Helena had received a letter at the same time as Annabeth. In fact, Tybalt had given specific instructions for the messenger to hand over his letter to his mother, before giving that intended for Annabeth. Naturally, they had obliged. Helena had wasted no time either in reading the lines that her son had written for her, or in taking action. An order had been given, the Kane forces were mobilizing. They could hide their intentions for the time being as being a reaction to the apparent Eldouir attack. They were on the border, and so nobody would question them getting a little bit "nervous".

The elder had gotten parchment and quills together, ready to spend the rest of the morning writing letters. She hoped that by the end of the day, the southern lords would be ready for what was to come. For the time being though, there was the certain matter of the ever-controversial Porter they had accepted into their ranks.

Annabeth was the sort of person whom Helena would quite rather never have had inside of their ranks. She seemed to create and attract issues at a rate of knots unseen since Tybalt had decided to wed Felicity Zak. Somehow, this newcomer to their family managed to put the addition of Helena's daughter-in-law into perspective. So it was that the elder had summoned - for the umpteenth time - the Porter girl to her study. Tybalt had been clear with his concerns, and his mother shared most of them. This wasn't a laughing matter. It was something which, if handled incorrectly, could potentially plunge the nation into a civil war. 

The chaos would not start with house Kane. They would however, the elder was determined, be instrumental in putting an end to the madness one way or another. The first part of that involved tracking down just where it was that the madness began. That meant speaking with Annabeth Porter. The woman wouldn't be able to escape until they had gotten to the bottom of everything. As she entered into the room, she would be greeted not only by Helena, but also Silvana. The gifted stood there, pale hair and eyes fixing the newcomer expectantly. She already knew what was to come.

Helena would glance over her shoulder as the younger woman entered the room.

"Could you perhaps tell me just why it was that you attract so much trouble? Is it a gift perhaps, or something that you've had to practice at since you were a child?" 

Trouble, she doesn't go looking for it. Breathing softly she only wants to do good, she is good but bad things happen to her. "not a gift nor is it something I practise. I want people to get along and all i do is try to do good. The Duke wanted me to be his pawn in his game but that's not me, I don't want to be a pawn anymore."

She looked at Helena "You informed me the other day that one day I will figure out what I want to fight for. I saw the kids playing, not knowing the true stress of what going out there. None of them have to worry about their family hurting them. I want to fight for a future when they are safe, I want to fight for Lorendale and for the Queen. I know i don't have much, but I have my heart, yes. i know i get emotional but you know I will put all my heart into it.!

Helena listened to everything that the young woman had to say. She couldn't help but wonder if she had prepared a speech. Unless she was completely without reason, then she must have known that this was going to be coming. The elder raised an eyebrow once Annabeth had finished, silently chewing over the implications of what she had said. "Well, at least you have good intentions." The marshal replied.

Her eyes remained narrowed however, this was far from over. In fact, it was only just beginning. "Why didn't you bring this to our attention sooner? You must have had this conversation before we departed to the south." The whole reason that they had left was because of that false letter/proclamation from the queen. Just why it was that the young woman had sought it wise to wait for so long, only to send a letter (with all of the additional time it had taken) to Tybalt back in Loren. It seemed as if it was hardly all that productive.

Annabeth knew she should have said something sooner. However, she felt that everything around her would fall apart. "I didn't want any of the children to hear and become worried. Also, I have low self-confidence. I wrote the letter about twenty times before settling on the one because fear took over my heart. I know I should have brought it to your attention sooner." Forcing herself to stay calm cause it the best thing to do and she just feels so numb because she losing everything around her.

Helena couldn't help but roll her eyes at Annabeth's explanation. "I don't think that it would have been beyond your wit to find some sort of way of letting an adult know without one of the children overhearing." They were in Lorendale, not Coheed. The children here didn't have enhanced hearing, so it shouldn't have been that much of a challenge for her to speak in private with someone. "Still, what is, is. I need you to understand something, if any of this turns out to be fabrication, there will be severe consequences." 

It was a warning, as much as a threat. She would give the other a small chance to get out of her lies if they were so.

Why would she be lying about such a thing? This is one of the reasons why Annabeth didn't write or say something sooner because nobody ever believed her. Plus maybe she was stupid. She needs Astor, she wants him by her side telling her that everything will be okay. "none of it is fabricated." Annabeth wants to help people but all her life she has never been certain about anything, she has been scared, lost, worried and alone. Even when she had people around her she was alone. She had no female friends, she didn't know how to interact with female nobles because most of them like to gossip well she doesn't.

Helena was going to have to believe Annabeth. What choice did they have? She trusted Tybalt to be careful with his next actions, and not to commit to something which he might regret. As far as Annabeth was concerned, well, they didn't have a choice other than to believe her, least they expose the kingdom to even greater threats. 

"Very well then." Helena let out a sigh. The elder was thoughtful, wondering, what the next few steps would be. They would need to figure out their next course of action promptly. There was a possibility, but the woman found himself hesitating somewhat. "If I were to ask you to head back to Loren now, could you be trusted?" 

When Helena asked if she could be trusted, there was a softness in Annabeth's eyes. Annabeth knew it was more about Helena trusting her but at the same time, there was a part of her heart asking her the same question, if she could trust herself? Annabeth nodded. "Yes, you can trust me to go back to Loren." She just have to believe in herself that she can do this without guidance. Annabeth doesn't have much in a way of a choice.

Helena had many, many reservations about Annabeth. She wished that she could have sent a true-blooded Kane in her stead. Someone steadfast and reliable... Unfortunately, Kanes had a reputation. Nobody with any sense was going to approach them with a suggestion of treachery. It would seem that they did however seem to think that the Porters would be more open to suggestion.

"Very well... I want you to return to Loren, and see if you can uncover more of those linked to this conspiracy." There had to be others. Simon Mikaels was an influential man, but in terms of actual power? He must have known that he couldn't hold a candle to those loyal to the queen. He would need allies. "We need to smoke them out. You will need to be careful, and cunning." Oh, how Helena doubted she was capable of that.

Annabeth was a bit taken aback at what Helena was asking of her, as being cunning wasn't Annabeth's strong suit, well nothing is her strong suit. She looked to the ground, she just felt like she kept being asked to do things she would fail at. Keep her breathing steady through all this. "I will let Marquis Tybalt know if I find any more information on the matter." She wasn't certain in herself then she remembers what Simon told her that they all most find a place. However, Annabeth feels like she will never find a place in this world that she better off gone. In that way it would be better for everyone.

Helena wasn't expecting this to be a success, it was more a question of trying to maximise their chances of success. It was Tybalt and Scout whom the elder was truly relying upon. "Very well. Best you do it discreetly. Nobody's likely to trust you if they think you're still even remotely associated with house Kane. So feel free to paint us as the villains. You can claim that we no longer wanted to be associated with you, and cut all ties following your brother's death." In a further effort to limit the space for catastrophe, the elder would add: "Don't go to Tybalt directly - at least not if it isn't a matter of life and death - Silvana will wait for you in the market square every day at noon. She'll be in the form of a sparrow. If you have news, give it to her." 

The elder would pause for a short while, reflecting on a few matters. Her gaze rested upon Annabeth for a brief while. "Whatever happens, don't be careless with your life. It's fair to assume, that those involved with this conspiracy will be willing to go to great lengths to protect their secret. If things seem to be getting too risky, simply stop."

Annabeth just feels like she is sinking more and more into her shell. How can she do this, she isn't cleaver enough for this, nor brave enough. At the end of the day she was just Annabeth, she wasn't born with these skills, nor was she taught these skills. Paint the Kanes as the villain, she can never paint anybody a villain. Don't go to Tybalt so she has to do this all on her own... to say she scared would be an understatement. Annabeth wouldn't know where to start. Maybe she setting herself up for failure or maybe she accepting it because she knows it going to happen.

Annabeth's face stayed unmoved, her emotion stayed in check as Helena spoke, she showed no sign of what she was feeling inside. "Yes ma'am."

So here it was, their ace in the hole was a fool who had shown themselves to be severely lacking in judgement on many occasions in the past. At the very least, Helena knew that they had other options, other hopes. Tybalt wouldn't be relying solely on Annabeth. He would be foolish in the extreme to do so. She was however, for the time being, their sole contact and opening into the traitor's nest. So they would have to make do.

Helena would turn back towards her letters and continue to write. "Very well, I'll have a carriage prepared for you. You'll be leaving before dusk. With any luck, that will have you back in Loren within a couple of days."  The elder glanced only briefly back over towards the younger woman, whom they were forced to pin at least some hope on. "Do you have any questions?"