Trial and Error: Second Edition

Chapter the Twenty-Eighth: The Matriarch

Kai pulled his hoof away from the doorbell. "Are you sure this is the right place? I know it's been awhile, but I don't remember any of this."

He and Usu stood outside a very large manor in Canterlot. Kai was clad in his cloak with the hood over his face, so as not to be recognized. Usu was in his disguise for the same reason.

"Yes, I'm sure," grumbled Usu. "I only grew up in this house. I think I'd know it well enough by now. Just ring already."

Kai swallowed hard. "You're sure it's just mother in there?"

"For over a decade, yes. Ring."

Kai raised his hoof back to the door and tentatively rang the doorbell.

"Again," commanded Usu. "Make sure they heard you."

Kai rang again and stepped back. "Who's 'they?'"

"She has one other pony living with her. The live-in nurse who takes care of her. The maid should also be around today."

The door swung open, and a young mare in a lacy maid outfit opened the door. "Can I help you?"

"We're here to see miss Maison," Said Kai. "Is she here?"

"Duh," said the mare, a sour look on her face. "She never leaves. I'll go check if she wants to see you." She pulled herself back inside and slammed the door. Kai turned back to Usu.

"Don't look at me," he shrugged. "I didn't hire her. I hired a different mare. The nurse should still be the same, though."

The door opened once more. This time, a large stallion was standing there. He looked confused when he saw Kai, but Usu's face caused him to wave the two of them inside.

"Good to see you again, Usu," said the stallion in a hushed tone. "Who's your friend?"

"Nevermind him," said Usu. "Who's the new maid? What happened to Bunny?"

"Out with the flu, unfortunately. I called her agency, and this was the mare they sent. I'm not too thrilled, either."

"You called him Usu," said Kai, pulling down his hood. "Is this a safe environment?"

"I don't know who you are," growled the stallion. "But I must insist that whatever criminal activity you're involved in stay outside of this residence. The mare that lives here is very old and very frail. If you do anything to harm her, I swear--"

Usu placed his hoof firmly on the stallion's shoulder. "Relax, Plaster. He has no intention of causing her grief. Do you remember her favorite photograph?"

"The one with you and your brother. She talks about him coming home every day."

"Then allow me to introduce you to Akaitora." Usu pulled Kai a bit closer to Plaster.

Plaster inspected Kai's face. "Are you sure? I thought you said he'd died in prison."

"That's what I thought, too. The guards said he had been released, our father had said that his sentence had been extended indefinitely. Which one would you believe?"

"He definitely looks like Kai. I'll give you that."

"May we see her?" Kai asked, beginning to grow impatient.

Plaster took a deep breath. "Very well. Right this way, sirs."

After stepping out of the entry hall and into the grand stairwell, Kai knew he was in the right place. He remembered being able to poke his head through the balcony balusters. He remembered being scolded for watching guests come through the door at odd hours of the night, and he remembered being yelled at to return to his bed. The dining room was even more memorable, as he had always wondered what it would be like to sit at the large table with the guests. He never had the chance, as he was still too small at the time he'd left.

Plaster stopped at the door to the tea room. "Be careful what you say to her. She's very fragile."

Kai nodded. "I'm ready."

The door opened, and the trio walked in. The maid was already in there, talking to an elderly mare in a rocking chair. "I think they were some kind of thugs, here to rob you or something. Do you want me to send them away?"

"They're not thugs," boomed Plaster, causing the maid to turn around. "They are guests, and there are standing orders to allow one of them entry, unless Mistress specifically sends them away."

The elderly mare looked up at them. Kai froze in place. The mare matched his memory fairly well. As Usu had described, there was a strong indent above her left eye, as well as some scar tissue holding the skin together. She had a cataract in her left eye, and he wondered if she could see out of it.

She motioned to a few nearby chairs. "Guests, of course. What a pleasant surprise. Have a seat, won't you?"

Kai and Usu walked over to the chairs indicated and sat down.

"Staying long, gentlemen?"

Usu looked to Kai. It was his decision.

Kai took a deep breath. "No, not too long. We wouldn't want to bother you for very much more than we need to. If necessary, we can return at a later date."

"Nonsense. You're no bother. Friends of my husband?"

Kai's stomach twisted and tightened. "Not really. We're not exactly on friendly terms."

She poured herself a bit more tea. "Well, if not to see my husband, then what is the purpose of your visit? To join a young lady for tea?"

"Actually, I wanted to ask you something. I know it may be a sore subject, but..." Another deep breath. "Could you tell me about your son?"

"Usu? What's the little scamp gone and done this time?"

"No, nothing. I meant Kai. Your other son?"

"Oh. Sorry, you'll have to come back in a week to see him. He's... indisposed at the moment."

"We know where he is. We'd like to know your opinion on the matter."

She reached across the table and picked up a framed photograph. "He's a good kid. I don't believe what they said at that malpractice they called a trial. He's not a criminal. Certainly not a violent one. He's innocent. And when he comes home, he'll be welcomed back."

"Did you see any of the evidence?"

"Of course. That drawing they showed, the one that sealed his fate? If they had looked a bit closer, they would have seen what I saw: The drawing of the alicorn was done in coloured pencil. His name was printed at the bottom, also in coloured pencil. But all of the viscera was done with a pen. Ink. Not graphite. I'd show you, but they didn't give us a copy. It's fairly obvious that somepony set him up. And with the way they glossed over everything, I'm sure somepony set up the courts to make sure he went down in flames."

"Do you really think he was set up?" Kai was starting to grow hopeful.

"Of course. Five times I tried to bring it up on appeal. Five times I was shut down. At this point, going up on appeal would take longer than just waiting out his sentence. In about a month, I have an audience with the princess. I'll take him right up to her, tell her what happened, and hopefully, she'll expunge his record. He never committed any crime, and he deserves to be treated as the happy young colt he is." She cleared her throat. "Or perhaps not so happy after all of this."

Kai trembled as he stood up. "Thank you for your time, miss Maison. I hope that, when your son returns home, he'll be the happiest young stallion you've ever seen."

The elderly mare also trembled as she stood, though her shakes were a result of her age and health, rather than her discomfort for the topic. "Thank you for saying so. As I said, he'll be back next week. You can meet him then. I promise you, he's a good boy. Just you wait and see." She extended her hoof to shake.

Kai took it, and lifted it to his lips. "It's been a pleasure, miss Maison."