According to Warren's family, his work had been taking up quite a bit of his time. That seemed to him like it would have been obvious. When he told his mother about his up-coming promotion, she'd been excited and proud. But now that she was experiencing the weight of that promotion, she'd been a little more concerned.

Yes, the work had kept him busy. But his mother had his sisters to keep her company, and his sisters had lives oh their own to live. Husbands, children. Warren had no one to make wait for him. No wife left alone at home while he sat in his office for hours. No children to help tutor or teach. His time was best spent right where he was, in the palace, with his soldiers. They were the ones who needed him most.

But despite that, he still had to do as he was told, when he was told by the one woman who could still tell him what to do. Even if her visits were impromptu and her demands were unreasonable, he could not tell her no. It was on this day that such had occurred. Pulled from his office and his paperwork and his plans, he found himself standing outside the palace as a carriage arrived to pick him up. He brushed his jacket free of any debris and tugged the tails downward, making sure it was clean and straight. As the carriage rolled to a stop in front of him, he reached for the door only to hear a familiar voice call to him from behind.

"Ms. Sliva," Warren turned, tucking his arms behind his back. "There's no need to apologize. I am usually available at this time of the day. However, I do have plans at the moment. I should be back in a few hours, if you would like to come back to my office then." With a single nod, he seemed dismiss her and turned back toward the carriage, only to have the door push open.

"Did you say Sliva?" A woman stepped into the open doorway of the carriage, not quite exiting, but reaching out to request Warren's hand all the same. He lifted his hand and offered it to her, and she took it, using it to keep her balance as she stood, head just barely sticking out of the carriage door. "Dear, come, come," the woman said. She was dressed modestly, in a simple dress. Her dark brown hair was braided tightly against the back of her head, and her makeup and jewelry were modest as well. She was thin, and though her height couldn't really be detected in the way she crouched, she wasn't too much shorter than Warren himself. Unlike Warren, she wore a calm and pleasant smile, but the similarities in their features couldn't be ignored. The woman, looking younger than her age but seventy all the same, gave a wave to Zarha. "I've been wanting to meet you. I understand Warren has taken you under his wing."

"This is hardly the time or place," Warren said, though his tone was completely different in speaking to her. While he often barked at the soldiers, he spoke to the older woman as quietly as he could manage, calmly, endearingly.

"It is the time and place when I decide it is," the older woman said sharply. "Will you not introduce us, Warren?"

"So be it," he said with a breath. "Ms. Sliva, this is my mother, Lady Estelle Woodwick. Mother, this is Zarha Sliva."

"Oh, wonderful to meet you!" Estelle said. "We were just going to lunch, why don't you join us?"

Zahra got there she laughed a little bit when Woodwick recognized her voice. However, when he turned to face her, the smile faded a little bit. "Yes. Lieutenant." She gave a nod of her head when he said that he will be free in a couple of hours. She was about to head and turn to go to the mess hall for lunch when she heard her name, stop in motion. She raised an eyebrow but eased a bit when an older lady stepped out.

how does this woman know her name, however as she seemed like a lady and she her older she stepped forward when she asked her to come forward. "You been wanting to meet me?" Her voice was a bit uncertain she give the woman a warm smile as she looked at Warren for a moment. It did take her by surprise that somebody called him by his first name so most be a family member. Which Zahra uncomfortable a bit with this urge to be near him. "Yes Ma'am Lieutenant Woodwick have been very supportive." She looked back at the woman.

Zahra tired not to laugh of the sassiness of the woman when she told Warren, however, her heart drop a bit when Warren introduce her as his mother. it felt like a rock formed in her throat for a moment. Zahra gives a slight nod of her head, "it a pleasure to meet you Lady Estelle, but surly you are too young to be Lietanent mother? More like sister." She tried to hide her nerves through confidence.

When she asked if she would like to join them for lunch, she thought for a moment. "I am not routered down for anything so I would be more then honoured to join you two." She smiled. She feels bit strange going for lunch for nobles but it was a honour

Estelle grinned ear to ear when Zarha complimented her, waving her free hand in the air as if to dismiss the compliment though she clearly loved it. "Sweet girl, aren't you? But Warren's sisters might disagree with such a sentiment," she sighed somewhat, as if disappointed. "Women are so much better at giving compliments than men are, aren't we? I do miss those days, though." She shook her head.

"Excellent! Perhaps with you joining us my son can find something to speak about other than work. Come now, into the carriage. I'm absolutely starved." Retreating back into the carriage, Warren turned and looked at Sliva, shaking his head and offering her his hand to help her into the carriage as well.

"You might come to regret this, Ms. Sliva, but it's much too late now," he warned as he helped her into the carriage and then climbed in after her, closing the door behind them and settling down next to Zarha as the driver began toward their destination.

"I hope you're not too uncomfortable with visiting our home for lunch, Ms. Sliva," Estelle said, resting her hands in her lap. The remainder of her carriage bench was filled with various bags that she'd gotten from shopping at the markets. "I like to force Warren to eat there from time to time so he won't forget what it looks like. Where do you live?"

Zahra laughed. "True men don't know how to handle a compliment or how to give one. I am sure that you here compliment all the time, like you are beautiful, if i look half as good as you i would be the luckiest person in Skia Ma'am" She love this woman she seems like a blast, nothing like Warren. It feels strange giving compliments out.

Zahra laughed at Warren talking nothing back work with his mum and give him a small smile. When warren offered her his hand to help her in she looked at it for a second before she softly takes it and steps up. "Your mother seems wonderful plus you know me. i think this would be a great learning experience." Zahra give him a warm smile before climbing in and sitting down.

At his family home her heart is racing now she didn't expect that. "Not at all, Lady Estelle." When she asked about her family home she looked at Woodwick for a moment before she looked down. "I live about a half an hour walk from the castle with my four siblings. two of which are in the madotory training. my youngest sibling is six years old." She smiled softly thinking of her family.

"Oh, now you're just being silly, dear!" Estelle said. "You're much too young and spry to be envying a woman of my age, but I appreciate it all the same."

Warren appreciated it, too, in his own way. He knew his mother liked to interact with new people, no matter who they were, and she'd always taken an interest in his work. Though her own work focused more on humanitarian efforts and charity, she wouldn't deny that she enjoyed a bit of attention. Zarha was right, it would be quite the learning experience.

Hearing that Zarha didn't mind visiting their home, Estelle patted her legs excitedly. "Wonderful! Our chef is fantastic, you will not be disappointed," Estelle said. "Warren often eats in the palace, in the mess hall, I believe?"

"Yes," Warren agreed.

"Well, not that there's anything wrong with the food they cook there, but every so often it would be nice to have the cook do what we pay him to do, wouldn't it?"

"I come home at least every three or four days and you are there occasionally as well. That seems enough to justify his salary."

"If you say so, son," the older woman held her hands up as if to give up the fight, but she was smiling throughout. Clearly she was only giving him a hard time, but there was some truth to her words. "You have quite the big family then, Ms. Sliva. Some of your siblings must be close to the age of my grandchildren who are also in their mandatory training. Let's see...there's Evangeline, who's just finishing. She'll be leaving for Arynn Frey soon, to study. Then Elisse, she's sixteen. Then Theodore, he's fifteen, and then Ian and Winifred, they're both twelve and just entering. Warren keeps his eyes on them as much as he can, not that he has much of a choice. His sisters are very demanding when it comes to their children. Speaking of, how are they doing?"

Warren would have been content to let the women speak and to contribute little to the conversation himself, but it seemed his mother had other plans. "Evie is more than ready to leave the military behind for Arynn Frey. Ellie takes very little seriously, including her training, but she does look after Ian and Winnie. They're just beginning, and end up fighting one another more often than not. Theodore will be a good soldier, should his father permit his stay."

"Hm, yes," Estelle said, seeming a little exasperated. "Lord Auguste has mentioned more than once that he hopes for Theodore to follow in his footsteps, in his line of business. The trades. I think he'd find Theodore much more suited to military work, but Willa may be the one disallowing it." She rummaged through one of the bags on the seat next to her, pulling a small box wrapped in gold foil out and removing the bow, and then the lid, to expose ten squares of fine chocolate. She held the box out to Warren, who shook his head, and then offered some to Zarha. "Please, take whatever you like, dear," she said, and once Zarha had taken one for herself, Estelle removed one and took a dainty bite.

"Mother, we're nearly there," Warren said.

"Yes, but I'm hungry now," she quipped, placing the lid back on and returning the box to it's bag. "It's your own fault for making me wait." She finished chewing the chocolate, then returned her attention to Zarha. "Now, Warren has told me that you're interested in pursuing leadership positions among the military once you have the experience. What are you finding most difficult in your studies?"

"If I can get a smile from you then it is totally worth every thruthful compliment." She give her a warm smile. She sit there and listened to Warren's mother speak. forcus on her and trying not to think about how close Warren was sitting near on. "Your grandchildren sound amazing. I think i trained with Evangeline before I finished my mandatory training. I like her spirt, why is she studying in Arynn Frey? What sort of trad lord Lord Auguste do buisness in." Zahra asked.

When Estelle offered her chocolate, her eyes widen with joy she picked one. "Thank you Lady Estelle." She smiled as she takes a bite of the chocolate and it melted in her mouth. "These are beautiful." She smiled softly.

When she explained that Warren told her that she wanted to progress into leadership role, she looked at him for a moment. "I am still surprised that Lieutanent talks about me to you." before she looked back towards his mother. "Actually that why I wanted to talk to him, I was looking for advice on politics. I recently came across a noble woman who basically despite me and another soldier being their to help her treated us like we are worthless, it got me thinking about politics and if i knew more about politics it might of helps us a bit in that situation." She explained.

It was clear that Estelle enjoyed speaking about her grandchildren. Warren's nieces and nephews were her pride and joy, and though she didn't get to see them near as much as she would have liked, hearing good things about them from others was almost as good. "I'm so glad that you caught on to that. Evangeline is very spirited. She loves learning new things, and the people of Arynn Frey focus almost entirely on studying. All subjects, I suppose, though I hope she'll choose a few and not get too lost in the weeds. I'm not sure what she'll decide to pursue, but whatever it is, she'll succeed, of that I'm sure." Evangeline, being the oldest, might be considered the favorite, if there was one. "Her father trades in antiques, he has some ties to Arynn Frey which made her studying easier. He has a relationship with a merchant there."

The way Zarha looked upon being offered the chocolate brought a smile to Estelle's face. Warren noticed it, too, though instead of smiling he only frowned. It was times like these when he was reminded of his nobility. He spent so much time in the military wing of the castle that he often forgot about it's advantages. Little things could mean so much more to those without. Perhaps that was why so many nobles had become so insufferable. They could no longer be made happy by those small things, or appreciate them the way Zarha appreciated a simple piece of candy. "You're more than welcome, dear," Estelle said as the women enjoyed their candy.

"Mother handles the family finances, so I had to inform her when I began paying for your tutoring lessons," Warren said when prompted about discussing Zarha with his mother. Though Warren was capable of doing so, the budgeting had fallen to his mother. He trusted her with whatever money came in, and instead of letting anything go to waste, she was sure that what was needed was saved and any extra was put toward her charities. It had been that way for as long as Warren could remember. His father had never been very good with money, so Estelle had always been the one to keep track.

As Zarha's mention of the noble woman in question, Estelle leaned back in her seat and rolled her eyes. She was about to answer the young womans question when the carriage came to a stop and the driver hopped down, opening the door. "Let us get inside, and we'll continue, Ms. Sliva," Estelle said with a smile. Warren climbed out first and offered his hand to his mother, who grabbed her purse and left the shopping bags behind. Once she stepped out, he offered his hand to Zarha once more to help her out as well.

Warren's estate was probably humble compared to most, though it might have looked vast compared to what Zarha was used to. The front and side yards were decorated with neat gardens and the occasional fruit bearing tree, though none of them bore fruit in Autumna. The house was built with stacked stone and the front bore many large windows that were not covered, but offered views (and as much sunlight as Nevermere would allow) into the house. It was three stories tall and likely looked much more modest from the front than the back. The land was blocked off from other manors by lines of forestry that wrapped around it, giving it an air of privacy.

"Please have my things brought inside, Art," Estelle said to the driver, who nodded and began to do so once everyone was out of the carriage. Then she turned to Zarha and motioned her forward. "Come along, dear, I'm sure the food will be waiting for us."

Motioning for Zarha to follow, Estelle would lead the way into and through the manor until they reached a large dining table. Somewhere along the way she let a servant know that they would have an additional guest, and the staff quickly made adjustments. "Please make yourself at home, Ms. Sliva." Estelle took the seat at the end of the table, and Warren took the seat to her right. The servant pulled the seat to Estelle's left out for Zarha. "Now, let me ask you a question first, Ms. Sliva," she said as she settled into her chair. "What do you feel the best possible outcome of the situation you were in could have been?"

She smiled softly as she listened "Ayrnn Frey seems like a great experience for your granddaughter. She is really lucky to have such an exceptional opportunity there." She smiled she would personally love to visit there one day and learn more so for Warren's Niece to experience it and learn from them was amazing.

When Warren explained that it was Warren's mother who help founding the studies she smiled. "I am really grateful that you are helping me Lady estelle. if there anything you want for me to repay you. Just say." She meant every word of it.

However when they pulled up to the house and she waited to be helped out and she saw this house it took all she could to keep her mouth from not dropping. Like they could fit like twenty plus of where she live with her family in the house alone and maybe another 30 on the land alone. "you have a stunning home." She said softly.

She walked in and she feels slightly underdressed even though both her and Warren are both in their uniform it just feels strange. She was about to pull the seat to the left of Warren's mother when a servant pulled it out for her. "Thank you." She said softly as she sat down. She look back at Estelle and she thought a bit about her answer. "I feel like to be seen as equal would be a lot to ask but respect would of been nice."

"Oh, don't thank me, dear," Estelle waved a hand. "It's Warren's money, I just manage it. Women come second in the household, you know," she rolled her eyes, and then gave Zarha a wink and a smirk. "But say no more of repayment, there's nothing to repay. As long as you continue on your path, that is reward enough."

As they entered the house, neither Warren or Estelle paid too much attention to how Zarha might have viewed it. They had both lived in it all their lives and it seemed like nothing all too grand to them, but obviously that would have been different for her. "Oh, thank you. My grandfather built it, though my husband and I made additions when Warren and his sisters were just children. It really is lovely. I'm always saddened to see it so empty." Warren was used to hearing that kind of thing. He said nothing in reply, because there was nothing he could say. It hadn't always been empty and he'd much rather it be occupied. He'd much rather there be a reason for him to want to come home. His mother understood, of course, but she couldn't help how she felt.

As they listened to Zarha speak about what she would have liked to have happened between she and Lady Johnson, Warren watched two maids bring in some pitchers of water and a bottle of wine. Warren requested water, his mother requested wine, and they would serve Zarha whatever she requested, though if she intended to go back to the palace, it'd be best if she asked for water as well. "Yes, that would be preferable, wouldn't it? Thank you, Emily," as the maids exited, Estelle took a drink from her glass.

"The woman she speaks of, Mother, is Lady Lillian Johnson."

"Oh, yes," Estelle said, frowning. "I heard about that unfortunate incident with her child. You were involved, then?"

"It's somewhat complicated," Warren replied. "She complained that the dogs were wandering the neighborhood. They were chased off multiple times, but the child was still bitten. I sent Ms. Sliva and another soldier to destroy the dogs, at which time Lady Johnson took her anger out on them."

"And I hope you put her in her place," Estelle said firmly.

"I'm awaiting her visit any day now," Warren confirmed, and Estelle shook her head.

"Well, the truth of the matter, dear, is that all of us were raised a certain way. Once something is ingrained in the mind, it is difficult to change it. Setting your heart on the hopes that someone like Lillian Johnson will treat you as an equal or show you any ounce of respect will produce only heartbreak. It is better to accept reality for what it is. There will be some times when you will be able to demand respect from someone, and some times when you will be able to earn it. There will yet be other times when no matter how much you try, you will never feel equal to others around you. This is likely true for everyone you meet, nobility or not. Take Warren and I, for example," she motioned between the two of them. "The Woodwick bloodline has long been part of the nobility and many of our family members have served graciously in the Nevermeran military, but there are still some who look down on us."

The maids from before returned, rolling a few platters on a cart. They moved around the three with ease, sitting the platters on the table in front of them. On one platter was small cuts of steak, on another were various bowls of mixed vegetables, and on the third tray were cuts of fruit. Bite-sized pieces of bread with butter to spread came last, and then the maids were gone again.

Estelle began choose what she wanted of the food. Warren would wait for she and Zarha to take what they wanted before he attempted to pull anything onto his own plate. "No, no, the least you can expect from someone like Lillian is civility, but even that will be filled with disgust. I hope she was not too nasty to you and your partner. Please, help yourself to whatever you like, dear, eat your fill."

"But Lady Estelle we both know who wears the pants of the house. Men do not know what to do without us women around." Giving a wink and laughing slightly. Feeling slightly more relaxed than when she was first introduced. "Can I please have some water please?" She asked one of the maids, it felt really strange asking for some water.

She sat and listened to want Lady Estelle had to say, she looked down for a moment as she took it all in, taking the words in. "politics is confusion world." Zarha gives a half smile. "She was more hursh on my partner then myself, however, i took your Son's advice given her three chance before putting my foot down. I can not say I am a expert in it, i still struggle with finding the balance of using my firmness and need for action and patient." She smiled.

When she looked at the food and selection of bread, fruit, steak and mix veg. Zarha placed a couple of slice of bread, some steak, and some veg. not quiet filling her plate up. "Thank you this looks and smile divine." She smiled warmly.

The maneuvering of politics was something that came naturally to some, like Estelle, and less naturally to others, like Warren. "It can be very troublesome. One must pay constant attention and take note of even the smallest of actions, whether it be a smile, a blink, a turn of the wrist. Reading people is key, and it takes time to learn such things. Unfortunately you're at a disadvantage because you did not grow up being taught to take note of such things, but if you're persistent you'll catch up just fine."

"Be careful who you practice that three strike rule on, Ms. Sliva," Warren warned, drinking from his water. "It is an entirely different situation dealing with nobility than it is three homeless men squatting in an inn. I trust that you and Mr. Stormcrest remained polite and civil with Lady Johnson, as you told me, but the more wealthy the noble, the less like you are to be believed should they report you to someone of higher rank than me. One must often swallow the pride in order to avoid too much attention."

Estelle sighed as she neatly divided the food on her plate, looking down at it as if to choose what to eat first. After Zarha took her share, Warren began to fill his plate as well. "My son is correct. As much as I hate to admit it, some nobility would sooner have you strung up than allow you to speak a firm word to them. Weathering their insults is the best option. Until you can tell the difference between who to submit to and who to push those boundaries with, it's best you be very careful."

"At the very least," Warren followed up, cutting into his steak. "Should someone push you past your limits, retreat and come to me. I'm somewhat more seasoned in dealing with such people, and they could not blame you for taking a problem you could not solve to your commanding officer. That is what we are for."

Taking note that was being said why is this all complicated. "Yes Sir me and Mr Stromcreast remind polite the whole time." She said softly. Her mind was going through everything. She hate being walked over and it not fair that there this divid amongst people. Like she never asked to be a commoner, she never asked to be poor, she never asked for her brother to die because they couldn't afford to have a healer to have the potion he needed to get better. She never asked for her brothers and sister live in a cold house.

Zahra had a look of that unfair why do i have to be pushed around a look of maybe she won't be cut for life of politics a life of leadership she at the end of the day she doesn't have a voice to carry her. "How?....I am sorry." Zarha voice was the quietest it ever been. A shell of what she was at the interaction with the massive training trying to find the words. "if there, politics is confusing. there so much to learn."

Warren was content with her response and nodded. He knew the two of them to be good soldiers. They wouldn't smart off at nobility, at least not with good reason, and as they'd all agreed many times over, Lady Johnson was an incredibly irritating one to deal with. He chewed a piece of the meat from his plate, shaking his head, and when he swallowed he glanced back at Zarha. "You have nothing to apologize for."

Estelle, on the other hand, sat her knife and fork down at the edge of her plate and leaned over the table to rest her index finger under Zarha's chin. It forcibly (though in a gentle way) lifted the younger woman's chin so that her eyes would meet Estelle's. When the older woman spoke, she spoke firmly, but not with malice. "Meekness is a weakness women of Nevermere should not display, my dear. By virtue of your work in the military, you will be stronger than most civilians, nobility or not. The weakest people are those who feel the need to assert their dominance over you. They want you to submit to them because they know they could not make you do it. Giving them what they want is only a temporary illusion we must deceive them with in order to keep the peace. Do you understand?" She pulled her hand away from the girl and sighed, lifting her fork and prodding a vegetable.

"If my son has invested his time and money in your future, you must have potential. Do not let the difficulty of learning how to navigate our society frighten you into to squandering this opportunity. It will take time. You must be patient, but your hard work and frustration will pay off." As soon as she was finished, her tone softened again. Estelle was clearly a woman who could command a room, and to anyone who had seen Warren interact with women outside of work, it would be obvious where his respectful nature came from. Everly and Willa, Warren's sisters, were very much like their mother.

Warren waited, to make sure that his mother was finished with her lesson - she had so many, he remembered - before he spoke again. "There is a happy medium, more often than not. The more you learn, the more you'll see. At your age, and with your experience, it is easier to appease people like Lady Johnson, but you won't always be forced to do so. You just have to know how to say what you want to say in the correct way."

"For example," Estelle said with a hint of glee in her voice. "If Lillian were to speak rudely to me regarding the military, or Warren's job, I just have to find the nicest way to remind her that we all know she killed her husband! That might sound something like 'Oh, yes, Lillian. I understand your anger and frustration. This must remind you of when your dear husband passed away so suddenly. You know, as a favor, we could have Warren look into his death for you? Perhaps we could finally put away his murderer.'"

Warren lifted a brow, then rubbed his face, half-laughing. "Mother, please."

"What? We all know she did it," Estelle shrugged, plopping a piece of fruit into her mouth. "Cruelty begets cruelty, in the end. Anyway," she waved the hand free of her fork. "That's just one example. Dealing with nobility is all word-play, dear, you'll pick it up. It's just a dance."