5 Searing 121
The cold northern winds ghosted over the feathers of Talon’s wings as he soared through the skies of the Cloudhaven District. Below him, the city of Kalzasi was coming alive with the rise of the morning sun. Today would be a long day. It would be a day filled with as many questions as there were answers. It had not been a day that he was looking forward to. He banked to the left, flapping his wings to help guide his flight path in the direction of his destination. In the skies around him, various other Avialae, Fae and even Rathari in their avian forms, were flying in carefully navigated paths. These people were going about their business as they began the day running errands, soldiers beginning their skybound patrols, and people just generally getting their morning exercise. It comforted Talon to know that people could still go about their daily lives even with so much going on in the world.
Talon ascended higher and his thoughts turned to events as of late. The diplomatic mission to Zaichaer had been a disaster. His companion and bondmate had nearly been killed. People had been searching for reasons to riot at every turn. The near palpable desire to refuse any efforts at diplomacy and to find common ground, had been daunting. Talon had returned late last season and had remained mostly quiet and removed from the public eye. He had turned his attention to nursing those he loved back to health. He had been in quiet meetings with his father and some of his advisers. His father’s disappointment in the failure of the mission had cut into Talon’s heart deeply, even if the Shokaze had not believed it would be a success to begin with. But that was not what had troubled them the most.
Talon had revealed his nimbus openly and without reservation in front of Zaichaeri soldiers. He had revealed the truth of their suspicions so as to remove any doubt about what he had become. This, coupled with the rumors of what had been circulating among the realm’s peerage for months, had moved the Elder Council to act. News had begun to reach them of the movements of people making their way toward a settlement in the Wildking’s Forge, a settlement that once belonged to the fabled Order of the Dawnmartyr. Talon had known it would only be a matter of time. He had dreaded that time, but he had known it would come. People were beginning to connect the dots and events as of late had all but confirmed suspicions.
Talon ascended even higher until he was rising into the clouds of the Cloudhaven District. As he breached their surface, a commanding structure drew his attention. It stood upon one of the many Astralar floating isles, a place reachable only through means of flight or through one of the teleportation gateways that brought flightless people to one of its platforms.
The Hall of Wisdom. Seat of the Council of Elders who governed over all matters of Kalzasi. With the Shokaze presiding over the council and the Daizoku handling all things brought before them, this was where the power of Kalzasi’s influence was at its strongest, the seat of their government. As Talon neared the Hall, several armored Avialae guards came down out of the clouds to escort him to the platform. No one, not even he, was allowed to approach the Hall of Wisdom unchallenged, even if he had been summoned by invitation. It was a custom that Talon had observed many times and he glided into the appropriate flight path without need for prompting.
Talon angled himself to make a comfortable descent down onto the platform, spreading his wings in order to slow his fall. He landed easily, folding his wings in close as the Master-at-Arms of the platform guard came forward. The sky escort that had guided him to the platform did not descend but swerved and continued back into the air to resume their posts. The Master-at-Arms was flanked by two armored Avialae and when he was just a few feet away, he came to a stop and bowed. Talon inclined his head.
“I am Soraken Pasha, Officer of the Watch. Welcome honored guest, to the Hall of Wisdom. What is your business?”
“I am Talon, Heir to Savien, First Son of House Novalys.” Talon withdrew the scroll that had been penned by none other than Daizoku Tizan Veyl, Speaker of the Council. He extended it to the watch commander who took it smoothly. Reading over it, Soraken Pasha nodded his head. He withdrew a silver whistle and blew into it producing a soft musical note four times. From atop the ramparts of the gate, four Avialae leapt into the air then glided down to stride forward. Each of them stepped forward and bowed to which Talon returned with a nod of his head. One of the men separated himself from the others, offering another bow.
“I am Hakumo Yoriatsu. I will be your escort. You are expected before the Daizoku, my Shinsei. Please, come this way.” Talon strode forward, tucking his wings in close as he made his way across the platform and over the black stone bridge that connected it to the gate leading up to the Hall of Wisdom. Passing through the gate, the feathers of his wings stood on end briefly as he could feel the enchantments that had been placed upon it. The Hall of Wisdom was a marvel of Avialae skyborn architecture. On the main island stood the Hall itself, a palatial building that served as the seat of the territory’s government. It housed the offices of the Elder Council, the throne room of the Shokaze, the Council Chambers, and of course the main offices of the various departments that managed the city and its territory. Around the main island was a floating ring upon which stood an eberrite wall that was heavily enchanted both by House Briathos and the Circle of Spells. The wall created a barrier for which there were only two points of exit and entry. Several smaller islands floated in front of the gate, serving as greeting platforms for visitors. No one was allowed to pass through the gate without escort, not the Shokaze, not the Daizoku and certainly not Talon.
As they approached the steps leading up to the Hall of Wisdom itself, Talon felt at peace with what lay ahead of him. He had been summoned by the Shokaze and the Elder Council to speak on matters concerning the State. Exactly what those matters were, Talon had a fairly clear idea. He was ready and he would speak true to his actions and to what he felt was the right path for their people. When they entered the Hall of Wisdom itself, Talon took a moment to admire the architecture and the decorations. No matter how many times he saw it, the sight filled him with pride. The Hall itself was not built to be ostentatious. The interior, while grand and luxurious in design, took a minimalistic approach to its grandiosity. Instead, the focus was on the banners and symbols of the many noble houses that governed Kalzasi and its territories. Hanging above the tall double doors leading into the Council Chamber itself were the banners of the Seven Great Houses, with the banner of his family hanging center and slightly larger than the others to signify its status as the ruling family.
As soon as he approached, the honor guard standing beside the doors came alive. They pushed opened the doors and Talon stood at the threshold. Talon was briefly shocked at the amount of people inside. At the far end on a raised and tiered platform sat his father, garbed in the vestment of Sovereign and staring down upon all who gathered as the Shokaze and supreme lord of all Kalzasi. On the tier just beneath him sat two other Daizoku.
Daizoku Tizan Veyl, Speaker and Head of the Elder Council.
...and Daizoku Pavel Senue, the Highlord of the family second only to Talon’s own though not by much.
Below them were assembled the other four Daizoku, all of whom Talon knew by name. There was the old and wise Haruhiro Dahshida whose eyes immediately fell upon Talon. He did not flinch away from that gaze but met it steadily to which Talon received a nod from his Great Uncle. Next came the wise and gentle Marda Ahtivin, the widowed Daizokura of House Ahtivin. Despite her advanced age for a human, she looked as healthy and alert as ever. As their gazes met, Talon saw in her many questions which came as no surprise to him. She was a High Priestess of Ioniri, a woman of the gods. No doubt the subjects brought up in this session would receive intense scrutiny from her.
Next, Talon’s gaze came to meet Vako Zatrian, Kalzasi’s brightest mind. A glint of curiosity and the ever present twinkle of mischief that seemed to dance at the corners of his mouth met Talon’s stare. Finally, Talon met the gaze of someone who both fascinated and terrified him in ways that he could not describe. Briathor IV sat quietly, dressed in the blacks and royal blues of his House. His silver wings were folded behind him and his stare, when it met Talon’s, sent a spark of electricity and a shiver down his spine. He suppressed the urge to shrink away from that gaze. Even without calling upon his Semblance, Talon could feel the power in his grandfather with just that one stare. The man stared at Talon impassively, a statue of cold authority and an enigma as he always had been.
Talon then glanced to the other occupants of the room. The chamber had pews that formed a semicircle around the central dais where the Shokaze and the Daizoku were seated. This allowed them a full view of the central chamber where matters were debated before the council in full. Talon saw the Hatakomon families represented. He saw the Koiteki families represented. He saw representation from every Kozoku family as well. The whole of Kalzasi’s peerage was present to bear witness to what was unfolding. Talon just breathed. He came forward to stand before the dais of the Shokaze and the Daizoku. After a moment’s pause to allow silence to settle upon the chamber, Talon knelt. He crossed a hand over his chest, touching his palm to his heart and bowed his head.
“My Shokaze.” There was silence for a moment before the voice of Tizan Veyl carried through the chamber.
“With your blessing, Shokaze, I will bring this council to order.” His father’s voice followed.
“It is given.” Talon rose to his feet then so that he could face the assembled proudly. He met the eyes of the Speaker of the Council as he rose to his feet. Tizan’s wings shifted slightly as he straightened his official garb.
“Come now, to order. Let all be silent as the Daizoku of the Realm of Kalzasi make their voices heard.” Tizan raised his hands ushering a hush into the already quiet hall, silencing mutterings.
“Talon Alexios Novalys, Son of Savien, First Son of House Novalys, today we sit in council to address the concerns that you and your actions have brought forth into this realm. I Speak for this Council but I do not Speak alone. Are you prepared to answer for the concerns brought forth?”
“I am.” Talon kept his head high as he regarded the assembled.
“Then let us begin.”
Behind him, Talon heard the doors to the Council Chamber close. The thud of the great doors closing tugged at something in his heart. He felt as though more eyes than just those assembled were watching. Maybe there were.
Off Topic
All spoken word during the course of this thread, by both the Council members and Talon are in the language of Synskrit.
