Poaching Talent [Torin]

[Kala Leukos]

Kala continued to observe Master Kilvin through her runic lens as they ate. It was another way to get to know him better, to vet him as a prospective candidate to share in some of the secrets of Starfall. It was important that she be correct in her estimation, as her mother and her elder brother would both pay keen attention to all the choices she made in Kalzasi. Her mother was the Lady of Starfall, after all, and her brother would be its Lord in his time. She would be answering to one or the other of them in perpetuity. It was only a heavy yoke because it mattered so much to her.

Kaus was happy to pick up most of the conversation with the apprentice. His weapon returned to the aether, he managed to sprawl on his chair and still eat with impeccable manners. The two of them did, in fact. But they had incorporated it all into a sort of effortless grace designed to put people at ease rather than make them worry they were using the wrong fork and making an ass of themselves in polite company. They both liked this earnest young man and wanted him to be himself, not what he assumed young nobles wanted him to be.

Torin's chair was a good fit for him. As Avialae men tended toward the large scale, it easily accommodated the bulk of his body. Kala's was designed to fit shorter guests without making them seem smaller. Attention to detail was a long-standing family trait.

"It would be interesting to see what sort of augmentations could be added to a pact weapon," he mused. "I do hope you will be careful, though. While it would surely strike terror in the hearts of my enemies if it were sheathed in silver fire and set my enemies alight, I would hate for it to burn away my soul through some sort of sympathetic magical connection." He laughed easily. "But all my runes are geared toward combat, not creation. So I would defer to your expertise."

"That is, perhaps, something we could help with as well," Kala interjected. "From what I understand, much of what you do hinges upon dragonshards, but if runic magic can help add power and complexity to your enchantments, then we would be happy to offer our aid. Elementalism, reaving, semblance, scrivening... It would be educational for us as well. And we are both taking some classes at the Academy, so if you need access to their archives, we could accompany you for research purposes."

"I might get you in and fly off, but Kala enjoys research," Kaus said with an irrepressable smile.

[Torin Kilvin]

The relaxed manners of the nobles helped Torin relax himself. He was still careful, he was always careful, but he wasn't overly worried about picking up the wrong utensil and offending anyone. The food was good and simple, well suited to the heat of the summer, the chilled drinks helped as well. Nothin was overly dainty and even the chairs seemed nicely solid.

Torin liked both the twins and was beginning to see the differences between them that went beyond the physical forms. They seemed genuinely interested in the ideas that poured out of him so easily with a little encouragement. He knew he should probably be holding himself back but even if they sent his ideas to Starfall and had their runesmith create them it would be no loss to him.

He shook his head at Kaus amused worry, "Runesmithing doesn't use any aether from the one who uses it. If it did farmers all over the continent would kill themselves using augmented shovels. I take the aether from dragonshards, or sometimes from other magical items, either reusing old enchantments or rarely using other naturally magical materials. If you find a rune bearer that you can work in concert with they can provide the power." He nodded to Kala's suggestion, awed that they would offer him their magic but a little sedated by the food, heat, and calm company.

He had observed and practiced working with a mage a time or two but paying the mage for practice was expensive and his current teacher only did so twice a year. "I wonder if using your runic magic to make an item for you would make it more suited to you." There was surely material written on the subject but while his education had included book learning it had been very traditional. He also began to wonder if he could make a magical item that could be powered by a runebearer. His mind wandered a little before he brought it back with brows raised in surprise.

"The archives? You could let me study there?" He wouldn't have the time for such study before he was released from his apprenticeship and he had worried that he wouldn't be able to find enough work to sustain him but if he had patrons... Well, not patrons exactly but if he had steady work from House Leukos he might be able to spend time reading just to learn more of his craft.

"If there are things you would like me to create that are entirely new it would be helpful to have access to the books in the archive." He tried to keep his tone cautious and tie the idea into working for their good but there was no artifice in him and his eagerness would be as obvious as ever.

[Kala Leukos]

Both twins smiled at Master Kilvin's desire to make use of the archives at the Academy.

"I am actually not certain of the rules," Kala admitted. "We are allowed as registered students, but even if we weren't, I'm certain that our family name would give us access. Kalzasi does a good job of making its wealth available to all of its people, but the archives do hold some delicate treasures so I'm certain there are also rules about who gets access and how. But I think one or the other of us could vouch for you and get you in for the day."

Kala was not shy about eating, but Kaus ate as though this were his first meal of the day. Perhaps the magic that made Avialae required more fuel for their fire. Though Kaus wasn't particularly large for one of the winged men, there was magic about him. Not only his runes but his bloodline had been forged in magic.

"As for whether using our runic magic to help you forge something would key it to us," Kala began. She cupped her hand before her and concentrated. It didn't require aura glass or a rune to see some of what she was doing, at least. The energy began to manifest over her hand, somewhere between smoke and water, reacting to her will. White, then green, then white. It pulsed with her heartbeat and began to develop a form.

"Oh, good idea," Kaus murmured and began to do the same. His light went through green, white, and golden, though.

There would be more intricacy to see through an aura glass, but even Master Kilvin could see how the energy began to order itself in a geometric pattern until eventually, a small crystal dropped into her palm. Moments later, Kaus had one as well.

"A small gift for you," Kala said, holding it out. "An elemental lodestone. Crystalized aether. Mine."

When the smith accepted it, Kaus reached out and dropped his into the man's palm as well.

"'Tis a trick of earth magic," she explained. "But it isn't keyed to Earth. Kaus' is keyed to Air and will be a bit stronger than mine. The Air chose him for obvious reasons, and so he has a bit more raw power when it comes to these things." There was the faintest touch of sadness or wistfulness, though Kaus, at least, knew it was her dream of wings of her own more than the power.

"For now," he added with a smile. It made Kala smile and nod.

[Torin Kilvin]

Being comfortable around people his own age, just talking and eating as though it were normal made it feel normal. It wasn't, not at all, but he settled into it as though made to do so. He probably had been, though it was not in him to think so.

When Kala, and a moment later Kaus, began to give their magic physical form his eyes got wide. He had known people were going magic around him before, a few times. Aurin did it (though it was guesswork as to when unless he used Masquerade), and the mages the runesmith hired to work with, but, without an aether glass, this was a new experience.

The incident with Sivan had happened more with other parts of him than his eyes and he was still sorting through the experience, not ready to think of it in terms of work.

Belatedly he remembered he'd set the small aether glass down on the table, Kala was already offering him her stone so he held out both his big hands cupped, as though the precious little thing might spill out if here weren't careful. It was warm, just a little, like earth after summer rain, Kaus', when it landed also in his palms a moment later, was just cool enough to feel, like a summer breeze.

The little stones were solid, but also, they were not. They sang, each its own song but in harmony. It was like the music he heard from dragonshard only those felt like an echo of life, these felt like they were alive still. The urge to cry came over him unexpectedly and he had to reign his emotions in sharply.

"What is your's keyed to?" He asked, still holding them as if they would shatter if he looked too hard. For all he knew, the might. It didn't feel right that he should take something made from the essence of another person's soul. Not two people who seemed good and kind, truly, not who he barely knew. If Aurin had he would have been choked with how honored he felt, if Sivan had, he might have thought on how to use it to make the elf's life better. It felt far beyond rude to refuse to accept once Kala had called them a gift, so he blinked at them, listened to their tiny songs, and ached quietly.

"Is there something you would like me to do with them? A piece of runesmithing?" He could come up with ideas on his own but blithely deciding what to do with something so personal felt akin to rape in his head. He had never been raped, nor seen it done, so his internal metaphor was not apt.

[Kala Leukos]

"Mine isn't keyed to a particular element," Kala explained. "Eventually, an element will claim me as Air claimed Kaus. The creation of lodestones is a clever bit of geomancy, but they can be keyed to any element or be filled with other sorts of magic."

"I just keyed mine to Air so it would be a different resource for you," Kaus added. "It certainly became easier to work with Air once it chose me."

"They aren't terribly fragile," she added with a gentle smile at how Master Kilvin was handling them. She considered for a moment. "It would take significantly more effort to fashion them stronger than, say, a diamond, but you could safely keep them in your pocket."

"We won't be offended," Kaus chimed in with a lop-sided grin. "You should look with the aura glass. I know you want to." The last was slightly sing-song, though the humor was inclusive, inviting the smith to smile too. But Kala was considering his last question, giving it due thought. She smiled at Kaus.

"They are a gift," she assured him. "At Starfall, it is customary to give gifts to build a relationship. If you wish to use my lodestone to make a gift for me, I will receive it gratefully, but it was my intention that it be a resource for you to expand your knowledge and your craft and so I hope you will use it to that end. And to clarify, if you wish to offer a gift in return, it isn't a matter of coin spent. The value of my gift was time, concentration, and skill to make something that would be valuable for you. I promise it isn't a passive-aggressive gesture on my part."

"Kala is aggressive-aggressive," Kaus noted, then laughed. "But the same is true of mine. Let your imagination lead you. Oh, a caveat: don't make anything that would be keyed through our aetheric signatures to do us harm. But I figure that is understood with gifts."

[Torin Kilvin]

The apprentice nodded a little bashed when Kala informed him that he wasn't going to accidentally crush the aether stones. Grinning a little more abashed when Kaus called out his desire for what it was, he grasped the little aether glass (deciding that he needed to make a pair of spectacles like it just as soon as he could afford to do so) and he examined the little crystals.

The structure, its fascets, but more the little lines of aether that hummer through them, were unlike anything he'd ever been able to study before. It was a good five minutes before he returned his attention to his hosts with a thoughtful frown.

Closing his palm around the little stones, and then putting them carefully into a tiny pocket in his satchel he said,

"This will help me, studying them, learning to use them, very much." He was already brimming with ideas, more of questions than useful items as yet, but he was full. Of food and delight, learning and good company, he felt full, sated, comfortable. Somewhat worried that he shouldn't really be comfortable around the noble twins, but comfortable regardless. He would need to discuss it with Aurin for business reasons, and excitement. Sivan too was likely to get an earful the next time they were together, Torin would bring the little stones to his friend and they could discuss possible uses. The elf wasn't a runesmith, but his mind was keen and he usually understood the concepts the larger boy brought to him immediately. Where he didn't Torin believed it was a language barrier issue and not the inability to understand.

"If it is the custom of your people I shall have to bring you gifts also. I would hate for you to think I was rude." He was teasing. Gently and respectfully, but actually teasing. Giving gifts was something he enjoyed and it felt like a good way to begin a long-term business arrangement that was also shaping up to be friendly in nature.

If he hadn't observed Kala's ferocity and concentration himself he might not have believed Kaus, but he had. They were both aggressive when they needed to be. Which meant their lack of pressure on him then to commit was genuine.

At least, he thought so. He was not wise in the more subtle ways of persuasion. Had these representatives of House Leukos wanted to take advantage of him they almost certainly would have been able to.

"Tell me of your people, what do they need? How much work is needed?" If he would not be able to fill all the needs of the House on his own he wanted to be upfront with that right away. Disappointing his first real clients would be a bad, possible disastrous move on his part.

[Kala Leukos]

"I assure you," Kala said, "your manners have not offended."

Kaus' smile was wider than hers, but he had less in the way of responsibility and so she was almost always more measured in her responses to things, her quietly fiery nature notwithstanding.

"Starfall is remote," she began. "About as far away from Kalzasi as can be while still falling within its jurisdiction. Our ancestors might as easily have maintained their independence, but sometimes it is beneficial to have friends. Our house owes fealty to Briathos, and we are similar to them in being somewhat secretive and invested in magical exploration. So we will always be happy for new arms and armor, the better to equip our warriors and guardians. Excess can be stored in the armory against future need. But also, tools for magical experimentation. Anything to keep our alchemists and artificers and other people safe, and give them more options. If you do come to spend time with us, you will see other great works similar to this courtyard... And so even if we don't have specific needs, we would be interested in funding your experimentation so long as you will share what you learn and perhaps give us the first option to make purchases of what you create."

"Like the lodestones are gifts," Kaus added, "but also an investment in your growth as an artisan. You'll learn from working with them and who knows what that will mean?" He grinned.

"Just so." She smiled. "We might purchase the bulk of what you create at first, in order to line your coffers and improve our capabilities back home."

"And I'll happily quality check your blades if you need someone with an eye for using them," Kaus offered. He hadn't yet found his niche in Kalzasi, but was eager to be of some use. "You can bring a maul or a warhammer and we can spar."

Kala laughed at that. Apparently she wasn't challenge enough for him anymore.

[Torin Kilvin]

Leaning back in the comfortable chair he absorbed the information, not quite story, that was being imparted to him. It brought with it images of a wild land with a star glowing at its heart through the long winter. He asked questions about numbers and the racial makeup of Lady Kala's people, about what crops they grew, and what dangers they had to face while they did so.

He made mental notes, put together an outline of a plan, asked more questions about what equipment was already available, what was aging. The Lady was well informed about her people, which spoke well of her in turn. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Kaus being amused and pleased as the two young business people spoke, settling into an understanding of the capabilities and needs of the other. It felt comfortable and easy, and excruciatingly adult. Like a chick hatching; the pressure just before release is immense and terrifying but once the shell is broken it finds that what it feared feels natural, normal.

Torin found himself nodding, steadier in himself for having talked through what was needed and finding that all the knowledge came to him as easy as thought. He knew that he was ready to be a journeyman, but there was a difference between knowing theoretically and trying something out. The physical work he had practiced extensively but the business side, making deals, talking shop, providing the needs of long term customers, that was all still just a set of ideas. Or, it had been until this afternoon.

Not every client would be as pleasant to make deals with as the Leokus twins, he knew. Nor were most likely to be kind, see him as a person, but he could be a useful tool for the right price, even liked it sometimes.

"I would be pleased to offer your House first purchase rights on anything I might improve on, or invent." This did not mean he wouldn't make anything that would help those he cared for as gifts. Some of those ideas were already in his head, even on his workbench in the form of schematics or pieces only partly finished.

He gave them both a smile that was new on his face, gratitude in a way that didn't make him feel ashamed or smaller-than.

"I accept your investment." It was a little teasing, but only a very little, it was a real offer, he knew, and he would make it worth their while. For that moment no doubt that he might not, that he could fail and become merely a burden to those who loved him existed.

"I might take you up on that." He replied to Kaus' offer, "I know much of the making of blades but little of their use, almost nothing in fact. Do you think I'd do well with a blunt weapon? A friend recently mentioned I should get training in one. I do know the weight of a hammer by instinct already, so it makes sense. I'll have to get lessons before I face you though, even in a friendly match. I'm as like to drop a weapon as anything else as I am." It was basically true, aside from a few very basic lessons his first teacher had given him and swinging sticks at children he had no experience in the use of a weapon.

[Kala Leukos]

Kala was pleased by Torin's interest in her home. She knew it was to better understand a potential market for his work, but that was the proper sort of conscientiousness that a person in his position ought to have, at least in her opinion. That he was interested enough to want to visit was an auspicious sign as well. His arrival, whenever that time might come, ought to please her lady mother as much as the well-balanced ledgers she would bring personally.

"There are months yet before we need sign a contract," she advised, "unless you would feel more comfortable preparing for stepping out on your own with at least something preliminary. And it would seem we will have you over various times before then, so I am comfortable leaving things at a verbal agreement now if you are."

Kaus nodded along with this and then continued along the more interesting vein.

"I had thought you would be more comfortable starting with a hammer," he agreed. "Familiarity will help, though the technique will be different." He flashed a quicksilver grin. "Moving targets, you know. But I can teach you some basics. I can show you the basics of several weapons and I can even bring a weaponmaster over to spar with me and assess you to determine what might best suit you. You have strength on your side, of course. Kala's strong enough, but her agility is her real strength."

"Moving targets, you know," she chimed in, vaguely teasing with her brother's own words.

He grinned and she smiled.

"Bring young Timon if you like. He seems eager enough and he'll get the basics of not shearing off an ear or a toe, at least."

[Torin Kilvin]

"I hope to have myself set up in the coming months." His modesty was honest and didn't deprecate, "I must find a Scrivener to make the equipment any runesmith needs. The pieces I can make myself, most of them, but the magical work is far beyond me. I don't know who I can go to who I can trust, or even where to begin looking."

He had meant to bring the topic up to both Aurin and Sivan but with all that had been going on between the forming of Portions For Foxes and the odd, if amazing, encounter his last visit with Sivan had been his mind hadn't had room for more. It seemed likely to a noble house would have the knowledge to recommend such a practitioner and it would be nice not to have to lay all the burden for getting what was needed at his Master's feet.

"I think I would be most comfortable with a hammer, being used to it, but also because my body seems suited to it. I would like to come again, train with you, if it's not presumptuous. It would help me understand what might aid you, as well." Seeing more of the movement and style of the twin would certainly make coming up with ideas more likely. "Mutually beneficial ideas seem to be the order of the day." Lifting his glass he toasted the idea, again, grinning in his shy way. It widened at the idea of bringing Timon to the manor, let alone having him take some small lessons there. The boy would be ecstatic. He would just have to come up with an excuse for them to have their free day together sometime soon.

"I'll take you up on the offer, Lord Leukos, ehm Kaus, I will. Thank you for being so generous with me. Maybe it's not professional of me to say so but we both know you needn't be nearly this kind."

The rest of the afternoon was spent in more of the same, discussing Runesmithing, the Barony, the wonders Starfall held, and a myriad of other small subjects that came when conversation flowed with food and wine.