[Central Bank of Kalzasi] A small startup project (Talon)

[Lyra]

15th of Ash, 120 AS

"What is with the children of this age and steps?"

Though her vessel did not sweat, each step of the '1000 steps' leading up to the Central Bank of Kalzasi felt like it was drawing on every last vestige of Lyra's strength. This body was not used to such tribulations, though in truth Lyra thought any woman would find it difficult to make this climb. She pointedly ignored the girl who merrily skipped past her as that thought came to mind.

Be'melar had called for this meeting the day previously, summoning Lyra by letter after she visited his shop the following day after their original meeting. Official paperwork and contracts would need to be drawn up, and apparently she was to meet with the official finance advisor for House Novalys. By the gods, Lyra had not realized... She had thought Talon was simply a noble, but in fact he was the heir apparent to the ruling class of this area. Some would say her good fortune was only growing, but Lyra knew the truth. Ally yourself with the House in power and you all but painted a sign that drew the eye and attention of any and every rival family for miles around. Yet still... The advantages were many.

But why did he so readily accept the offer? The question had been on her mind all day, If he was of such prestige he could have demanded anything from me, yet he gave no signs of his title or heritage, pretending to be a lowly merchant.

Had she been anyone but herself Lyra might have been offended. Talon had so nonchalantly ignored the gaps in their standings. Such a thing would normally suggest an indifference to the person of lower station, or perhaps imply he saw her as someone so beneath him he did not feel the need to express the extent of his power. That was how it was in the past at least. As for now, Lyra cared nothing for the nobility or ruling classes of this age. In her eyes they were all still children playing at power. Lyra, after all, had seen true power. Gods and demigods that walked among men. She herself had been something close to divinity, worshiped in some places even. Compared to that what was House Novalys?

Finally she reached the top, where she paused to straighten her robes and adjust the hair which had shifted slightly. When she was done she walked up to the front of the building, stepping through the door. Once inside she looked around, searching for Talon who should be there shortly.

[Talon]

Talon stood observing one of the elaborate gold lion statues that decorated the hall of the Central Bank of Kalzasi. He was wearing more formal clothing, a long sleeved coat with a high collar. Fitted cloth pants that were tucked into knee high polished black boots. Around his neck he wore the crest of his family and on his right hand he wore the signet ring of his House proclaiming his station. Beside him stood two robed figures. One was a steel grey haired older lady in a very conservative style black dress with a blue sash around her waist. The other was a middle-aged human man wearing similar garb, the only difference being he wore a silver sash around his waist. The two finance advisors for the estates that would be there as part of the contract negotiations between Talon and Lyra.

When Talon had brought the matter up before the bank, it had been made clear that he would need the finance advisor for House Briathos present as well. As House Briathos was ultimately the final say on matters of the arcane in the city-state of Kalzasi, it made sense that they would have to be present. They had been present for the establishment of Talon’s business as well for even a portion of his earnings from the Skyforge went to their tax collectors. The stern woman would be present to assess the impact of trade dealings between Talon’s business, an establishment based in the arcane, and Lyra’s.

“What do you know of her, my prince?” Talon looked to the middle-aged man. Quinten Darder was his name and he had been serving as one of the finance ministers for House Novalys for nearly twenty years.

“Truthfully? Very little. She made it clear that she wished to establish a business. I do not yet know the nature of this business but as she requested my patronage, naturally that meant more than simply a passing agreement.” The stern looking woman said nothing but gave a nod.

“I am glad that you sought us out. We will certainly assist in ensuring that a proper and fair deal is made that will be of benefit to House Novalys.” Quinten offered a smile. In truth, Talon was glad for their presence. He was not blind to the fact that he had much to learn in the way of making deals, proceeding with negotiations and looking out for the finances of not just himself but of his household. He was a fair businessman but what he did with his personal earnings was small in comparison to the resources at the disposal of his family and its vassals as a whole. He did not want to make a mistake.

“And ensure that services rendered through the arcane are given adequate assessment.” The woman, Adorna, spoke. Her words were crisp and possessed a very businesslike edge to them. If she had a surname, she had not provided it and Talon did not ask. She had swept in and asked several pointed questions, made a few observations and all around made Talon feel as though he should not have offered his patronage to Lyra at all. This was nonsensical to feel as she had voiced approval of him seeking out the assistance of the bank ministers but he could not shake the feeling that he was wasting her time with his bland negotiations. Undoubtedly, she had more pressing matters to deal with given that it was apparent she was one of the more senior finance ministers in residence. He had a feeling that the only reason she had been selected personally was because it had been Talon who had made the proposal.

Not for the first time since meeting her, he wondered if she was there to actually assess the weight of arcane goods and services being exchanged but rather, was there to assess him on behalf of his grandfather. Talon had never met the man and his mother and father did not speak on him often. What they did say gave Talon the impression that he was not a man to suffer fools. One of the few times that he had asked his mother about him she had merely commented that in some ways, he reminded her of him. He had not know whether that was a compliment or simply an observation. He had not pressed the matter.

“Ah. There she is.” Talon caught sight of Lyra as she entered the bank. He raised his hand to signal that she should make her way over.

[Lyra]

She caught sight of Talon as he waved, and made her way toward their group. Her place slowed ever so slightly as she took in their appearance. Talon, the nobleman, seemed inclined to dress the part of his station today. High collar coat, neat and pressed so no wrinkles were apparently. Tight was proper, and form fit to show off the physic of a warrior. It made Lyra realize something. Fashion, in this city at least, seemed to be utilized much like a weapon. The cut and style all spoke of some other machinations at work. In Talon's case, the formal wear spoke to his authority and his respect for the formalities and traditions that he must observe. That said, the cut said he was a warrior, a fighter both strong and body and implied etiquette and intelligence were on par. Had he come up with the ensemble, or was this the work of one of his House?

Goldeyes glanced over the other two, taking in their appearances as well. Formal robes, sashes of different colors. Stiff and proper, though as she observed closer there seemed to be more familiarity between the older man and Talon. The woman though gave Lyra pause. She knew that sort of expression, and when she tuned the rhythms Lyra could almost imagine the steel in this woman's' veins.

Negotiations were rarely straightforward events. Words held power, and promises could lead one down a road that could not be recovered from. Perhaps Lyra should have expected it, but she found herself somewhat surprised that Talon had brought two such as this to their meeting. The weight to the situation seemed to change in her reckoning, and faintly Lyra began to wonder if she had properly prepared.

She wore the same robes she had when she met Talon the first time. Cut and tailored, with trim of gold, they were well suited to Milla's figure, and thus Lyra's. Though they could pass as formal wear, they were not of a similar style to the two advisors. They were the robes of a scholar, meant to be comfortable instead of to make a statement. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, though Lyra had taken the time to carefully brush it out so it fell with small waves. The bag she wore, though, was not the most presentable. Made of old brown leather it had belonged to Milla, and had seen the wear and tear of the years. It was not exactly inappropriate, but it was meant to be practical not stylish.

Lyra paused a few steps outside the group, turning to Talon and dipping into a practiced curtsy, though she gave a half-smile as she rose, "Ana'hesfal le nim, Alatar Novalys." It was a traditional greeting from long ago, used to speak to one of a higher station. In the common tongue, it translated roughly to 'Divine blessing upon you', or could possibly be interpreted as 'Greeting to the Heavenly'.

To the other two Lyra merely inclined her head slightly, "My name is Lyra. Can I assume that Be'Melar has spoken to you about our potential arrangement?"

[Talon]

“Daijin Adorna. Daijin Quinten. May I introduce Lyra Lii-tahn?” Talon inclined his head to Lyra as she curtsied. He used an informal monicker for her that alluded to her profession as a scribe. As he had no surname for her, he thought it appropriate to provide something to refer to her in an at least semi-formal manner.

“Now that we are all present, let us adjourn to a more private setting.” Talon clasped his hands behind his back, turning to lead the way to their selected conference room. The two finance advisors stepped aside, bowing slightly as Talon passed them. He walked across the polished floor of the bank with a familiarity for the establishment. He had visited the building many times both in the capacity of a private citizen and as the Heir to House Novalys. Regardless, his business was always conducted in the same meeting room due to his position. He guided them to a corridor that was well lit and seemed to be lined with several paintings depicting the scenery around Kalzasi and its territories. Two Avialae soldiers, garbed in the attire of Sky Guard, bowed as Talon passed. He inclined his head to them. In short order, they were to the meeting room. A pair of well oiled and polished oak doors depicting a seal upon which was inscribed the seven symbols of the Great Houses. He pushed the doors open with ease as they swung open quietly.

A round table sat in the center of the room with high backed chairs encircling it. The styles were conservative, with well tended cushions and simple designs to the arm rests and legs of the chairs. The room had banners of each of the Seven Houses hanging in places of honor lining the walls. In place of pride hung the banner of House Novalys as the ruling family of all Kalzasi. The table itself was a polished cherry oak free of any intricate designs and decorated humbly with two emerald green runners that intersected one another to form a cross over the circular table. The most peculiar object in the room was a solid black sphere that sat in a silver basin in the center of the table. It swirled with pinpoints of blue light and Talon immediately felt its influence.

His aether was suppressed. Any ability to call upon the power of his runes of magic was stripped from him in this room. It had long been the practice of the Great Houses to conduct matters of importance in public places under the purview of a null spire stone. Magic was well known among the High Families of Kalzasi and in the past, some had tried to use it to sway arguments or make threats. That had been circumvented by the introduction of abjinurium stones in public meeting places such as the meeting rooms of the Central Bank, the chambers of the Elder Council and in the High Court where legal disputes were argued.

Talon strode forward, pulling out a chair for Lyra which he offered to her. As soon as she was seated, he took his seat across from her. The two finance ministers took their seats as well. As soon as all of them were at the table, two more figures entered the room. They wore the same style of dress that Quinten and Adorna did but had no sash around their waists denoting their very junior status. They assembled scribe stations, writing utensils and placed some simple refreshments on the table to be made available if needed. The two then bowed and took their seats at the table, picking up the very scribe tools they had assembled. One was seated near Talon and the two finance advisors. The other was seated next to Lyra. Talon folded his hands upon the table in front of him as he regarded Lyra. He got straight to business.

“You have approached me, Talon Alexios Novalys, First Son of House Novalys with the request that I provide for you, Lyra, my patronage in your pursuit to found a business within the borders of the City of Kalzasi.” As soon as he began speaking, both finance ministers and the two scribes began either scribbling down notes or perusing the documents in front of them. “By your own admission, you revealed to me that you are new to the City of Kalzasi and thus are not familiar with its laws and customs. In light of this, I will provide a brief education of the circumstances at play.”

Talon waited for the scribes to finish scribbling their notes.

“The laws of Kalzasi require that all businesses in good standing must be registered with the Central Bank of Kalzasi and officiated by the Common Court as receiving the blessing and patronage of one of the Noble Houses. Businesses seeking legitimacy without the patronage of a Noble House must register with the presiding guild of authority for which their goods and services fall under. Failure to do so will result in the imposing of fines and sanctions until such time as legitimacy is established by the business.” After a moment of silence where there was only the scribbling of pens on paper and the shuffling of documents, Adorna spoke up.

“Let the record reflect that the involvement of First Son, Talon Alexios Novalys, requires the judicious assessment of the financial ministry of House Briathos. This is so stated due to his ownership and operation of the Skyforge Smithery, establishment of Enchanted Arms, Armors, Goods and Services. See Decree 34, 1st Shokaze, Session 12 of the Elder Council, Charter and Terms for Regulation of Magic, House Briathos, Ministry of the Circle of Spells.” Adorna took out a pair of half-moon spectacles as she spouted off her declaration of presence, announcing the reason for her involvement. She placed them on her face, glanced at Lyra then picked up a quill pen, dipped it in ink and began writing on a piece of paper. As she finished, the middle-aged human beside Talon spoke. He gave a statement very similar to that of Adorna’s announcing that Talon was the firstborn son of his father, the heir to House Novalys and gave legitimacy to his authority to sign and preside over official patronage in the city of Kalzasi. With some of the formalities out of the way, Talon offered Lyra a smile.

“Now then, do you have anything to declare before the deliberations begin, Lyra?”

[Lyra]

Daijin. Lyra thought as she was introduced, A title? Or are they related? The former seemed most likely, but Lyra still had some ways to go before she could understand the tongue of these people. She was particularly curious about the title that Talon had given her. Lii-tahn? What did that mean?

She followed behind without a word, looking around curiously at the bank as she was lead to the true meeting place. High walls of stone, statutes, and figures all implied great wealth, men and women in uniform. All that they passed seemed to go to great lengths to make themselves look important. There was more than one nose held high in the air as Lyra passed, and she found it somewhat amusing to see. Most striking however was the amount of difference that was given to Talon himself. Though he seemed not to notice, those they passed all stepped aside like a parting stream, giving small bows and making odd gestures with their hands. Signs of reference? Respect? Above them, a few feathers fell, and Lyra glanced upward, noting with surprise the alcoves that she had at first not noticed. There were people there, Aviale that looked down on their little procession. Soldiers?

A frow creased Lyra's lips as she eyed the back of Talon's head. They soon reached their destination, a set of absurd doors that made Lyra wonder at the amount of vanity it would require to commission something of that scale. As she passed she took several long seconds to stare at the 7 seals, marking them for later investigation later. What foolishness. Nobility, it seemed, had changed little. That made a small spark of memory come to life in Lyra's mind, but it was gone as she tried to inspect it.

Turning away from the door Lyra was immediately hit with a wave of... something. It felt like the wind had been pulled from her lungs and she stumbled slightly. The moment passed quickly and she found her balance once more before the others noticed, but she glanced around searching for the source. It was then that she saw it. A black sphere that swam with an inner light. A Null stone, abjinurium. Lyra suppressed the urge to grimace. This stone, even in her age, was rarely seen. It interfered with aether directly, altering and manipulating its flow and acting as a suppressant of runes within a certain range. Interestingly the stone could also be utilized in the manipulation of dragonshards themselves, refining their effects, and even stripping effects that one did not desire. What was it doing here?

Though she could still function, the effects of the stone were not like the exposure to high-density aether such as in Talon's forge, it overall affected Lyra's form. She still moved, but unfortunately, she was slowed. There was a slight delay between her will to move and when the vessel responded, so she had to carefully ease herself into the chair that Talon offered. Thankfully he pushed her forward, as she was uncertain she could have done the same thing herself. She held her bag in her lap, resting her hands lightly on top.

Lyra watched with interest as the scribes began to set up their materials. Inks and quills, paper. They were there to record, she assumed, a fact that Lyra had not considered. A part of her had expected to have to make the notations herself, though this was perhaps for the best. She looked sideways at one who was positioned next to her, offering the man a small smile which he did not return.

When each of the three had said their piece Lyra propped an elbow on the table and letting her cheek rest on the knuckles of one hand. Her eyes swept from Talon to the two financial advisors, studying them for a moment before she sighed.

"Silefai et morib, kal dross lenfir ma foretti." She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them to stare at Talon, "To the fool, many words sound-wise, but to the wise, they are a distraction."

She fell silent then, studying Talon before letting her eyes look over the two advisors, "By those accords built and ascribed to and by the Dinor'afiel of old, I Lyra do acknowledge and accept the governance of law put forth in this room today, the 15th of Ash 120, Age of Steel. May the words spoken here be true and binding, sealed in the blood of the pact where each party will pledge the right of the other to demand recompense for bonds broken or deceptions made."

Then Lyra smiled, winking at Talon, "Or something like that perhaps."

[Talon]

Talon listened to what Lyra had to say and it did not take long for him to find that he disagreed with her opening statement. He smiled at her, inclining his head as he engaged in a small bout of philosophical discussion.

“I am afraid that I must disagree with you, Lyra Lii-tahn, Lyra of the Scribes. It is not the amount of words that implies wisdom but the manner in which those words are used. The performance of a great speaker can stir the passions of men fearful of going into battle or strike fear into their hearts. They can inspire people to act toward the common good or can be a whisper that brings them to ruin. The works of historians, which require many words to document things accurately, fill pages in libraries across the world. Detailed are their words, that we might be given the chance to learn from them.” Talon thought for a moment at what all must have been lost during the Sundering. Thousands of years of history that had been obliterated in mere moments as the Godspire unleashed its destruction across the world. He was briefly saddened by the thoughts not because of what was actually lost but because of what it represented, the loss of progress and a chance to grow.

“So, I would amend your statement. To the fool, words are frivolous, but to the wise, they can make all the difference.” As it was not directly part of the deliberations, the scribes that were present did not record Talon’s remarks but remained poised to take down notes of importance. They made notes of Lyra’s agreement to the stipulations laid out in the beginning.

“Now then, what is the nature of your place of business? What goods do you intend to sell? What services do you intend to provide?” He studied Lyra for a moment as he pondered on what he knew of her thus far. She was a foreign woman who had come to Kalzasi for unknown reasons and who displayed a vast amount of knowledge on the subject of Scrivening. He would have thought she might have been interested in the Circle of Spells but it would appear that she was unaware of them.

Under normal circumstances, Talon would have drawn upon his Semblance in order to gauge her mood, or perhaps her intentions. The presence of the abjinurium stone made that impossible however. He understood the necessity of it and it forced him to rely on his conversational skills which, if Talon admitted, he needed to improve upon. It would not be long before his father expected him to become a more active presence in the chambers of the Elder Council. If he could not navigate a simple negotiation where it was his patronage and business that were in play, then he could hardly be expected to make decisions in matters of governance for the entirety of House Novalys, let alone the City-State of Kalzasi.

[Lyra]

It was perhaps expected. Be'melar was, after all, nobility. The highest sort in this city of Kalzasi, yet the upper levels of society all seemed to be the same no matter the age. Lyra, for her part, could appreciate Talon's argument, though in her mind it was not up for debate. She smiled however and inclined her head, submitting the point.

I wonder if he knows? She thought, looking from Talon to the two finance advisors that sat next to him, That it is because of his lofty position that he is able to have such opinions. How many times had Lyra seen words twist the hearts and minds of the lesser citizens of an empire, bending them to serve the speaker? Or the regime? Words held so little true meaning, yet they were placed on a pedestal as if they were the substance that held the world together.

Words of inspiration are for the mighty to exert their influence on the masses, history is written by the ones who stand victorious on the backs of corpses, and details... They are simply a mask to confuse the ignorant or uneducated. The thought made Lyra's mood darken somewhat, though she could not quite understand why.

"I concede the point, Be'melar." Lyra said simply, waving a hand as if the subject mattered little to her. Inside, however, something tugged at her soul. There was something she was forgetting here.

In answer to Talon's question Lyra opened her bag, producing several scrolls, and two simple wands. The scrolls were on thick parchment, rough to the touch. The inside of each was a detailed work of scrivening. Circles split and connected, creating at first glance simple pictographs for the manipulation of fire and ice. Around the pictographs, there were a series of designs, pictures, or illustrations like one might find in a book. Scrollwork, sweeping lines like smoke that curled around and through the design of the fire scroll, while the ice scroll's work looked like ice crystals cracked and blew in a wind to cover the pictograph. The function of each scroll was simple. The fire scroll produced a flame that burned continuously. The ice scroll created a pillar of ice that would rise straight up from the center of the scroll. That was the intent placed in the pictographs themselves. Those who had the ability, however, would notice that the scrollwork, the illustrations, were not there simply for show. The smoke designs created a warding area around the flame, protecting the parchment and anything beneath the fire from being burned. At a place where the smoke curled into a large plume one could touch and the intensity of the flames could be adjusted. Increasing the intensity would burn the scroll faster than if one let it go for a longer time at a lower heat. The designs on the ice scroll gave direction to the ice pillar that was formed, shaping it into not a jagged pillar, but instead a smooth spiraling work of twisting curves and archways. It had not utility beyond its aesthetics, however.

The wands were simply designed, the glyphs along their surface looking decorative more than anything. Each of these wands had a similar purpose. One created flames that would project from the end of the wand. It had limited uses but was a simple wand of ignition for starting small fires. The second wand did not have an output but rather drew in. When activated it would draw in the smoke of a fire, letting one redirect it outside the home or wherever needed. Each of the wands had limited uses, 4 or 5 in total before they were rendered inert.

"I am a scribe, Be'melar." Lyra said, sliding the items across the table toward Talon, "I plan to open a shop to supply those of my craft with the necessary items to do their work, both mundane and magical." She frowned, looking at the wands, "I found it somewhat frustrating to find the proper materials to craft these simple items. It required I travel to several locations, and the quality sold me was not satisfactory." Lyra tapped her own cheek, bringing attention to her tattoos, "My condition requires I regularly retouch my own designs, and I had to go to the tattoo artist to attain the proper ingredients, which I then had to prepare further to make them of use to me."

There was genuine frustration in Lyra's expression which she quickly suppressed. She shook her head, "I wish to provide a place where the practitioners of the scripts, scrivening as you say, have a place to find the highest quality reagents and tools. To fund that I also plan to sell the fruits of my education. Scrolls and wands are a simple thing to create, but their applications are many depending on one's creativity. I can also prepare more advanced items such as staves and spell tomes, though in my time in this city I have seen few proper grimoires." Lyra sounded somewhat at a loss as she said this, as it confused her to no end.

"There are other services I can offer as well, depending on what it is the city needs. This discussion, I believe, shall help me decide the details." She paused here, resting her cheek on her hand once more, "Is there anything, in particular, you feel this city needs? You do belong to its ruling House, after all. I suspect you can tell me much as to the needs of Kalzasi as a whole."

[Talon]

There was something off about Lyra’s concession. Talon could not place it. It felt more like she was agreeing with him to silence him as opposed to actually believing his words. He supposed he could see the argument being moot. Still, he did not discredit the validity of his own statement because he had seen and lived the truth of it. Words held power. They were what formed the basis of trust, of betrayal, of love and lust and of politics and diplomacy. From an early age, his mother and father had taught him to be careful with his words. He did not always heed that advice as closely as he should have but he was learning to as he grew in the ever expanding awareness of the stage he was propped up on.

“I do not think many hold the passion for Scrivening that you do, Lyra.” Talon leaned forward as Lyra presented the objects in her possession. He studied the scrolls carefully and after a moment he was able to infer their meaning. The gift of being able to read the meaning of pictographs was somewhat dampened due to the presence of the abjinurium sphere but as it was a latent gift that remained largely passive, it was still mildly present. He followed the symbols, understanding even at the surface that there was manipulation of the powers of fire and frost being displayed in front of him. The wands drew his eye. Talon even went so far as to reach for one. He glanced at Lyra for unspoken permission before gently picking it up. He looked at the symbols etched upon its surface, examining the wand carefully before placing it back in front of the Scribe.

“Your shop would be unique in Kalzasi. That much you can be assured of. The creation of these wands alone is something that will draw much interest among those comfortable with using arcane tools. Even if they do not possess aetheric mastery themselves, the implementation of these can be widely useful.” For the smoke wand, Talon could already see a use when it came to fighting wildfires and even fires that sprung up in the city from time to time. The ability to draw in smoke and redirect it would enable guards and rescuers to go into the burning buildings without the strain of having to fear breathing in the smoke. The small igniter wand would certainly be something useful around campfires or even in excavation parties where the caves they delved into were often damp or thick with humidity.

“I can see many uses for your skills. I am not a bookbinder and while I am capable of creating wands myself, the creation of my artifacts is something that takes weeks. The effects might be permanent and broader than your more specific devices but not everyone needs or can afford the manner of tools I create.” He glanced at Adorna who was simply observing Lyra with an air of stone-faced disinterest.

“The Circle of Spells has chapters across several of the Free Cities here in the Northlands of Karnor. Kalzasi is the city that primarily supplies them with the magical reagents, tools and services that they import and then disburse in their local areas. We are, without dispute, the magical capital of the Northlands. I think, perhaps, your expertise would be sought after not for the objects you can create but for the services you can provide.” Talon considered the insight that she had given him within the confines of his own shop. The critical eye that had examined his workstations, glanced over the glyphs across the walls of his shop, and provided critique and enhancement had been invaluable.

“There are many magical laboratories across the cities. I think where you will undoubtedly be of most value is in your consultation services. You might be averse to teaching but you are within your ability and rights to provide other less learned mages with the stability of a sound workspace to ply their craft.”

[Lyra]

Lyra nodded at Talon's words, watching him as he inspected each of the items in turn. From time to time Lyra would glance around at the others around the table, lingering a bit on Adorna who seemed to be focused on Lyra herself. To her, Lyra smiled a small smile, more a habit of showing one was not a threat than a true sign of kindness or goodwill. These people here, she had come to realize, were there to protect something. Talon, or rather his House whom he represented. What was it they were looking for?

Looking to the side Lyra saw the scribe writing as Talon talked, and she tilted her head to look closer at the language. She could not read it of course, but she noticed several lines to the side. Notes or observations perhaps?

These will not be the official terms of a contract. Lyra thought as she observed the other scribe, They are recording the discussion for later study.

Lyra eyed the scribes a bit closer, searching them for signs. What most did not consider was the true work a scribe provided. One did not simply select a person who could write to be a scribe. No, those who held the title 'Scribe' did so because of a particular set of skills. A quick mind paired with a steady hand that could accurately and precisely record what was being said at the moment, a strong memory that could recall even small details read once. Often scribes themselves had particular specializations and were chosen based on those depending on the situation. So what did these scribes specialize in? What was it they were there to observe? To note?

"I remember you mentioned the Circle of Spells in our last meeting." Lyra said, looking at Talon once more, "I will admit my ignorance as I know little of them, or even of Kalzasi's position of power in the world of magic at large. This information is very useful."

Silence for a few seconds, and then Lyra continued, tapping on finger on the table, "I do appreciate the high regard you have shown me here, Be'melar. If it is of interest to your House I can expand upon the services I may offer. Supplies, wands and staves, and even Grimoire are the core of what I may offer, but as you say if there is a need I can also offer my experience to those who are... let us say in need of additional consultation."

As she said these last words she looked at the bowl in the center, frowning slightly before looking around the room, "In truth, I would offer myself for free to adjust the schema in this room. As it is those who depend on the normal function of aether to survive could find their lives shortened just stepping in here. Not to mention it is currently of an old design that was long since abandoned for its weak security."

[Talon]

“The Circle of Spells is the guild patroned by House Briathos. It is, in many ways, a proving grounds for aspiring mages in the Northlands. They maintain a policy of open petition for membership. If they are a guild that interests you, provided you can pass their Test, they will welcome you into their fold.” Talon had thought on more than one occasion that he should join the Circle of Spells. At the end of the day however, he thought it best if he remained largely independent of affiliating with them in the formal sense.

As he listened to what Lyra had to offer in terms of her consultation services, he considered what she had already provided by way of insight for him. When she offered to yet again provided an improvement in the schema that rest in the very room they were conversing in, he noticed that Adorna seemed to pause in her perusal of paperwork.

“I think, Lyra Lii-tahn, you would be better served in drafting your refinements privately. You may then provide them to Daijin Adorna for implementation.” He gestured to the woman beside him who merely offered Lyra a nod. There was an interest in her eyes however that had not been there before.

“That can, perhaps, be your first official consultation. That is simply my advice. You are free to ignore it.” He gave the woman a smile.

“Let us discuss the matter of what you expect from the Skyforge Smithery. A partnership, yes. What are the details of this partnership? I would ask that you be specific.” It was here that Talon was truly eager to hear what the Scribe had to say. The exact nature of their partnership and what she expected from it would be the deciding factor ultimately.