Azjah?s left hand slid into a pocket of her trousers as her right slowly unbuttoned the blazer she wore and vanished beneath the blazer. Her fingers curling around the grip of her favorite weapon, otherwise she remained unmoving.

Trystal closed off a good portion of her mental senses to stave off the headache that was threatening to develop. She did keep a ?peeking? mental eye open and on Alain, and having seen Azjah?s subtle movement, on her as well. If things were tense before, they were downright oppressive now.

Alain shut his eyes for a moment out of simple frustration, ?Veighn, just?. No.? He sounded very much like a parent berating an obnoxious child at the moment.

Lord Veighn examined his fingertips, a bit of threading held there as the shirt slipped free of his grasp before she was caught. Evasive little mongoose. His eyes narrowed on the pair, Blue and VeeJay, and there was a lot to be said for eyes as luminescent as flame to become hard as ice. They did however, and his jaw set with enough tension to allow its perception to be glimpsed beneath the flesh of his cheeks. ?Did I not once electrocute ye into submission, female?? His head tilted as he addressed VeeJay.

Azjah remained motionless, but her fingers were wrapped securely around the smallest sphere in her pocket, poised to snap the membrane and throw it directly at either Veighn or Thorn.

Veighn pointed then at Lyrical, a cruel smile forming on his lips, ?Ye would be an exquisite addition to mine collection, mine dear.?

Tristal gave a quick blink as she felt a mental probe, her eyes snapping toward the newcomer at the door. She watched Veilos for a few seconds, trying to determine whether or not he was planning to join the current fracas. But, his mental touch had been light, not even touching anyone, just exploring ahead of his physical self, very much like she did herself.

Alain meantime backed toward the bar as they approached him, ?And then you can explain to House Onyx why you?re stealing from me.? Alain?s temper was clearly wearing thin as he directed his comment to Veighn.

Azjah still had one hand on the grip of her weapon, and one holding a sphere when she spoke, ?Lord Veighn, the girl does not look inclined to accept such a generous offer.?

He turned his cold gaze toward Azjah, ?Would ye like to assume her place then??

As though Trystal had just puzzled out what Veighn was, she muttered, ?Slavers?? The word dripped acidly as she muttered through a clenched jaw, now staring directly at Lord Veighn.

Azjah slowly released the grip on her weapon, ?Actually, I would not care to accept your offer either. I think it would clash with my own plans.? She then slowly reached for her snifter and the mixture within and turned to make her way back to her own table since things seemed to have simmered down slightly. She did however leave her other hand in her trouser pocket and had a death grip on the sphere.

Trystal felt the tension in some of those present lesson and her own shoulders relaxed as well. She sighed softly and settled her hands on the counter with a quick look over toward Alain and company, ?Any of you need a drink?? Since she was behind the bar, she sought to further diffuse the situation.

Lord Veighn broke off from the void where there once was a group. He gave a sidelong glance toward the ?Lizard King? as he went. He was now heading in a winding path toward Azjah?s table. He paused, ?So much fidgeting leads me to believe ye were nae adjusting ye corset.? He drew back the drape of his outer robes and placed his hand on the egg-sized emerald that was the pommel of his blade. He did carry the blade at his hip, unlike so many of the sorcerous bent. It was a wicked looking blade that was intensely and radiantly evil. Azjah had no problem picking up on the blade?s aura.

Azjah settled comfortably onto her chair with her drink, ?You would be correct, on two counts Lord Veighn.? She wasn?t going to be cowed by the display of such a wicked weapon, but she was not armed for magical combat, not here in the city.

Thorn?s gaze flickered toward Trystal as Lord Veighn?s eyes narrowed on Azjah, who wasn?t showing her weapons yet. ?Forewarned is forearmed, m?lady.? He removed his hand from the pommel of the sword and slid it back slightly where it vanished from view beneath the robes.

Azjah canted her head at Lord Veighn, ?Yes, it is a two way street, isn?t it?? While she knew what he carried, he had no idea what her choice of weaponry was. She motioned to an empty chair, ?Do sit if you are of a mind.?

Trystal?s ears were tingling from Thorn?s infrasound, and she made use of her ability to screen out the wavelength, but VeeJay was suffering so Trystal reached out with her own mind and established a bubble of air molecules surrounding her that matched the vibrations in a cancelation of the wavelength.

Veighn was unbeknownst to Azjah suffering from the infrasonic emanations of the Lizard King. He looked hard at Azjah, ?Wilst ye stand?? His brow arching in challenge as he regarded her; ?Offering ye seat to me??

Trystal chuckled, ?Well, that perhaps, or maybe just for therapeutic amusement. He seems to generate a good deal of stress in those around him. You know, I could have gotten you something,? She grinned at Azjah as she leaned against the counter and sipped her coffee, suppressing the shiver of delight that ran up her spine.

Azjah picked out a fine Merlot wine glass and rummaged beneath the bar for a few minutes. Azjah glanced up at Trystal, ?Oh, I don?t know.? Her gaze slid toward Lord Veighn again, ?I think there are more entertaining ways of therapeutic outlets.? Then she colored slightly, ?Sorry, I was lost in my own thoughts for a minute and did not see you there. AHA!? She pulled the dusty bottle from beneath the counter and filled the merlot wine glass with the red fluid.

?It?s not a big deal. I?ve actually been meaning to talk with you. I?m Trystal.? She offered the clawed hand toward Azjah.

Azjah returned the bottle and straightened as she heard Trysta say she?d been meaning to speak with her. ?Indeed?? She then took the offered hand, ?I?m Azjah Danaan, a pleasure to meet you Trystal.? Then she picked up a small straw, added ice to her drink and stirred the mixture together. ?Please, come join me and we can chat??

Alain was distracted from his own thoughts as he heard Azjah and Trystal talking. A business deal between the two would not be a bad thing?.

?Ahhh, I wasn?t sure how your name was pronounced. I?d read it, but couldn?t figure it out. A pleasure Miss Danaan, or do you prefer Azjah?? Trystal gave her a smile

Azjah picked up the mixture and the merlot glass and gave Trystal a smile, ?Azjah on this world is just fine. I try to dispense with the titles here, but on Rigel of course, I cannot.?

Trystal nodded and picked up her coffee and followed Azjah back toward her table.

Azjah paused to set the merlot glass in front of Lord Veighn, ?Such a fitting choice, milord.? Then she headed for her own table, quite pleased that she hadn?t broken into a smile when she set the mage?s glass before him. She curled up in her own chair and motioned for Trystal to take the one opposite her, ?So, what can I do for you Trystal??

Trystal?s senses had already told her what was in the glass and she gave a soft chuckle as Azjah paused to deliver the ?wine?. ?Well, actually, it might be what can we both do for each other. I?m told by my sources that you own a company called Drachen Walde, an import/export business??

Azjah nodded, ?Yes, DWI has been in my family a good long time, and yes, we have an import/export business of sorts. It is rather specialized.?

Lord Veighn?s voice rose, ?Why does it smell as though this vine?s grapes have been bottled with air having been allowed to get to them in fermentation?? His eyes stayed narrowed as they lighted on Azjah. Then he lifted the stem of the glass and gave a snap-fast jerk of his wrist and sent the red wine vinegar flying out of the reservoir. It soared through the air in an arc toward Azjah.

She spotted Veighn just as he released the red liquid, ?Best duck Trystal.? She reached for a napkin in expectation of the deluge about to befall them, but before the wine had a chance to alight on Azjah, a telekinetic field caught the whole mass in midair as she asked why she should duck. The arc of red wine vinegar drew the attention of several present, including Piper.

Azjah smiled, ?Well, I was trying to spare you from being in the line of fire, but I see you have your own means of self defense.?

Trystal floated a fresh wine glass off the shelf from behind the bar. It crossed the room where the floating wine deposited itself into said glass and settled on their table. ?It pays to be aware of one?s surroundings, and saving a potential business partner from a stain can only help relations.?

Azjah chuckled, ?Thank you for the defense.? She sipped the drink, having to agree that such did put Trystal in a positive light and was good business savvy.

Trystal smiled, taking another sip of her coffee and smiled, ?It was nothing, but you are quite welcome.?

Azjah settled into her chair, curling both hands around her drink, ?So, what potential business have you in mind??

Lord Veighn slid the ensorcelled dagger home, away from the sightline as his forearms moved beneath the lip of the bar. He then erected his posture and fussed about his robes, layering and draping them irritably. He was in a very foul humor.

Trystal nodded, ?Now, on to business. I am a representative of TRIAD Enterprises, and off world corporate conglomerate. We?re looking for potential markets to expand into here on Rhydin, as well as various connected realms. Though I know about the existence of Drachen Walde, and that you are its current head. I don?t actually have any information on what your company does.?

Abruptly, the most peculiar thing happened, not only did the ribbon in Blue?s hands morph into a creature, it transitioned so suddenly it was hard to follow with the eye. In place of the ribbon sad an albino, almost clear skinned desert asp, thin and long. The serpent hissed in warning, a clear challenge to any whom wished to reach for it. It then struck at the air thrice in demonstration that it meant business and should not be approached.

Rena stepped through the alley door and glanced around before actually moving toward the bar. She gave Azjah a nod and included Trystal before taking steps through the break to fix herself a mug of coffee laced with whiskey. Then she spotted Piper and gave her a wink of greeting.

Azjah returned Rena?s nod and glanced again at the mage before sipping her drink and regarding Trystal, who nodded again, ?Of course. TRIAD is a complete state, so we need to supply consumer goods to our populace, and there is always profit in R&D.?

Piper gave a slow blink, her gaze shifted to the thing striking at the air. She sucked in a sharp breath as she sat more upright, ?I hate snakes! And spiders,? she got to her feet and paced a few steps from the bar, clutching the small acorn she?d suspended from a delicate chain around her neck at the mention of dreams. She gave Rena a grateful smile, happy for the distraction, ?Hello Miss Stranger, where have you been hiding??

Rena gave a small smile, ?Home, I think it was the best place for me of late. Also been spending time with Bradley?s daughter, giving him a break of sorts.?

?R&D is the mainstay of technological societies. Do you have areas of emphasis for your R&D, or is it rather amorphous??

Trystal expounded further, ?Primary avenues are genetics, pharmacology, materials science, high-energy physics, psionics, and digital life forms.?

Azjah nodded thoughtfully, ?On Rigel, we have a very advanced biotech research facility.? She didn?t elaborate on the mineral projects she currently had ongoing both in RhyDin as well as on Pyxis Alpha.

Trystal smiled, ?I would certainly be interested in investigating any recent developments, if you?re amenable to that??

Azjah nodded, ?There are public areas and of course restricted areas, but certainly we can show you some of our past and recent releases.? When Trystal said that she would appreciate the tour, Azjah smiled and took a sip of her mixture. It would be a pleasure to show Trystal around.

Meanwhile, Thorn glared at Piper as he lifted his free hand, his throat vibrating silently. Light splinters and refracts from a fist sized spider as it scuttles down his arm. It was a crystal creation that came to rest on the back of his hand, with its front legs tapping at the air and testing for something only it understood as its mandibles waved as well.

Piper?s dark eyes narrowed menacingly at the man and his spider. Although it was beautiful, it was still a scuttling thing that gave her the creeps. She took the sign as an unvoiced threat from Thorn.

Thorn lowered the arachnid to the bar top and curled both hands around the bar?s edge as the ice-spider darted toward Lord Veighn?s asp, it?s needle tipped legs stabbing at the pale scales of the snake.

Piper dragged her gaze from the spider to look once again at Rena, ?His daughter was sick the last time I saw him. Them. In the market.? She?d slept since then, not the restful, refreshing type of sleep, but she had slept some.

Rena nodded, ?She still is? so to give Bradley a break, I spend some mornings with her.?

Lord Veighn pursed his lips noting Piper?s reaction to his asp, ?Have an aversion to snakes, Piper??

This had the predicted effect of drawing Piper?s gaze once again to the snake and the ice spider as she asked Rena how Mister Bradley was doing.

Azjah too glanced at the bar and its repertoire of noxious creatures and she could not hide a flicker of revulsion in her features.

Rena sipped her coffee, ?Keeping a stiff upper lip. A bit tired last time I saw him, but he?s hanging in there.? She gave a glance at the pair of animals on the bar top but said nothing out loud.

Piper shot Lord Veighn a sharp look, ?Only if they invade mine space.? Then she immediately wondered why she?d spoken of her likes and dislikes around Lord Veighn, and chastised herself mentally for being a foolish lass indeed.

The asp whipped around on the bar into an S shape, then recoiled itself and angled to flank as it struck at the ice spider three times in lightening fast succession, as though it were testing the spider?s defenses. Veighn watched with disinterest as he asked Piper if she would like one coming out of her coin purse. But rather than waiting for a reply, he directed his finger and as he did so, the phantasmal illusion came to life. By the hundreds, they started to hiss and slip free of the bag, striking at Piper as they slithered free and began dropping to the floor of the Inn. Their sounds were very audible, and they looked extremely tangible as they targeted Piper.

Azjah saw the phantasms and reflexively pulled both legs up into her chair, ?oh geez,? she muttered as she searched for the nearest exit that would keep her from having to deal with the creations of the mage.

Ray blushed with shame as he listened to the serving boy repeat the message, not daring to believe it might be true. He spared a quick glance toward the source of such generosity as she diligently studied the screen before her. But in his eyes she would have seen gratitude, curiosity, and hope. Then he looked at the coins that had been deposited into his blistered hands, 5 platinums, he?d never seen such a sum and stared at the pieces. Then the serving lad leaned closer to Ray to whisper, ?Maybe a bath is in order??

Ray would have approached Azjah to thank her personally, but the boy?s remark and her own luxurious clothing suggested that she must be some sort of noble, so he simply mouthed a thank you as she glanced his direction, and gave her a very awkward bow. She simply nodded and was relieved that he hadn?t actually come any closer to her.

Ray had almost lost hope, yet her act of kindness had restored it in one fell swoop. He thanked the boy as well, who offered to show hm to his quarters, and as he swung his knapsack back over his shoulder, he followed the lad up the stairs, being careful not to get too close as the boy seemed to wrinkle his nose whenever that happened.

Azjah took a sip of her drink as he headed up the stairs before heaving a sigh of relief. Then she returned to her studies as she made modifications to the data and recalculated results.

Ray was amazed at the room?s opulence. While it was simple by most standards, the queen sized bed and basic furnishings seemed to be extravagant luxuries to him. His first act was to get the hot water going in the bath and then he carefully removed the items in his knapsack. A pair of clean clothes, a few toiletries and a hand written letter from his ma were about all that were in the knapsack.

He could have remained in that bath for the rest of his life, but he felt obliged to return quickly to thank the beautiful lady who?d been kind enough to offer him the room. After a vigorous scrub, a quick brush of his teeth and hair, and his best attempt to smooth out his rumpled clothing so that he would appear somewhat more presentable, he left the room and descended the stairs.

Azjah sipped her mixed concoction thoughtfully, but caught sight of the young man now moving her way. It was inevitable she observed, and laid the device once more upon the table before her as he made his way to her table. With his hands clasped in front of himself, and hazel eyes studying her every nuance just incase she didn?t want him to bother her, he paused a couple of steps away form her chair. He knew that he was totally out of his league, but his ma had always taught him to express his gratitude for favors big and small. He slid his gaze to the floor and waited for her to acknowledge his presence, considering it impolite to speak until she did.

Azjah noted that he no longer reeked and she gave him a quick smile, ?Much improved,? she said quite simply.

?Madam, I jes? wan? ta thank ya for yer kindness.? His cheeks flamed red at her compliment.

Azjah?s pale gaze studied him, ?You must feel better now, and you are very welcome. Might I know your name??

He brought his eyes up to glance at her face, ?I do, Madame. Thank ya. Ray Dunhorm, ma?am.? But he once again dropped his eyes as he continued, ?I promise tae pay ya bac? as soon as I can.? He had absolutely no idea how he was going to earn five platinum, but he?d do so if it took five years and he had to save a copper at a time.

Azjah hoped that he would enjoy his stay at the in, but when he promised to repay her, she shook her head, ?No need for that Ray, perhaps there will come a day when I need your help, hmm?? Not that she could imagine it, but clearly the young man was in dire straights, and the platinum coins were easily spared.

Lord Veighn rose and adjusted his robed before taking a step forward, casting a sneer at Azjah as she spoke to the young indigent who?d wandered into RhyDin, and then spotted Veilos? entry and decided he?d had enough socializing and stalked out the alley exit. Veilos walked up the steps of the Inn, pausing just outside the door as he reached out with his mind to count the number of people within its walls. Satisfied with that, he continued inside and found a table set off to the side and sat down with his staff resting across his lap.

Meanwhile Ray bobbed his head, ?I?m at yer service, Madame, jes? say the wor?.? He coughed as he realized that he?d slipped into a more informal form of speech and added ?ma?am? for good measure.

Azjah studied him, he was too thin by far. He reminded her of a shy but friendly stray that just wanted to be treated kindly. ?Have you eaten Ray??

He bowed again as he began to backtrack, sensing that this lady had much more important things to do than suffer an audience with him. Her question caused him to pause in half bow, half retreat, so that he appeared to be some sort of hunchback. He was uncertain whether he was allowed to straighten, so he held the awkward position, ?No, Madam, no? since breakfast.?

Ray blinks, ?little town?? He started to laugh, assuming it was some sort of joke, but he wasn?t entirely sure. ?It?s been a ta? difficul?, bu? I think it?s growing on me.? To tell the honest truth, it was just difficult, but he didn?t want her to think that he was complaining.

The serving boy brought the soup out, it was a vegetable and beef soup along with slices of still warm French bread with butter and honey on the side, which he proceeded to lay the setting in front of Ray. Azjah smiled, ?Well, it?s not a great city, so it sounds like you are from a more rural area Ray?? The boy laid out the utensils and headed back into the kitchen.

Ray nodded as the succulent smells wafted into his nose and he had to shut his mouth to keep from salivating. He met her gaze timidly, vowing not to take a bite until her food arrived, even if waiting gave him chronic gastritis. ?I?m from Edmiston. It?s a tiny fishing She motioned to the chair opposite her own, ?I have yet to eat myself.? She noted his extreme discomfiture, but wasn?t certain how to ease it at the moment.

Ray couldn?t believe his ears. Her kindness to a stranger was one thing, but inviting him to sit with her was another entirely. He hesitated, his eyes widening noticeably, ?Madame?? Surely her gesture toward the chair had been imagined!

She lifted a pale brow at him, knowing full well the man was half starved from the looks of him, ?Unless you have other plans??

Maybe he should have lied about having eaten so she would not feel obligated to attend to him. In Edmiston, people said what they meant, and meant what they said. Perhaps city folk were different. ?No Madam, I have no other plans.?

Azjah gave him an easy smile, ?Well then, I would have someone to talk to over dinner tonight if you would take a seat.? She slid the small device back into the valise, ?Unless you are declining the offer?? Wil was otherwise occupied, and she did not think it would hurt anything to feed the lad. Having him eat with her was one sure way of knowing that he?d gotten a decent meal today.

Put that way, there was no way Ray could refuse. Not that he minded, she was undoubtedly the most beautiful, sophisticated, and elegant woman he?d ever met, not to mention the kindest. Well, not including his ma of course. He sat in the indicated chair, maintaining his best posture and folding his hands in his lap. ?It woul? be an honor to join ya, Madame.?

?Wonderful,? she told him as she motioned for the young serving lad who?d aided her earlier, then glanced at Ray, ?What would you like to eat?? There was no point in delaying dinner.

Veilos took a small drink of his water, setting it down lightly on the bar. He dropped the shield around his mind, letting it wander freely through the Inn as he sat in quiet contemplation.

Azjah shivered abruptly, giving the room a sweeping glance as her gaze landed on two potential sources for the psionic brush.

Ray had already made note that her clothes were of the finest material, and in stark contrast to his faded cotton shirt and pants. He tried again to smooth them out without drawing attention, but his stomach growled at her question. He glanced quickly at her, but since he didn?t know what was on the menu, nor what anything cost, he went with something safe, ?Jes? a soup an a bi? of brea?, if possible.? He also noted her sudden shiver, ?Do ya feel well, Madame??

She looked back at Ray, ?As long as you avoid Grail?s Stew, you?ll be fine.? She chuckled and gave the serving lad an order for breast of duck with fresh asparagus before sending him off to the kitchen with early dinner orders. Then she gave Ray a small shake of her head, ?I?m not certain, but for a moment it felt like someone?s psionic abilities were let loose.?

Her order sounded much more delicious than his. Regretting his bland choice, he nevertheless duly gave it to the server as his eyes wandered around the Inn, making connections and memorizing faces.

Azjah canted her head at him, ?So Ray, are you new ot RhyDin, or have you been here awhile??

He was lost, psionic abilities? He?d never heard of such a thing, but did not want to appear like a fool in front of her, so he simply nodded, ?Jes? arrived a few days ago, Madame. Do ya live here??

Azjah swirled the ice in her drink and smiled, ?I have a home here, and elsewhere. This is sort of a second home to me. So you?ve just arrived? What are your first impressions of our little town??

?See, Dad? See? I told you there?s a pumpkin party tonight!? Ten year old Adalia smiled up at her father as he stared up at the banner hanging over the entrance to the Inn. ?Come on!? She tugged on his hand, but when he didn?t immediately move, she let go of him and darted inside by herself.

Rena?s mug was lifted as she waited for Piper?s return as a soft sigh escaped her. The liquid had cooled, but since Piper wasn?t around she reheated it herself. The commotion at the door however brought a smile to her features as she watched Adalia bound inside.

Bradley Kaiser heaved a sigh as his daughter ran ahead. He moved after her and caught the door just before it closed, ?It doesn?t start until ten, babe, and I don?t want you out so late, especially with that cough.?

?But Dad! We can?t leave now,? she exclaimed, ?Because Miss Rena?s here! Look!? The little girl hopped excitedly as her blonde hair in braided pigtails bounced with enthusiasm. ?Hello!? She said as she bounded toward Rena before a deep, rumbling cough shook her tiny frame, but the moment it passed, a huge smile crossed her face, ?Are you here for the pumpkins too??

Adalia might have been offended if someone else had said it, but she adored Rena and mouthed a thank you before hopping out of the booth, ?Ok Miss Poper, we need to find three perfectly plump pumpkins.? A triumphant smile crossed her face and she waved at her dad. Seconds later, she had her attention on Piper once more, ?My dad doesn?t want to do one, so he?s just going to help with mine.?

Bradley grinned back at his daughter, then ducked behind the bar to find some newspaper. He carried it over to the table to help Rena spread it out, ?I?ve been teaching her about alliteration.? He was smirking to himself.

Piper cut a ?look? at Rena as she inched her way to the end of the bench seat, fighting back a laugh as she envisioned the mess they were soon to be in. ?Sounds like a grand idea.? Piper looked down at Ada as she led the way to a stack of pumpkins. ?Boys are not much in a helping way when it comes to these things. Tis why we wimmens have to stick together. So, three pumpkins we shall find.?

Ada jumped on that opening, ?That?s right!? She sounded like a women?s rights activist, with all the conviction in her voice. She giggled madly as she dragged Piper to the mound of pumpkins. ?What should we pick? Hugemongous ones, or just average? I think maybe just an average one so I can carry it back home.?

Rena gave Bradley a soft welcome as she slid out of the booth and headed towards the bar only to find Bradley with an armload of paper. She chuckled again as a bucket of tools were grabbed from somewhere to place on the back of the bench as she spread the paper out. ?She?s doing well with it, I see.?

Bradley shrugged, ?She always has. I know she?s in pain, she says her chest hurts, but I couldn?t keep her inside any longer. Once she started crying, I couldn?t help but give in. Besides, she needed this. I?m glad the both of you are here. I?m afraid I?m not much fun.?

Rena?s gaze fell on Bradley again as more paper was placed around the table, ?Yes you are, in your own way. But I?m afraid I?m going to have to leave soon, but I shall return as quickly as I can.?

Ray gulped down the mouthful of soup, dabbing at his mouth and trying not to gag as it burned its way down his throat. ?I dunno, Madame. I like ta work wit? my hands, but it?s always been a dream of mine ta teach.? He reddened, figuring there was no way he?d even be considered certified to teach here in RhyDin. He was aware of her glance and shifted uncomfortably again, heedful of the value of her time, he tried to eat more quickly and swallowed another spoonful of blistering hot soup, his eyes watering at the pain it caused, ?Any sor?. Mat?, social studies, science?.? He shrugged and wiped at his eyes as he burned his mouth on the soup once again, ?No? sure they?d have use fer me though.?

Azjah lifted a brow as he burned his mouth again on the soup, ?You can slow down, unless you enjoy par-boiling your throat,? She wasn?t sure why he was hurrying so diligently that he couldn?t possibly enjoy his meal. ?You won?t know until you talk to someone at one of the academies.?

Ray?s eyes filled with interest, and his earlier embarrassment at her correcting his table manners was rapidly receding. ?Academies??

Azjah nodded toward Rena a moment, ?Yes, we have several academies here, and I?m sure someone has need of new blood in their schools.?

Ray?s mind raced with possibilities, it was almost too good to be true. He tried to study Azjah unobtrusively in an effort to ascertain that she wasn?t actually an angel, and his innocent eyes regarded her with something akin to awe.

Azjah continued to eat her dinner, ?Well, once you get some rest, I?m sure you?ll find something you will enjoy doing Ray.? She paused then asked, ?You found the room acceptable?? She took a sip of the mixture in the snifter as she finished the duck and leaned back into her chair.

Ray nodded with a mouthful of bread, ?I hope so.? He would do whatever it took to avoid working at the docks. He ventured another look at her face, ?Madame, are you a queen, or an angel?? His eyes bore the innocence of youth, and at her question he nodded a few times, ?Oh yes, it is lovely, thank ya.?

Azjah blinked in surprise at his earnest query, and she knew she couldn?t laugh at it, he was entirely too serious. ?I am neither of those things, trust me.? She wondered what he would think if he knew what she did for a living.

Piper agreed, ?Hugemongous might be a problem. Nothing wrong with average. Average is good. I positively reek of average.? She nodded at the clever girl?s words. ?We have to be able to carry them about.? She almost giggled as well as she let the wee lass drag her toward the mounds of orange gourds, completely caught up in her innocent enthusiasm. For the moment, the chaos of her life was almost forgotten?. Almost. As the child wandered back to the table with her prize, that infectious smile finally faltered. She watched her progress intently until she reached her father and only then did Piper turn back to survey the huge mound of pumpkins. ?Bloody ?ell..? she mumbled under her breath as she grabbed the first perfectly round pumpkin her eyes fell upon and then searched among the others. Finding one with a concave side, she grinned as she wrestled that one up under another arm, balancing the two skillfully, she wobbled to and fro under the weight back to the booth, only disrupting one table along the way. The crash of glass to the floor did nothing to hinder her progress. This was serious business, pumpkin carving.

Ada laughed and covered a cough, ?this one?s for you, when I saw it, I knew it just had to be for you, it practically screamed your name.? The cough forced her to be silent then.

Rena nodded a little, ?No more looks, and we will have fun making a mess.? She gave a slight grin before telling Ada that she had to leave for the moment, but that she would return as soon as possible. Then she slid out of the booth before Piper could get comfortable.

Alain slouched his way through the alley door with his hands in his pockets. His eyes lifted toward the pumpkins. There were pumpkins everywhere and he leaned left and right to look at them, then grinned to himself as he made his way toward the bar.

Azjah hid a chuckle as Rhaine showed fangs again, ?Yes, we all do.? She then gave Alain a smile as he passed them. He waved a cigarette between two fingers at her before bringing it to his lips to light, ducking his head to protect the flame.

Rhaine nodded, ?Routine is an effective way to become?. Mediocre. Something we are totally ?not? encouraged to do.?

Azjah agreed, ?Boredom is to be avoided at all costs. Rhaine? What is the name of that Academy that Rena works for?? She remembered that Artemus was one of the founders, and hoped that Rhaine would recall the name.

Ray wondered what these two would make of his life to this point. Everyone in RhyDin seemed to live such interesting lives. His own seemed dull, routine, and mediocre by comparison. A bane to be avoided at all costs according to these two ladies.

Rhaine shrugged, ?If the name has not changed from what Arty told me initially, ?Arcanum Academy?. My information requires updates though; it hasn?t been updated for a while.?

Ray?s ears perked at the name of the Academy and he quickly committed it to memory.

Azjah spotted Sid hidden in the shadows. But Piper?s words on the gruesome guts caused her to snicker, bringing the Ancient to appear just visible in the shadows near the kitchen?s swinging door. She noted that carving night was going well, and she idly scraped short nails absently along the flesh of her forearm. Azjah turned her attention once more on Rhaine, ?That?s it, Arcanum Academy.? She turned toward Ray, ?Go there and ask for Rena. Tell her I sent you.?

Ray nodded, almost as grateful for that tip as he?d been for the room and dinner, ?Thank ya, Madame. I?ll do tha?.?

Azjah checked on the carving activities around the room, ?Some of those things are positively gruesome.? That brought a quick survey of the activity from Rhaine as well.

Ray had devoured his soup and bread, and he felt he had no longer an excuse to intrude on their time, ?Thank ya, Madame, for your kindness and generosity.? When she welcomed him to RhyDin, he rose and bade farewell to Rhaine as well, ?Madame Rhaine, goo? nigh?.? He bowed to them both, remaining there uncertainly, waiting for some sort of dismissal, but Azjah?s welcome would serve the purpose. He moved away, stopping near the pumpkins to examine them carefully. He glanced around at those who were already carving pumpkins, his mind processing what they were doing, ?If I ha? a knife??

Rhaine blinked and turned to ask Azjah, ?What in the name of Cania are they trying to achieve??

She chuckled as she caught Rhaine?s expression, ?Well, there are a plethora of tales to go along with the practice, but I believe they are trying to keep either evil spirits away, or, invite in the ghosts of their dead ancestors. I think it depends on where you hail from.?

Tass took up a lean against the wall just within the door, taking in all that was going on inside the Inn. Azjah spotted him and waved, which resulted in his sending a wink and a kiss across the room to tackle her.

Sid heard Azjah?s description and gave her a smile before turning a more narrowed look at the DreamWitch.

Rhaine watched for a while, ?Should have a proper spell on that I guess, at the moment, it looks sooooo very inert.?

Azjah gave a merry laugh, ?Well, anymore, I think it?s mostly for the children.? That elicited a shrug from Rhaine as she considered that it was probably an interesting tradition. Azjah nodded, ?Yes, it certainly is. There are such creative variations on the theme too.? Rhaine seemed to be pondering some of the more creative variations, at least that was Azjah?s guess based on her smile, which prompted her to say, ?You should give it a try Rhaine. There?s nothing like scooping pumpkin guts out of the center.?

Rhaine glanced at her then, ?Mmm, perhaps doing that to a human is more fun? Humans resist at least.?

Azjah was rarely shocked by Rhaine anymore, and she chuckled, ?Perhaps, but I don?t think there are nearly so much squishy stuff inside humans, and I know they don?t hollow out as nicely.?

Ada was chirping happily, now bouncing on the booth seat, ?Hurry up Dad! I wanna beat Miss Piper!? She gave a victorious cry as the pumpkin top was set aside. Ada pushed up her sleeves and dove right in. Girlish squeals could be heard, as well as the sticky squishing of pumpkin innards.

Blasted. Apparently Piper had quite forgotten that she actually had to sink her hands into pumpkin guts! She winced as she cut a hole in the top, she set the ?lid? aside and rolled up her sleeves. ?You might accomplish this faster than ye think, darlin?.?

Bradley sat back and watched the two females set about cleaning their pumpkins. It amused him to see Piper looking a little uneasy and Ada was playing in the ?guts? more than trying to clean them out of the pumpkin.

Piper grimaced, ?This is so?.? What was the word Ada had used? ??. Gross.? She swiped the back of her hand across her cheek, leaving a slime of orange pulp there as she delivered another handful of pumpkin guts to the table top with a ?plop?. ?Very gross.? She checked on Ada?s progress with a quick lift of her eyes, only to laugh aloud. ?You are going to end up covered from head to toe in that stuff darlin?.?

Rhaine seemed to be calculating something in her head as Azjah asked if she did hear Sid that no magic could be used on the pumpkins. She cussed silently, ?No magic on pumpkins, or on myself too??


Azjah laughed, ?No magic Rhaine.?

She shrugged, ?In that case, I can?t even touch the pumpkin.?

Azjah pointed at her pumpkin, ?You?re doing just fine.?

?No magic,? she protested.

?Keep cutting,? Azjah told her with a grin. Then she turned her own pumpkin around and sought out the right ?face? of the thing.

Rhaine shook her head, ?Which means I would be using the built-in stuff, which contradicts the ?no magic? rule.?

Azjah hid her laugh, ?I think the point is that you can?t use magic to create your jack-o-lantern.?

She shrugged, ?I?m not creating any jack-o-lantern?s. I?m merely trying to understand what?s so fun in gutting that thing.?

Piper meanwhile continued her carving, precise, eerily so as the image began taking on the visage of a local. One most likely to be spewing pumpkin guts after a night of indulgence. She set aside a chunk of the shell she?d pulled free, and her gaze sole aside to Ada?s blood speckled towel.

Thorn had not yet opened the interior of his gourd. The time limit hadn?t been spoken, yet he must assume that it was expected to be finished in the same evening. Not, then, time to do a proper, full carving of the form. The earlier conversation with Sid had given him the pattern, and deft curves of a stiff-bladed razor started to form the pattern on the pumpkin. Just before the half-mark, a deeper edging in to create a bulbous front of peeled, pale orange flesh, he worked a cross hatch pattern to accentuate the transition from peeled to unpeeled. He was taking this carving very seriously.

Azjah began scooping the guts of her pumpkin out and the slimy things yielded in messy stringers. It was a ritual she did once a year on two pumpkins, but every year she shivered from the slimy goop. She glanced at Rhaine. ?Well, it?s not so much the fun of tearing the guts out as much as it is in seeing the final creation all lit from within by flickering candles.?

Piper chimed up about then, ?We will need candles.?

Rhaine took the spoon, frowned, and bit her lip as she used the blue metal stripe on the end of the knife to sharpen one edge of the spoon. ?No magic? Fine. No magic.? While there?s basic technology, she used a sharpened spoon to carve and coop out these ?guts? with seeds.

Azjah laughed, ?Basic technology is fine.? She was enjoying watching her friend tackle the project.

Rhaine?s expression was utterly priceless as she reached in to pull out the seeds and stringers, ?Does one HAVE to like the squishiness??

Azjah laughed, ?Not actually Rhaine, it is simply part of the ritual of preparation.?

Ray smiled happily as the face of his ma stared back at him from the pumpkin he?d carved. Cheesy perhaps, but it turned out to be a decent cure for his homesickness. He gave the pumpkin an affectionate pat and went to retrieve a candle.

Ada was content to ignore the signs of her impending death, but when her father left the table, she glanced at the towel. Trying to be inconspicuous, she pushed it over and away so that the blood wasn?t showing any longer. There were no sounds coming from the table except the scraping of the knives in the pumpkin flesh. After several long, silent moments, Ada cleared her throat, ?It makes my Daddy sad.?

Piper leaned closer to Ada as she worked feverishly on her carving, ?Being sad is good. It allows us to accept what we cannot change. It?s when you don?t accept the inevitable, that is what can lead to trouble. We are all going to die someday. Some sooner than others. Some before they should. Some that linger on long after they should be dust. Life is not fair. But, we are never promised a cherry life, are we?? She glanced upward and chose her next words carefully, ?And what about you? Are you sad??

Ada had fallen silent, so very grateful that Piper was talking to her like an adult and not babying her. She'd had to deal with things most adults couldn't fathom. Adalia was so much older than her ten years. "I'm sad to leave people behind, but I'm very tired." It was stated so matter-of-factly that there could be no arguing. "It hurts and I'm just......tired. But when I die, I get to see my mom again! She's waiting for me. So I guess I'm not all that sad."

Piper gave Ada a warm smile, ?Don?t forget the candle.? She glanced at Bradley with a wink. ?You two have a grand evening. Thank you for letting me be a part of the fun.?

Ada grinned, ?Yeah, it was fun. Thanks for doing thisd with me, Miss Piper. Maybe you can come over next time with Miss Rena when she visits me. Sometimes I?m too tired to get out of bed, and she comes over to play games. You should come too.? Oh, the wiles and tricks of dying little girls. Who could deny her? Ada bounced out of the booth as her father exited, then darted over to the bar.

Bradley remained behind to scoop up the pumpkin, ?Piper,? he said quietly, but then what? He didn?t know what to say to her. Standing there with a pumpkin in his arms, he looked unsure. Finally he said, ?Thanks. You made her night very special.?

Piper laughed as Ada darted off, ?It will be mine privilege to visit you. Thank you.? Then she drew a deep breath before glancing quickly out the window and blinking rapidly.

Ada clambered up onto a stool and waved at a man carrying around the toasted pumpkin seeds. After charming him with her little, ten year old smile, he handed her a little bag of the seeds. She waved the seeds at her dad, telling him to hurry over. ?Oh! Miss! Siiiiiiiid!? She was an observant little dear, and had picked up Sid?s name by overhearing someone else earlier in the evening.

Thorn shifted his attention, and the focus of glaring, dilated pupils toward the thick lines of vertical flesh, three on each side of the section he?d last worked on, he shaped them, one by one, into contoured segments of three sections each. Each section overlapped each of the ?pillars?. Tool after tool is lifted, used, and set neatly aside again. His inhumanly flexible fingers worked untiringly. He turned at last to the shaping of the central section, below the upper part of the wedge and overlapping, slightly, the lower, almost heart shaped section. He again separated it into three pillars to either side. Two are treated as the pillars were shapped into overlapping, if now, inward slanting ?armored? sections. The third part of each, at the bottom and innermost end is carved into a reversed drop.

Rhaine finished her pumpkin and looked at it critically, and based on her expression, she was disappointed with what she saw. ?I guess the ritual didn?t work for me.?

Azjah lifts a pale brow at her, ?Put a candle in it Rhaine, it should be stunning.?

Rhaine used the metal stripe on the knife hilt to dull the spoon once more and secreted away the knife itself into her sleeve. ?Perhaps,? she agreed, but her tone conveyed her doubt. She sighed, ?Ok, no magic.? She got up and headed to get a candle.

Azjah finished up the last touches on her own jack-o-lantern before getting up and heading for the container of candles on the bar. She laughed as she offered Rhaine a choice of candles.

Bradley would have hugged her, but with the pumpkin being in the way, he simply smiled and nodded before making his way toward his daughter and setting the pumpkin on the bar next to her. He picked out a candle and some matches as he lit the candle and put the lid back on top.

The air was now filled with the spiciness of roasting pumpkin seeds and the scent of baking muffins as Sid turned to smile at Ada, ?Aye lass?? She crouched down to Ada?s level and smiled brightly as her hand steadied on the display table.

Ada beamed a smile that lit her face as Sid took notice, ?I don?t wanna leave my pumpkin here because I wanna take it home. But I wanted you to see it, because no other ten year old could make one as good as mine. It?s a cat, see?? She pointed, ?It?s smiling! And I know I can?t win, but you should pick Miss Piper?s. Her?s is wicked!?

Piper was anchored to her booth bench, she dared not move yet as she wrestled back warring emotions. Instead she watched the others idly as she sat among a table piled high with pumpkin gore and one nasty looking carved pumpkin head of an ancient man with really bad teeth.

Sid?s fingertips brushed lightly along Ada?s jaw, and what passes at the Ancient?s heart leapt with brilliant fire, causing the whispers in the darkness of her mindscape to wail and then fade with a shriek as Sid beamed at Ada. ?I be thinkin? yers be the best so far, an? certainly for ten year ol? nae a one can be doin? better, lass. Tell me, ifn? ye be ?avin? the way to make anythin? ye wan? come true, wha? be strongest wish?? She arched a silvered brow as she looked the girl over intently.

Ada blinked at Sid, wondering if she was serious, she didn?t need even a moment before leaning in to whisper to the woman, ?I want my dad to get married to Miss Rena before I die. That way he?s not sad.? She pulled back, the expression on her face was completely serious and serene.

Sid leaned toward Ada, ?An? do ye nae think tha? ye nae dyin? be makin? him happier?? Her arms opened for the little miss, ?May I be givin? ye a hug an? kiss li?l one??

?It?s my time,? once again, so matter of factly stated. Ada grinned and launched in to hug Sid. Yup, she?d made a new friend.

Sid wrapped the little girl into a warm embrace, the air about the Ancient and Ada rippled with a violet shaded shimmer and soft lips brushed a kiss to a tender cheek as words whisper warm against her skin, ?I be seein? wha? I can be doin? about Rena an? ye father. Ye be well an? safe, li?l one, an? sometimes, one?s time may nae be up as one thinks. Jus? hold hope.?

Rhaine muttered, ?And probably no flash llights, and no emergency chemical lights, and?? ? She took one thick candle, ?Oh, and no magic to light it?? She truly was vexed about not using magic for her jack-o-lantern.

Azjah picked up a short, thick candle and chuckled as she listened to Rhaine grouse, ?I would love to see what you would create if you were allowed to use magic!? Azjah headed back to her carving and inserted the candle into the center as Rhaine agreed that she would create something more correctly creepy and formed to fit the image. Azjah laughed merrily, ?Well, we have plenty of time yet.? She wondered if she could get Rhaine to join the spirit of things and create one using magic.

Rhaine placed the candle inside and used several toothpicks to make sure that it remained vertical, ?Plenty of time until what??

Azjah lit her candle and placed the top of the pumpkin back into place, ?Until Samhain.? She stood back to study both creations. ?Very nice Rhaine, you are a natural!?

Rhaine used a small lighter in the knife hilt to light the candle and re-close the top, looking at her creation, ?Calculated mosaic of styles? Chilians would have spat on that.?

Azjah considered that a moment, she?d met the Chilians and their refined senses, so she refrained from disagreeing with Rhaine on that point.

Rhaine no longer looked at her pumpkin, but studied Azjah?s creation, ?Looks like you enjoyed making it.?

Azjah chuckled, ?Oh, I did Rhaine. It?s a ritual I usually partake in.? Rhaine?s slightly lost smile gave Azjah pause, ?Something wrong??

Rhaine shook her head, ?I?m just thinking that rituals are useless when they?re just on the outside. When there?s no memory, tradition or association to back them from the inside.? She gave a fanged smile, ?So it couldn?t work for me.?

Azjah nodded, ?Yes, but the seeds of dark times remain in these rituals Rhaine.? She wasn?t going to go into some of the darker aspects of this festival. She picked up her pumpkin and headed for the table Sid had pointed out earlier for the collection of carvings.

Rhaine gave a slight grin as she took the hollow and carved pumpkin in her arms, ?Any time is a dark time.? Then delivered her creation to the table Sid had assigned.

Azjah grinned, ?Well, jack-o-lanterns delivered, what mischief shall we cause tonight Rhaine??

Azjah had stopped by Tea?s N Tomes for her ?clairs before stepping into the Inn. She took her most recent book along with her intending to do a bit of reading before returning to the Palazzo. She found an empty table with a comfortable chair and settled onto is as Zara greeted her with a wave.

Mesteno came in as soft footed as a cat, and eyes as sharp as a hawk?s gaze as he gave a quick look at each patron before making his way amongst the table and chairs, ?Evening folks,?

Azjah glanced up, his was a voice she had not heard before, and he arced a wave her direction as he turned whiskey golden eyes on Zara, ?Salve? he told her, using the nearly extinct Latin, then he requested a glass of Grand Marnier.

Zara said nothing to him as she set about fixing Azjah?s Dalwhinnie and delivering it to her table, only then did she set about pouring the Grand Marnier for Mesteno.

Azjah took a sip of the scotch and opened her book, focusing intently on the words before her. Cih is a startling place, and her brow rose as she studied the statistics on the star. Variable up to 5% of magnitude, and she wondered how civilization survived that kind of variability. She curled up and got more comfortable in the chair as she read, missing the comings and goings of several patrons until Alain DeMuer walked through the alley door. He scanned the common room as his hand rested just inside his coat, and Azjah knew the signs too well, they rested on the grip of a weapon and that pulled her attention away from her book. Alain?s moment of hesitation passed and he relaxed by degrees as a crooked little grin took the place of his flatline expression as he made his way toward the bar.

Azjah smiled, ?Good evening, Mr. DeMuer.? She would not ask him here what that was all about.

Alain nodded toward Michael and smiled hearing Azjah as he made his way her direction, ?Azjah, always good to see you.? He straightened his tie a little as he appeared dress-casual but reasonably relaxed for a young business man.

Azjah smiled, ?I was thinking the same thing about you Alain. You look like business is agreeing with you.?

?Completely!? he agreed, then added, ?I?m just passing through though, unfortunately. Mind if I sit, and have a smoke?? He leaned slightly toward her table as he asked.

She smiled and put a marker in her book, ?Please do. And your mining colony, are they still prospering?? Azjah swirled the scotch thoughtfully.

Alain took a seat by her and plucked a small cigar from his pocket, offering one to Azjah, which she politely declined. He grinned a bit at her query, ?They seem to like what I?ve done with the place, they?ve named me ?Lord-Protector and founded a fishing village nearby. Really makes shipping easier.? He crossed his legs and lit his cigar, enjoying it for several long moments.

Azjah curled her hands around the scotch glass, she was glad to hear things were going well, but as Alain had warned, he was simply passing through and before he could finish his cigar, he rose and departed as swiftly as he?d arrived. With Alain?s departure, she reached once more for her book.

Electricity hissed through the damp of the porch as Thorn stepped from warm bronze onto dingy wood. He stalked past the door, his gold-shot green gaze slashing across the common room as his pupils contracted into bare slivers. Emerald flickered through sanguine strands from his neck to his ankles as they swayed, tips flicking above the floor with the fading memory of motion. Then from stillness into motion once more in an abrupt transition, he made his way to an empty table near the front windows.

Azjah lifted a pale brow at her book, but the timing was contemporaneous with Thorn?s arrival.

Thorn?s gaze fixed sharply on Zara as a green blue parted the air. The faint hiss of ozone scented the air, and the table he had chosen gained a new accoutrement, a backless chair of heavy bronze that was cushioned in black leather. An infrasonic throb pulsed in the base of his throat, the blur slowing into a hummingbird that lit upon the bare skin of his shoulder. When Zara did not continue to look his direction, he deigned to seat himself, blood-black pooling on the floor behind him. His fingers laced together on the table as he leans upon it.

Azjah slide a pale blue gaze toward Thorn. She had first seen him at the pumpkin carving evening, and had been impressed with the creativity and talent, but the demeanor of the man clearly told everyone to steer clear, he had no desire for company or discourse based on the few times she had ever seen him. She took a sip of her scotch and returned to her book.

Thorn?s throat vibrated, scattering the scale of infra and ultrasonics without touching the human audible range. Razor wire and velvet, a ripple traveled his spine from the curve of his neck to the anchor of his hips, transmuting into hair to be muffled against the floor. Lifting his hands, he created room for heat to ripple beneath them, leaving behind a pristinely white linen cloth, and a roll of fine jeweler?s tools. He rolled an unfinished ring between sensitive fingertips as he selected a tiny file.

Azjah sipped her scotch and as she tried to refocus on her book, the appearance of the white linen cloth drew her attention once again to Thorn. She laid the book down to watch him as he selected the tiny file.

Thorn?s pupils flashed wide, goldsheen black drowning out the green and remained that way. He turned those gleaming eyes toward Azjah. The hummingbird remained far too still upon his shoulder to be an ordinary hummingbird, it sat upon Thorn?s golden skin watching her in return. Thorn then cast his gaze back to his work, and with the lightest of touches, he shaved dust from the red gold, working with utterly exacting and methodical concentration. The procedure was not, by any means, rapid enough for change to be noticed in the ring as it turned between his hands. This was precision hand work unlike anything Azjah had ever seen.

Azjah stopped in her tracks as he redirected his glare at her, ?It is more durable, but a fine stone requires much closer inspection en cabochon to bring out its characteristics.? She wondered precisely what kind of tool these rings were, but decided now was not the time to inquire.

?If the Rings were intended as jewelry, your surmise would be accurate. The quality of the stone, however, is a requirement that does not include visual appeal. You are, indeed, bound within the spectrum of the visual pursuit if that is your requirement for a flawless stone to hold value.?

Azjah decided to let him believe that she had no understanding of his meaning, ?My personal favorites are sapphires, and I confess a predilection for stunning visuals.? She gave him a disarming smile, ?So you don?t mind the blandness of the cabochon for a particularly fine gem??

?If the gem requires a faceted cut, I give it such. If it does not, I do not. Corundum is, indeed, a fine material to work with, particularly given its wide array of visual shades. I have found that different colors suit themselves to different pursuits. I do not, however, produce the fruits of my work to be worn as ornaments.? The razor wire slash of his voice is cut off sharply as he lifts the ring he had been working on and another miniscule file, to resume his work. It was in short a dismissal.

Azjah glanced up as Eless rushed up the stairs and into the Inn, then back at Thorn, ?Do you make use of many gems, or only specific ones??

Thorn pointedly ceased working on his ring again, ?II suit the gem to the particular project I am working on.? He locked his glare on Azjah again since she now required a more detailed explanation, he tapped one of the rings on his hand, it was yellow gold set with a dark blue moonstone cabochon. In this case, the moonstone would not look better as a faceted cut, which did not elude Azjah, moonstones, star sapphires, opals were all better as cabochon. An emerald blue flashed from beneath his hair, alighting on the tapping finger, ?Fulsi?.

Azjah studied the moonstone, ?No, not all look better faceted, the asterism of some gems is better shown en cabochon, but I am intruding, my apologies.?

Again came the shattered throb of infrasonic pulses from his throat, his neck curved to the side in a bonelessly flexible sway that slide down his spine, flicking the hair draping below to coil on the floor behind him, ?That is so.? His hands were still, and he continued to glare at Azjah in an unblinking stare. The inner membranes had also not retracted from his eyes as he regarded her.

Azjah offered her right hand then, ?I will leave you in peace; I hope you will forgive my intrusion.?

Thorn?s eyes narrowed as they fixed on the offered hand before he finally accepted it. He did not shake her hand, or kiss it, but simply clasped her hand. Electricity hissed between skin, keeping them from ever quite touching, but it did not actively feed into her flesh. He released the hand, lifted his file and resumed his work.

Azjah was clearly startled by the electrical sizzle that didn?t quite hurt, but was surprising none the less, ?My name here in RhyDin is Azjah.? She noted his return to work and took a couple of steps back, preparing to return to her own table when he once more snapped his glare up to lock onto her, his body going lizard-still, ?I am Thorn, of the line Kelesis, of the line Torqueo, of the Tavn Zhaeru of Juul Tayn.? It was a more complete name than he had yet given in RhyDin to anyone. Perhaps he regarded the female as a peer, in a way, one would probably never know for certain.

Azjah paused and gave him a warm smile, ?It has been a pleasure to meet you, Thorn of the line of Kelesis, of the line Torqueo of the Tavn Zhaeru of Juul Tavn. I bid you good evening.? Decades of practice had allowed her to remember his name as he had given it, despite the length and complexity.

?Hunt well, Azjah.? It was a curt dismissal and the file he held once more brushed gold and a few more flecks of red gold dust fell onto the linen.

Azjah returned to her own table pondering the meaning of ?hunt well?, but she picked up her book once more and buried herself in the statistics of Cih.

A few more flakes of gold fell, the barest dusting of crimson on the cloth before he cleaned his tools with meticulous care and re-stored each to its own place in the tool roll. Heat rippled and the roll is removed. The ring itself slid into a barely visible pocket of his leather pants, and he wiped his hands clean with the linen before folding it up. Rising, he stalked away from the table in an avalanche of smooth motion toward the hearth to cast the cloth within. Again, heat rippled and this time the bronze chair vanished.

Azjah finished her scotch and made her way toward the door as Eless bade her a good night and safe travels.

Only when the last wisp of cloth was gone, and the gold tainted beyond retrieval did Thorn whirl to stalk toward the door. A last lingering glare slid over Gem and Mesteno, but he didn?t follow it with his flesh. Before he reached his goal, electricity hissed across golden skin and he stepped from the battered wood into the warm glow of polished bronze.

Eless blinked as she watched Thorn leave in a huff, ?What is bothering him??

Mesteno watched Thorn curiously...or more accurately his head was tilted to watch certain things.

Electricity hisses in the damp air on the porch as Thorn stepped from the warm glow of polished bronze onto festering wood without pause, already reaching for the door?s handle. Emerald danced in blood-black as he stalked toward the bar, his hair a slithering cloak that didn?t quite brush the floorboards behind him as he strode through the room. Gold-shot green flicked and darted from one figure to another, but only Travanix received a truncated acknowledgement of a nod. His pupils snapped to slivers and the inner membranes slid shut as he attained the bar.

Azjah had a shiver slither down her spine at Travanix?s words, and it was then that she caught sight of Thorn. The man was very much an enigma, and she watched him briefly. There was no immediate sign of the hummingbird he?d had at his shoulder on their last meeting.

Thorn did not glance back after the departing slaver. Business was satisfactory. Emerald stills, clinging to the underside of sanguine strands, as he whirled behind the barrier to lean against the back counter at the bar, lizard still where he stood. Multihued gold and stone glowed dully, his arms folded across his chest. His pupils flared wide, drowning out all but a rim of green before they contracted once more.

Azjah gave Thorn a nod as she leaned back into her chair to consider.

Thorn?s throat vibrated, it was a splinteringly crystalline, satin infrasonic pulse as he locked his glare on Azjah. His inner lids flickered open and shut again, translucent enough to do no more than soften the spangle of gold in green slightly. His neck curved, a ripple that travelled down his spine to be deadened by the counter?s bite at his buttocks.

Azjah had not forgotten their previous meeting, ?How goes the work on the ring, if I may inquire?? The last time they had met, he had seemed annoyed by her presence and questions, yet he had maintained a modicum of conversation.

Thorn seemed almost frozen for the beat of a heart before his lips curled to reveal the glint of perfectly normal teeth. His voice shattered up the range to reach human audible detection before forming into words, ?Satisfactory. I will select the stone within the year.?

Azjah nodded with a hint of a smile, ?Your craft is taken with a great deal of seriousness.? She sipped the scotch after that. She still could not figure out whether the hostility in his expression was there by design, or just part of what he was.

Thorn turned his oddly colored gaze on her, ?That is a necessity.? He did not add that since those bound by the rings generally did not appreciate it, and without excusing himself, he touched a band of red gold. His throat vibrated without a sound as the air around him clouded before solidifying into an enclosing shroud of palest lavender-blue flame. Within his shell, his outer, opaque lid snapped shut.

Azjah lifted a brow at the abrupt appearance of the lavender blue flames. He was most assuredly an odd individual.

Gemethyst smiled wider upon seeing those of her friends at the hearth, she headed toward the bar with a cheery wave to Mesteno and Azahr. She gave Azjah a nod as she passed, and Azjah noted that Thorn got precisely nothing. Apparently Thorn was not someone she wanted any involvement with in any way. Azjah returned the nod and curled up comfortably as she powered up the micro computer, touched a couple of keys and nibbled her lower lip as she read. Then she touched the device again, drawing up a new screen and data.

Thorn?s lids flicked open and the enshrouding veil of flame winked out of visibility at the throb of another ultrasonic pulse. His head flicked around, his glare locking on the departing view of Gemethyst before he spilled into abrupt motion. Sanguine hair rippled from his head to his ankles as he stalked from behind the bar, stopping at a table against the wall. Another pulse removed the wooden chair, heat rippling across the backless seat of bronze and leather that replaced it. He sat, his hair pooling on the floor behind him.

Amber arrived and gave everyone a wave, ?Can I get you something from the bar? Anyone want a drink??

Azjah was busily making notes before entering a new series of figures as Gemethyst nodded her direction, ?She may like something though, we at the hearth are good.?

Amber glanced at Azjah, just to see if a drink order was coming, and Azjah glanced up hearing her name, ?Good evening, Dalwhinnie, neat if you please.?

Amber looked along the row of bottles and then found it, pouring a glass without ice for Azjah, ?Please enjoy,? she said as she set the glass down before her. Azjah nodded and slid a platinum coin across the table, ?Thank you.?

Amber gave Azjah a big smile seeing the platinum coin and slid it into the till, then glanced at the patrons, ?You folks chilly? I can get some more firewood for the hearth if you like.?

Azjah slid a pale glance at Amber, ?A bit more would be welcome.? It was cold outside, and the warmth of the fire always helped Azjah relax. She slid a glance Thorn?s direction, before once again studying the readout.

Amber ran to the back doorway and toted a huge crate loaded with firewood, which was much taller than she is, over to the hearth area and ?Clunk!? slid the wood into the bin. ?I will add some into the fire, so we don?t get drinks froze up,? she joked.

Azjah blinked at the bin and volume of firewood, ?I do not believe anyone shall be chilled this night.? She laid the device down and wrapped both hands around the glass of scotch.

Thorn?s eyes flicked toward Azjah and his glare locked on her again momentarily before snicking to the hearth. His throat vibrated without a sound. He was dissatisfied with the inactivity of the Inn. He stroked a slender fingertip across gold. Dust shimmered in the Inn?s light, leaving behind a heavy book. The leather binding may be cracked and flaking, but the sheets of flexibly thin bronze that made up the pages within remained in readable condition. Thorn lifted the cover back, he bit the edge of the table between supple fingers and began to read.

Azjah remained at her table with her legs curled beneath her as that unique glare once more locked with her curious glance. The book that appeared at his fingertips was something new, and her curiosity rose. She straightened in her chair briefly as she made note of the apparent antiquity of the tome he was now engaged in reading. Her curiosity being what it was, she unfolded her legs from the chair and rose, making her way toward where Thorn now sat. She took her glass of scotch along, both hands curled around it as she paused near Thorn?s table.

Meanwhile the ferret was still seeking food and skittering out of control toward ankles, and suddenly thwapped right into those ankles, and nearly ended up wrapped around them with his long body twisted and his head going one way, his tail going the other. Wait. Ankles. They mean legs. Legs mean up. YES! And up he scrambled. Amber was shocked and swiped at the ferret, ?Get it offa me!! Eeeeek!? The short, stumpy red and white stockinged dwarven legs danced wildly to get the ferret off of her. Azjah shuddered as she watched the ferret cling tenaciously to Amber?s legs.

Azjah glanced at Thorn, ?I believe that ferret is going to cause havoc yet.? But before she could respond to Thorn?s clear annoyance, Maranya said ?Careful, if that ferret gets in your cleavage, it?s lost forever, Gem.? Her lips twitched fiercely with mischief.

Azjah nearly choked hearing Maranya, but forced her gaze back to Thorn, ?So it sounds rather like a journal. Is it from a well known author?? She chose to ignore the slamming shut of the tome.

Thorn?s neck rippled, a fluidity of motion that translated into the sway of hair from his neck to the puddle of blood-black pooled on the floor behind him, his glare snapping back to Azjah sharply, ?No, the section I am currently reviewing is by Kelesis, of the line Torqueo.?

Azjah?s brow rose slightly, ?A forebearer?? She glanced again with interest at the book, hoping for another look at the bronze sheets.

?Correct. Do you have any further sources of curiosity you desire to satisfy? I may require reimbursement for further information.? The curl of his lips revealed the sheen of perfectly normal teeth, one supple hand resting gently atop the book.

Azjah canted her head with a smile, ?I find curiosity is one of my weaknesses. What form of reimbursement would you require? Or shall I simply leave you in peace?? Thorn remained an enigma that she could not fathom. Was he really as put out by her talking to him, or was it just part of his mannerisms and not an indicator of his desire to be left alone?

?That is your choice. For each answer, I require a square inch of skin. I will permit you to select the area it is to be removed from. Your other option is to pay with a sip of my drink.? His spine remained fluidly erect, he touched gold again, and again it is dust that shimmers, leaving behind a bulbous flute. It might have been a wine glass, were the top not fully enclosed and only pierced by a thin crystal tube. He lifted it and tongued the sealing valve open and sipped. The gold of the contents paled at his sip.

Azjah?s brow rose fractionally at his price. ?I cannot imagine that you have many takers for such a price as you place upon answers.? She lifted her chin slightly, ?and your drink is??

?Zhaeru wine.? He lowered the goblet to the table, his slender fingers loosely caging the stem. The paling of the gold did not decrease the volume of the swirling ripple of the contents ? it simply lightened it. ?Answers are an expensive commodity. I have required life for their grant. Skin is a small price.?

Azjah made note of the unchanging volume of the goblet and only a lessening of the chroma before turning her attention back to Thorn, ?I am almost, but not quite, afraid to ask, what do you do with skin?? Her pale blue eyes going to the goblet once more. She was puzzling the payments, flesh verses drinking the strange golden fluid that did not lessen in volume, but only in color.

?The price is not in the skin, but in the taking of it. I have no use for your skin, in and of itself.? Thorn?s glare lanced toward Amber, who?d misunderstood when he?d said Zhaeru wine, thinking Thorn had finally requested a drink from her. But Thorn hadn?t spoken to Amber, and for that matter, Zhaeru wine wasn?t something to be found on any shelf, it was usually found inside Zhaeru. But none of these things did he speak aloud.

His answer brought both of Azjah?s brows upward in clear surprise, the implications were clear, the pain of the taking of skin was his price. She recovered somewhat and inclined her head slightly to Thorn, ?The contents of that goblet must have serious repercussions for anyone other than yourself.? It was no query, but a statement based on her observations of his responses to her questions.

Thorn?s eyes were still locked with Azjah?s, ?Zhaeru wine is not, if taken in small quantities, fatal to non-Zhaeru. It is not poisonous. It will not harm your body, in and of itself.? He placed the goblet on the table between them, his fingertips stroking the decayed binding of the bronze sheaved book lightly. He waited.

Azjah set her scotch glass onto the table as she considered the goblet. ?Not toxic in small quantities you say?? She reached for the odd goblet, still pondering how taking a sip of the liquid could compare to the taking of flesh.

?It is not toxic, if you mean poisonous, at all. Ask your question. I will determine if there is a price, before I grant an answer.? Thorn continued to gently stroke the book beneath his hand.

Azjah flashed him a smile as she remembered their last discussion about faceted gems, ?My question is multi-faceted. Part 1, why do you study it with such intensity? What are you seeking to discover?? Part 2, are most of your books created on bronze, and Part 3, may I make an etching of a page?? She already knew there would be a price penalty for at least one of the three questions, but that was part of learning about Thorn.

Thorn spoke again in that razorwire voice, ?You may have the answer to your first two questions, for the price of flesh, or a sip. You may then determine if the second two questions are worth the cost.? The firebird turned scarlet beads on Azjah before returning to it?s watch over the rest of the commons. Emerald flashed upward from beneath his hair, to leave the hummingbird perched on the back of his hand, as still as a jade figurine.

Azjah took a shaky breath and swallowed some of the scotch, ?You require a high price for your answers Thorn of the line of Kelesis, of the line Torqueo.? She had learned something very important about Thorn. He fed on pain, or the energies of pain. She made a concerted effort to relax, unclenching muscles that had cramped in agony and she found that almost everything hurt.

?Information is the blood of survival Azjah. Choose. If you want your answers. Flesh, or the wine.? Ice hissed, steaming in the warmer air and left behind it a delicately graceful blade, the thin, flat of a razor made for skinning. He did not touch the blade.

Azjah took several deep breaths to consider the answer to her first question as Eless unwrapped herself from her cape and spoke softly to her. Azjah glanced up, a mirror of the pain she?d endured lingered in her eyes as Eless asked if there was something amiss. Azjah forced a smile onto her features, and glanced between Eless and the goblet that sat near Thorn, ?The effects were unexpected, and rather unpleasant, but they have passed, thank you for asking.? Her forced smile grew slightly.

Eless nodded, but the concern remained in her features, ?I am here if thou dost need me, Azjah. Please excuse my interruptions.? She gave Thorn a polite nod.

?It was no interruption Eless, thank you.? Azjah realized that she could not take a second sip of the wine in the confines of the Inn. If she could endure another sip, it would have to be where her friends could not see the effects.

Goldshot green eyes slashed to fix his glare on Elessaria, his throat pulsing with an infrasonic thrum before his regard fixed once more on Azjah, dismissing Eless.

Azjah held Thorn?s glare, ?I believe I would amend my questions for such a price.?

?You may propose the questions you desire answers to. I will determine whether I will grant answers to your propositions.? His other hand settled atop the book, nesting with the first and centering the colored glow of multihued gold and stones to the binding.

Azjah nodded, ?Amend question three to may I have a copy of the text.?

Thorn showed no surprise, ?You wish to know if you may have a copy, rather than an etching.? His pupils finally contracted again and his spine rippled fluidly, translating into the sway of hair pooled on the floor behind him. ?You may have the answers to those two questions for the established price. Choose.?

Azjah lifted her chin slightly, ?The price is high, but I choose another venue, there is no point in repeating the experience in such a public place.?

?You add the cost of inconvenience and a corresponding burden of value. If you require another location, it must meet with my own satisfaction, and doubles the price.? He surged upward, a slash of golden skin and ankle length hair, to brace a modicum of his weight on the book?s cover and lean ever so slightly. Blood-black spills, a silken veil falling across the bronze and leather of his chair.

Azjah rose after Thorn, ?The Glen, or the Isle, either one meets my approval.? She paused to retrieve her valise and the small device she had been studying earlier, giving a quick nod to Eless and Antonio. Antonio waves, and Eless gave her a worried smile.

?I do not frequent these locations.? His head turned toward the bird on his shoulder slightly, as the other flickered back beneath his hair, a lance of emerald dancing among the darker strands and the warmer shades of the firebird?s tail. His throat pulses, dancing up and down a scale that never once touches the human audible range. Shattered crystal and warm velvet. The bird crackles softly, dropping from his shoulder and vanished within a wingbeat. A few moments later, it was back. ?Glen? was all Thorn said.

Azjah made her way toward the porch, through the door and into the darkness. Maranya?s worried gaze followed Azjah?s departure.

Thorn lifted his hands from the book, and both the tome and the chair vanished in a shimmer of dark dust. Whirling sharply, he stalked in the female?s wake, hair hissing and snapping at the abrupt transition from stillness into gliding motion. The glass balances lightly in his fingertips, and he passes her without slowing. The scarlet and gold bird in escort for him move toward the Glen.

Azjah walked toward the Glen, remembering all too well the first taste of what was to come. She paused on the top of a slight knoll, looking in all directions before once more studying Thorn. ?You claim a steep price for your answers Thorn of the line of Kelesis, of the line Torqueo. My questions have to be just as steep.? For the pain she would suffer, she wanted a copy of the tome.

Dead grass and the clinging crust of snow slash against leather as he prowled off the road, fluid and swift in motion. Abrupt stillness is achieved a she acquires the height she?d chosen. The glass dangled from fingertips against the skin of his upper arm, from limbs crossed over his chest. The wind plays with his hair, wrapping it around him, but even in this cold, he remains shirtless. ?I have asked greater prices of others. I do not consider the price unreasonable. As your request stands, you wish the answers to these two questions, if most of my books are made from bronze and if you may have a copy of that which I was studying.?

Azjah gingerly focused on relaxing from the cramped and contorted position, uncertain if she could move right at this moment. His warning playing in her mind as she managed a negative shake of her head. ?Never flesh?. She glanced around and finally spotted the odd creature, blinking as she focused on the red hide and jaws. She slowly pushed herself into a sitting position, she did not know if the creature was well trained or not, and those jaws looked quite deadly. ?You said no, this was too high a price for that response.? She took a couple more deep breaths before making the effort to stand once more.

?That is your choice, Azjah.? He stepped back and the hummingbird dove into his hair again, to cling between strands and skin. No trace of Caleo?s firebird form remained, other than the color, scarlet hide, mane, and tail with golden eyes. The ri watches Azjah indifferently but makes no other move and Azjah wondered if it was possible for the bird to become such a creature. ?You asked for the answer. The question was your choice. You did not ask for the object.?

Azjah moved very slowly, brushing off the snow, she drew herself to her full height slowly before looking up at Thorn. ?I shall word my questions more carefully in future.?

?That, Azjah, was the knowledge worth your pain.? He crossed to the riding beast, tangling his fingers in its mane, slinging himself astride without saddle or bridle as fluidly as any arboreal serpent ascending a branch. His hand extended down to Azjah, his glare fixed upon her again with his usual reserve, the pleasure of her pain contained without any external signs. ?You may ride behind me. Your muscles will be sore, and the cold will do them no good.?

Azjah gave the beast a dubious look before taking the offered hand, landing lightly, though with a wince. It was very like hopping astride one of her own horses and she gave a wry laugh at the twinge and complaint of her muscles, ?One would think I did not ride? she observed quietly. Thorn?s words played in her mind for the brief ride back to the Inn. While the creature was like horses in rough appearance, a closer study revealed stark disparities. This creature had a spine as flexible as that of a weasel, a limber neck, and a head more akin to the wedge of a cat than the longer block of a horse. The hair was more like a feline as well, smooth and soft. It took a bit of practice to get used to the motion, which was more sinuous than a horses, but Thorn moved with a fluidity of long familiarity.

Thorn?s throat vibrated and he barely waited for Azjah to be settled before Caleo snaked around and slipped into a lope, moving toward the Inn. Emerald paced them, just above his shoulder. Azjah was too exhausted to focus on the blur of emerald. The sinuous motion was very unexpected, but it was regular enough that she quickly caught the motion and when they reached the Inn, she slid free of the beast. She gave Thorn a very long look, ?I bid you good evening for now.?

She walked across the porch very slowly, but with the perfect posture of her training. All color had drained from her features as she pushed the door open and paused only long enough to find a close, empty table. She settled onto the chair and curled up, pulling both knees before her, and dropping her head onto them. She took a series of deep breaths before turning to look for a serving lad.

Rena?s eyes fell on Azjah and she pushed away from the bar to step behind it, fixing a glass of her favorite scotch. Rena gave a whisper to her companion Micheal before heading for Azjah, setting the glass down beside her.

Azjah looked up, surprised to see Rena, but gave her a very hoarse thank you.

She leaned closer to Azjah, ?What happened??

Azjah gave a very wry, but dry and strained chuckle, ?curiosity in the wrong place happened.? She took a sip of the scotch and gave Rena a forced smile, ?I?ll be fine, the effects wear off and are not permanent.? She did not want to discuss what had transpired with Thorn. She had taken the chance, and paid the price for it.

Rena nodded, ?Okay, need anything else??

Azjah shook her head, ?No, thank you Rena. I appreciate your bringing it and checking on me. I?ll make my way home in a bit.? She closed her eyes and wished for a moment that she could reach Dominik as she could Gabriel or Lucien.

Azjah heard a soft male whisper as Micheal asked Rena if she was alright, and Rena told him she expected so. It was time to go, she needed to find the strength to get back to the Palazzo. She rose, trembling from the effort it cost her and then a formal arm was offered to her. She turned pale blue eyes on the gentleman at her side, surprised, and not to see Dominik standing there. She was safe. He would see her home. With any luck, she would be there before Wil arrived.

Trystal glanced at Alain, ?Yes, it seems the markets here on RhyDin are not what they used to be, although, it has been discussed to use RhyDin as a half way point for shipping to other worlds.?

Azjah motioned toward an empty chair, ?Would you care to join me?? She was talking to Trystal, but Alain was of course always invited.

She glanced at Alain, ?Shall we??

Alain snagged a bottle of scotch and a couple more glasses before joining Azjah and Trystal at the table, ?Its best use ? import-export capital of the universe? he said to Trystal. Then smiled at Azjah, ?Evening Baroness.? His tone was polite, and lordly even as he gave her a dipping nod of his head.

Trystal followed Alain?s lead and padded over, her tail sweeping clear before she settled onto a chair, ?Mr. DeMuer and I were just discussing his efforts in coffee export,? she told Azjah by way of preamble.

?Coffee export business?? Azjah glanced between the two, ?I knew you were into such endeavors, but what can I do for you??

Alain grinned, ?Kaldi Gourmet Coffee Imports, but we move nearly as much coffee out of RhyDin City now as we bring in.?

Trystal grinned, ?Yes, my people react to caffeine much as most humanoids respond to ethyl alcohol.?

Azjah?s brow winged upward, ?That good?? And then the dark chill that she?d grown to associate with Travanix slithered along her skin, and resulted in a dark smile for Travanix where he stood at the bar. Azjah shivered abruptly before glancing around the room for the source.

?They grow coffee where you come from?? Alain asked as she scanned the room.

?Actually, you may be able to help me with the other subject just broached. I am trying to find markets for TRIAD products. Right now, it?s looking as if selling our items here on RhyDin won?t work.? Trystal said nearly simultaneously with Alain. She had noticed the shiver, then frowned before noticing the mental presence herself. She extended her psionic shielding to cover all three at the table and shot Travanix a frown.

Azjah nodded at Alain, ?Yes, we have coffee plantations in the lower latitudes.? She then glanced at Trystal, ?I am surprised by that, but I do have some potential worlds that might be interested from our last discussion.? She hazarded a glance at Travanix, then refocused on Trystal and Alain.

Alain leaned back in his chair, letting Trystal be first at bat while he worked on the last of his cigar.

?I was actually hoping you might say something like that Ms. Danaan. So far, I?ve had very little luck finding suitable markets from here.? Trystal was the consummate marketing manager.

?There are enough planets along my route here that we should be able to find some interested buyers Trystal. In fact, Pyxis and Algenib would be prime starting places.? Azjah noted the silent exchange between Trystal and Travanix.

Trystal scooted forward in her seat slightly, ?What are their primary imports??

Azjah sipped the scotch that Alain had brought, ?Pyxis is a developing world, and their imports are varied, considerably.?

Trystal glanced at Alain, ?Oh, yes, Mr. DeMuer, before I forget, you wanted to expand your shipments, I believe our markets could withstand another 75% increase in volume before we?ll have to start dropping sales prices. Any more than that and we won?t be able to afford to categorize Kaldi as a luxury item.? She turned once more to Azjah, ?Do they have any exports??

Azjah chuckled softly, ?You have the figures already worked out? Pyxis exports some very fine luxury food items, and textiles.? The caviar from Pyxis was unparalleled in Azjah?s view, and she?d sampled quite a few varieties. ?Caviar unlike any you?ve ever tasted, several textiles very like silk, only with finer properties.? She smiled as Alain?s attention was abruptly redirected. She continued with her information to Trystal, ?Pyxis is looking for some help with public transportation in the growing cities, and they have need for some mof the household applications.

Alain?s attention was jerked away from the dancer he had been watching, ?75%?? He yanked out a notepad again and a pencil and did some math. ?Seventy five percent is fantastic!? He got a ballpark figure and underlined it, the shut the notepad.?

Trystal smiled at Azjah and nodded, ?We at TRIAD try to calculate the possible impacts of every business decision before making any moves.? She nodded at Alain?s comment, ?I am glad you are pleased. You can maintain that supply I trust??

Trystal?s mind is pulling double duty as two conversations continued, ?The caviar we could bring back home, the textiles we would need to sell somewhere else.? She nodded at Azjah.

Alain brightened, ?Who?s interested in a little bet?? He glanced between Azjah and Trystal with a smile.?

Trystal nodded, ?Ahh, consumer products. Yes, I?m certain we may find market there.?

?Pyxis also mines some rare minerals, gem quality,? Azjah added, then lifted a pale brow at Alain?s query.

Trystal blinked at Alain as he successfully derailed her dual trains of thought, ?What?? What are you up to Alain?? This was the very first time she had ever used his first name.

Azjah had finished her shopping for the day and headed for the Inn. She walked through the doors, brushing snow off her coat and hair as she paused to locate an empty table near the fireplace. She made her way through the sparsely populated Inn and settled on a table beside the warmth of the fire. She slid out of the fur-collared jacket and draped it over the back of the chair. Then she looked around to see if any serving lads were working. Not seeing anyone, she headed for the bar and prepared to make herself a cup of Cappuccino.

Alain entered through the alley doors, lightly dusted with snow, and he shook it out of his hair and brushed it off his shoulders as he looked around the common room. His cheeks were flushed from the cold, and he blew into his hands a couple of times before smiling over them at Azjah, ?Baroness.?

Azjah had slipped behind the well polished bar to start up the machine, ?Good morning Alain, I?m making Cappuccino, would you like one??

?Please,? Alain said as he unwound his scarf as he approached the bar. ?You know, I think you?re the only nobility I know in RhyDin, active nobility, anyway.? He added almost as an afterthought as he considered that he might know a few more technically, but still, ?Outside the Blood Houses.?

Azjah set the machine for two cups and started it while she pulled twin mugs out of the cabinet and began to froth the milk. Azjah lifted a curious brow at Alain, ?Really?? She smiled, ?Not that it means much here Alain. The Blood House hierarchies are unknown to me, but I would suppose they follow similar rules.?

Alain gave her a wry grin, ?Still though, maybe intentionally, I feel like I?ve neglected the?.? He sighed slightly and frowned as he had to say it, ?the duties of my position.? Alain nodded at Mihaela and placed his coat and scarf on the counter.

Azjah poured the Cappuccino and made her way around the bar toward Alain. ?Neglecting your duties? How so?? She set one of the mugs in front of Alain.

The machine slowed somewhat as it approached the Inn, looking around the outside before pushing open the doors and stepping inside. Alain was known to the machine, but the woman he was with required a brief database search before a name was dredged up. Curious, Hex moved over to a table near the bar to observe for the time being.

Alain glanced at Azjah, ?First of all, I?ve only been building business connections. Any noble connections have been incidental.? He murmured his thanks for the Cappuccino and took a sip.

Azjah curled both hands around her mug and leaned a hip against the counter. ?And you should be making inroads into the nobility.? She supplied for him, judging from his expression.

?I guess so,? he grinned at her, ?My family?s been out of this game for six centuries, which makes me very new to it.?

Azjah glanced at her table and then back at Alain, ?That?s a long time Alain, but simply because your title is ?new? is no reason not to make advantageous use of it.? She knew there would be the old aristocracy that would snub him for the newness of his title, and consider it less than worthy of notice, but there were enough neau Vaux riche that Alain?s title would gain him access to new investors.

?Certainly, but I wouldn?t know where to begin,? Alain demurred. ?I have Ms. LeClerc for advising and assistance, but she can be difficult to locate these days.? He took another, slower sip.

Azjah took a sip of the Cappuccino and glanced around the Inn before looking back at Alain. ?There are a few that I could ease your way with Alain. Make the right connections and many doors open. I am certain you know that well enough. The Duchess De Winter would be a fine start.? In fact, there were a lot of the nobility she could introduce Alain to, but most were not the sort she would want him consorting with in the end.

Alain gave her a curious look, ?I don?t think I?ve had the pleasure.?

Azjah nodded, ?So how is the coffee export business going Alain? Did you make that 75% increase in time, or does Trystal owe you?? She shot Alain a smile, ?I?ll see about making the introductions Alain, she?s quite proper, but she has connections unlike most around here.?

Alain smiled, ?I didn?t quite cut it. Nearly twenty four hours late. Is she at the Inn often?? He was clearly interested in meeting the Duchess.

Azjah gave a mellifluous laugh upon hearing him, ?Ah, so you are providing her with that 30 year old bottle it seems?? Azjah sipped her Cappuccino, ?When she is in RhyDin, yes. But the Duchess travels a lot.? She would send the Duchess a card, and hopefully receive a reply fairly quickly.

Alain?s smile turned into a grin, ?Not like we don?t have the money.?

Azjah laughed, ?I don?t think it was ever about the money, was it??

Azjah gave a soft chuckle, ?No one took on the space patrols before our Governor did.? In fact, they could have been attacked many times over, and it was amazing that they had not been so attacked. She knew several entities had tried to take over RhyDin, but so far had not succeeded.

?And yet, before then, no fleets invaded or bombarded RhyDin. The Collective force of private interests would make such an attack impossible,? Alain asserted.

Azjah wasn?t convinced that it was an impossibility. She missed Brian Ravenlock?s arrival and bow as she studied Alain, ?So I would I argue that in this case, your argument is slightly flawed. Was it luck that has saved RhyDin so far, or a lack of interest by powerful entities that have overlooked us so far. And how long does luck last??

HEX refrained from interrupting again this time, instead settling back to simply listen to the debate between the pair.

Azjah continued, ?Personally, I?ve flown those skies enough times to wonder how long before the solitude enjoyed here would last.?

?Would it be anything other than luck with publicly funded as opposed to privately funded space patrols?? Alain asked.

?No one from the private sector has been able to fund that kind of endeavor. And those who could would be viewed with extreme suspicion. I dared not do it for fear that the Kaiser would want to lay claim to RhyDin.? Azjah told him when he proposed private militia type forces.

HEX spoke then, ?The Iron Dragons would likely be able to do so,? finally finding something to say in their debate.

Alain shrugged, ?I?ve begun funding security for my own shipments, as they?ve increased in size. Whether arming freighters or paying for fighter escorts.?

Azjah glanced at the machine again, ?For what benefit?? She viewed any such ?offers? with a great deal of suspicion. There was no such thing as altruistic intentions in RhyDin. Then she looked back to Alain, ?Those are your private interests though Alain, not for the general welfare of the city.? She knew private security was fine for private business, but horrible for coordinated defensive work.

?But the deterrence benefits those who operate in the same lanes.? Alain objected. He began to roll another cigarette, ?I know I?m not the only one who does this.?

HEX garnered her attention with his next words, ?At present, the most prominent advantage of such a campaign would be to expose our capabilities to other potential clients.?

Azjah gave HEX a long, assessing look, ?What about in future?? Showcase their abilities, and then what?? She glanced at Alain finally, ?Only so long as those fear your defense of those ships, but once they learn your patterns, it would be easy enough to avoid your presence or engage you so that you couldn?t defend the city.? No, she was a firm believer in Matthew?s patrols not belonging to any industry and not being funded by private interests.

?If the Iron Dragons were able to prove they are capable of securing trade lanes, this would likely encourage expanded trade with this world. Thus further expanding our client base,? HEX told her.

Alain added, ?In the future, private interests such as my own, especially with the backing of others, might find it in their own best interest to have a secure, stable spaceport, and collaborate to pay for such groups as HEX?s.? To which HEX nodded his agreement.

Azjah?s brow rose markedly at that, ?But, that is not currently the case, is it?? She looked between the tow. ?And what would induce private enterprise here to help support such costs?? She knew she would be unwilling to trust her shipments to hired security forces.

?Isn?t it?? Alain asked, ?I know at least four ground patrols, various guilds have been affiliated with certain watches and militias to help guard the city itself. The same things that would induce them to pay taxes to a governor for the sake of a stable environment.? He lit the cigarette, ?An unstable environment is unprofitable.?

Azjah shook her head, ?Ground forces are much easier to muster Alain.? It was one thing to patrol the streets and do so for short periods of time, it was another to take a space assignment. And the costs of such assignments far outscored the costs of a ground based security.

?Perhaps that is true for trade based business Mr. DeMuer, however, an unstable environment is potentially quite profitable for a mercenary company.? HEX was tipping his hand to Azjah now. His company?s loyalty would be purchased by the highest bidder; and that had its place in business, but it worried her when it came to planetary security in the long term.

Azjah then added, ?And, to keep things from being redirected by privateers, I do think its better in the hands of a governmental body and not private industry.? Actually, security in the hands of industry was the last thing she wanted to see happen.

?Businesses that deal in interplanetary shipping have far more resources. Even those not based in RhyDin have plenty of reason to see to the security of this world, especially given its valuable nature as a Nexus point. What I want to know is where this governmental body gets its money.? Alain held Azjah?s eyes while he spoke.

Kitty smirked at Alain as she swayed toward the bar, ?Hey sexy beast.? She paused as she spotted the flailing Skid heap and Azjah gave her a nod of greeting, which Kitty returned with a lecherous leer.

HEX spoke as she added the frothy milk to the mugs, ?My apologies Baroness, I should have introduced myself sooner. I am called Hex, the Commissar of the Iron Dragons- mercenaries.? One of his humanoid arms unfolded and a hand was offered to her.

Azjah leaned toward the humanoid arm and took it, machines after all are not unfamiliar to her. ?Good day to you Hex, Commissar of the Iron Dragons, I am Azjah Danaan, Marchioness von Triberg.?

The alien head dips in a slight bow, the machine?s grip precisely firm politeness. ?It is a pleasure to meet you Marchioness Danaan.?

She chuckled, the title was associated with lands, and Peer?s last names were seldom used, but she?d grown used to RhyDin not understanding noble titles and how they worked. ?The titles mean little here Hex.?

The machine gave a close approximation of a shrug, ?Perhaps. However, it is quite often better to err on the side of courtesy than familiarity when meeting someone new. I am curious Azjah, what form of governance, if any, would you personally support here in the city? Or for the world as a whole??

Azjah handed Alain his mug as he spoke with Kitty. Her pale blue gaze landing once more on HEX, ?Well, I have a bias of course, but personally, I don?t think having a Governor is such a terrible inconvenience. It has to be monitored and controlled, government likes to get too big, but some governance is desirable.?

HEX continued, ?You do not think that RhyDin as a political entity is not inherently anarchist??

She leaned a little closer to HEX, ?Personally? I favor monarchies.? Then she winked and took a sip of the Cappuccino.

Azjah lifted a brow then, ?Inherent traits are not necessarily good traits.? Far from it in fact.

Hex glanced at an elf and then back at Azjah, ?How would you recommend overcoming the inherent instability and resistance to rule, even when such rule is supposedly from within??

She sipped the hot drink, ?Ah, now that is the crux of the problem, isn?t it? If I had that solution, I would run for Governor myself.? She chuckled softly, ?Perseverance will prevail though, to some extent.?

HEX nodded slowly at Azjah, ?Thank you. I appreciate your input on the matter.?

?You are welcome,? She made her way out from behind the bar, pausing near the machine, ?And how would you propose keeping out all forms of governance??

?At present, I have not involved myself in political matters, but perhaps that is an oversight. Such issues have the potential to seriously impact my profession and my soldiers. Then, there is the added benefit that involvement in politics often increases one?s contacts.? HEX seemed to ponder that idea a second or two.

?I should think that involvement in the government would be far more beneficial than remaining outside of it.? Azjah wasn?t sure she wanted the machine getting involved, but it certainly was something she had considered.

?I had hoped to broker a contract with the Governor, however, his office has yet to return my correspondence, and I have not seen the Governor in public for some time.?

Azjah smiled, ?The Governor is a new father, I am not surprised.? She reminded herself that she still needed a gift for Koy and the child and had promised Matthew to stop by the house. Then she offered to check on HEX?s correspondence the next time she saw Governor Simon.

The machine gave her a slow nod, but no verbal reply. ?That would be most appreciated. Thus far, I have been finding it difficult to make new contacts on-world to secure contracts.?

Azjah sipped the Cappuccino thoughtfully, ?How long have you been on world Hex??

HEX added, ?Fortunately, the company has recently completed a very lucrative contract off-world. The proceeds from that campaign will see our operational expenses for the near future. I have been on RhyDin for nearly a year now.?

?How large a contingent have the Iron Dragons here?? She leaned a hip once more against the bar?s brass railing.

?We currently number at twenty five thousand combat personnel, with an additional eight thousand support personnel.?

Azjah?s brow lifted at that, ?You came with no small contingent Hex. So you have similar outposts on other worlds?? Now she was wondering at the size of the mechanical being?s mercenaries.

?No, our forces are headquartered on an orbital platform above RhyDin.?

Azjah walked across the porch and pushed the door open before slipping inside. She located an empty table near the fireplace and made her way for it, sliding out of her fur jacket as she reached the chair. She gave a wave to Kairee as she draped the jacket over the back of the chair and curled up comfortably. When she spotted a serving lad, she sent him to the bar for a glass of her Dalwhinnie.

Kairee sent her a wink as she was engaged in a discussion with a male Azjah did not know, and she wrapped both hands around the glass of scotch and waited for the flames to warm her up.

The door opened again and admitted Mishka, who was dressed in a light colored coat with a fur lining that he had been out shopping for this morning. He headed for the hearth as he shrugged out of his coat and offered a fleeting smile to the commons at large. Azjah gave him a smile, ?Evening, coming in from the cold are you??

He grinned, ?Cold, snow, and some very, very violently aggressive shoppers. Did something happen to make everybody at the Market crazy today? It was like they?d been inflicted with some kind of berserking virus.? He grinned as he hung his coat on the warming rack where it would drip snow on the floor as it dried. He paused, shaking his head vigorously to shed as much of the icy dusting as possible before heading for the bar, ?Can I get you something Azjah??

The door opened again, admitting yet another chill blast of air and standing in the door was Quaid. He could easily have been taken for being imperious, haughty, or just plain Sidhe for that matter. He stopped a moment to shake the snow from his black mane of hair and then made his way to a chair by the hearth.

Azjah?s pale blue gaze slid toward Mishka with a chuckle, ?I think the impending proximity of their dead line has turned shoppers into assassins. And thank you no; I just sent the lad to the bar for my scotch.? She gave the Sidhe a nod as he joined she and Mishka at the hearth.

?Mmm, Solstice is tomorrow, true. And some religious holiday or another?s coming up. Too many of those holidays to keep track of,? Mishka mused as he stepped behind the bar and selected a cup before checking the warming pot to see what was hot and drinkable. ?Oooh, Wassail!? He selected the sour rather than the sweet variant and sprinkled cinnamon over the top of the citrusy drink and returned to the hearth. He gave a curt nod to Quaid and curled into one of the chairs rather than stretching out on the cushions before the fireplace. ?Do you celebrate any of them?? He glanced at Azjah as he sipped his wassail, ?I celebrate Solstice, but I don?t really know anyone here well enough to make gifts for them.?

Azjah sipped the scotch, ?Solstice, Yule, Alban Arthan, you name it, and everyone is under nearly the same deadline.? She nodded at his query, ?Yes, Alban Arthan, which is closely tied to the Solstice. This is the first time in years that I had the Palazzo decorated, and have brought in Rigelian chocolates for the holiday as well.? She smiled, ?So, did you finish your shopping Mishka??

?Oh,? he said simply, ?Shopping? I was just after a new coat.? He nodded in the direction of the pale garment, ?Something that blends into the snow better,? he told her.

Quaid remained silent, but the talk of the Solstice pulled at his attention, though he was considering his options, it would be the first time in centuries that he did not celebrate the Solstice at Court.? His expression belied little of his thoughts to the others around him however.

Mishka perked slightly, ?Is there some kind of winter celebration that the whole city participates in? I know other cities have winter festivals, planting festivals, summer and harvest. I understand there was a harvest fest here,? He gave Azjah wide eyes over the rim of his cup as he cautiously sipped the hot liquid.

Quaid glanced over at the one speaking, he knew he could spend the time celebrating with his Flame, but missing that which had been his home for centuries was not an easy feeling to push aside.

Azjah sipped the single malt scotch appreciatively, ?There are usually several festivals in RhyDin. However, The Religion has no cathedral here, so I generally join in the Chanukah celebrations, and the opening of the circle on the Solstice. There should be a number of events in town,? she said to Mishka, but her glance slid toward the silent Sidhe as she spoke. He returned her gaze with a silent nod of greeting.

Kairee glanced at Azjah then, ?You should celebrate at my temple babes. The boys will show you a good time.? Her mirth was evident, and Azjah smiled, ?They would hmm??

The Sidhe lord then looked at the young man that had sprawled on the couch and offered him a nod as well, but still he remained silent.

The Sidhe appeared wistful as he continued, ?It is the first Winter Solstice for me in centuries to be *exiled* as it were.?

She watched his expression change. ?Will you be in RhyDin long, or are you at the vagaries of the Sithean magics?? When he admitted to being exiled, she amended, ?I am truly sorry to hear that Quaid.?

He smiled at her last statement, ?I plan for the long term. It is disconcerting, but magic tends to work in mysterious ways.?

Azjah nodded, ?Will you be able to participate in your Solstice celebrations here in RhyDin?? She was unfamiliar with the Sidhe festivities, and did not know any others of his race living in the city.

He seemed to ponder that a moment before replying, ?I think we would.?

Azjah curled her long legs up beneath her as she caught more movement in the rafters, but forced her attention to remain on Quaid, ?I confess, I do not know what your Solstice celebration entails. Would you care to share the event?? She was hoping he would describe the traditions in some detail.

He gave her a dark smile, ?It tends to be quite an affair. Balls, feasts, a bit of debauchery.?

Azjah gave a soft laugh, ?What celebration is complete without a bit of debauchery?? But it appeared that he was not going to provide further elucidation. ?I hope you will enjoy the Solstice celebrations here, at least almost as much as your homeland.? Given the wide array of inhabitants in RhyDin, surely some of the celebrations would come close to what Quaid knew as a Solstice.

Lord Alcar gave the commons another scan before closing his eyes and his wings opened behind him, stretching out into the air. Azjah slid a glance up at the wings as mischief crossed her mind. Then a slight flutter of those wings before they once more wrapped around Darkmere?s form. She idly wondered if she could sneak a snowball inside and toss it into the rafters with any accuracy.

Quaid spoke in a soft rumble, ?I thank you for the good wishes.?

Azjah refocused on him, ?Since you are marooned here as it were, have you found anything of interest to occupy your time??

He nodded, ?I have. I have been setting up a house on the outskirts of the town.?

She lifted a brow, ?Indeed?? She smiled to herself and vowed to have a couple of snowballs smuggled inside before the night was over, and she motioned for one of the serving lads. Even though for the moment, Lord Alcar was behaving himself, Azjah was never one to back down from tempting fate. ?What section of town?? She asked Quaid as the boy made his way through the crowd. She glanced up again as Darkmere?s eyes opened, and he looked around with a yawn that exposed those fangs to full view for a moment.

?The Northwest, by the woods.? He told her.

From his description, she thought it sounded as though he were living in Battlefield Park area. She nodded, ?The Palazzo is in New Haven.?

Quaid was not familiar with the regions of the city, and he would need to consult a map to know where New Haven was located in RhyDin. Azjah recognized his expression and added, ?The Northeast side of the city.? She took a sip of the scotch, ?If you are in the area, please consider the doors of the Palazzo open you.?

He nodded, ?I shall keep your kind offer in mind.?

She chuckled softly, ?And if I can help you find anything for your new home, I?d be happy to assist.?

There was a smile on his lips, ?I would like to get a Yule gift for my consort. Something befitting her fiery mane, and nature.?

Azjah shot him a quick smile, ?What does she like? Jewelry? Weapons? Fine drink?? She knew the finest shops in town, and perhaps she could point him in the right direction before the Yule season arrived.

?Jewelry I think,? Quaid said softly.

Azjah gave him a smile, ?You simply must visit Ariel?s Emporium. Each piece she does is custom tailored, and the gems she uses are found by Gem Singers, which ensures them to be a perfect match for the person for whom they are intended.? A finer jewelry maker she could not name. ?Tell Ariel I sent you, she will treat you with the best of care.?

Quaid nodded, ?I shall do that then.?

Darkmere gave a soft ?ho hum? from the rafters and let those wings open fully once more, giving him the distinct look of a bat, albeit a very overgrown bat, it was bat-like none the less. Temptation got the better of Azjah and she sent the serving lad outside to retrieve several snowballs.

Lord Alcar looked over his shoulder as one of his wings was hit by the snowball, his eyes followed the path the snowball had come from, and as she tossed the second one, he smirked. The snowball stopped in mid-flight and reversed its course, flying straight back at Azjah.

Quaid buried his face in Rummy?s shoulder to keep from laughing outright as his arms encircled her waist.

Azjah ducked with a stifled ?eeep? as the snowball careened back at her, and splattered against the back of her chair. Azjah shot a grin at Rummy and Quaid, ?Well, it was worth the fun.?

Rummy laughed, ?Better him than me.? Her throaty laugh embered with warmth as her fingers stroked through Quaid?s hair. Though, if the truth be told; if a snowball did hit the Fae, it would likely melt before even contacting her flesh.

Quaid was still chuckling, ?It was indeed,? then he gave Rummy?s shoulder a nip before resting his chin on it.

Rummy?s eyes smoldered like twin coals that had been warmed as she grinned and laid her head against his. Her fingers smoothing through his hair as she smiled at Azjah, ?Will I have the pleasure of meeting your consort prior to this gathering??

Azjah gave her a quick smile as she picked up her glass of scotch, ?I hope so Rummy. He seldom comes to the Inn, but every now and then he will show up unexpectedly.?

She sobered slightly, ?I can understand why he would not frequent this place. It is?. Sometimes hard to swallow.? She glanced at the babes in the room, it seemed as though an old nemesis for Quaid?s attention was in the room.

Lord Alcar was not ready to let the snowballs pass, and just to get back at Azjah, he summoned a bucket of ice cold water, which he let appear over her where she sat talking with Quaid and Rummy. Then abruptly it tipped, dumping the icy water where she sat, but she?s caught sight of it just as it began to tip over and hopped out of the chair, icy water splattering her silk trousers as she shot a glare at the wings in the rafters. ?Well Rummy, if you and Quaid will be here for a bit, you might get a chance to meet him.?

Lord Alcar gave Azjah an innocent smile before resuming his discussion with Solah. Kairee watched from the bar with amusement.

If Rummy had been a cat, she would likely have been purring, but instead she was in that blissful smolder of heat against Quaid as she grinned at Azjah, ?Oh, I think we will. I?m right comfortable.? And she did indeed appear to be very comfortable sitting in Quaid?s lap.

Azjah motioned for a serving lad, leaning closer to whisper, he nodded and ran for the kitchen as she slid a pale blue glance once more toward the rafters, and then back to the pair in the chair. ?Wil is not from RhyDin either, and we are pondering just how to spend this Yule season.?

?This will be my first Yule, here.? She said it softly as some realization dawned on her, and she shuddered as she curled closer to Quaid. She had realized that the last time she had ?celebrated? Yule, it was no celebration, for she had been at the hands of the Sidhe executioner.

Quaid drew her close to him, ?Mine as well, moi chroi.? He had felt the shudder and knew the cause for it immediately.

Azjah, despite being an empath could only gather impressions that were unclear, and so she smiled at Rummy, ?We have decorated the Palazzo, done the Yule logs and mistletoe and roping, and the New Year surprises. The chef is already serving the Gl?hwein.? About then the serving lad returned with a white towel that was clearly wrapped around something hidden. Azjah glanced at the rafters, grabbed a sturdier chair and stepped up onto it, opening the towel to reveal a jiggling glob of strawberry jello.

Rummy smiled, ?I do so enjoy those things. I have not seen many of them in quite some time. I was not allowed to celebrate Yule. She feared I would burn down the palace if I got to overwhelmed with emotion. The joy of Yule was not meant for me then.? Her eyes turned somber for a moment as her briefly laced through Quaid?s, but it was quickly replaced then with her spark of merriment as her eyes lit with embers of anticipation. ?I very much would like to see that all again, but, there is such a lack of time. There are things to get?.? Her voice trailed off.

Azjah glanced at Rummy, ?Well, hopefully you won?t burn down my home, but we will have Yule fires and food, and of course the spiced wine.?

Quaid?s fingers laced with Rummy?s, ?This year will be different.? He nodded at the invitation, ?Our Queen can be rather cruel, it was her way of damaging Rummy?s spirit.? There came a rumble of thunder in the distance even as he spoke.

As Wil and Azjah approached, Azjah smiled, ?Please allow me to introduce you both to my special one. Wil, this is Quaid McIntyre, and his consort, Rummy McFerran.?

Quaid nodded at the introduction and rumbled warmly, ?Merry Meet, Wil.?

Wil gave them both a polite nod, ?Rummy, Quaid, a pleasure to meet you both.?

Azjah turned pale blue eyes up toward Wil, ?I have invited them to come by the Palazzo for some of the Yule festivities.?

Wil smiled at Azjah with a bit of a wink, then looked at Rummy and Quaid, ?The Lady Caer has a lovely home, and it?s decorated to the hilt. You?ll be most welcome.? Azjah moved closer to Wil, partly for his warmth, and partly because she loved it there beneath his shoulder.

Rummy?s head lifted as the introductions were made, her smile warming, ?Merry Meet, Wil, I am much honored by Azjah?s offering. I am looking forward to it. It will be lovely to experience a different sort of Yule.? She added.

Quaid echoed Rummy?s words, ?We are quite honored by the invitation.?

Azjah?s eyes sparkled with mischief, ?We spoke a bit about Quaid?s Solstice festivities, and you would like his commentary about various debauchery.? She shot Wil a quick smile, knowing he would take her teasing the right spirit.

Wil spoke to Quaid, ?Just wait until you sample the food and drink she has for the Solstice festivals.? Then he glanced down at Azjah where she stood nestled beside him, ?Debauchery? Did someone say debauchery?? Then his arm tightened a bit and held her close to his side.

Azjah flashes a smile at Rummy, ?Come hungry. The chef will take it personally otherwise.? She then smiled impishly at Wil, ?I thought you might enjoy Quaid?s description.?

Rummy had a bemused look at Azjah?s words, then she was laughing warmly, ?Oh yes, they are quite?. Intense.? There was a baring of teeth as spitfire grin touched her lips. She nodded then, ?I always do.?

Quaid laughed softly at that, ?I think that can be arranged,? in terms of coming hungry. Then he gave a lascivious grin, ?Debauchery is the best part.? He was shameless as he leaned his chin on Rummy?s shoulder once more.

Wil gave Azjah that grin again, ?Well, it does give people things to look forward to during the longest nights of the year.?

Azjah colored slightly at that grin and everything it implied, ?One must always make good use of long nights.? Then she gave Rummy a conspiratorial wink, ?Males.?

Wil gave her a little hip check, ?I think we do pretty good in that area.? Then he raised a brow at her, ?Something wrong with males??

Rummy shot a bemused grin at Quaid, ?As long as you are behaving in your debauchery.? Then she winked at Azjah, ?Ahh, the UnSeelie females are just as terrible unfortunately during that time.?

Azjah did blush under Wil?s expression then, but her eyes held Rummy?s, ?We have several traditions we are blending at the Palazzo Rummy, so hopefully we will cover some of what you are familiar with.? Then she gave Wil a slow, very meaning filled smile, ?There is nothing wrong with males, and everything right with you my dear.?

Wil mouthed, ?I love you? to Azjah at that. As Azjah offered Wil the glass of scotch, she mouthed back, ?I love you too.?

Quaid gave Rummy another nip on one of her earlobes, ?I wouldn?t call that a bad thing in your case.?

Rummy looked up at Quaid, ?You trying to make destiny come forth quicker than it is decided, a ghra?? Her murmur was quiet then, ?If you don?t behave yourself, there will be far more than debauchery way before Yule.? Bemused as she was by Quaid?s presence, she smiled gently watching Wil and Azjah.

Wil took the Dalwhinnie with a word of thanks and took a sip.

Quaid rumbled softly, ?Let us just say, I am doing my utmost to encourage it along, a ghra.? He hugged her tightly then.

Azjah gave a soft chuckle as she glanced between Wil and Quaid, ?It would seem Quaid that you and Wil are kindred spirits in this debauchery thing.?

Azjah walked through the doors of the Inn, pulling the fur hood close around her to keep out as much of the cold as she could. She headed for an empty table near the fireplace. She was chilled enough that she kept the fur jacket on rather than draping it across the back of her chair as she waited for the heat from the fire to warm her. Then she sent a lad for a glass of scotch, paying him when he returned. She then wrapped both hands around the glass as her pale gaze swept the room before she had warmed sufficiently enough to take the jacket off. She draped it over the back of the chair and sat down to pull the microcomputer from her pocket. She powered up the device with a delicate shiver and scooted her chair closer to the fire, and not for the first time that night wished Wil was there so she could curl up next to him and absorb some of his heat.

Azahr lifted his head as she settled onto her chair, ?How come everyone else is always so much warmer than I am??

Azjah flashed him a grin, ?Where?s Mishka when we need him?? She had seen Mishka be a live warming spot on several occasions.

Azahr wasn?t thinking about Mishka, he was thinking more of his own personal furnace ? Cole. A flicker of a smile though was given to Azjah, ?mmm,? and he let another sigh escape him.

Crystal agreed, ?It is hideously cold.?

Azjah chuckled, ?Unless of course you and Cole are still attached at the hip?? They had teased Zahr the day before about being attached to Cole. Then she nodded her own agreement with Crystal?s observation.

Azahr pursed his lips slightly, giving Azjah and Crystal a quiet murmur, ?Not at the hip, no.?

From the direction of the Livery, the small figure of S?jira. She was very small among the bustling winter crowd, and she headed the little bit of distance to the Inn. The hem of her dress swam back against the top of her boots as she hurried through the cold, up the steps of the porch, and through the door. She opened it just enough to slip inside.

Azjah took a sip of her scotch as she continued to study the screen before her, but she glanced up as the door opened and another gust of icy air came inside. She glanced at her jacket and debated crawling back into it.

S?jira gave a shiver as she strove to suppress it, and she kept the dull, brown short cloak about herself. The room was not busy enough for her to have to go up onto her toes to see into the room, and she glanced around here and there before she moved off toward the hearth.

Azjah touched several keys and watched the numbers change. She gave a nod of greeting to S?jira as she joined everyone else at the hearth. ?If this weather keeps up, Panther?s going to need to put in another fireplace.? She had seen S?jira with Panther for some time, now, but had never had an opportunity to get to know the woman.

She inclined her head toward Azjah, and hearing Panther?s name brought a smile to her lips, although it was a very shy one. Finally she slipped the brown short cloak from about her shoulders to hang on a peg hearthside where it could dry and be warm when she wanted it next.

Azjah pulled her long legs up beneath her in an effort to minimize her surface area to the cold, then spoke softly to S?jira, ?Have you enough room??

S?jira glanced toward the belly of the fireplace to consider the fire and logs within it, then in her soft leather boots she padded across the flooring to select another log, split to a decent proportion. Her dark gaze landed on Azjah, ?More than enough, yes. Perhaps needed is more fuel to the fire??

Azjah shipped the scotch with a smile, ?It is cold enough out there, I don?t think it will make a lot of difference, but it certainly cannot hurt either.?

S?jira carefully placed the selected bit of wood on top of the others, making certain that she did not scorch her fingertips in the process. Her hand then withdrew and her attention returned once more to Azjah a moment. She then moved out of the way of the others, careful not to impede the paths of other patrons as she made her way to the bar. She made her way behind the bar and stepped up onto a short, three-legged stool to reach a mug from one of the shelves. She could just catch her fingertips to the handle of the mug, and once secured, she hopped down to head for the clay jug on the coals that was warming the liquid inside. S?jira poured some of the liquid into the mug and gave Alain a bit of a nod as she carefully moved out of his way, making certain that she did not jostle or impede anyone?s path. Then almost as though an afterthought, she reached for a cinnamon stick and dropped it into the mug of cider and removed herself from being underfoot behind the bar.

Azjah glanced around the room, then back at S?jira, ?May I ask you where your home was before RhyDin?? She did not want to pry, but S?jira was very shy it seemed, and Azjah sought to draw the woman into a friendly conversation.

?Are you a Merchant?? It seemed to sink in with S?jira that this ?book? and all of its numbers must belong to a merchant.

Azjah smiled, ?One of my endeavors is in the area of merchant, yes. I am the owner of Drachen Walde Industries. At least here in Rhydin I am a merchant. The Rigelian aristocracy is not recognized here.?

For a brief time S?jira quieted herself, and it seemed to her that she had tread upon the Lady?s words, but then her curiosity roused, ?Rigelian arist?.? The word had been heard before, and she frowned to herself as she tugged it about in her thoughts until she had some form of understanding, ?It is meant that you are a high-born??

Azjah nodded slightly, ?It is meant that I was born under advantageous circumstances, and into a special family, yes.?

The ashen handed one gave a slow turn of his head, accompanied by the rippling sound of metal. He was clearly listening, but not precisely eavesdropping. There is a distinct difference, albeit a fine line between the two.

Azjah?s description must have helped as it brought a smile to S?jira?s lips, then she replied to her question in return, ?Llothgar, that is the home and lands known before this was known.?

Azjah considered, ?Llothgar? I am not familiar with it, is it far??

S?jira nodded, ?Yes, but the Humming Stone allows the journey or it could not have been made at all.? She paused to take notice of the elder and inclined her head, but offered no interruption to Azjah in the process.

Azjah canted her head slightly, ?Please forgive me, Humming Stone? Is Llothgar a magic place?? If it was magic using, that would help explain why she had never heard of it before, and that she had not heard of Humming Stones before either.

?In Llothgar? Oh no. Only the stone is.? S?jira stumbled with the words, and a frown marred her brow as she set the mug down and nodded more to herself as she sought the words again, ?Some call it a portal.?

Azjah was still learning about the world of magic since Rigel forbade all magic and relied on Technology. ?Ah, like the portal that leads from Rhydin to Twilight Isle??

?It is thought so. But that journey has never been made, only heard of.? S?jira seemed to consider her words very carefully.

Azjah swirled her scotch briefly, ?And how is Yule celebrated in Llothgar?? She was making it a point to learn how many of the local races in RhyDin dealt with the coming of the winter festivities.

S?jira still had not touched her own drink, and Azjah was certain it must be growing cold by now, but she had breathed in the scents of cider and cinnamon, ?Yule?? she questioned Azjah.

Azjah considered a moment, ?Well, I think this time of year has many names, I know it as Alban Arthan, some call it the Winter Solstice, some call it Yule, others call it Festival of Light,? her voice trailed off, ?I was thinking of the celebration held in the middle of the darkness of winter.?

?Oh! The Dying Season, during winter,? she perked as she understood the question better now, ?There is much drinking and dancing in Llothgar. Sons and daughters bring their tents together with their fathers?. Battles are stopped for four days.? Her cheeks had flushed again as she had again failed to understand wordings here and there she had heard.

The ashen handed one spoke then, ?Yule is actually only a few days after the start of winter.? And then he moved, striding from his chair toward the pair seated near the fire.

Azjah lifted a pale brow in interest, ?Our Alban Arthan is partly celebrated by the ?battle? between the Winter King and the Spring King, and it is the ritual death of Winter at the hands of Spring.? She smiled, ?Were you and Panther able to enjoy any of your traditions?? Then she noted her shifted gaze toward Eskrima, ?I hope I am not asking too many questions.?

S?jira?s expression sobered a bit when her question about being able to celebrate her own world?s traditions, ?There are nothing that has been spoken of. No, not too many. It is a? .rough? land to remember.?

Azjah apologized, ?I am sorry then.? But a smile quickly followed, ?We are having a celebration and open house at the Palazzo, perhaps you would consent to join us for beverages and food? Wil and I have decided to make this Yule a special one, and therefore the open house.? She smiled inwardly, being able to say ?we? and ?us? felt very right to her.

S?jira pondered, ?A welcome?? Her sober visage eased a little as she wondered about the invitation, ?Thanks is given for it. Is it allowed for Panther to come as well??

?We would be delighted to have Panther as well as you, it is hoped that we will have the opportunity to share our celebration with both of you. We are also celebrating our engagement, so the rejoicing of the ?death? of Winter and the ?birth? of the Spring King will be that much happier shared with good people.? Azjah gave her a smile as she sipped the scotch.

Azjah dragged her attention back to S?jira, ?You lived in a breeding kennel? a place where you were raised?? There was disbelief and shock that she worked to bury because surely breeding kennel did not mean what she thought it meant.

?Only until my twelfth year.? S?jira was distracted still as her gaze remained on the bar area. Then she glanced at Azjah, ?Is there something wrong??

Azjah?s pale eyes moved between Alain and S?jira, ?I am not certain, but anytime people move that fast and reach under jackets, it makes me do likewise.? She deliberately chose to interpret her question as was anything wrong at the bar and not about being raised in a kennel. ?What happened in your twelfth year??

?I was sold to Master Kurr.? The darkness of her gaze had returned to the busy goings on near the bar, but much of it was lost by her short stature and the growing crowd in the Inn.

Azjah?s brows winged upward, ?Sold? There is slavery in Llothgar?? Azjah knew slavery existed, and knew it was part of many cultures that she encountered, but she did not have to like it. And she abruptly realized that if S?jira had been born into that environment, it certainly explained so much around her deferring nature.

?It is.? She drew her bare feet up into the seat of the chair with her, curling slightly in comfort to do so. Attention was again on the Lady. ?As much as there are hunters and warring,? she said quite simply, as though that was the way of things and accepted as such.

Azjah pursed her lips slightly, ?It would seem that slavery and indentured servitude is an omnipresent evil. You came to RhyDin by means of the Humming Stone, are you a refugee then, or were you able to obtain your freedom?? Azjah could not tell whether S?jira was now a run away, or whether she had earned her release somehow.

?It is something that was?. Set aside?. For Panther,? she said softly, as it put many ill at eased, and her words were offered gently. ?The land was left with another, yes. And yes.? Each of Azjah?s questions was answered in turn.

Azjah gave her a warm smile, ?I am glad then that you were able to gain your freedom, and you met Panther. There is another here from Llothgar?? That sounded hopeful to Azjah that she would have at least one person from Llothgar for friendship.

S?jira lowered her head, but her smile was not hidden, even behind her hair, ?He is hard to miss.? She told Azjah in terms of Panther. Then she glanced toward the bridge, ?Yes, but he lays buried in the graveyard, across the great bridge here.?

Azjah gave a soft laugh seeing the smile, and she reached across the table and touched S?jira?s hand lightly where it curled around her mug, ?You feel about Panther as I do about Wil. It shows. And I am sorry to learn that your companion is with you no longer for company.?

Her toes brushed against the flooring and her gaze slipped back toward Azjah as she smled, ?It is hard to do otherwise. It with his death that I came here. That Panther was met. It held purpose.? She said it quite soberly, but there was a small nod as well.

Azjah gave her a soft chuckle, ?They do have a way of worming their way into our hearts and lives, don?t they?? Then she took a sip of the scotch before adding, ?Purpose helps one deal with loss, does it not??

Warmth returned to S?jira?s features as she thought of him, then she drank the remainder of her cider.

Azjah finished her scotch and set the glass to one side, ?Are you not cold?? Noting her bare feet, and still Azjah shivered.

?Earlier, yes.? S?jira drew one foot to the side a little to see for herself, then glanced at Azjah, ?But not anymore.?

?I am still cold!? Azjah said with a soft chuckle. ?Should we get you a fresh hot cider?? Azjah meant that she would go to the bar and retrieve the drinks, but S?jira slipped from the chair and stood near the table, her empty hand offered out to accept Azjah?s empty glass as she seemed to believe that Azjah?s meaning had been for S?jira to go get the drinks. ?If it pleases,? she said simply.

Azjah lifted a brow at S?jira in surprise. She had realized that the girl had been a slave at one time, but it was not her intention that S?jira should serve her now. ?I was about to do the honors S?jira. Please, allow me??

Azjah?s words had the effect of embarrassing S?jira, but the slight woman offered instead her mug to Azjah, who took it and picked up her own glass, ?I?ll be right back.? It was then that Azjah realized how careful she would have to be when offering S?jira a proposal or idea.

S?jira?s empty hand turned to brush against her own cheek that still felt warm from her mistake. But, she smiled to herself and settled back into her chair.

Azjah?s blue gaze met Zara?s, who was now behind the bar, ?Might we have a fresh hot cider and a bit more Dalwhinnie?? She then set the empties on the bar for Zara.

Eskrima pushed his shoulders back against his chair, ?So strange to say that, yet you made comments of slavery being evil.? The hooded figure seemed to be focused on Azjah now.

S?jira?s gaze considered again Eskrima and his lack of any traditions, at all. Then with his query, she flicked a look back at Azjah, ?It is the law??

Azjah gave Eskrima a merry laugh, ?You equate a partnership with slavery?? Then she nodded at S?jira, ?for those who believe in the Yule log traditions, it is just as binding as any written law.?

The metallic sound came again, ?I equate arranged marriages between two people who may end up loathing each other to slavery, yes.? He tilted his head, ?How is it different??

Pale blue eyes settled on Escrima?s hooded form, ?How is it any different that unarranged marriages may end in such sadness as you describe? Divorce and separation are not limited to arranged alliances. Is there a difference? The true soul mates will find a way, and if the Yule tradition works for those who believe it, then so much the better. I have no say in my betrothed, and yet, I am more than content with the pairing.? Once the Kaiser had made up his mind about Wil, there would have been no way for her to avoid the marriage at all. It was a good thing that Wil had been her choice in the first place, and that he had been there when she had gone home to prevent the alliance Wolfgang has originally planned.

?So you think it is alright that a man must be forced into a wedding, whether he likes it or not? Two people join in marriage normally of their own volition.? He pointed out, there was no rancor in his tone, nor malice. ?They pick one another, if they do not last, they do not last. But I do not see the difference between slavery and arranged marriage between a man and woman who have no say.?

S?jira watched the hooded one curiously, her smile had faded away completely and her silence settled into listening alone.

Azjah shook her head, ?You have not experienced then many cultures where matings, pairing, consorts, or spouses have no say in the pairing. I think the ?how? of such things is less important than the effort expended by those in such conditions. In my world, Peers have no say. We are bartered for the most advantageous pairing. But, divorce is almost unheard of among Peers. We find a way. I would not call such slavery. Yet in RhyDin, I have seen many ?mutually agreed? marriages and pairings fail. It comes down to effort in my opinion.? Azjah slid a glance at S?jira, and then back to Eskrima. The notion that arranged marriages by necessity were doomed to failure simply because the parties were not required to consent was foreign to Azjah.

Eskrima shook his head, ?Admittedly, no, I do not know many cultures. I know less of matings. But effort and consent are not the same. You cannot compare how a relationship will or will not work based upon the effort put into it, by the consent that started it.?

Azjah?s blue eyes sparkled now, ?If you know no other way, the lack of consent matters not. The rules of matings and pairings varies from world to world. What is normal here is abnormal somewhere else.?

Eskrima thought about that for a moment, then the hood nodded, ?You are right. If a child knows no better, he will act as he is taught.?

?Precisely,? Azjah said as she sipped the scotch. ?None of the methods I have seen are right or wrong, they simply are the rules of that place.? She would not pass judgment on the rules of the places she had been.

?What is right and what is wrong is merely a matter of opinion,? Eskrima said with a rise and fall of black clad shoulders.

Azjah gave S?jira a quick smile, ?And I learn new things every day.? Then she glanced again at Eskrima, ?Exactly so.?

S?jira watched Eskrima and then glanced back toward Azjah, ?And there is much this heart still does not know.?

?There are some things that I hope your heart must never know,? Azjah told her quietly, ?And there are some that would bring happiness, I am certain. Which is why I do hope you and Panther will join us for the Yule celebrations.?

?Perhaps it is best if I am not one of those with the binding logs.? A light smile surfaced as her thoughts were most clearly on Panther.

?We are endeavoring to bring only the joy of this season to our guests, and the Yule logs are optional here.? She smiled an impish smile at S?jira, ?But I do hope you two get caught beneath the mistletoe.?

Her uncertain smile improved, ?It will prove much easier to talk him into the celebration if that is optional for the binding logs.? It was a light jest on her part, but it was still present.

Azjah gave a soft laugh, ?All of the traditions are optional, and you may engage as you are happy to do. I know that some mof the household staff are very anxious to claim a binding on the Yule logs, though I will not be claiming one either.? She gave S?jira a bright smile. ?The only ritual not optional is the New Year chocolates.? Then she winked at the dark haired woman.

S?jira?s heart lightened to hear that news and her cider was drunk once more as Azjah reached for a cookie from the platter Zara had sent back with her. S?jira stole another look at Eskrima, who had resettled the bottle of water back down, but his voice was meant for S?jira, ?I do not bite.? She gave a faint smile, ?It is a good thing to know.?

Azjah pulled a foil wrapped object from a pocket of her jacket and slid it toward S?jira, ?If you would like a preview of Rigelian chocolate.? Her smile was very cheerful as she left it before her.

?If it pleases,? S?jira said as she glanced at Azjah curiously.

Azjah leaned toward her slightly, ?They are simply decadent.? Then she closed her eyes to savor the scotch and the warmth of the fire.

S?jira reached for the treat, and after a length of a few moments, she unwrapped it and lifted it lightly to her nose for the scent of it, then she nibbled it and another before it was fully eaten with a smile. ?The chocolate melts right at body temperature,? Azjah told her, ?So you will get to savor the interior filling very quickly. Truly the way to bring in a sweeter New Year.? S?jira gave Azjah a smile, glad for the gift.

Eskrima slowly twisted the cap back onto his water bottle, ?I came to RhyDin from Earth.?

Azjah lifted a brow, ?Earth?? It was a world she had visited once, and had studiously avoided ever since. ?Do you like RhyDin then Watcher?? Unbeknownst to Azjah, Rhaine was thinking the very same thoughts.

This made him pause, ?It is a place. I stay here. To say that I ?like? it is an exaggeration, though I do not dislike it either.?

S?jira sneezed again, ?Please excuse.? She left the table to retrieve her short brown cloak and made her farewells to everyone, and with a bit less life to her steps than was normal, she headed for the door and into the night.

Azjah canted her head at Eskrima after bidding S?jira a good night and rest. ?Do I miss my guess that emotion is not something you favor Watcher?? Then she smiled at Rhaine, ?This is very good, thank you.?

?Emotions are not something my kind are taught, no.? His hood shook slowly, ?I am aware of them in others, but it is not seomthing permitted amongst Voices.?

?Voices?? Azjah?s pale blue eyes focused again on Eskrima, ?Would you explain??

Eskrima?s attention refocused on Azjah, ?Voices are what my kind are called ? what I am, what I do. It is difficult to explain in all truths.?

?What do you give voice to?? Azjah?s curiosity was aroused but she flashed Rhaine a smile as she had complimented the chocolates, ?One of the things my world does well.?

Eskrima?s dark hand spread, as if he could explain it in a mere gesture. He could not however. ?I do not give voice to anything. It is literally my Voice. It is my gift. There are few like I, with the talent I have. My Voice is not like everyone else?s. It is a weapon.

Rhaine nodded, ?Absolutely. And by the way, does any of your companies produce chocolates? Or would we have to deal with someone I don?t even know??

Azjah gave Rhaine a smile, ?Alas Rhaine, I have no holdings in Chocolate, though perhaps I should.? Then she looked at Eskrima, ?There are some races that make use of a voice as a weapon, but I did not know that Earth had such.? She thought about the Carpathians and the Dragonseekers and knew how powerful they could be, but such a thing was not previously known about Earth.

Rhaine sighed, ?Oh well, remind me to ask you about them later. Two wonderful things from Rigel, weapons and chocolates. Rest are doubtful.?

Azjah gave a soft chuckle at Rhaine?s lament. She leaned closer to Rhaine, ?We have pretty good blue lobsters too, though not as good as that seafood I had on Mentar.?

She gave Azjah a sneaky smile, ?Might be interesting to see how well we can hide a null-t on Rigel.?

Azjah shot Rhaine a grin, ?I could second that notion!?

Eskrima nodded slowly, ?It does. I am one of them.?

Azjah?s mind turned over this news thoughtfully, ?What brings you here then Watcher? Does Earth need you in RhyDin??

?No. Earth does not need me at all. I was not taught to benefit others. Merely to hurt them.? He was, if nothing else, realistic.?

She gave Eskrima a startled look, ?So your purpose is destruction??

?Destruction? No.? He shook his head, ?Not in the sense that I aim, or have goals, to hurt others needlessly. I go where I am told, do what I am ordered to do. My teachings, however, revolve around killing or maiming.?

Both brows winged upward hearing Eskrima?s description. ?Who tells you where to go and what to do??

?My teacher, the Primary.? Those ashen hands twisted the cap once more from the bottle of water he held.

?And where is this Primary located?? Azjah asked him as she worked to still her shock by sipping the scotch.

?On Earth,? the Watcher said as he drew the bottle nearer. It would be empty soon.

Azjah gave a slight frown, ?How does the Primary know where to send you??

Eskrima shook his head, ?He does. He is the Primary. It is his duty to know.?

Azjah slid a glance at Rhaine who had remained quite silent, then back at Eskrima, ?Were you sent here??

He gave a single nod, ?I was.?

A ripple of unease slithered down Azjah?s spine, ?why??

He tipped the bottle forward a bit, ?I do believe you know the answer to that question.? The Watcher went where he was told, did what he was told.

Azjah?s pale blue gaze studied Eskrima, ?Who, or what have you come to destroy??

?I cannot tell you that.? He said quite simply.

Azjah frowned and took a long drink of the scotch before glancing at Rhaine, ?I believe it is time for me to return home.?

The Watcher then added, ?I can tell you that it is no one currently here, nor anyone that has left throughout the day.?

Azjah gave him a nod, ?Understood Watcher.? She rose and reached for the fur jacket and slipped into it, bidding The Watcher adieu, and then bade Rhaine a good evening before making her way into the cold night.

Azjah gave him a slight nod, ?Are there many here under your protection?? She was curious how many people he provided such protection for being so far from his realm. ?He is fortunate then to have you as his protector, and friend.? Unseelie had bad reputations, but having met Quaid and Rummy, she wondered how much was myth and how much was reality.

?There are a few, although I have a call to my House to get them away from our ?Queen?.?

She was surprised at his words, pausing midway to another sip of the amber liquid, ?You surely walk dangerous ground pulling your House away from your Queen.? Such would be considered treason on Rigel.

?I already tread dangerous ground by refusing her ?favors?.? He sighed softly then.

Azjah gave some long thought to the monarchy on Rigel and then nodded in understanding, ?It is never easy to say no, is it??

?It is not,? he agreed as he leaned back into his chair, ?But worth the risk all the same.?

?That is something only you can determine Quaid,? she smiled and took that sip of the amber liquid before adding, ?Is there anything I can offer to your injured fae??

?It will take some time for his wings to re-grow,? he said, and he did not look happy by that bit of news one bit.

Azjah gave him a very surprised look, ?Are you saying that someone?..? She cringed inwardly, ?removed?.? The mental images where truly horrible, ?the wings??

Quaid nodded very solemnly, ?Yes, cruelly.? There was something cold and dangerous in his expression.

Azjah was shocked at his confirmation, ?Oh my.? She truly didn?t know what to say on hearing such horrendous news.

?It is our world. There are being that would do such things and take pleasure from it.? Quaid seemed to keep a very tight leash on his temper at that point. ?I suspect it was our ?queen?, or one of her minions.?

Azjah leveled her gaze on Quaid, ?Tell me this was not one of your own, and that this was done by outside enemies.? But he had already confirmed her worst suspicions, ?My G~d.? She simply shook her head at the cruelty of the action. She frowned darkly at the news that he suspected their queen, ?What kind of queen would do that to one of her own subjects??

?A tyrant,? he supplied simply.

?A monster,? Azjah corrected.

?The Unseelie are?..? He let that hang a moment, ?Some more than others.? He was even referring to himself, although he did not say as much directly.

?If there is anything I can provide, please know you need only ask.? Azjah meant the offering, but since magic was not in her realm, she had no idea what might be helpful to him.

?Of course, I thank you,? he said graciously.

She canted her head at him then, she knew some about the Unseelie, much of it was negative, but Quaid and Rummy seemed very different from the stereotypes. ?Every race has its monsters Quaid. Do you have any idea how long it will take your friend to heal??

He shook his head, ?I don?t, but heal they will. Just take time.?

?Determination will go a long way,? Azjah added. Somehow she sensed that even Quaid did not know if the wings could be regrown, but he was determined, and that was important. ?How is Rummy taking all of this??

?She is rather incensed about it.? His eyes landed on the dancing flames in the hearth.

?I can imagine,? Azjah had a sudden concern for her new friend, ?She won?t do anything?..? she paused, uncertain how to ask what was on her mind, ?Risky, or dangerous, will she??

Quaid shook his head, ?No, we do not want to draw more attention. Not that way.? At Azjah?s nod, he continued, ?I feel like a craven fool, but even I have a healthy dose of not ticking her off.? Referring to his Queen.

Azjah gave him an understanding smile as he said, ?Indeed. Nothing like bringing the anger of a sadist down on you.?

She sipped her scotch, ?Never a good plan.? Then she decided to change topics, ?How were your Solstice celebrations? Or was the fae wounded before they began??

He gave a rather Gallic shrug, ?They were rather quiet.?

?We have?. Items of magic that do wondrous things. Like a ring that shows those that are fated to be.? Quaid gave another slight shrug.

?And she does not come seeking your return?? Azjah knew Wolfgang would have legions out looking for wayward Peers if the need rose.

?Not personally, through nightmares and her agents,? Quaid said softly.

Azjah remembered the haunted expression Rummy had worn, ?And the nightmares haunt Rummy?? It was a guess on her part.

Quaid?s eyes drifted to the flames, ?they are meant to test her. Possibly to break her spirit. The ring has spoken, the Goddess and the Consort have given their blessing.? His hand clenched tightly in anger.

Azjah noted the reaction, ?the ring is never wrong??

?Never. It shows us who our mates are. We can only marry if there is a child from the union.? His faith in this was quite firm.

?And your Queen knows this to be true?? Azjah was wondering if the ring was never wrong and had spoken, why the Queen continued to refuse to acknowledge the mating.

Quaid nodded, ?It once showed her who her own mate was. He was murdered, but she knows it to be true.?

Both brows winged upward, ?She didn?t, ah? have him murdered, did she?? Somehow Azjah could believe that this queen might be capable of such a thing.

?No, he was taken in the wars.? Quaid said, but he did not seem shocked by Azjah?s question in the least.

?Since she knows the truth of the ring, why would she fight your pairing?? This was the crux of the problem with Quaid?s assertion that the ring was never wrong.

He shook his head, ?Jealousy. Her power is fading. Our power fades.?

This was surprising news, ?Your power fades as you age? I did not know that about the Unseelie.?

?Time and a decrease in children.? He looked wistful then, ?We sacrificed much of our power in order to settle here.?

Azjah noted his expression, ?So you two will seek to have your child in RhyDin?? She wrapped one arm around herself without realizing it. She and Wil had never discussed children, and Quaid?s wistfulness was very evident. She didn?t even know how Wil felt about it.

Quaid nodded, ?It is the one place she has not the power to reach. Yet.?

?That is fortunate, that you have a sanctuary from her.? Azjah knew there were few places she could run to get out of Wolfgang?s reach.

He nodded, ?We are very fortunate.? He studied the fire and drew warmth from it. ?The wild magic decided to give me a nudge in Rummy?s direction.?

?Do you find your power here to be affected more than normally? Or were you able to retain what should be for your age and experiences?? She had heard of some races that the Nexus had impacted adversely.

He gave a bit of a shrug, ?My power has been largely unchanged, yet our connection to the Goddess and consort seems stronger.?

Azjah gave him a smile, ?I wish you success then with your goals, and hope you find the peace you seek away from your Queen.?

He returned the sentiment and they spoke briefly about his new home until Azjah glanced at the time, ?I should be going Quaid, will you please give my greetings to Rummy??

He rose, ?Of course, and Merry part, Azjah.?

She slipped into the chinchilla jacket, ?Merry Parting to you as well.?

Azjah understood well how market analysis went, ?How much of a volume would you require for your market evaluation? I have 0.5 tons of each available now.?

?That would do just fine,? Alain nodded, ?And as long as you?re willing to commit to larger bulks later, I?m willing to foot the bill on the samples.?

Azjah was ready for that, ?We can commit to six ton per month during the season, that might be increased, if you can handle some fluctuation. The chocolate is the question.?

Alain rested his chin against his steepled fingers and frowned, ?If it?s good chocolate?. Unique chocolate, I think I can pull it off. It?ll be a trick or two, but I can pull it off.?

Azjah gave Alain a slow smile, ?Is it good? I have never tasted better! It melts at precisely body temperature, it is smoother than silk, and is usually filled with a touch of liqueur, just enough to hint at the favorite flavor of the consumer.? She reached into a pocket of the chinchilla jacket and slid three foil wrapped bits across the table toward him, ?But you decide.?

Alain thought to question why she might know when it melts at precisely that temperature, then thinks better of it. He took one of the bits of chocolate, examined it, sniffed it, and bit off a corner, even though the young man in him just wanted to pop the whole thing into his mouth at once. He tasted it with his palate and nodded, ?You know, we could always start a chocolate business here in RhyDin. Export from here using my cross realm connections.?

Azjah savored her glass of scotch as he sampled the semisweet chocolate, ?I had Master Stradinger make my New Year chocolates for the Palazzo, he did a very acceptable job.? She was more than pleased by the results of RhyDin?s chocolatier.

?Right now, House resources are stretched thin, between too many businesses. But if you give me the samples, I can evaluate where the chocolate performs the best, and if you then set up a chocolatier here in RhyDin, I can arrange for the exports.?

Azjah nodded, ?I am not needing your House resources for the chocolate or the coffee exports, at least not in terms of getting them to your warehouses. But, your distribution network is what I need to hire. As well as a means for me to import some of the lighter coffees. Can your warehouses handle the chocolate? Storing it too warm will ruin it.? The coffee she knew would store beautifully, but the chocolate would require refrigeration.

Alain nodded, ?Oh, we can handle it in that sense, certainly. I just mean spreading ourselves too thin in general. Having too many businesses to attend to, the distribution won?t be a problem.? He seemed fairly certain on that front.

But Azjah paused, she didn?t want to overburden his growing company, and poor delivery would not help her plans either. ?I see. If you are not comfortable?.? She let that thought hang as she sipped her scotch thoughtfully.

?We can distribute the chocolate, and help you with exporting, but if we do that, I?d just prefer if your people handle the arrangement of any kind of store in RhyDin.?

Azjah considered that for a moment, ?I will discuss it with Master Stradinger.? She hadn?t thought about opening a shop in RhyDin, but the more she thought about it, the more logical it seemed to have a retail outlet in RhyDin as the export base. She also had to make sure these specialties went to Mentar through Rhaine?s connections. ?Let me know when you would like to have the samples. I will see to it that they are available to your people.?

Alain took another sip and nodded, then looked at Mish and nodded to him as well. ?As soon as possible, if you don?t mind.? He then gave her a smile, ?Was Santa good to you this year?? There was humor in his eyes as he watched her.

?Excellent, I shall look forward to your feedback.? Azjah canted her head at his question and gave him a bit of a smile, ?Santa was very good to me, he sent me Wil.? She winked at him as the engagement ring on her left hand glittered in the firelight, but Alain did not know her well enough to recognize the new ring.

Alain chuckled, ?I?m not sure I?ve met Wil.?

Azjah smiled, ?Perhaps one day you shall.?

Alain nodded, going thoughtful about something unspoken for a moment, but it wasn?t the kind of thing he was inclined to talk about so he changed the subject a bit, ?How do they do Christmas on Rigel??

Azjah had noted the expression, but sipped her scotch rather than pry, ?The Religion has several traditions, including a candle light vigil, the use of greens and holly to decorate. Wreathes are used to symbolize eternity and rebirth. We exchange gifts for 8 nights and meals are special for those nights. There are 8 nights to be shared for us Alain. What about you??

?Just one. In Sainte-Ouen,? he chose to say that instead of Nouveau Bretagne, the city-state that he had left behind, ?We open one present apiece on Christmas Eve, the rest on Christmas Day, but I haven?t done it that way in?. well, a very long time.? He added with a soft smile, ?Perhaps next year.?

Azjah?s brow lifted in question, ?Why have you not done so in such a long time?? It seemed a simple enough ritual to her.

?Well, family situations change sometimes, and I don?t know anyone here who has all the same traditions.?

Azjah knew he was evading for some reason, ?True, everyone?s traditions are different. How did you celebrate then??

?Each family has its own ?Krestaen?, uh,? He frowned, realizing he?d spoken a word peculiar to his own language and shifted to explain, ?Sort of like a small Advent shrine you keep in the home, and the tree was always decorated Christmas Eve morning by the children if the parents worked.?

She noted again that he avoided saying how HE had spent the holiday. ?You have trees?? She prompted.

He nodded.

Azjah rose and slipped into the fur jacket, ?I should be going Baron.?

He nodded, ?Have a good night. I?m sure we?ll be in touch about the business.?

?I shall look forward to it Baron,? She told him as she pulled on the deerskin leather gloves and made her way into the night.

?I will need some of your mineral seekers to verify the extent,? she said simply to Azjah.

?Of course, when would you like them?? Azjah was curious just what kind of mineralogical find Kairee was on to now.

?In a week or so, my boys are clearing out some, um, squatters, yes, that?s the word,? she added rather obliquely.

Azjah gave her a smile, ?Just let the geologist at the mine know, he?ll arrange them to be ready when you need them.? The shadows shifted overhead abruptly and Azjah gave a sharp look up at the shadows as Lord Alcar hung upside down from the rafters overhead to scan the patrons, ?You know Darkmere, that is ever sooo?. Errr?.. bat like.? She gave a light shudder. He bared his fangs at her with his eyes going pitch black, as though he were agreeing with her.

Kairee snickered, ?He?s just looking for attention Azjah, though he is cute and cuddly.?

Azjah?s gaze slid toward Kairee reluctantly, ?It works. But I?m not sure bats qualify as cute and cuddly, especially ones with fangs this long!? She made a two foot space between her hands to indicate the length of the fangs.

?Well, to another bat, size might matter,? Kairee chuckled.

Azjah had to laugh at that, ?I suppose another bat might find it cute and cuddly?.? She wasn?t touching the size comment.

Darkmere gave a smirk before opening his black wings wide for a moment, it added to the entire bat like effect after all.

Azjah looked at the display, ?Decidedly bat like!!?

Kairee chuckled, ?I think that?s a mating display.? She gave a nod toward the wingspan display, ?Speaking of mating displays babes, where?s your boy-toy??

Azjah gave Kairee a radiant smile, and held up her left hand, ?Well, for the moment, he?s out of town, but this was my Yule present. I guess he felt it important to make the engagement official.? Azjah?s smile was a very clear indication of how happy this Yule had been for her.

Kairee blinked, ?That?s a nice rock, where did he steal it from?? Her wink was teasing as she grinned.

?Poor guy,? Came Darkmere?s commentary from the rafters, though there was a teasing tone to his words.

Azjah studied the three diamonds in the setting, ?Well, each one is from a different world, but the two blue diamonds are representative of the Rigelian suns.? She then stuck her tongue out at Darkmere, ?He doesn?t think it?s such a bad deal!?

Darkmere smirked, ?Keep sticking that out, I?ll bite it off.? Which elicited a grimace from Azjah.

Kairee chuckled, ?To be honest Azjah, Wil?s judgment has been questionable in the past?. Not in this case, of course.? She smirked, ?In this case, we have to wonder about your judgment.?

Azjah glowered at Lord Alcar, ?You?d have to get too close Lord Alcar. I am in no danger.? Then she gave Kairee a merry laugh, ?Well, Wil and I are birds of a feather, at least so far, so perhaps both of us are slightly questionable??

Kairee chuckled softly, ?Yes, I could agree with that, when will you have this ceremony of yours? Will it be here, or back in your home empire??

Darkmere was now walking upside down along the rafters, and guess where he stopped, right in front of Azjah. She shifted her attention to Lord Alcar and then deliberately stuck her tongue out at him again. And abruptly he did try to bite her tongue? literally.

Azjah yelped and jerked her head back, ?HEY!? Then she smiled at Kairee, ?We have not set a date Kairee, and while we will have to do something on Rigel, it is here that we have friends.?

Darkmere smirked, ?I warned you!?

?Fangs OFF!,? Azjah shot back at him

?Scared you might enjoy it?? He gave her a slow, fanged smirk.

Kairee gave a soft laugh at Darkmere?s lunge, ?He?s feeling frisky tonight Azjah. I think he is hurt that you are to wed and are not keeping yourself for him. If you had pigtails, he would dip them in inkwells.?

Azjah slid a glance at Kairee, ?He?s mated.? She didn?t bother adding that for all intents and purposes, so was she now, and happily so. Then she lifted a brow at Darkmere, ?I might, but not with you.? And she stuck her tongue out at him once more.

He chuckled at that and moved away as Kairee observed, ?So are others, it doesn?t stop them from the hunt. The chase is fun, even if they never make the kill.?

Azjah chuckled, ?I cannot say that I have ever seen Lord Alcar behave inappropriately in those terms.? Which was why she knew he wouldn?t get close enough to actually bite her. Just the same, as he moved away, she did take a deeper breath of relief.

?A refill on the scotch would be lovely Brandon. And I look forward to seeing the finished craft.? She gave him a return smile.

He set his hand out for her glass and she handed it to him as she made another note in her computer. She would send the message later that evening to Mentar. Then she glanced toward the rafters just to keep tabs on Darkmere?s whereabouts.

Brandon was talking with Lerida and she glanced their direction when she heard her name, but Brandon was explaining his computer needs to the woman.

Outside, Fabrizio gave a slight pause as he stepped onto the porch of the Inn and glanced through the frosted front window. His dark eyes did not recognize a single face, but with a shrug, he walked to the door and pushed it open. He walked with the grace of those born with a silver spoon. His long, chocolate brown hair was gelled back and in a ponytail at the base of his skull. His thin face was adorned by a five o?clock shadow. He wore designer label dress shoes that were shined to a high gloss sheen. As the door closed behind him, he loosened the belt of his woolen winter duster. Within moments, the outer gear was removed and shrugged off. Beneath it he wore tailored silk suit of charcoal gray with a white dress shirt and a blood red tie.

Azjah glanced up as the door opened and closed again to admit the well-dressed male.

Fabrizio hung up his winter coat, and then proceeded to walk casually toward the bar. His pocket vibrated and he reached in to grasp his cell phone. His dark eyes met Azjah?s before he glanced down, using his thumb, he punched out a message, sent it and pocketed the phone. His smile was warm as he approached Azjah, ?Good evening.?

Azjah?s pale blue gaze lifted from her microcomputer to Fabrizio?s, ?Good evening. We have not met, I would have remembered.? She suspected he was new to RhyDin, given his attire and mannerisms, she should have run into him before now if he were not new.

He extended his hand in greeting, ?I am Fabrizio. Glad to have made your acquaintance.? He settled onto a bar stool after Azjah had lifted her hand to his, ?Azjah Danaan, indeed, a pleasure. You are new to RhyDin??

He had taken her hand and brought her hand to his lips for a brief kiss before releasing it, ?You could say that. This is a very interesting place indeed.?

She gave him a smile for the Courtly mannerisms, ?This is a special place in all the realms I have travelled.?

?I have not had a chance to explore it overly much.? He smiled in return and turned his attention fully on her. ?Perhaps you could suggest something good to drink here??

Azjah smiled, ?Well, it depends on what you like, but my personal favorite is the Distiller?s edition Dalwhinnie scotch.?

?That sounds excellent,? he said as he tore his gaze from her face to search the bar for a server. ?perhaps later, when there?s someone to serve it though.?

Azjah chuckled, ?Unless you do not mind serving yourself. Panther keeps my bottle in the cabinet to the left.?

His dark eyes came back as his brows shot upward in surprise, ?The proprietor trusts the clientele that much to allow them to serve themselves?? He rose then and stepped behind the bar, ?Which cabinet?? I shall pour us both a drink.?

?The one on the left as you face the room, it appears locked, but is not.? She laughed softly, ?Panther has ways of knowing what happens here.?

?Hmmm,? his hand moved up to caress the thin beard on his chin, ?Oh, this one?? He opened the cabinet to find the bottle within. He poured two glasses, ?One for you,? as he set it before Azjah before pouring himself a glass as well.

Azjah laid the microcomputer down beside her, ?thank you Fabrizio. Will you be staying in RhyDin or are you merely passing through??

He lifted the snifter up and did a deep inhalation of the fine scotch?s bouquet before taking a sip. His eyes narrowed slightly as the liquor burned a trail down his throat, ?It?s difficult to say. I have family here, but business tends to keep us in all different locations.?

Azjah lifted her glass toward him slightly, ?Family? That is helpful. May I inquire what business??

His head dipped slightly as he lifted his glass toward hers, ?Shipping, cargo and the likes.? Then he took another sip of the scotch.

Azjah lifted a brow at him. ?General shipping, or specialized transport??

?General, people are always wanting to move things from one place to another. We provide that service.? He walked back from behind the bar to retake his seat. ?And you, do you live in RhyDin??

?I have a home here, over in New Market district, though home is actually on Rigel.? Azjah told him before taking her first sip of the refilled glass.

?Rigel?? He lifted a delicate brow at her inquisitively. ?I?ve not heard of it before.?

?Beta Orionis,? she supplied, thinking perhaps that might help him with where Rigel was, ?We are in what is called the Orion constellation.?

He was still obviously a bit lost, and he brought a hand up to rub the back of his neck, ?I?m sorry, please forgive my ignorance. You?re from another planet??

?I?m a bit of a collector of personal firearms. Perhaps sometime you could show me your line?? His dark eyes were very intent on her now.

?Perhaps, if you like to come by the office, I can show you the line we make here on Rhydin.? Then she reached beneath the pale blue silk suit jacket for the hidden shoulder holster and removed a beautifully decorated DWI .50, laying it on the table with the safety on. Her fingers slid away from the grips of the pistol.

?I think we could make an appointment,? he was saying, but his eyes went wide when she laid the weapon down. He started to reach for it, but stopped short of touching it. ?May I??

?I would not have laid it there for your review if you should not.? She smiled. ?I like the projectile weapons, but I do carry pulse and laser as well.?

He lifted the weapon and studied it carefully, with the eyes of someone who knew and liked such weapons. He delicately ran his fingers over the filigreed barrel as he weighed the gun in his right hand. ?Very nice indeed,? he said without taking his eyes off the weapon. He brought it up and with a slight squint to his eyes, he sighted down the 10? barrel and tritium sights. The grips on the pistol were smaller than those for a man?s hand, and were clearly custom fit for a woman?s hand. He laid the weapon once more on the table beside Azjah. ?Very feminine, my cousin would do well with one like that. One can never be too careful.? He then folded both hands in his lap.

Azjah smiled, ?Feminine and accurate at better distance with this barrel. The shorter one is easier to conceal, but this is more accurate.? She picked up the ornately decorated weapon, checked the safety and reholstered it.

Fabrizio smiled, ?Indeed, just in case they try to get away.? He laughed and watched as the gun was put back into its proper place.

Azjah chuckled then, ?I prefer not to let them get too close in the first place myself.? She sipped the scotch. The fifty caliber would put a sizable hole into almost anything. Stopping power was an important property to her.

He laughed, ?I can?t blame you there.? He then leaned back a bit and let his gaze wander around the bar before his dark eyes landed back on her.

?We will have the shop open again on Monday. Let Charlotte know when you would like to visit. I?ll make myself available to show you around.? Azjah finished her scotch and set the glass onto the table.

He pulled out that phone again and started tapping the screen as she spoke, ?Where is the shop?? He looked up then.

?Over along the lake, near the Talanador shipping docks. Badside district on the waterfront.?

His smile grew as she explained the location and he tapped a few more times. ?I will be in contact with this Charlotte. I do look forward to seeing the firearms.? At her smile, he added, ?I am sure it will be a pleasure to do business with you, Azjah.?

She smiled, ?We shall see what you think after you?ve seen our stores.?

?Oh, come now, they can?t be that bad,? he chuckled softly and shook his head. ?If that piece is an indication of the kind of work that your family does, I?m sure that it?ll be a fruitful transaction for us both.?

Azjah gave him a warm smile, ?That is top of the line here. I shall hope then that you enjoy the tour. I should be departing however. It has been a pleasure Fabrizio.?

He nodded slowly, ?That I shall, and the company as well.? He rose, as a gentleman should when she mentioned leaving. ?It has been a pleasure, yes.?

She slid into the chinchilla jacket and withdrew the deerskin leather gloves, ?It has been a pleasure Fabrizio.? Then she glanced at Brandon, ?I shall have an answer later tomorrow Brandon.?

Fabrizio bowed slightly, ?Good evening Azjah.?

She turned and made her way toward the door, passing Gemethyst as she did, giving the elfess a bright smile as they passed, Gem bidding her sweet dreams and light laughter. Azjah shot her a grin as she slipped through the door, ?I have a new bit of jewelry my friend.? But she was already into the street to leave Gemethyst to perk her attention toward the closed door. She would show Gem the next time they met.

Myna just that moment noticed the small drake, and she gasped, and started backwards into her chair, her eyes widening in surprise, ?Ayah? what is that!??

Azjah glanced in the direction of the little drake, hit had moved much closer by now, and she sent the serving lad for a plate of beef before lifting a brow at her panicked reaction. ?It is a dragon, a little one, but a dragon none the less.? Said little dragon then looked at Myna with curious blue eyes before moving straight toward her.

Azjah set the plate low enough that the little one could eat it if he wanted it, then she looked at Myna, ?I don?t think he?s going to hurt you.?

Myna was not panicked so much as surprised and incredulous, ?Now I DO look the lackwit?? She shook her head slightly and lowered her hood so that she could get a better look at the dragon. ?Is it so obvious, this is my? my first gate journey? I should have recognized? but there haven?t been such as he on my world in? well, great-gran had heard naught but stories.?

Azjah gave her a soft smile, ?It is obvious that you are out of your element. Have you a name?? The drake sniffed the meat, but he apparently wasn?t hungry and he turned back to Myna, coming right up to her and giving her a little nudge with his nose. Azjah chuckled as the offering was rejected. She had never seen Drakkhan turn down food, but that was another time. ?I don?t think Drakkhan ever turned down food.? She gave both Myna and the drake a teasing grin.

Myna leaned forward, her mousy-brown locks falling forward to hide her features somewhat as she slipped from the chair and knelt to examine the dragon. ?Is it true that they are thinking people, or are they beasts of this world?? Her trepidation nearly forgotten in her interest. She reached over and stroked the nose that had nudged her, then gave Azjah a genuine smile. ?My mother-name is Starling, and given name Mynali.? The small dragon purred as she gently stroked his muzzle.

Azjah sipped the macchiato, ?They are thinking creatures here Mynali Starling. And I am Azjah, Azjah Danaan.?

Myna blushed slightly as she remembered her manners, and she straightened, placing a hand on her chest and bowing to Azjah, ?I greet you, Miss Azjah, in the name of my family and clan. My year-mates call me ?Myna?, and I would be honored if you would as well.? She glanced about, bit her lip a little, hoping she hadn?t forgotten anything before once again resuming her gentle stroking of the dragon?s head. ?And greetings to you, small one.?

?Myna it is then. So you said this was your first trip?? She watched her with the dragon, recognizing the girl?s affinity for animals as she sipped the macchiato as more purring came from the drakling as he looked once more around the Inn.

?Yes, Miss. I?? she flushed a bright red and lowered her tone, surely it couldn?t hurt to speak to this kind woman, could it? ?I haven?t yet reached two dozen winters, to take my first world-sojourn, but when my mam?? she swallowed hard, and then continued, ?I decided to leave early. It was for the best.? She nodded, although her chin quivered just a touch.

Azjah?s empathy picked up on the undercurrents of great sadness, and fear, ?Have you a place to stay??

She continued quietly, ?I didn?t think things would be so? so strange. I knew there was no way to tell where I might travel to, but I thought?.? She coughed and blushed again, her face might as well stay that color the way things seemed to be going. ?I?m sorry, I don?t mean to babble on. I haven?t found lodgings in this town yet. I generally am comfortable in the woods, but this winter is chillier than I have known. It was just nigh-autumn when I left.? As she spoke, the little dragon began crawling up Myna?s leg.

Azjah nodded, figuring from the looks of her that she had been making due in the wilds. ?Yes, it has been a very cold winter, let me get you a room key.? Azjah headed for the bar, snagging a key to a room upstairs, and left the platinums for it in the till before returning and handing Myna the key. ?Here, you?ll be warmer tonight I wager.?

Myna wrapped her hands around the mug again, and slipped down into a cross legged sitting position. The tips of dirty, bare toes peeked out from the hem of her cloak as she spoke to the drake, ?I hope your parents are not large, and jealous?.? She pulled him gently into her lap to examine and stroke, her eyes trailing over his scales and wings in true admiration. He curled up in her lap, purring again. His wings ruffled slightly as he watched her in return, curiosity apparent in both creatures expressions.

Myna glanced up at Azjah, her mouth dropping open unbecomingly, and the faint yellow ring around her pupils contracted slightly as she stared in surprise. ?I? thank you, ma?am, but I have only a few coins. I could not afford to stay in such a fine place. Just a bit of warmth is what I sought.? She trailed off in confusion. ?In sooth, as long as I am not, not a bother, I would gladly work for my keep.?

Azjah canted her head, ?And so you shall have a bit of warmth tonight. Consider it my ?welcome to RhyDin? gift Myna. I don?t know if Panther is hiring, but a meal and a place to rest are always welcome things for travelers.?

Outside, from the heavens a slender brunette landed in front of the Inn. Hands upon her hips as she examined her surroundings. She considered the Inn a primitive dwelling, but perhaps answers may be found here. She spoke softly to herself as her high heels clicked across the hard wood sounding her entrance. She stood just inside the door as her gaze passed slowly over each patron within.

Azjah sent a serving lad for another caramel macchiato and a refill for Myna?s coffee. He returned with two mugs, cream, and sugar. Placing Myna?s before her with the cream and sugar this time. The little drake was now watching Azjah with those intense blue eyes.

Venna slowly made her way toward an empty table, pulling the chair out and sitting down comfortably. She seemed content now to just listen.

Myna shook her head, ?No more than I can understand most beasts ? knowin? what a tail flick or ear twitch means, unless I?m?? she dropped off, swallowing whatever she was about to say. ?Unless they can speak a common tongue, I mean. That?s unknown in my world though.?

Azjah was pondering what the girl had been about to say as Wil paused just outside the Inn to flick a spent cigarette into the muddy street. He entered the Inn wearing somewhat faded jeans, a tight fitting, black cable-knit pullover that zippered at the neck. A black leather jacket over that, but the jacket was open in the front.

Azjah was studying Myna and didn?t see Wil immediately. ?Well, I?m sure he?s called something, but unless he can tell us, what will you call him?? Then she glanced at the door, a brilliant smile lighting her features. ?Wil!!!!? She had not expected to see him this soon.

The drake shifted, then rolled over and ended up falling off Myna?s lap, landing on the ground. He looked around sleepily.

Myna had just pet him, looking up at Azjah, ?He doesn?t really look like a ?Wil? to me.? But there was a twinkle in her eye as she gave away her jest.

Wil gave Azjah his trademark bad boy grin, ?Azjah, my love. I knew there was brilliance shining from within the Inn!? He approached her directly and with purpose as she gave him a soft laugh. Then she winked at Myna, ?I wasn?t thinking of the drake as Wil.? She rose then and gave Wil a hug, savoring the warmth and feel of his body a moment. ?May I introduce Myna? She?s coming to work with Dyson Monday.? Then she went up onto her toes and kissed his cheek with a smile. The kiss she wanted would have to wait until later. ?You are too kind my dear,? she said with a faint blush at his compliment.

Wil spotted Kairee, ?Oh! And Kairee is here! Hi Kairee, babes!? He winked when he saw her sitting on the bar. She returned the wink, ?Hey babes?.?

Myna blushed, shy again at this new entrant, and she rose and gave him a quick bow. ?Sir.? She greeted softly.

Wil spoke softly to Azjah after returning her kiss, ?Sure Darling.? He looked then at Myna and smiled.

Azjah smiled, ?Myna, this is my fianc?, Wil Savage. Wil, this is Myna Starling.? She motioned toward the sleeping drake, ?And that little fellow we don?t know a name for, but he?s been happily sleeping on Myna?s lap until just now.? And with that pronouncement, the drake proceeded to hop back up into Myna?s lap and curl up with a yawn and a curious look at Wil.

Wil gave Myna a bow, ?Myna, it?s a pleasure to meet you.? Azjah slipped beneath Wil?s shoulder and wrapped an arm around his waist just as his arm slid around her shoulders and he glanced around the Inn briefly.

Myna beamed a little at the dragon and stretched to allow him room in her lap again as she resumed stroking his back, her eyes rose to gaze shyly at Wil again, ?Much obliged to make your acquaintance, sir.?

Wil glanced at Azjah, ?Have you and Myna known each other long?? He smiled a bit as she made room for the little dragon.

Azjah shook her head, ?No, we met today. She was cold too, and we were both seeking the warmth of the fire. So, we got to talking, This is her first trip to RhyDin, and she is looking for a bit of work short term.? Azjah would explain the whole thing to Wil later, and she flashed him a smile. ?And if we can talk Mer out of some of that ?cawfee?, I?ll get you a mug.? She loved to imitate the way he turned the word coffee when he was relaxed.

Wil nodded as he listened, ?I see. Well, welcome to RhyDin Myna. It?s good to have you be a part of our little community of crazies.? Then he gave Azjah a slight shake of his head, ?Oh baby, I?d love it, but I can?t stay.?

Azjah nodded then, ?alright darlin?, you know I?m always happy to see you, even if only for a short bit.? Every moment with him was precious to her.

Chase was in the middle of pouring herself some Goldschlager when Wil spotted her. He gave the woman a smile and waved, ?Hi Chase! Long time, no see.? She had resumed pouring her drink and then brightened when the one she had recognized earlier gave her a second of his time, ?Howdy Wil! It has been forever!? She saluted him then.

Myna ducked her head, as if absorbed with petting the dragon, then she glanced up again at Wil, ?Oh no, everyone has been very kind Sir. Umm, except the ?. Gentleman who was thrown into a wall. He was a bit? rude? to the lady at the bar.? Myna nodded very earnestly at him.

Azjah gave a soft laugh hearing Myna, ?Well, Kairee gave him a lesson in manners.?

This brought a slight grin from Myna, ?Remind me not to offend Miss Kairee then.?

Wil laughed richly at that, ?One should never be rude to the one with the splendiferous legs,? and he winked at Kairee. Azjah chuckled and told Myna, ?Just give her presents, and it?s all good.?

Azjah smiled at Vutha, ?No eating the little bird.? That brought a quick jump, the slender feet hopping across the chair back to stay, hopefully just out of snapping range, you never know. But thankfully, the drake wasn?t interested in eating, just playing. He hopped into the air, but missed the little bird. ?Well, well Myna, you are a young woman of surprising talents.?

Curious now, Myna fluttered from the chair to the top of another, waiting to see if the small one could attain flight as well. He ruffled his wings, but didn?t try to take flight, he simply hopped to the other chair instead. The starling gave a soft chatter, and then hopped down, briefly alighting on one of the draklings wing spurs, then dropped to the chair that Azjah had draped her cloak over. With a practiced effort, the songbird wriggled under the hem and rustled about inside for a moment. With another strange ripple of motion, the robe twisted and inflated, and there was a brief rustle of cloth as the again human Myna twisted and slid her arms through the sleeves.

Azjah gave a soft chuckle, ?He might be too young to fly Myna, and I would say that you?ve come to the right place with such skills.?

The drake had given a ruffle of his wings as the bird flew to another chair, and he hopped to that chair, and then had gone digging into the clothes for the bird. Now, he found himself in Myna?s pocket.

Myna bowed first to Azjah, and then Vutha, ?I?m not near as skilled as one usually is on being approved for their first sojourn. I know my birth clan form, but haven?t learned the others expected of one on a journey. Normally, one must master four forms before being allowed a travel pass.? She gave a soft laugh, a peal of amusement now that she no longer was as apprehensive as she had once been of this place, and she reached down to tickle the dragon?s chin where he curled up in her satchel.

Azjah had caught the way she had worded that, ?With practice, you will get better Myna. So, how did you gain your travel pass??

?I? well?. I mean I?? She started, her mind racing as she tried to think of a good excuse, but the guilty look that flashed across her features told the tale. She knelt down to Vutha then, ?Are you, like me, Vutha? A traveler?? She wasn?t really expecting an answer, ?Or perhaps a foundling?? He looked her over and tilted his head slightly at her. ?Can you understand me and just cannot speak? Or am I talking to myself again?? She teased him.

Azjah took a sip of her caramel coffee, ?so I take it Myna that you don?t have the authorization to travel, just a wild guess.? She?d noted the young woman?s discomfort, and the empathic feeling was one of extreme guilt.

Myna ducked her head, as though ashamed, ?I? I took my mam?s pass. She no longer?. No longer had use of it. And when she?? Myna swallowed hard before continuing, ?After she was gone, our village held no place for me any longer.?

Azjah canted her head slightly, then very gently asked, ?Your mother has passed??

Her hands clenched tightly and her eyes too before she gave the slightest nod. She was not quite ready to face this fully, ?Aye.?

Azjah took a deeper breath, ?Will they come after you? Can they tell where you?ve gone??

She shook her head, then followed that with a sardonic smile, ?Even if they were willing to take the effort to trace my travels, they would not. Who would come after me? I am an?. An orphan. Of no particular skill, talent, or worth. I was accepted, for sake of my mother, but with no father, I have no lineage or inheritance. Just another mouth to feed.? She paused, then continued more softly. ?Not to say they were cruel, but it is our way. A female belongs to her family, then to her husband. For the sake of my mother, we were supported. But to stay would mean to be accepted as a lesser servant, or hand-fasted as a second wife to another family. I? I just wasn?t ready to become that person.?

Azjah nodded slightly, she knew too well the fate of females in a male dominated realm. ?I can understand your trepidation and lack of interest in that fate. So you came here using her travel pass, what will you do next, or have you thought about it??

Myna stood abruptly, her eyes bright with unshed tears, ?I beg your pardon, Miss Azjah, I need some fresh air. I thank you for your hospitality and offer, and will come to your holding on Monday. I just need?. A moment alone.? She bowed, with her hand on her chest again before stepping quickly out, rubbing the edge of a sleeve roughly over her eyes as she went.

Both brows winged upward at her abrupt departure, and then Azjah pursed her lips in thought. The child was thrust into RhyDin alone, and completely unprepared for where she had landed. She sipped the coffee a moment, considered switching to scotch since Wil would not have returned to the Palazzo yet, and it was growing late.

Venna had remained silent after spending some time speaking with Kairee, and she had been listening to Myna and Azjah?s discussion. The talk of betrothement and servitude had garnered her attention. Then she made a decision, she needed to make new friends, and she slowly pushed off from the post she had been leaning against and made her way toward Azjah.

Azjah glanced up catching the approaching movement in her peripheral vision, pale blue eyes landed on Venna, ?good afternoon.?

Venna nodded at her microcomputer, ?Seems there is technology on this rye din, and I assume you have space traveling capabilities as well?? Her eyes met Azjah?s then.

Azjah flashed her a smile, ?Yes, there is technology here, and you assume correctly about the space traveling ability. We haven?t met, I am Azjah Danaan.?

?Venna of House Kor Security Officer on the Planet of Krypton. Have you heard of it??

Azjah nodded, ?I have heard of it, but confess, I have never been there.? She motioned to an empty chair. ?Have a seat. Nice to meet you Venna of House Kor.?

Venna slowly took a seat. ?Not that I am complaining about this planet, but I would much like to return to my home world. I have duties, and I would hate to lose my position due to absence.? Her tone was soft, but her resolution quite firm.

Azjah canted her head slightly, ?There is difficulty in returning?? If the woman had managed to get to RhyDin, why couldn?t she get back?

?I do not know this system. I do not have star charts to reference, so a course to my home is impossible for me. I was on patrol when a dust storm came up, and when it had settled, I was here. This Rye din as I have come to know it from the Empress Kai ree.? Venna told her quite simply.

Azjah nodded thoughtfully, ?Well, we can remedy that lack of star charts, but I?m afraid mine are in Rigelian rather than in Common, but the stars themselves are immutable.? She gave a soft chuckle hearing Kairee called Empress, ?Ah, Kairee, a wonderful soul. Empress you say? I?ll have to ask her about that.? She was still chuckling when she motioned for a serving lad, ?What would you like to drink Venna??

?So, a course can be plotted. I can compensate your journey with trade, of course. Though I am not sure what motivated your kind.? She oddly enough was not thirsty or hungry, which seemed to be another gift of the yellow sun. ?I do not need anything, oddly enough. It seems I have abilities here I have never had on Krypton.?

Azjah nodded as she sent the lad for a glass of Dalwhinni scotch. ?We can certainly see about making the course, but while I have heard of your home world, I?m not sure how to get you there. Trade is always welcome.? Azjah smiled, but was wondering why Venna needed her to transport her home since she had been on patrol. ?What motivated us? Well, my Kaiser is one of those expansionist sorts, and we have traveled extensively in colonization efforts. I settled here about 10 years ago to expand the family business.? She took the scotch from the lad and studied Venna a moment, ?Desirable abilities, or?..??

Perhaps I can grant for you to have an audience with the Council. I am sure they would love to have a new planet to trade with.? She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, ?Though I would be interested in trying the drink you ordered, if that is indeed what you have ordered.?

Azjah smiled at her, ?There is no finer scotch anywhere.? She send the lad back to the bar for a second glass, which is delivered to Venna promptly.

Azjah gave her a bright smile as she lamented that her hearing was picking up everyone?s voices and the volume was nearly deafening. ?Lucien and Gabriel and Dominik have that problem too. When we first arrived, they were very unhappy about the number of people this city holds, but they?ve learned how to turn it down.?

Overhead a swirl of shadows in the rafter announced his arrival, arms crossed over his chest and golden eyes peered down at those gathered in the commons with his usual stoic expression. Azjah hazarded a glance upward, she really hated swirling shadows overhead, they made her uneasy. Darkmere?s gaze paused on Azjah and her companion from his perch before looking over the others.

Venna lifted the scotch up, bringing it to her lips for a small sip. ?Interesting. Is it supposed to burn your lips??

Azjah dragged her gaze back down, ?Oh yes, it is. It should burn all the way down to your stomach, but it?s a lovely warming effect.?

?So, it is a drink to bring comfort,? she said thoughtfully with a nod, ?Interesting.? Then she took another sip.

Azjah nodded as she sipped her own glass, ?Yes, you could say that, but too much will bring its own form of pain.? She chuckled softly, ?I find the bite of the scotch a most pleasant one Venna.?

?That is interesting. I was attacked by something earlier, though I do not have a mark from it. And the beast, I crushed it as if it were made of paper. I guess that is another side effect of being on this planet.? She sipped the amber liquid again.

Azjah?s brows winged upward, ?Attacked??

Lord Alcar?s brow quirked at a comment that he overheard, but the brooding one remained silent.

?It was some four legged, furry thing which walked on all fours, had a tail, and yellow eyes by a body of water.?

Azjah had spotted Lord Alcar earlier so she muttered for effect, ?Well, that leaves out our bat like demon.? The amber eyes in the rafters moved then to peer down at Azjah.

?Bat? What is a bat and demon?? Venna asked then.

Azjah flashed Venna a smile, ?An angel from the ranks of mischief demons. That scotch is good, is it not?? Then Azjah grinned and decided to quote the vampiric ?angel?: ?Actually Venna, he?s a ?dark brooding bastard?, but just ignore that aspect.?

Lord Alcar glanced at her, ?And you adore my company.?

Venna smiled back, ?I see. And the point of those pranks being self amusement I see.? She sipped the scotch. ?It is unique. As this is the first drink I have had here, I cannot compare it to anything.? She had no idea what some of those terms meant, but she nodded out of politeness and sipped the scotch.

Azjah chuckled, ?Of course I do Lord Alcar, you mean you noticed?? Which managed to elicit a rumbling chuckle from Darkmere.

She looked at Venna over her glass, ?If you would care to come to Star?s End, I can let you have a look at the charts. My vessel is there, the charts are loaded into the computers.? She nodded and Azjah then asked her how long she had been stranded in RhyDin.

Venna?s answer shocked her, ?Under twenty four hours.?

Azjah was about to comment that it had been a very recent landing when she heard Darkmere say, ?another poor soul.? She shot a look into the rafters. ?I don?t suppose you?re hiding star charts in those wings?? Her intention was to hush him up, but it backfired.

?No, but if you ask nicely, I might be able to make some appear.? He peered down at Azjah in all seriousness.

Azjah didn?t particularly believe that Darkmere was capable of such, ?Accurate, and updated? In Common?? She knew she would have to be quite specific or he would find some way to make a mockery of the request.

?Yes,? he said with a thin smirk.

Venna chimed in then, ?Kryptonian would be better. I do not know this Common alphabet.?

Hearing Venna, he closed his eyes for a moment. He then held out his hand over the two females as the shadows wrapped around his arm. A moment later, the desired map dropped and landed in Venna?s lap, all rolled up.

Azjah watched as Venna unrolled it and she looked up at Lord Alcar, giving him a sincere thanks for the chart. Magic was a fascinating thing.

Darkmere crossed his arm over his chest again, ?Welcome,? he said, but the tone suggested that it was his one good deed per day accomplished and that would be all there was.

Venna lifted the charts and began to unravel them. Her eyes speeding across them at great speed. She shuffled them just as rapidly as she looked them over. ?This?. This can?t be right. There is no sign of Krypton.? She shuffled through them once more. ?The planet could not have vanished. That sun was not expected to supernova for at least another million years. I mean, I heard the doonspeakers on the street from time to time, but?. ? she continued to shuffle, then she rose abruptly, her hands placed on Dark?s person and pulled him eye to eye. ?If this is another one of your pranks, I do not find it amusing!? Her booming voice rattled the windows of the Inn.

Azjah quirked a brow at her words, ?Vanished?? Then she winced, ?Ummm, Venna,? she was really worried about what Darkmere would do next.

Darkmere?s gaze moved toward the door a moment before he looked at Venna. ?the maps are telling the truth, now, unhand me.? Once she did, he merely dusted off his cloak.

Azjah shook her head at Venna, ?He may be a trouble maker extraordinaire, but he wouldn?t monkey with the charts.?

She unhanded him, her whole body trembling as she began to pace the room. She appeared on the verge of exploding when she lifted a finger, ?I?ll be back,? she managed to say between gritted teeth before she flew off like a bullet. Several minutes later, a mighty scream of rage could be heard echoing in the distance.

Azjah set down her glass, ?You?re certain those charts are right?? her pale eyes landed on Darkmere.

?I am certain. The world she is from is no more. A global natural disaster destroyed it.? He crossed his arms once more. ?I am sorry for her loss,? he murmured very quietly.

Azjah frowned at that news. She picked up her glass and toyed with it, giving him a single nod at his low murmur.

When Venna returned, her face was soaked with tears as she moved back inside. She took her drink and gulped the contents and handed it to the serving lad, ?Another,? is all she said.

Azjah slid a clean linen napkin toward Venna, not saying a word just yet.

She looked then at Darkmere, ?My planet was destroyed?? She had heard him despite not having been in the Inn at the time.

?Yes,? was all he said as he looked down from his perch in the rafters.

She nodded, ?How?? She took another gulp of the poured drink. Not that she could get drunk, but she would try! Azjah winced as she downed the scotch much too quickly for most organic creatures.

Wil and Azjah had spent the holiday called Saint Valentine?s Day together in RhyDin. They had just come from dinner and decided to stop on their way home at the Inn. Wil pulled the door to the Inn open and Azjah walked through the door with a soft laugh. He winked at her as they paused inside. Wil nodded toward the hearth, ?Bye the fire??

Azjah gave him an impish smile, ?Excellent choice, it got cool out there.? She shivered and made for the fire when she saw Eless sitting nearby talking to Rena.

Eless nodded at Rena, ?That is a good idea, ?tis similar to what I am doing for Topaz. I?m giving her a small sample to try out before I blend the final fragrance.? She gave Wil and Azjah a wave, ?Good evening and Happy Valentine?s Day.?

Wil told her to get comfy while he retrieved twin glasses of Dalwhinnie. He gave Eless a smile, ?A Happy Valentine?s to you too!? Then he headed behind the bar, noticing that things had been moved about, but eventually he located the scotch and two glasses.

Azjah curled up near the fire after slipping out of the chinchilla jacket and draping it over the back of her chair, ?Good evening and the same to you Eless. Did you do anything special?? She noted Maranya?s nod of greeting and waved back to the Doctor.

Eless shook her head, ?No, not really Azjah, I do nay celebrate it, but I am nay averse to gifts ? I never am.? She chuckled merrily

Wil poured the two glasses of excellent scotch, picked them up and walked back toward Azjah?s chair. Handing her one, ?For you, my Valentine.? He winked at her then smiled at Eless?s answer, ?What lady is??

Eless laughed, ?I have been rather busy with the opening of my shop, but Connar left a lovely letter and rose for me. And, it looks like the two of thee had a lovely evening thus far??

Azjah gave a soft laugh as she shot Wil a smile, ?Thank you sweetie.? Then she gave Rena a wave as she answered Eless. ?We had a lovely evening Eless, and how is your new shop coming along??

Wil spotted Rena, ?Rena! Well, good eve, it?s wonderful to see you again.? He sat down beside Azjah as Eless and she discussed the elf?s newest endeavor, adding for Eless, ?We?ve had a wonderful Valentine, it?s a strange custom, but I can see why its caught on.?

Eless smiled, ?Very well so far Azjah, thank thee.?

Azjah reached for Wil?s hand with her left as she took a sip of the Dalwhinnie, ?That?s great news Eless.? Wil took her hand and sipped his scotch before laying his head back and closing his eyes. He was tired, but sitting near the fire with Azjah and simply listening was relaxing for him. She leaned closer to Wil, ?Your next book should be about political intrigue at headquarters.?

Eless and Rena were discussing Rena?s new endeavor in candle making, ??tis only day two, so only time will tell. Rena is going to craft candles to sell there as well.?

Wil opened his eyes, ?Candles? Scented ones?? He whispered then to Azjah, ?excellent idea,? then he winked at her before perking again at the discussion surrounding Rena?s candles. ?I would be interested in a scented one.?

Rena looked at Wil, ?Which scent would that be, Wil?? She took a sip of her coffee.

?Hmm, coconut? yes?. Wait? watermelon! No, wait? jasmine! No, I?ll stick with licorice!! No, coconut.? He was running through a gamut of scents. ?Too many choices!!? Wil grinned at Rena, ?I might have to take one of each.?

Eless blinked, ?Trouble making a decision Wil?? She laughed lightly.

Azjah took a sip of her scotch and studied Eless, ?I am told that you custom blend your fragrances Eless??

She nodded, ?Aye, in fact, I?m working on one for Topaz. Once a signature scent is created, ?tis never duplicated for another.?

Azjah nodded thoughtfully, ?That is quite an art Eless, it must be fascinating work.? Wil leaned lightly against Azjah as she spoke to Eless about the art of creating signature perfumes, and Azjah leaned close enough to kiss his cheek lightly. ?You?re going to keep Rena very busy my dear.?

Eless smiled, her features brightening as she spoke about her new business, ?I truly enjoy it. ?Twas very exciting to find Topaz and I on the same path for a fragrance for her, and I enjoy making people happy."

Wil shot Azjah an indignant look, ?Hey! I was good at clay! I could make great ash trays!?

Eless assumed a well practiced and well feigned look of complete innocence at Wil.

Azjah set down her glass with a laugh, ?Now I would love to have seen that.?

Wil attempted seriousness, ?Piper happened to like my ash trays, thankyouverymuch. She called them ?unique?.?

Azjah dropped her head with a laugh, ?Unique, hmm??

Wil nodded, ?I think her exact words were, ?I just can?t believe it?.?

Azjah tried not to dissolve into gales of laughter, ?My dear, I have no doubt Piper would find your work unique.?

Eless nearly snorted her brandy as she took a sip at that moment. Azjah gave her a quick wink and struggled not to laugh.

Wil continued blithely along, ?She said in all her days, she had never seen an ashtray look quite like the ones I was making.?

Rena blinked, ?You made more than one??

Wil glanced at her, ?I had a lot of clay.? His smile was ever so sweet.?Rena, would you like my help with your candles??

When it was suggested that Wil should become Rena?s apprentice, Eless murmured, ?Keep the medikit handy for melted wax ?accidents?.?

Wil was now in the true spirit of things, ?I bet I could make unique volcano candles! Ones that erupt.?

Rena lifted a brow, ?When you work it out Wil, you let me know.?j

Meanwhile, Eless was studying her glass of brandy, her shoulders twitching as she continued to struggle to maintain her composure.

?They can spew things all over!? Wil added with great enthusiasm now.

Azjah?s brows went up at that, ?Umm, spewing candle wax all over??

?It would be the next RhyDin craze, Rena! Yes, colorful smelly wax? that way we produce artwork for the walls at the same time!? Wil was having visions that were beautiful to him, and horrific for Azjah.

Maranya spoke up then, ?And a lot of new cases for my Clinic?s burn ward, especially if children are nearby those candles.?

Azjah lightly patted Wil?s shoulder, ?Maybe the Hangar is just the place?? She lifted a brow at him, ?You, umm, want sweet smelling melted wax all over your bird darlin???

Eless finally gave up to a fit of giggles as Wil frowned, ?Umm, no, my ship doesn?t get spewed in.?

Azjah struggled to find a way to tell him, ?I, ah? so spewing can go all over everything EXCEPT your bird??

He shot her a grin, ?Exactly baby!?

?Sweetie? How are you going to control where all that spewing goes?? Azjah was completely confused now.

?Hmm, volcanoes with target sights?? Wil offered helpfully.

Azjah shook her head laughing, ?Uh huh, well, you keep that stuff off my bird sweetie.? Then she snickered.

Wil gave a merry laugh and hugged her close, ?guess I?ll just stay away from the candle making business.?

Azjah melted against him, ?Probably safer for everyone baby.?

He placed a slow, light kiss on her cheek at that before he leaned back into his chair and closed his eyes once more.

Azjah turned to Eless and asked if it would be possible for her to come talk Eless about a fragrance as Wil decided he needed to head for home. Azjah rose as Wil did, and he helped her into her fur jacket as Eless and Azjah made arrangements to meet to discuss a new scent for Azjah. Linking arms, they bade Eless and Rena a good evening and headed for the Palazzo. It had been an exceptional night, and they were ready to go home for a bit of alone time together.

He crossed his arms in a truculent stance, ?And who says I have to??

Azjah?s pale blue gaze levelly met his golden one, ?Honor says you have to. You may brood and be a bastard, but you do know how to dance, and I could request far more.? She wasn?t backing down from this point in the negotiations.

He shot her a look when she said she could ask for far more, ?Meaning?? She simply smiled at him enigmatically, and he gave her a matching silent look, he decided he wasn?t moving anywhere until he knew what she meant.

Azjah canted her head again, ?I could expect a nice massage and foot rub, or that you take me flying, or any of a plethora of things. A dance is simple, it is socially acceptable, and unless you wanted me to bite you, you?re quite safe from any further depredation from me.?

His eyes narrowed as she spoke before growling faintly, ?A dance is all you would even get.? He leaned off the wall and over to a chair before removing his cloak.

Azjah gave him a dazzling smile, ?A dance is all I asked you for.?

He tossed his cloak over the back of the chair before turning toward her, ?Just one dance, right? Nothing else??

She nodded, ?A dance is all I desire from you Lord Alcar. Everything else is reserved for Wil.?

He nodded, ?Very well,? apparently that worked for him and he took a step toward her, one hand taking hers, his other hand slid to her side in a perfectly formal waltz stance. Once she was in frame, he swept her off into the dance, and proved without a doubt that he could in fact dance quite elegantly.

Azjah followed his lead expertly as she buried the smile that she had in fact been right about his dancing. He was aristocratic enough that he certainly had learned proper dancing, and he was proper enough that he hadn?t tried to ruin it with a Mosh pit or something worse. She flashed him a smile at the end of the first turn, ?I knew you could dance!?

?There are many things people don?t know about me.? He smirked down at her as he actually continued the dance.

She moved fluidly with him, ?And you prefer that people do not know them about you. But your breeding is such that dancing is certainly a must.?

He quirked a brow at her, ?Dancing is something I happen to enjoy doing, with the right people,? he amended and gave her a fanged smirk.

Azjah mirrored the fanged smile, minus the fangs, of course, ?I consider it an honor then to share a dance with you.?

He gave her a faint chuckle, ?Just don?t expect this to become a habit.? At least he was being honest for once.

Azjah laughed, ?Lord Alcar, nothing with you could become habit, but I appreciate your ?sacrifice? tonight. Perhaps you?ll dance with me just once more.?

?Shows what you know, ? he told her sourly to the first part of her comment. He then quirked a brow at her, ?I?ll think about it.? He let her hand go to catch the back of her head and ended their dance with a deep dip over her form.

Azjah had dropped backward as their dance concluded, knowing that he would not let her fall, ?I would not take all of your secrets, and I hope you will consider just one more.? She rose from the finale and dropped him a deep, formal curtsey, ?Your date is concluded milord. Your dance skills are first rate Darkmere. Thank you.? She stepped back, ?No Mosh pit crashing into your dance partner, thank you.?

He offered a royal bow in return, ?As I said, I shall think about it.? He reached for his cloak and put it back on, ?You aren?t too shabby yourself,? she shot a smirk over his shoulder at her at his concession. Then scoffed at her mention of Mosh pits, ?That is just idiots jumping around like they have no clue what they are doing.? He then turned to lean once more against the wall.

Azjah gave him a soft chuckle as she reached for her own jacket, ?Good evening Lord Alcar.? She headed for the door and paused, ?You grace it with that description. Good evening.? She pushed the door open and vanished into the night.

Azjah was in mid sip when Sjira said that some thought her rude. ?Sjira, I cannot imagine anyone thinking of you as anything remotely close to rude, but keeping from being stepped on is always wise.? Azjah leaned toward Sjira, and lowered her voice, ?It has been so long that I cannot remember if I shared with you my best news of the year.?

Her dark eyes lit with curiosity as she leaned against the right arm of her chair, her mug lifted for a cautious sip of the hot cider before she spoke, ?Will you share it, if it pleases??

Azjah simply could not imagine anyone thinking of Sjira as rude, then her smile lit her features, ?Wil has asked me to marry him, and I have the blessing of my Kaiser to do so.? Her smile was pure joy, ?Perhaps we could both meet someone new tonight?? She nodded toward Michiko, ?Shall we invite her to join us??

Sjira?s smile was vibrant, ?Another wedding!? Her heart lifted to hear the news. She slipped from her chair and stood with the swift movement and grace of a dancer, her arm not holding the mug drew around Azjah?s shoulders to give her a quick hug before withdrawing, ?It is a very good thing to know and hear.?

Azjah returned the hug with a big smile, ?thank you for sharing my happiness. I have heard there are several weddings being planned. The former governor, Miss Kitty and Taneth to start.?

Sjira sat back down, ?Is Kitty known to you? She is to be married this week?s end.? She eased back into her chair, laughing as they spoke simultaneously.

Azjah nodded, ?I am so very happy for her, and for Lord Momus, it is surely an event to be enjoyed by everyone in town.?

?When is yours to be?? Her brow lifted slightly with curiosity as she continued to smile.

Azjah shook her head, ?Wil and I are still trying to find a date for it, his work takes him often away, but I shall certainly let you know as I would very much like you to come, and of course, Panther if you can or desire to bring him.?

Sjira?s smile faded slightly as she thought about Panther, ?That is understood.? She refocused, ?Thanks is given. He will be told of it.?

About then, a disturbance to the Common room commanded everyone?s attention, it was pink, and it came bundled out of the office in a giant pink poofy jacket with faux pink fur trimmed hood! The hood was pushed back to reveal the friendly neighborhood geek who was galomping toward the bar and behind it, waving a pink gloved hand, ?Hi! Hello! Evening peoples!? Risa had arrived.

Azjah glanced at the dark haired woman who sat nearby, then back at Sjira, ?You would honor me if you could join us.? She gave Risa a chuckle, ?Good evening Risa.?

Risa gave a bright, wide grin as she shrugged out of the monstrous pink jacket, then set it aside as she dug about for a specific apron. Her shirt had a sketch of a man with a gun on it, and the caption read, ?You don?t pay me to talk pretty.?

Michiko looked up at Risa and nodded with a warm smile, then at Azjah with a ?who me?? look when Azjah suggested that she and Sjira invite her to join them. Sjira sipped her cider as Azjah shot Michiko a grin, ?Would you care to join Sjira and I for a bit??

Michiko nodded and moved toward where Sjira and Azjah now sat, pausing to ask Risa for a mug of hot cider before joining them. Azjah offered her hand toward Michiko, ?A pleasure to meet you, I?m Azjah Danaan.? She nodded at Sjira, ?And this is my friend, Sjira.? Sjira lowered her head and gave a respectful nod to Michiko at the introductions. Michiko nodded at both and gave her name to them before settling into an adjacent chair.

Azjah glanced around the Inn with a smile, ?Have you been here long Michiko??

The dark haired woman sipped the hot cider, ?A few months now.?

Azjah sipped her scotch, ?I find I like returning to this little corner of the world.?

Sjira slide an occasional glance toward the empty hall located toward the back of the Inn, but then her attention would return each time to Azjah, Michiko, and even to watch Risa at the counter. It was very clear that she missed Panther.

Michiko grinned a little, ?It has been interesting. Between Alain and Mish especially.? She blushed slightly at that admission.

Risa listened happily to the ladies as she fussed with the pots and pans on the stove, her glossed mouth stretched wide in a childishly pleased grin. For Risa, this place was kind of like daydreams come true. And long nights rolling dice? Well worth it!

Sjira spoke softly then, ?Who is Mish, please?? But she quieted then to listen. Sjira never wanted to speak when others would do so.

Azjah quirked a pale brow, ?Alain, as in the Baron??

Azjah gave her a slow smile, ?Koy has a fabulous dress shop and bakery!? The quality if Machiko?s clothing strongly suggested that she would like Koy?s Heavenly Boutique. Then she added, ?And Eless has a new perfumery that is doing well if you like fragrances.

Michiko smiled, ?Now that is something I will have to check out.? She was already contemplating a shopping trip. Some habits one just couldn?t shake.

Alain finished his cigarette and headed down the stairs. Sjira glanced toward the movement there as Azjah asked, ?Do you dance professionally or for pleasure??

Sjira responded more quickly than normal for her, ?For pleasure,? she said, but then she blinked as if the answer had left her lips unbidden. She lowered her head and gave Azjah a shy smile, and then the cider became the thing to watch for several moments. Not a word left her for a small while as she took a small drink of her cider.

Azjah caught her moment of uncertainty, and she gave her a warm smile, ?One should only dance for the joy and pleasure of it, don?t you think?? Sjira?s words about being raised in a kennel suddenly made Azjah wonder, and she decided to follow a completely divergent line of thought. She nodded again at Alain, ?Good evening Alain.?

Azjah glanced again at the too quiet Sjira, ?Do you have a favorite fragrance Sjira??

She let another long moment pass before she said with a smile, ?Flowers, and spice.?

Azjah smiled suddenly, ?Michiko, Sjira, if you two are game, we could make a shopping morning of it and have our own, ?girl?s day out? if you like.,?

Michiko grinned, ?That sounds like a plan!?

Azjah curled up comfortably in her own chair with a glance Sjira?s direction, ?Spices, ginger, with a touch of lime and stephanotis.? Her favorite perfume was a lovely blend of those things. She gave Michiko a grin, ?Excellent! What about you Sjira? Can we entice you to join us?? Then she glanced toward Alain, ?How goes the Import-Export business??

Mishka gave a long stretch as he glances toward Sjira, ?Sandalwood.? He wrinkled his nose, ?I don?t like perfumes, they make my nose numb.? Actually it numbed his sense of smell, but it was clear he didn?t like perfumes, and he was seriously engrossed in being lazy tonight.

Sjira?s thoughts had wandered, and belatedly she looked up at Azjah, ?What is? stephanotis?? She sipped the cider, ?Shopping sounds like a time of fun.?

Azjah gave her a happy smile, ?We will take RhyDin by storm then ladies!!? Azjah thought a moment how best to describe stephanotis, ?Ah, Stephanotis is a lovely white flower, long tube like base with 5 petals, and a heavenly scent. It is about an inch in diameter, and very delightfully fragrant.?

Sjira was grateful for the answer, ?That scent is wished to be known one day then.?

Risa spoke up then, ?does it have a non-mind-boggling name??

Azjah smiled, ?Hawaiian Wedding Flower, Risa.?

Herr Wesker spoke up, ?Stephanotis is ?stephanos? meaning crown, and ?otis? meaning ear.?

Alain grinned, ?Pretty good. I?m working toward helping Eless with her perfumes now, as a matter of fact.? His eyes were sly, he was keeping a secret and treasuring it as he spoke. Then he gave Azjah a subtle little beckoning motion.

Michiko grinned at Sjira, ?Very good!? The three of them definitely had some serious shopping plans. She then added, ?And I prefer the scent of vanilla.?

Azjah nodded, ?Vanilla is very nice, but I still think Ginger is my favorite.? She nodded at Alain, ?I?ve promised Eless that I will come seek her help with creating a signature fragrance that Wil will like.? She rose then, ?Will you both excuse me a moment?? She glanced between Sjira and Michiko.

Sjira gave a gentle smile as she heard Lady Elessaria?s name mentioned once more. And Michiko told Sjira that she had seen eless, but had not had the pleasure of speaking with her beyond the evening?s when Eless tended the bar.

Alain muttered a soft apology for calling her away from her friends, but he leaned closely to whisper to her. His offer took Azjah by surprise, but she looked at him and nodded, ?Without question, yes!? He looked at Azjah with a sly smile, ?Excellent, I?ll send over a mage and a lawyer, and we?ll hammer something out.?

Azjah nodded, ?I will be in RhyDin for a few days, I shall expect them.? She returned to Michiko and Sjira, ?Eless is a sweet woman, I think you will like her Michiko.? Azjah settled back into her chair.

Azjah took the moment to make introductions, ?Commissar Hex, may I introduce Michiko?? But she had missed that the machine was speaking to a woman Azjah had never seen before until it was too late. Viola was telling the machine, ?Poorly, a bunch of bloody idiots set a shock charge just as everyone was packing up for the night. Tore a hole in my favorite flight suit.? Hex raised a clawed ?hand? to Viola and turned back toward Azjah, it studied Michiko a moment before nodding, ?It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Michiko.?

Azjah apologized to Hex and gave a nod of apology to Viola as well before asking Rena if she would care to join them. She moved toward the trio, asking if she was interrupting, and Azjah told her no, checking to see if Rena knew Michiko and Sjira.

Michiko?s finishing school kicked in as she greeted Hex, ?It is a pleasure Hex.? She had never seen anything like this outside of a Godzilla movie.

Sjira gave Rena a gentle smile and a nod before glancing again at Azjah as she introduced Hex to Rena. Her curious eyes of black sought to look at Hex, and she stared for a time in silence.

Rena gave Sjira a smile and then met Michiko with a nod, ?Pleasure meeting you.? She turned and nodded to Hex as well. Hex nodded back, examining Rena fully, as it had Michiko too. ?A pleasure Miss Rena. This is one of my Elites, Viola Draygon.? It turned then to gesture toward Viola.

Azjah gave Viola a smile, ?You are the Viola that Alexandre told me about??

She gave Azjah a curt nod, ?Pends, did it involve explosions??

Azjah gave a soft chuckle, ?I believe it did.

Viola remained very formal, ?Then that was me.?

Azjah gave her a smile, ?Your explosions were appreciated.?

Lord Alcar shoved the front door open and entered, pausing to look around for a moment. He took note of who was here, and where they were located before shutting the door and weaving his way toward the bar. He was dressed much more casually than Azjah had ever seen him in the past. He picked up a glass of wine from Risa and then turned to face the Commons.

Azjah gave Rena a smile that spelled pure mischief, ?Rena, we are planning a shopping trim in RhyDin, is there any chance we will have the opportunity to see any of your handiwork?? She glanced at Sjira, who seemed more ill at ease as the evening crowd began to assemble. She gave it a worried look and remained ever watchful but curious. Azjah glanced at Sjira?s now empty mug, ?May I retrieve a refill for you Sjira?? The taller patrons and crowded conditions would make the slight dancer uncomfortable, and Azjah wanted her to feel at ease and among friends.

Rena nodded, ?there should be a little corner set up in Eless? shop tomorrow.? She glanced at Sjira as she lifted her own mug for a drink. ?Just remember they won?t be as grand as the scents Eless has.? Rena warned them all.

Azjah rose and took the mug Sjira offered her, ?wonderful Rena, I was telling Sjira and Michiko about Eless? new shop. I?ll be right back.? Azjah?s height wasn?t exceptional, but she was taller than most of the females in Rhydin, and then adding the 4? stilettos gave her an added advantage when it came to traversing the crowd. When she got to the bar, she asked Risa for a hot cider for Sjira and turned to chuckle at Rena, ?No volcanic candles yet??

Risa gave her a thumbs up and grabbed a fresh mug, filling it with the hot cider and decorating it with a cinnamon stick before presenting it to Azjah. ?Here you go.?

Azjah smiled and slid the platinum coin across the bar before pouring the cider into Sjira?s mug and then adding the cinnamon stick. And heading back to Rena, Michiko and Sjira. Sjira was curled up in her chair with her feet tucked into the seat of the chair as she set the steaming mug down in front of her.

Rena gave Azjah a chuckle, ?I don?t think so.? Then she smiled at Sjira, ?Good evening.?

Risa gave a confused blink as Azjah transferred the contents into Sjira?s original mug, asking Herr Wesker, ?Do I have girl cooties??

Azjah picked up her scotch and settled comfortably into her chair once more. She glanced up in time to see Lord Alcar peering at her for no other reason than that he could do so. She gave him a bright smile, which he answered with a flash of fangs in return. She grew quiet then, and was surprised when Sjira worried and asked what was amiss. Azjah gave her a smile, ?Nothing, really, it?s just that I do tend to talk too much sometimes, and Rena has her new candle business in Eless? shop and I hoped she would tell us something of how it is going. And Michiko has been quiet as well.?

Rena spoke up then, ?Things are going well, for it is to be just a hobby.? Sjira gave a light smile, and then her thoughts strayed to Panther once more.

Azjah chuckled softly, ?Sjira, I very much doubt you have ever met anyone as unusual as our Harris.?

Rena spoke softly to Sjra, ?And pray to whatever god you believe in that you never meet another like him.?

Where upon, Harris slid his glance to Sjira; and she glanced up from her cider to shift her attention on the blue haired menace. He squinted back at her. Sjira gave him a nod of welcome, but gave both Rena and Azjah a curious look in the wake of both of their comments about Harris.

Harris looked at all three of them, ?I?m totally brimming with an uncontrollable amount of awesome these days.? He coughed slightly, ?Though sadly, my awesomeness is lost on some people.?

Azjah chuckled, ?We?ll have to find a way to burn off that uncontrollable amount of awesomeness these days.?

He scoffed at her, ?Impossible!?

Azjah sipped the scotch, ?Sjira, as long as you don?t take our Harris seriously, it?s all good.?

She spoke softly, ?Perhaps if he shops with other males? As we do with ?the girls??? She offered it quite seriously as a solution to Harris, but she smiled when she heard Azjah?s laughter.

Azjah slid her gaze up and down Harris, the blue hair and dress before she glanced at Sjira again and broke into gales of laughter, ?Harris doing things with ?the boys?? Hmm?? He squinted at her, ?I don?t even know what that means.?

Sjira was puzzled, ?Does he not have friends??

Azjah smiled, ?Our Harris isn?t about spending money, he?s about free things.?

?Exactly! If it?s free, then I don?t have to pay for it. That means more money to spend on important things, like pancakes!? Harris was now warming to a completely new and off the wall topic.

Azjah gave him a curious look and Sjira?s lips quirked slightly before she took a drink of her cider.

?They?re like waffles, except flatter,? Harris informed them all in grave seriousness.

Azjah dropped her head with a laugh, ?Yes, I know what pancakes are Harris, I didn?t know that you liked them, at least liked them well enough to pay for them yourself.?

He gave her a toothy grin, ?When I used to duel in TDL, that?s what they?d pay me in, I demanded it!? He knocked a couple of peanuts out of the air with a few of his own as Darkmere tossed a few at Azjah, ?Oooooh! Rejected!?

Azjah ducked as the peanuts flew, and Harris grinned, ?I totally have the skillz to pay the billz!?

Azjah chuckled softly and looked at Sjira, ?We have our share of unusual souls in RhyDin.? Darkmere smirked at Harris? comment and tossed a handful of peanuts at them again. Only this time, Harris ducked behind Azjah to avoid being struck by them. Azjah glared at Darkmere, ?Hey!?

He gave her a lazy, fanged grin and pointed at her, ?You have just been nutted on.? Which elicited a snicker from Harris, but thankfully no comment.

Azjah dropped her head and stove not to blush, ?You know, that just sounds six kinds of wrong.?

Harris shrugged, ?I?d offer to fight for your honor Azjah, but there?s nothing in it for me.?

Azjah glanced up at him, ?Now Harris, you don?t know that, you haven?t even asked me.?

Kitsuneko reached into her kimono and pulled a peanut out, she whispered something to it before rolling over. She crouched and took aim, tossing the peanut over the heads of Harris, Darkmere, and Azjah. Then with a click of her tongue, a puff of smoke enveloped the peanut, and soon a good dozen or more rained down on them all. She grinned, ?Fox magic was cool, wasn?t it??

Harris looked at Azjah, ?Oh? Well then, what?s in it for me?? He grinned at her.

Sjira leaned to the side to avoid one of the flying peanuts, then she finished her cider.

Azjah ducked away from the falling peanuts with a soft ?eep? as Harris opened an umbrella to shield them from the rain of peanuts.

Rena quirked a brow at Azjah, ?Who are you going to fight??

Azjah gave Rena a startled look, ?I wasn?t planning on fighting anyone, but Harris said he wouldn?t defend me against Darkmere?s peanut assault because there wasn?t anything in it for him, I just said how did he know that since he hasn?t asked, and then came the shower of peanuts.? Shooting a look at the fox laying on the bar.

Harris held the umbrella, ?I?m still waiting to hear what?s in it for me.? As Darkmere smiled at Rena and tossed another handful of peanuts as Azjah again.

The Inn appeared to be fairly quiet and Azjah stepped inside to find a warm table and some quiet to work on her records. She draped her jacket over the back of her chosen chair as the door opened again, admitting Sjira. She was carrying a basket beneath her short cloak as she pressed the door closed. She gave Azjah a slight nod when she saw her, and then set the basket down while she removed the cloak and hung it on a peg by the door.

Azjah glanced around for a serving lad as she pulled the microcomputer from her pocket. ?Good evening Sjira! I do hope Harris didn?t scare you off for Saturday?? It was difficult to imagine what the blue haired menace might say after she left.

Sjira?s fingers caught the handle of her basket and she brought it with her as she headed for Azjah. A smile surfaced as she approached, ?He offered nothing that frightened.?

Azjah chuckled softly, ?He is harmless, if a bit odd.? She peered at the covered basket briefly.

?He seems a very happy man, even if he cares a lot for things that cost him nothing of worth.? She came to stand nearby an empty chair.

Azjah motioned toward the chair, ?I was just about to order something to drink, may I get you something as well?? Azjah was discovering that she very much enjoyed talking with Sjira, and hoped she would join her for a little while.

?Beef broth, if it pleases.? She looked at the chair and then settled into it after putting the basket on the floor to the right side.

Azjah rose and headed for the bar, slipping behind it to retrieve her snifter of Grand Marnier, and poking her head into the kitchen to ask one of the cooks to bring out a mug of beef broth before she headed back to her chair near the fire. ?The cook said the broth will be right out.? Azjah settled onto her chair and curled both hands around the snifter of deep amber liquid. It wasn?t too many more minutes before the cook came out with an extra large mug that was filled ? of the way with steaming beef broth and a soup spoon. He settled it onto the table before Sjira.

Azjah peered again at the basket, ?Should I ask what the basket is for?? She took a short sip of the rich liqueur. ?The chill is lessening, and tonight I found daffodils trying to flower in the gardens.?

Sjira thanked the cook as she tucked her own feet into the seat of her chair and gained comfort from her curled up position. She didn?t watch the cook?s face, but she accepted the mug of broth from him as Azjah curled up comfortably into her chair facing Sjira.

Sjira drew the mug near enough to bring the aroma of her broth to her senses as she glanced at Azjah and then her basket, ?The question is a welcome thing.? Her free hand met the handle of the basket and she lifted it onto the table before pulling the cloth cover back to expose the contents of the basket. Inside there were needles, threads, cloth, and tied cheeses and a few fruits.

Azjah leaned forward and then looked up at Sjira, ?The mending you do?? Since mending was a foreign activity, she was guessing.

Sjira nodded with a smile, ?And a snack for later while it is done.?

Azjah chuckled, ?We must never forget the snacks!? She sipped her Grand Marnier with a grin.

Sjira took a moment where her thoughts appeared to trail elsewhere before she smiled, ?May it be known what you do What your? trade is??

Azjah nodded at her query, ?I am happy to say what my trade is. My family has owned companies that make weapons, and since I have become the CEO, we have added research into engines and propulsion systems. There are now three main companies that I am responsible for running. The one here in RhyDin is the second one.? Azjah sipped the oranged cognac drink, ?I noticed a very large horse tied at the rail the other night Sjira, was he yours??

?Mine?? Her head lowered as she shook it slowly, but she was smiling when she met Azjah?s eyes, ?No, he is borrowed from the livery. Panther said the horses there could be borrowed.? She gave a soft ?ohh? at Azjah?s trade, ?Machines, for some of the sky ships?

Azjah nodded, ?He is a fine animal. I have a small breeding barn at the Palazzo. You like to ride? Horses and fast cars were two of Azjah?s weaknesses.

?Yes. Horses were ridden more in the lands known before these. It has been greatly missed,? Sjira told her with a hint of a wistful smile.

Azjah nodded, ?Yes, for the sky ships.? She swirled the drink a moment, ?I love horses and riding too. What is the horse?s name??

Lord Alcar made his way inside, slowly scanning the crowd before making his way toward the bar. He gave Azjah and Sjira an off handed wave before sitting down on a stool.

Azjah chuckled, ?Lord Alcar, you are beginning to sound like Harris.? To which he simply stuck his tongue out at her.

Sjira?s smile surfaced again as she listened to the teasing byplay between Darkmere and Azjah, who leaned closer to Sjira and whispered loudly, ?and he bites.? She chuckled at Darkmere?s expression before adding, ?But the shocker is that he?s entering the race for Governor.?

Darkmere peered at her, ?Could be worse, I could win,?

Azjah mock choked on her drink, ?There is that outside possibility and yes, that is frightening. So Lord Alcar, what on all of RhyDin convinced you to seek the Governor?s office?? She truly wondered since he hadn?t show any previous interest as far as she?d noticed toward social responsibility in the Nexus,

Darkmere sipped his wine a moment, ?Perhaps I wish to see if I could make a difference in this town.? When she asked him what kinds of differences he meant, he gave a slight shrug, ?Better help for those that need it.?

Azjah canted her head, he was being serious, ?Who needs help??

?The homeless around town, the various children without parents.? He told her with absolute sincerity before sipping the darkwine.

Azjah?s pale blue gaze narrowed at him, ?I thought the Temple of Divine Light?s Orphanage took care of them?? Sjira?s eyes slid around the room before once again settling on Azjah and Darkmere. The room was fairly empty and non-threatening for the moment.

Darkmere shook his head, ?Not all of them, there are sure to be kids they do not know about.?

Azjah knew there were a lot of rag-a-muffin?s in the streets, especially in Badside, so she changed thoughts, ?What will you do with the RASG?? This brought a curious look from Sjira as she inquired what the RASG was. ?Governor Simon implemented the RhyDin Air and Space Guard, I had the experience to run into them on a return flight.?

?For the sky ships?? She inquired. One had been enough for her to see, and it was now mentioned for a second time that night.

Azjah nodded, ?Yes, for the sky ships, and to keep out aggressive sky ships.? Sjira nodded as she was slowly gaining an understanding of the matters, and she continued to listen more than engage in the discussion between Azjah and Lord Alcar.

Darkmere set his empty glass on the table, ?I shall leave it in place. Another thing I plan to do is to send workers out to help rebuild parts of town.?

Azjah gave him a skeptical look, ?How will you fund it Darkmere?? When he said mostly with his own money, she frowned, ?Governor Simon used to command these pilots, but?.? She doubted they would work for Lord Alcar. ?You have those kinds of funds?? The volume of capital it would take to personally fund the RASG would quickly drain even her family finances.

Darkmere nodded, ?I do.?

?Will the pilots answer to you, or would you keep Colonel Simon?? She took a sip of her drink before adding, ?Where will you start with the rebuilding Lord Alcar?? Sjira leaned against the right arm of her chair, her mug of almost finished broth was set onto the table before she drew the basket into her lap to dig around inside it.

?West End,? he told her, ?As for your previous question, if Simon wishes to stay on, I would keep him on my staff. Would help to have someone the men trust.?

Both brows winged upward slightly, Lord Alcar hadn?t met some of the pilots in the Kestrals clearly. ?West End? You?ve chosen a tough starting point.?

?Best place to start, tis no offense to those that live there, but it is where most of the damages take place,? he told her very matter of factly,

?Yes, but if you want to create a viable legacy, why take on the toughest area of town to try to remedy?? She wondered if he understood the dangers of failure on such a scale as West End. Sjira set down her basket and chose instead to listen intently.

?To show I am serious in what I wish to do.? Darkmere was actually answering questions instead of being flippant and annoying.

Azjah swirled her drink a moment, ?You will have to develop revenues, you cannot use your personal finances forever.?

?True, and any taxes made here will be pushed right back into the city,? he informed her. She chuckled and reminded him that he would face strong opposition to taxation in this world. He nodded lightly, ?Granted, but people wish for this town to be better, and to be blunt, it?s high time they help out.?

She chuckled at his comment, while valid and realistic, she wondered if it would be his doom come election time. ?And how will you appoint your assistants? You cannot be all things to all needs.? She glanced as Sjira who remained silent as her teeth caught the swell of her bottom lip and she glanced at her mug.

Darkmere shrugged, ?I would pick the best people for each task.?

Azjah?s smile was dazzling, ?There will be those who object to any government, let alone the creation of a governing body.?

He nodded, ?True, but this wouldn?t be a government. It would just be appointed people who wish to better the town.?

She crossed the porch, pulled the door open and headed across the floor to an empty table near the fireplace, where she settled onto a comfortable chair and looked about for a serving lad. She sent the boy for a glass of Grand Marnier as she pulled her microcomputer from her pocket and powered it up.

S?jira stepped in from the back hall of the Inn, giving the woman who helped with the work at the Inn a smile. S?jira was barefoot as she entered the common room, and wearing a sleeveless brown dress over a pale underdress, belted at her middle. Lengths of her dark hair were pulled back by a strip of leather. At her hip was a basket of mending. Her whispered footsteps carried her toward the hearth, and she set her basket to the right of it, well out of the way of patrons before she greeted Azjah.

?Greetings to you S?jira, how are you faring?? Azjah gave her a smile and noted the basket.

S?jira gave her a smile, inclining her head and her gaze on the device bespoke her curiosity with the small contraption. ?Very well, thank you. May it be hoped all is well with you??

Azjah gave her a bright smile, ?Things are very good. The vines are beginning to sprout in the vineyard, and the blue berry bushes are in full flower. It should be a very good year.? Azjah loved spring, and the rebirth of plants turning the world green and then riotous shades of flowers for color. ?Would you care to sit with me, even though I might keep you from your work??

She nodded and settled onto a nearby chair, ?It is well to rest for a while.?

Azjah laid the microcomputer onto the table and glanced at S?jira, ?May I ask you something personal?? Then she realized that perhaps that was too open a question, and she amended it, ?I have heard that it was you who did the bead work for Kitty?s dress.?

Her dark gaze lifted toward Azjah, ?Yes, it is a true thing heard.?

?It was beautiful work S?jira. Is this something you do regularly? It is very intricate and demanding work.? Azjah wondered if S?jira did such crafting only for friends, or if perhaps her expertise might be enlisted by others.

?Time was taken with it. The time for it was a special one, so time was set aside every day to see that it was worked on well for her,? S?jira replied as she tucked her small, bare feet into the seat of her chair.

Ajzah nodded, ?It showed. I am curious S?jira if such work can be fashioned to keep a bride?s hair up, and neat beneath a coronet??

Her lips parted, then she paused as she thought about it for a while. Finally her hand lifted to pass along the back of her own head with a soft, sweeping motion, ?Would the lady?s hair be in? a net?. Or?? she sought the right word, ?snoom..? She frowned. That wasn?t the right word, ?Maybe it is called a snood??

Azjah nodded, ?Yes, the plan is to have a snood, but when I saw your work, I wondered if it were possible to do something similar to keep my hair up.? Azjah knew she could not wear the platinum picks and the coronet, so another means would have to be found to keep her hair up and neat under the strawberry leaf and pearl coronet. She loved the intricacy of the work on Kitty?s dress.

S?jira nodded, ?Yes, it is possible.?

Azjah worried her lower lip a moment, ?Is there time? Wil has not set a date yet, he is narrowing down his duties and his free time, but I know we both desire this formality sooner rather than later.?

S?jira smiled at that just as Koy slipped through the back door, having taken a detour on her way to the Outback. Spring was coming and the Fashionista had broken out her freshest orchid white for the occasion. She was wearing a belted sheath dress. The collar was twisted and fringed with a slim skirt, and she word dark mirrored peep toe pumps to add a little dramatic flair to the ensemble.

Azjah gave her a warm smile, ?Good evening Koy!?

?Heya Azj!? She sent a smile her direction, and she made yet another detour as she slipped behind the bar, ?Can I get ye somethin? ta drink while I?m back here??

Azjah lifted her glass of Grand Marnier, ?I am good for the moment. Perhaps S?jira?? S?jira required nothing, and Azjah chuckled as she looked again at Koy, ?You look great Koy. I take it Spring fashion is here?? The elf looked fabulous, and no indications of her recent pregnancy marred her appearance in the snug dress.

She splashed some vodka over ice and grinned, ?Thankee! Aye, don?t ye jest love it?? The colors are fantastic this season.?

Azjah chuckled and inquired after her new daughter. ?Thia?s well. She?s been sleepin? better, which helps.?

Koy sipped her vodka, ?aye, a very pale touch of pink, and then some of my bridesmaids, not tha? I could get most of them ta actually walk down the aisle in a dress, they all wore different styles of black gowns I designed each one with the same color pink accents.? She shot a grin at Azjah, ?There are plenty other shades tha? do ye more justice.? Then she looked at S?jira and snapped her fingers, ?Oh! Tha?s where I know ye from! Ye did the beadin? fer Kitty?s dress, aye? I was so sorry ta have missed tha? weddin?, but Thia wasn?t feelin? well.?

S?jira?s head inclined toward Koy to take her own form of gentle acknowledgement for the dress. Koy nodded, ?Now tha?s some skill, S?jira. Do you do freelance work??

An imp surfaced for Azjah then as she glanced at Koy, ?You know, I?ve been considering a reverse wedding? on Markab, the women wer tuxedos and the men wear dresses? what do you think of Wil in one of your creations?? She was clearly hearkening back to the Beltain festival discussion between Koy and Wil that night.

Koy chuckled at Azjah?s question, ?He?s a bit broad in the shoulders fer a dress. And those hips!? She made a face in mock horror.

S?jira nodded slightly at Koy, ?things are done, and helped with.? She then lowered her voice and whispered to each, ?Can you both read?? She had remembered something that she now considered.

Azjah canted her head at her, ?It depends on the language, but yes, I can read seven languages.?

Koy nodded thoughfully, ?It?s good ta know ye?re ?round then.? She gave her a curious tilt of her head, and an amused grin at the question, ?Ye know, fer all the knocks I?ve taken ta the head in the rings, it?s certainly a wonder, but aye, I can read. Not in as many languages as Azjah here though.?

S?jira carefully covered her bare feet as she glanced up in surprise, ?Seven??

Azjah nodded, ?That I am comfortable enough to say I can read, yes.? Technically, the translation software was pretty much unlimited, but actual ability without a computer to help her, seven was all she had mastered.

S?jira looked between Koy and Azjah, ?The one known as Franco, with his own pink wrote of wonderings of when Panther and ? and I are to wed!? She was shocked and her fingers lighted against her own hair as she tried to deal with the embarrassment of the gossip columnist?s poison pen.

Azjah simply shook her head. She had absolutely no use for the man, or his filthy work, ?He?s fishing S?jira, sensationalism at it?s lowest form.?

Kairee gave her a teasing smile, ?It?s a reasonable wonder, S?jira babes, you and the cat have been together a while, and he?s very domesticated. And you are good to him.?

Koy laughed, ?He speculates all the time. Fer a while, I think he was convinced Matt had no idea how lucky he was ta have me.?

S?jira colored more deeply hearing Kairee, ?He is? this Marco, is pushy.? Then she gave Kairee a worried glance, ?Do you think that?. Do you think that Panther has read his words?? She was trying not to think too much of Marco, but she wasn?t succeeding.

Kairee shook her head, ?I don?t think Panther is idle enough to peruse his work, he?s not a gossipy-guy.?

Azjah nodded, ?I think it?s a waste of precious time, myself. Gossip hurts, but never helps anyone.?

S?jira gave Kairee a wondering look, then nodded slowly, her heart easing from hearing such words, ?It is possible you are all right in this. It is hoped for.?

Azjah tried to change the subject, ?So it sounds S?jira as htough you might become a very busy woman with your beading skills.? But behind her, Lord Alcar had loomed and chose that moment to grab her shoulder with a gloved hand. She nearly jumped out of her skin, whirling around and sloshing her Grand Marnier his direction. He simply chuckled and walked toward the bar.

Koy laughed, ?C?mon Azj, everybody gossips in one form or ?nother. It?s one of the few universal languages everyone in this city can speak.?

After recovering from the unexpected grabbing of her shoulder, she looked at Koy, ?I find gossip rude, intrusive, and obnoxious.? She didn?t go on to add that gossip was the play ground of small minds in her view. She remembered clearly her tutors saying, ?Small minds talk about people, average minds talk about ?things?, and great minds talk about ?ideas?.?

Koy chuckled, ?Ye?re talkin? ?bout mean gossip. Ye can?t say ye never gossip. Iffn ye?re sittin? here and ye say, ?oh, by the by, did ye know Koy had a baby? A girl at that!? tha?s a form of gossip, don?t ye think??

Azjah sent the serving lad to refill her drink, ?No, that is reality. It is truth and it?s no secret.?

?Wha? iffn ye said, ?did ye see how round Koy?s gotten? She?s carryin? low, she mus? be havin? a girl?? Tha?s speculatin?, but I wouldn?t mind, less ye said it now when I?m not pregnant.? She grinned.

Azjah gave Koy a smile, she would never speak of anyone in the terms just suggested, ?I try very hard not ot make ?speculative? or ?observational? comments. I?m more likely to simply ask straight up.? She winked at Koy, ?Like my scotch, give it to me straight up.?

Darkmere glanced at Azjah, ?You say that a lot to Wil, don?t you??

Koy shrugged, ?I guess I don?t mind gossipin? cause ifn I ever thought someone was really outta hand, well, it?s not like it?s past me tae go sluggin? people ?cross the face.?

Azjah nodded at Koy, it was clear that the discomfort others might feel from such talk was not the point to her, ?there?s so much more constructive things out there to do though.? Then she looked at Darkmere, ?Pardon me??

He gave her a slow, sly grin, ?You tell Wil to give ?it? to you straight up.?

Azjah blinked, ?My scotch? Of course. That?s how I like it.?

Koy chuckled, ?Ah, well ye know ye better be prepared then. With the biddies hangin? ?round, and so many women comin? an? goin?, the Boutique sometimes does turn inta a hotbed of gossip.? She grinned and finished her drink as she set the glass onto the table and stood up.

Darkmere chuckled, ?Not your scotch, speaking of matters of the bedroom.?

Azjah chuckled at Koy, ?I would go stark raving mad Koy.? She lifted a brow at Darkmere, but remained otherwise silent.

?I should get goin? and see ifn? I can round up my husband. I?ll see ye all soon up in New Haven, iffn nothin? else, I hope.? Then she smiled at S?jira, ?Iffn ye?re ever lookin? ta pick up a lil ?xtra work, c?mon by my shop and let me know. I could ?lways use ?nother set of skilled hands. And give m? best ta Panther.? She left an engraved card with the Heavenly Boutique?s logo and address with S?jira before she left.

Azjah nodded agreement to Koy, ?We?ll see you then Koy, thank you for your time.?

Tetch re-entered the Inn after returning from her version of an aquatic counter-heat wave activity, and was wearing rapidly trying shorts with a low cut blouse. She was out of breath, and she could be heard before she could be seen as she approached the bar. She gave a smile of greeting to everyone inside and paused to watch Azjah as she worked on the microcomputer at a nearby table. ?Working hard?? She asked Azjah.

Azjah glanced up with a smile, ?Hardly working if you look at these numbers.?

She grinned at Azjah, ?Ahhh, that?s what I like to hear! Especially on a weekend.? Her reason for entering the Inn caught back up with her, she was thirsty, so she made her way toward the bar, but pointed to the chair next to Azjah, ?Do you mind if I join you?? She reached the bar and fixed herself a cup of watered ice.

Azjah motioned to the chair, ?Please, feel free. I?ve nothing planned for the afternoon.?

?Great!? She returned with the cup of ice and settled onto a chair, ?It?s too damned hot for me. I hope you haven?t come to the wrong place if it?s peace and quiet you?re after while you work on those figures.? She gave Azjah a teasing smile. She was rather curious about what the numbers meant, and just what Azjah was ?figuring?.

Azjah chuckled, ?Some nights are very peaceful here, and others are rather hectic. I never know just which it will be until I get here, but when it?s crucial, I stay in my office and get things done.? She glanced out the window at the threatening clouds moving in, ?It?s about to cool off from the looks of things.? Azjah slid the microcomputer back slightly, ?If you think this is hot, you don?t want to visit Schedar!? Wil?s home planet was definitely too warm for Azjah?s tastes, as was Nu Ceti.

Tetch sighed, riding on the same glance Azjah did, and there were healthy looking sweat stains on Tetch?s clothing, she could only hope the weather would cool off some. ?Hopefully I won?t disturb you too much.? She winked, one could never promise, ?I?m Tetch.? She extended a hand with a laugh hearing the names of places she?d never heard of, and her imagination began to run riot with the names. ?It?s blistering I take it??

Azjah nodded toward the screen full of numbers, ?Just sales figures and order quantities. Pleased to meet you Tetch, I?m Azjah.? She reached for and took Tetch?s hand in return. ?Let?s just say that Schedar is much too warm for my tastes.? She winked at her. It wasn?t blistering, just too warm too much of the time.

?It?s nice to know you, Azjah, and while I haven?t known you long, I?ll assume it doesn?t suit my fancies either.? She drank only a quantity of her watered ice suited to an outdoorsy type, significant in the coming up for air, ?And what business might you being, ?friend???

Azjah took a sip of her scotch, ?I deal in weapons and propulsion systems Tetch. Mostly with negotiated buyers and the Agency. What about you? What do you do?? Since their trip to Nu Ceti, Wil?s Agency had priority status with DWI.

Her mouth traveled as if she were whistling silently, intrigued by Azjah?s profession, ?Wouldn?t be too superficial of me would it to say I deal with the use of weapons and propulsion systems?? She gave her signature muttley snicker, ?Well, not propulsion systems. I bodyguard around when I?m in Rhydin, pays more than the wanted ads.? She flexed her hands, she?d heard weapons manufacturers paid attention to stuff like that, suggested maybe they knew just what you needed.

Azjah gave a slight lift of a pale brow at her, ?Weapons usually have a steady supply of customers. Propulsion systems don?t have quite so many buyers or would-be buyers.? She sipped the scotch, ?Bodyguard? Tough profession.?

Tetch grew as serious as she?d been so far, ?the weapons industry can?t be too easy?? The romantic in her was imagining very dangerous, near death escapes and other such last second climatic retreats just as an imagined explosion detonated.

Azjah gave her an enigmatic smile, ?Here in Rhydin, it?s fairly easy when you consider that half of the city considers a good sword to be a miracle of weapons possession. But, my being an off worlder, I?m a little more diverse than swords and knives. What is your favorite choice of weapon??

Tetch nodded, her energy lied in her smile, her doubt lied in her eyes. She assumed Azjah?s standing in weapons choice already. ?I should feel embarrassed to say I sword fight. But, I do. The only thing I can defend that with is sword fighting under the influence of magicks. And in that case, I seem more effective than with those ?beasts of iron that travel a tunnel of darkness?.? She was unintentionally riddling Azjah.

Azjah gave a soft chuckle, ?You?re not alone in your sword fighting. I?ve been known to cross a blade now and then myself. As for magic, unless I?m on Twilight Isle, I have no such gift. DWI deals in projectile weapons, such as this one.? She pulled the .50 caliber gun from under her jacket shoulder holster, and laid the satin nickel finish weapon on the table. It had gold inlays and points, including tritium sights, the safety was on. ?We?ve gone into phasers and blasters, but the real research is in larger arrays, tachyon cannon, neutron canon, that sort of thing.?

Tetch blinked, ?No kiddin?, may I??

Azjah found herself at Teas n Tomes Sunday morning, so she detoured inside for one of their luscious ?clairs and a cup of cranberry tea. She took her treasures into the balcony and curled up into a chair before taking her fork and breaking off a bite of the pastry. She had the place pretty much to herself, with the exception of the fellow manning the counter.

Shortly after settling in, the door opened with the chiming of the brass bells announced the arrival of another patron. This one was swathed in exquisite material. The robed mage made his way inside, where light appeared to pool on glossy black flesh. Glacial blue eyes were incandescent beneath the hood as long white hair spilled from the cowl as spindly fingers, tipped with blackened conical, corvid-like talons drew the cloth away from the crown of his head.

Azjah peered over the railing at the chiming of the bells. She recognized the mage and gave a smile and a nod. ?Good morning.?

His black lips hardly moved as whispered voices in a melodious triplicate issued forth from his mouth, ?Define good.?

Azjah put the bite of ?clair into her mouth, closing her eyes with a purely Sardanapalian expression on her face. ?THIS makes it a good morning.? She said after she?d savored and swallowed the treat. Finally she opened her eyes and looked once more at the mage. ?What would define a good morning for you??

The mage shot a curt look at the merchant behind the counter as he started to speak directly to the mage. It was a clear warning for the merchant to curb his habit of speaking to the patrons. The ?Black Wizard? made his way from the door along the counter. He directed the merchant?s eyes to a few teas and made a hand sign signifying his desire to have the beverage order filled ? in silence. That done, he continued up the stairs. His feet effortlessly gliding over the surface of the floor boards with nary a sound as he headed Azjah?s direction.

She made note of the exchange with the merchant, lifting a brow ever so slightly at his cold refusal to speak to the man. As he approached, she motioned to a chair across from her own, ?Care to join me?? It was likely a good thing he didn?t try that behavior on her.

Lord Veighn spoke in his triumvirate of voices, ?The destruction or dominant and unyielding control over a band of meddlesome adventurers that have come to disrupt mine machinations of late ? that would establish itself in mine mind as a good dawning.? He met the stair landing with a halt of forward momentum, pivoting on his heel and ball of his left foot as he came to face himself in a position to easily view Azjah where she sat, and he paused, as though considering her invitation a moment.

Azjah tried not to chuckle, ?Very disruptive, having one?s plans meddled with,? she said with a quicksilver smile. ?What project of yours are you referring to??

The mage was far too tall to be a drow, and even in the voluminous robes, he appeared to be well proportioned for one with a penchant for musty libraries and arcane-littered desks than one accustomed to the rigors of hard labor or skill at arms. He gestured to the seat, a nod granted as he beckoned over his shoulder with a finger for the merchant to deliver his tea here. He seated himself after a minor bit of fussing with the lay of the rich fabric. His movements were very precise and purposeful.

Azjah broke off another bit of the ?clair as he settled onto the chair. ?It has been some time since I?ve seen you in town Lord Veighn, and even longer since you enchanted me with your magic. So what endeavor has people mucking in your work??

?A rather large endeavor. I have a few enemies amongst different factions I wish to have removed from the planes ? scoured as it were ? like refuse off stone by the wash of an acid rain.? He stated with a cavalier nonchalance. But with the mage, it was also true that it could be a lie, or jesting about the whole tale, and with him, the large part of the excitement was finding out which parts were true, fabricated truth, or entirely false.

Azjah lifted a brow at him as she savored her ?clair. ?You have enemies?? She gave a slow smile, ?I cannot imagine a mage such as yourself with those brazen enough?.? Her smile was friendly, but?.?what is this large endeavor??

?The competence of mine lower rungs and echelon underlings grows sour in mine mind. I?m half tempted to destroy them and find more capable minions to replace them. A trio of them have already lost me an artifact to these so-called ?heroes?. He paused, tilting his head slightly, ?There are a few demons I wish removed from their seats of power.?

Azjah set down her fork, picking up the steaming cup of cranberry tea as pale blue eyes studied him, ?You know, if someone had told me they were removing demons from power when I lived on Rigel, I would have thought them deranged, or telling me a fairy tale. How many people work for you??

?The ?heroes? are mine key to doing so unfound. Though, the lack of insight of mine lesser acolytes has made it such a daunting task. My subtle manipulations are becoming less and less fruitious as mine designs are filtered through their simple minds.? He was clearly disgusted with something that had happened recently.

Azjah regarded him over her tea cup, ?I presume you will go after the lost artifact??

?I have few servants,? he said with a voice like a clarion horn of gravitas. ?Those to whom ye refer owe me fealty, and allegiance, a high priest of Procan sacrificed himself to destroy it with the divine power of his Lord and his Lord?s host.? His voice had taken on the bitter monotone as he finished and the merchant came with a platter. Atop the platter was the tea pot, a saucer, cup, lemon, sugar, and cinnamon sticks.

Azjah sipped her tea as she listened to him, her gaze sliding toward the merchant a moment, ?I take it the high priest was unsuccessful??

The merchant mustered as much calm and conviction as he could manage as he approached the mage, but he still shook under the intense scrutiny of the mage with the horrible legends of terror and wrath he?d heard the common folk speak about town. Azjah?s re-assuring smile did little to ease his fears.

Veighn gave a slight shrug, ?The high priest became a conduit to opening a portal into the ether where collapsed into himself, destroying the Torc of Vohoun.?

Azjah?s knowledge of the arcane was almost zero, ?What did this torc do?? She assumed since he delved so deeply into the arcane, it must have held a magical purpose or he would simply not have bothered despite his predilection for rare things.

The mage, with a clack of his talons meeting in a pointed convergence of every digit was signal enough, the latter dismissive wave was unseen as the merchant backed away quickly and nearly stumbled over himself as he rushed back to his side of the bar below. ?It held a Storm Titan, imprisoned. It?s capabilities were not fully uncovered. Three sea hags were not apt enough to fend for themselves whilst calling the monsoons down upon the sea cost of Sasserine.?

Azjah felt rather sorry for the merchant, and turned pale blue eyes onto the mage once more, ?I don?t think he can harm you.? Then she lifted a pale brow at his statement, ?I thought those were myths.?