace V, we have already discussed this matter, the child is young and will grow in wisdom as she gains in years, her heart is in the right place.” M persuaded, her tone soft but firm.

D cut in, her tone rather less amiable. ”And last I checked we cared little about the wants of nobles and far more about our own, we are allies with humans V, not their pets, I would hope you know the difference between the two.”

The air thickened with tension for a moment, before V backed off.

”Of course, I was simply worried about how her actions reflect upon our people, and upon R.” V snidely replied.

”The child does more good than most of your precious nobles combined, and she will continue to do so when she proves herself and her time comes to sit at this very table, whenever that may be.” Anastasia bitingly snapped, angry at the continued attacks on her daughter.

She hated the politics on the council, but still came each meet nonetheless, someone had to represent her people to make sure it was done right, and it may as well be her.

”We are getting sidetracked” spoke P, ”Let us refocus and perform our duties ladies, before the males think they can do it better.”

This brought some chuckles all round, and the mood settled down as the council did what it did best, keeping the peace and looking after their own...