Riven was surprised to find the rolled up parchment bound by a ribbon lying in front of the door to the chambers he'd claimed for himself since taking up residence in the otherwise abandoned Institute of Arcane Principle. When he reached down to unroll the small scroll of crackling material his eyes brushed over a note with a light, scrawling script that barely hinted at the haste with which it was penned.
It's time to stop playing games, Riven. I will be in the gardens tonight at midnight, if you think you can manage to tear yourself away from Alyithra long enough to speak with me.
A smirk stole his lips as he read over the brief invitation. The door in front of him opened at his command and he stepped through, tossing a lazy glance toward the waterclock that sat on the mantle of the hearth that blazed merrily on the far side of the room. He had just over ten minutes to make the date, if he decided he would go at all.
—-
"I got your little note."
Riven's voice came from behind Alphyon, who turned slowly on the spot where he stood beneath a tree, whose limbs were stretching out earnestly to try and steal what sunlight they could under the overcast sky during the day. At night, it looked like the skeletal remains of some monstrous beast. Snow covered the world around them, even beyond the Institute's grounds were rolling hills bathed in white and shining with an ethereal quality whenever the clouds overhead deigned to let a sliver of moonlight trickle through their tight folds.
"I was beginning to wonder if you would show at all," Alphyon replied. In the darkness of the night his crimson eyes were especially vibrant as they made use of his natural born talent for seeing in the dark. "Better late than never, hmm?"
"Forgive me, I was preoccupied," with what exaclty, Riven wouldn't say.
"What are you planning, Riven?" the question was shockingly straightforward, especially for Alphyon, who often delighted in playing games with deceit and trickery. "I know you are here by Raithmoore's command, but I also know you've your own plans at work."
A dark brow rose on Riven's pale countenance. "Are you certain, Alphyon' I've never been anything more than a humble servant to our lord and master, what makes you think that would change all of a sudden?"
"Let's not play games, Riven. I spent so many nights and days doing just that with the imbeciles who surrounded me when this school was still staffed and attended in force, I've had my fill of it for one lifetime."
"You have, perhaps, but I have not," Riven stepped forward, under the shadows of the tree's thick limbs. "Rest assured Alphyon, that whatever I may or may not have planned, you need not fear for your own safety. You just continue on with your little witch and your Seer and your sister and I will handle the rest. No need to worry that pretty head of yours."
"My sister?" Alphyon scoffed. "Do you truly think she would help you? I could put a stop to it with a word, so do not think you can hold her involvement over my head, Riven. You overestimate your allure to her.?
It's time to stop playing games, Riven. I will be in the gardens tonight at midnight, if you think you can manage to tear yourself away from Alyithra long enough to speak with me.
A smirk stole his lips as he read over the brief invitation. The door in front of him opened at his command and he stepped through, tossing a lazy glance toward the waterclock that sat on the mantle of the hearth that blazed merrily on the far side of the room. He had just over ten minutes to make the date, if he decided he would go at all.
—-
"I got your little note."
Riven's voice came from behind Alphyon, who turned slowly on the spot where he stood beneath a tree, whose limbs were stretching out earnestly to try and steal what sunlight they could under the overcast sky during the day. At night, it looked like the skeletal remains of some monstrous beast. Snow covered the world around them, even beyond the Institute's grounds were rolling hills bathed in white and shining with an ethereal quality whenever the clouds overhead deigned to let a sliver of moonlight trickle through their tight folds.
"I was beginning to wonder if you would show at all," Alphyon replied. In the darkness of the night his crimson eyes were especially vibrant as they made use of his natural born talent for seeing in the dark. "Better late than never, hmm?"
"Forgive me, I was preoccupied," with what exaclty, Riven wouldn't say.
"What are you planning, Riven?" the question was shockingly straightforward, especially for Alphyon, who often delighted in playing games with deceit and trickery. "I know you are here by Raithmoore's command, but I also know you've your own plans at work."
A dark brow rose on Riven's pale countenance. "Are you certain, Alphyon' I've never been anything more than a humble servant to our lord and master, what makes you think that would change all of a sudden?"
"Let's not play games, Riven. I spent so many nights and days doing just that with the imbeciles who surrounded me when this school was still staffed and attended in force, I've had my fill of it for one lifetime."
"You have, perhaps, but I have not," Riven stepped forward, under the shadows of the tree's thick limbs. "Rest assured Alphyon, that whatever I may or may not have planned, you need not fear for your own safety. You just continue on with your little witch and your Seer and your sister and I will handle the rest. No need to worry that pretty head of yours."
"My sister?" Alphyon scoffed. "Do you truly think she would help you? I could put a stop to it with a word, so do not think you can hold her involvement over my head, Riven. You overestimate your allure to her.?