"Mother is alright, right, Matri?" Daven said as he sought comfort from his grandmother. Allurai looked down at her daughter with a pale face, she was just lying there like an empty shell a moment ago. Blood oozed down her daughter's forehead.
"My sweet daughter, how could they have the courage to storm my residence and touch my family?" Allurai said with a tremble in her voice. "All this because of your voice of concern for human rights? How dare they?" Allurai seethed. She felt Daven grip her legs, frightened.
"Your Mother is alright. Do not worry, Daven. Matri will protect you." Allurai stroked his soft hair tenderly. Allurai looked at Leilanna's youngest, Reven, who had been in the room with his mother during this invasion, who was being consoled in Prim's arms as her anger prompted her to act.
Allurai started by contacting Matriarch Elite. Officially, this action should not have taken place at a Prime's residence. Allurai had not stepped back from her political position. Any action against a female would have to go through a committee. There was no such action toward Leilanna listed. Allurai was incensed and puzzled.
Either this was an unsanctioned attack on her daughter or a kidnapping attempt on both Leilanna and Nora. Allurai could see that it was possible for either. Lenora Quill was cured of Morrits Syndrome; six out of her seven children were female. Each of her children would be a target. A genetic gold mine if she had passed that cure along. Nora had controlled the information about her and around her intellectually, but the proof was out there from the number of heirs she had created and the possibility of more. Any desperate clan would desire her. Who had the resources to organize this?
"All intruders have been incapacitated. Start by double cuffing them, and then we will rouse them to move them." Numas of Setton said. Setton Peacemakers filed into the room and secured the entrances and started detaining and placing privilege blocks on the Matriarch Primes Peacemakers.
"Take images of the damage and the piles of men as well. Matriarch wanted proof and a list of damage." Ryen of Setton's voice boomed in the room as he instructed his team.
Nora could immediately tell that Ryen was a Setton without the need of an introduction. He looked like a handsome, masculine version of Solina. One of her brothers was broad and tall; his dark curly hair was cut short in the same professional army style crew cut that Kai used to wear. He had a close-cut beard and a mustache that had flecks of gray from age on it. He was muscular and had several tattoos. Nora's eyes watered as she looked at Cerez and tried to calm herself. She bet Sirona was watching all of this, and it was traumatizing.
"All of their transports are unresponsive, outside. Leader. They power on, but they cannot do anything else." Numas of Setton said to his uncle. He looked at the piles of men in the room. It was impressive how one person was able to do this all using an unconscious Matriarch. Solina had warned them about Talan, and they had heard the stories of the teen trainee that had to be subdued by six full-grown adults in body armor. He was dangerous both in close combat and from a distance.
"Liaise with Technological Services; they are on the way to deal with tethering them anyway," Ryen of Setton said with a calm and assertive tone. He eyed the crying child uncomfortably and worked on his interface awkwardly afterward. Numas Setton looked at his uncle sympathetically. Although the man had been in therapy, he could understand that he was uncomfortable among outsiders and an emotionally distraught boy. He forced a smile on his face at the crowd in the room. The air was understandably tense after their residence was attacked, and the abduction of two women.
"Understood." Numas of Setton said as he turned to leave the main hall.
"We will momentarily remove these men from your residence, Matriarch Allari," Ryen of Setton said in a professional and polite tone.
"Leilanna Allari has been offered advanced protection and can be moved with her immediate family to a secret site with your permission." Ryen of Setton addressed Allurai. Leilanna's eyes widened as the two discussed her and her family's living arrangements. There was nothing she could do if she was told to stay or leave since she was not independent. Allurai nodded.
"Please protect my daughter well," Allurai said as she stroked Daven's hair, her hands trembling visibly.
"Go to your father's little one," Allurai said, her voice faltering as she looked at her daughter after making the call for her. "I cannot lose you, Leilanna. You have to go with them." Allurai said as her heart broke.
Leilanna looked at her mother and gave her a practiced, obedient nod. Allurai started weeping. She knew she had to go, she just wished that she could speak for herself now. This was happening to her, not her Mother. She could empathize with her mother. However, it hurt her that her mother did not think she would make the correct decision. They had fought a lot recently about her changing viewpoints and how she spoke out on Feather. Allurai was right; it was dangerous. Even now, she did not regret her actions.
"Greetings, Leilanna Allari. Please have your spouses gather your clothing and daily necessities. You will be provided the rest. We will treat you as an honored guest," Ryen of Setton said as he addressed Leilanna directly. Ryen had a positive opinion of Leilanna Allari thus far from her videos and writings on Feather.
"What of Quill? Surely they were here for her and to take her because of what she can do?" Allurai asked. Ryen's eyebrows knitted in confusion, and he shook his head.
"No, we can confirm that the young Matriarch Allari was the target. They admitted to it upon interrogation. If Clan Quill was not here today, your daughter would have been taken." Ryen interjected. He looked at the Allari Matriarch in front of him, wondering if the anxiety was making her so ignorant. Allurai's head spun around quickly. She shook her head, almost like she was doubting the truth.
"Thank you for your accommodation. We will surely take them." Leilanna said, finally getting to speak for herself. She was embarrassed by her mother. She looked Ryen in the eyes and smiled politely. It was best to protect both of them, the Quill facilities had been heavily secured by Kai and Solina personally. It was still a matter of discussion whether the Quills would be joining them as well.
"Mother, no one knows their schedule. Nora is very private and secretive with her visits and locations. There is no possibility that she brought them here." Lena said at her mother's side quietly. Her eyes were wide as they stared up at her mother's changing face. Allurai looked down at Lena, and then a redness flushed across her face.
She busied herself, guilty and embarrassed as Daven embraced her. It was good to have made the allegiance among the five families. Solina was surely working hard and had probably notified Sedai, Noro, and Halid of the attack. Allurai consoled Daven with an embrace but found her heart sinking as she realized that she would not be seeing the young boy for some time. Allurai would also be able to use the six other families and her spouse's families to protest and call for Matriarch Prime Rura Thelan's dismissal from governance.
'Did she think Thelan would be able to get away with it? Who is supporting her?' Allurai seethed as she watched her grandchildren cling to their parents. The Quill children were very upset about the bruise forming on their mother's arm. The replacement doctor, Cetas, tended to her son's arm as his eyes were locked on Nora, Cerez, and the children. Her eyes whipped around the chaos and damage. Her attention came back to the shouting of her grandson.
"Matri!" Daven whimpered; he understood that they would have to leave.
"I want Matri to come." Daven tightened his grip.
"It is alright, Daven. Matri will make sure she will be able to see you soon. I have to take care of things here first", Allurai tried to calmly reassure her grandson. Daven ran to his Mother from his father's arms.
"I am scared, Mother." Daven gripped his mother's hand.
"We will be safe soon, son. We will take time to draw pictures and play games together. You can see the cool peacekeepers every day, like the ones in your toys. They will be very impressed with how brave you are." Leilanna tried to spin it as a positive trip. Her spouses had thankfully collected their necessities while they talked. Reven clung to her, upset.