E’sphara relished her role as a facilitator of artistic creativity; she loved living life outside of prying eyes, of having to satiate someone else’s wishes. And at the Artist’s Colony, she was about as close to nature as one living in a modern society could get. Her particular pride and joy were the flower beds she personally tended, and which carefully sited and arranged by each of the bungalows in the Colony.

Getting to this point in life had not been easy. Well on her way to a superb career in entertaining, E’sphara was also somewhat idealistic. And that idealism led to her drawing the wrong attention at the wrong time, leading to the end of her performing career. She wistfully looked down at her hands, which were still of graceful appearance, ending with long, deceivingly delicate in appearance fingers. She fondly but sadly remembered how they once quite supple, capable of lightning quick movement, of the most delicate touch, of finding keys on a piano without ever looking down at the keyboard.

“That was before” she painfully remembered. Before the accident; before Olterian – the one person she most trusted in this world at that time – walked away from her when she was at the lowest point in her life; before she gave up politics and music; before two years of extensive and excruciating daily rehabilitation. This was a new life, built upon the remnant foundation of the old.

Now E’sphara plied her chosen trade and her chosen beliefs in a more subtle way. She watched out for her attendees, saw to it they had a peaceful and pleasant environment within which to create, received sound advice if needed, and pulled strings for them where she was able. It was best to keep a low profile, for this would protect her, and protect the artists who sought out special space with which to create.

Working quietly and not making waves allowed her to be part of a quiet network, to accomplish things she would not have thought possible. Her ties to Aalon of N’rellia had proven to be particularly fruitful over the years.

E’sphara and Aalon chatted quite regularly. Several years ago, he was gushing over a new student, whom he claimed was the best talent he had ever come across – with apologies to E’sphara of course. The memory made her laugh; Aalon was never one to live with insulting another, intentionally or otherwise, and he spent five minutes qualifying and dancing around what they both knew was the truth.

Three months ago she had finally had the great pleasure to meet this ex-student, now professional artist. “Ay yee yee” was the most cogent thought representing her impression of their interaction, the phrase passing through her mind at the same time her faced formed an appreciative smile. Llhaesa made short work of most everyone. “If I were a younger woman…” finished E’sphara’s remembrance of Llhaesa.

And now this young one was pushing the political envelope, already earning an outright ban from a society moving rapidly into the clutches of traditional patriarchy. Llhaesa had gone far beyond what was proprietary and safe given this political climate, prompting a quick end to a mainstream career. E’sphara had no interest in seeing another young and idealistic artist fall to the formidable patriarchal machine.

During llhaesa’s stay at the Artist Colony, E’sphara and llhaesa chatted quite regularly. E’sphara would never dream of calling on artists in residence; it was llhaesa who would softly knock upon her door. They would chat for hours, and if she requested llhaesa to play for her, the young one readily obliged. She was particularly proud of the songs they wrote together, hoping one day to reprise the experience.

E’sphara’s thoughts shifted to more immediate concerns. Aalon had called earlier in the day. She sat unspeaking while he shared his intent to step down as curator of N’rellia. He’d done all he could for the school, and did not wish to watch over its ruination.

Going forth into ‘retirement,’ Aalon was planning to take a page out of E’sphara’s method of operation, spending his now free working time to cover and watch llhaesa’s back. “Would you be willing to assist as needed?” he hesitatingly asked E’sphara. In response, there was no hesitation. “Yes” affirmed E’sphara “I’ll help you with that endeavour.”