Mirror, Mirror: Glade 124 [Hilana]

[Raithen]

Once Raithen had realized how useful it was to be able to speak to his Umbra regardless of where either of them happened to be he had had a set of unbreakable hand mirrors made. One for each of them to keep in a pocket or otherwise about themselves so they could talk any time they wanted to unless they were particularly busy or... otherwise occupied. He could activate his whenever he wanted, of course, but Hilana's had a little catch on it that she could turn to alert him that she wanted to chat. When she did so his mirror would let out a little chime and he could use his Traversion to start a 'call'.

Since then he had been chatting with her nearly daily, either at his initiation or hers. Several times he had accepted her desire to talk even when he had been in the midst of being 'otherwise occupied'. Having a conversation mid-coitus wasn't a problem for him so long as it was with someone he was paying or otherwise wasn't particularly interested in, such as with one of his mother's servi. His primary interest was in engaging with preferred partners but there were plenty of times that he just needed to flush the pipes, to keep his mind clear for a god-given or familial mission.

~~~

The season had just turned to Glade a couple of days before, and, according to Phocion's spy network, had actually turned in the rest of the world as well as the Sunlit Lands. Raithen was propped up on a lounging couch in his Palace rooms, finishing a glass of Starfall wine. Reaching out a hand he fumbled for his mirror where he lay on the little table along with the bottle of wine. It was early evening and he had things to tell.

When the connection was activated he said,

"Hilana?" Because she had no real way of knowing that he had activated the mirror on her end until he spoke. All he could see was darkness, which probably meant the mirror was in a pocket, basket, or satchel.

"I met with Finn and Phocion today about the Sælyan matter, have you time to talk?"

[Hilana Chenzira]

“That was good,” Lia sat back in her chair following the meal. The little dishes containing the accoutrements sat between them on the table. “Gratias, Hilana,” she smiled at her sister, leaving the last of her pita bread on the bread. Hilana always made plenty, and it meant there would be more for later meals. The roast chicken would be good on pitas for lunches, and the mujadara could be reheated for dinner the next day with whatever else they decided to make.

“You’re welcome, I’m glad you liked it,” she picked up her last dried apricot and nibbled a piece off. “It was fun to make, really. We have semolina cakes for dessert with candied orange slices.” Dessert would be later, after all - Lia wanted to go see a poetry performance, and Hilana needed the sands. They’d reconvene later, or at least could have the flower-shaped cakes separately if one got back later than the other did. Lia was not one that was early to bed, but she lacked the bizarre energy that Hilana possessed, but she preferred to stay closer to home in the evenings.

“I’ll clean up, if you want to get a start on Hayima’el,” Lia offered. “It’s only fair. You cooked.”

“We’ll do it together, and then you can get to your reading and I will go for my ride,” Hilana smiled at her, getting up from the table. “Many hands make light work, right? Come on, I’ll wash, you dry.”

~

She kept her mirror on her person at all times - be it in her rucksack, a pocket on her full skirts, a saddlebag… and she was already out in the sands as Hayima’el walked out in the evening when she heard the voice of her Lux. She retrieved the mirror, holding it up so that he could see her. She seemed to be outside the city, at least, she was somewhere that was neither her apartment nor the city proper. “Good evening, Lux. I always have time for you. How did it go with Sentinel Phocion and Finn?” She smiled into the mirror at him, relaxed in the saddle. The Mask meant nothing and no one would be finding or bothering them, and they’re could ride as the evening cooled down. She did have her shawl around her shoulders and her traveling cloak packed just in case, but they would get home eventually.

“Did you make progress there?” The Saelyan problem indeed. Khyan would be avenged, by any means Raithen found an opportunity for. And rightly so.

[Raithen]

The perspective of the mirror shifted in a way that might have troubled the stomach of someone less used to the dips, spins and twists of personal flight. When it stopped moving he could see Hilana's face, bathed in reflected moonlight. She looked to be out riding, which wasn't unusual for her.

Floating his own mirror at a comfortable distance from his face on a flow of aether he tucked his hands behind his head in a comfortable lounge.

"Phocion is going to oust the ghost from the Curia by his own means, may The Twilight Lady chain him in Her deepest pit." He meant the undead, not his brother, but they both knew that.

"As for the rest of that 'family'," He made air quotations around the word with the fingers poking out from between tufts of his hair, "He suggested I seek out the Vastian House Argenti. Once they are ousted from the Senate they will have no argument against me seeking redress for past wrongs. I was hoping you might help me there, actually. Do you know anything of the Argenti? I could use my rank to overawe them, maybe, but I'd rather know what I am walking into and have a better plan than just look pretty and be me."

It was his plan sometimes, when he had either no time or no information to come up with a better. Often, it was enough, but not always.

He let Finn's plans for revenge remain unspoke, partly because he assumed the Sentinel might like to tell their mutual friend of them himself, and partly because he knew that he was not at leisure to reveal such a powerful family secret as had been imparted to him out. All he did say was,

"I think Finn's plans might take me with him out of Solunarium for a time. Won't mean we can't stay in touch though." He offered with a grin and a little wiggle of the very mirror they were currently speaking through.

[Hilana Chenzira]

The camel walked on easily, long legs eating up distance as he carried on. They would go as far as they could tonight and take the Traversion Ring home. She had half a mind to get another one from the market, just to have it on hand and allow her to go further as she needed and wanted to. She did have some portals tucked away in lodestones that Vasilei gave her for emergencies, but that was emergencies. Finn and Raithen would likely contribute more to her lodestone collection if she asked, and perhaps one day she would, but she also didn’t want to pester them when she could manage on her own. But for now, she was happy in the peace and quiet of the evening, with her Lux. She settled back in the wooden saddle, manifesting a slender arm of rock to make an extended handle that she could propping the mirror in and keep it relatively level. She really did need to attune to wood or metal next.

She listened as he talked, nodding along at his words. She didn’t doubt Phocion would find a way to get the Saelyans out of the Luxian senate; that would be an interesting set of circumstances if he did. Which ultimately didn’t surprise her. “As I understand, one of Æros’ brothers is now serving in the senate seat while Æros is in the poison-testing cohort under His Serene Starlit Highness Arkaenyn Princeps, no?” She didn’t know if that had changed since the Conclave of Electors was started.

She’d had very little to do with the Saelyans since the tether between her and Æros had been severed and reassigned to Palaemon. All things considered, she knew they certainly blamed her privately for Æros’ demise, even if he’d been the one to cut his own throat. And just as what he had done to Khyan had in an effort to save his own skin, that had brought distance. Hilana would do anything for her friends… not sacrifice them to save herself.

At his query, she tilted her head. When it came to his reference of family, she didn't know if he was referring to the Nykaras or to the Saelyans, but she would figure it out. “I do know them, yes. Mattia Argenti, the Consul Minor for the Luxian Senate, happens to be my father’s best friend. His wife is Domina Bellona. She is Re’hyaean, but married down to Patrician. They have one son, Cetus. Uncle Mattia became Consul after he testified against the Nykaras... quid pro quo, I guess. They got the Nykara family as servii as a result of the Lex Agni. Cetus had Khyan for a while, before Æros bought him out. As far as I know, Uncle Mattia still owns Khyan’s parents, if you’re looking to get your hands on them.” She knew well that Finn had wanted them to be granted manumission, and restored to their former status. She didn’t know if Raithen was doing it for Khyan or for Finn, but she was hopeful all the same.

“They’re very keen to shore up relations with the Umbrian crown, since they were among the very first to immediately throw their lot in with House Sol’Avaerys,” she added. “I know they were hoping that if things went sour and there was a civil war, they could leverage Cetus’ status as a sentinel to protect their own skin if it came to that. They're incredibly focused on status and appearances," there was some disdain in his Umbra's voice, but he knew how she felt about that after her father had tried to force it down her throat. "They're as venomous as my cobras are, and about as dangerous. You have to watch your back with them. I don't think they'd try much of anything with you... but they would also be interested in seeing what sort of favour they might be able to earn from you. Cetus has a summon, too, and that one is conniving."

She smiled when he wiggled the mirror, though. If they had to go north to Auris, then so be it. She trusted the two of them to work together and look after each other, and she knew she likely wasn't going to be any help. If they needed her, then they would say so. But truth be told, she already knew there wasn't much she could offer that the Sentinels didn't already have and could provide, because Finn's husband made sure of it, not to mention Raithen's mother. "Quid erit, erit," she nodded. What will be, will be. "Be careful. That's dangerous prey you two are pursuing up there, even if Auris is our biggest ally."