A Memory in Stone, ii.

[Kala Leukos]

35 Frost 120

Over the month and more since she had contracted the Shinsei to craft something worthy of housing a deity's relic, Kala had made her case to her mother's factor that Leukos funds ought to be appropriated to fund whatever the princely runeforger decided was appropriate. While Talon Novalys had piously and nobly offered to shoulder the financial burden, it was important to her that she and her family do their part. The gift had been a divine blessing and it behooved them to reciprocate the honor with whatever they had to offer, and coin was one of those things. Bryony finally acceded to her wishes rather than lose a war of attrition with the precocious young noblewoman. Her mother had placed responsibility for the House in her hands and if the factor thought she might just be handing her daughter enough rope with which to hang herself, she wisely kept that to herself.

Of the twins, Kaus seemed more biddable. Kala was polite and often quiet, but Bryony had learned that she was quite fierce underneath it all.

With their Warren March approaching, she had also made haste to leave the family finances in order so that, should the worst occur and she not return, Bryony wouldn't be left with a mess to clean up. Business was business and she had to have hers attended to. People were not immortal, and so they had to ensure that they left the world better than they found it. She didn't anticipate death, but she was prepared. If anything, Lady Saedene might greet her again.

That thought made her smile. There was a comfort in having met a possible psychopomp. In death, at least, Kala would soar as her brothers did.

Once inside the building, she spoke amiably with Talon's handsome apprentice, then waited, admiring his works, until he should have time to speak to her himself.

[Talon]

A Memory In Stone, ii

35 Frost 120 Steel

Talon puzzled over the last bit of work that was needed to make the final stages of the Lady Leukos artifact. The amulet that he had fashioned was held gracefully aloft by a simple enchantment woven into one of his workbenches. He had threaded a bit of his kinetic magic into the surface of the table to enable it to float so delicately. A silver chain held onto a humble aetherite crystal casing. The strand of hair rest at the very center of the amulet’s gemstone, around which had been carefully carved the seven pointed star of House Leukos. It was a largely simple design but there was a beauty in such simplicity. While studying the strand of hair, Talon had managed to uncover several powers that had been bestowed upon the strand. The Lady of Midnight Mourning had most definitely bestowed a boon upon the Leukos twins. The sound of footsteps drew Talon’s attention.

“Master? Lady Leukos is here.” Talon smiled at his apprentice. Velkan had assisted him in the creation of the amulet quite a good deal. He nodded to the young man.

“I will be up shortly, Velkan. Thank you.” The young Avialae bowed before turning to go back up the stairs in order to tend to their customers or even the noblewoman herself. Talon’s eyes roamed over the amulet for a moment longer. There was something in the strand of divinely blessed hair that he recognized. He could not quite place it but he could feel it. Whenever he reached out with his semblance or worked upon the materials intended to guide the blessings of the gift, it felt as though he could almost hear the words of the Lady Saedene whispering to him. At every stage during crafting, he could feel something guiding him. It had been a comforting presence. Shaking off his thoughts, Talon turned and made his way up the stairs out of his workshop.

The Skyforge was busier than normal. His clerk, Pyrra, had her hands full. Velkan had been tending to customers all morning. Some of the other attendants had been busy helping to guide people toward some of the newer aspects of the shop’s facilities. He had recently completed an expansion that had been in the works for some time. As soon as he took stock of the activities happening on the main floor, Talon spotted the form of Lady Leukos. He smiled as he made his way over to her.

“Lady Kala. Thank you for being prompt. I trust you and your family are well?” The question was a genuine one. He did not know a great deal about House Leukos. They were a family in service to his grandfather, Briathor IV. He had to wonder what exactly the family offered in order to have drawn the attention of such an enigmatic figure. He did not spend too much time dwelling on the thought. House Briathos was a secretive one, even when dealing with its extended family. Its reasons were its own.

"First Son of House Novalys"

[Kala Leukos]

Velkan had been quite attentive, but also quite busy and so the young lady had assured him that she could keep herself busy looking but not touching the things on display so he could help other people. She didn't need people making a bother over her for no reason, being perfectly content most of the time. The children of the mountain, noble and otherwise, were raised to be self-sufficient. Kala asked for help when she needed it, but otherwise tried to do things for herself — perhaps to a fault.

She turned at the sound of the Shinsei's voice and smiled, dipping a curtsy.

"Your Highness," she said. Then, after a pause, because he did prefer more familiarity in his Skyforge, though she was polite to everyone, royal or not. "Talon. My family is well, thank you. I hope the same for yours." She supposed she ought to make more of an effort to spend time with his mother, a scion of House Briathos. The Iron Queen had recognized her at a party last season, but other than that, had made no gestures toward her. Kala didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad. Her house was as secretive as Briathos in their own way, but so long as they provided local reagants and help with great castings, they were left largely to their own devices, which was how they liked it.

The courtesies seen to, she continued, "I hope the runeforging process was enlightening and gratifying for you as you expected. Even this morning, I woke and expected word of some delay or another. The Gods may not demand perfection of us, but I know it can feel as though we owe it to Them in endeavors done on their behalf."