Legend of Ransera

What Karam Senue didn't know might hurt him, but when Kala quit Kalzasi, she did it from her family's Kalzasern home. She had brooked no intrusions into the protections set up by her forebears and maintained to this day. This evening was the evening she would return to Solunarium. The invitation had been for her alone, and so she stepped through the portal unaccompanied. Her brother and her Silver Wings didn't like it, but she reminded them that even if she took all of them and a cohort of Sky Guard, she was walking into the realm of the Divine Twins and they would be outmatched. If they proved fair weather friends, well, may Mother Naori smite them.

"Thank you," she acknowledged the servus with a nod, and followed.

When Phocion acknowledged her, she dipped a bow herself. "Your Serene Highness, thank you for the invitation."

Her dress was a pale cream. In some lights, it might be called the platinum blonde of her hair. In others, perhaps she would seem to be clad in bone. She accepted a drink from the servus; if he would not meet her gaze, she nodded acknowledgement all the same.

How to distill a year down into a few words?

"I have fared well enough, I think. With travels, studies, and the regular responsibilities of the nobly born." Perhaps it was understatement, but then, his purpose for some time now had been to deal with matters divine, and so he was one of few who might understand what lay between those lines.

"I daresay the monumental has become humdrum for you as well? And you, bright princeps, how have you fared this year gone?"

She didn't sip yet, waiting lest he should have a toast in mind. But her soft smile was genuinely curious; he was a private person, which was yet another thing they had in common, but she was interested in whatever he might share.

Kala sat with careful grace, smiling quietly.

"The exchange of power was bloodless, at least, proving the loudest naysayers incorrect. There were enough problems that needed dealt with, the question of who held imperium was less important than someone have it. Dæmon stepped back, and I didn't want it, so there were no divine influences upon the decision—other than abstentions. There has been some interest in House Leukos from House Senue now that I have wings, but, for the moment at least, I do not plan on wedding. As I slowly extricate myself from mortal life, I would like not to leave a mess behind me. House Leukos remains in fealty to Great House Briathos, though when my nascent divinity becomes more common knowledge, I rather think my brother Aquilios, the heir, will sue for separation and independence. Starfall is so remote and with his sister as a patron deity, well, it will never be another Solunarium, but soon enough I will be a greater ally than Kalzasi."

That was quite a monologue for her, so she took a sip and paused.

"Ah, Raithen is a dear, and lacking his father's tutelage, it has been an honor to educate him on the Synnekar. It has been educational for us as well. In our culture, we are Avialæ first. In yours, he is Re'hyæan first. It is an expansive perspective." Another sip. "I do hope I haven't added unduly to your burdens. I have learned a great deal from my elder, hm, cousins, your blessed Founders. I do try to be a conscientious guest. And you needn't worry about etiquette with me, at least not in private."

She imagined in public his mother might have something to say about lapses.

"No, please," she said in all sincerity, "do correct my misapprehensions. I do admire your culture, but am not of it." Finally, she nodded. "Of course. That is something to consider." And consider she did. It had seemed to her at the time that Mother Naori allowed the Necromancer to give her the wings she felt she was owed, and then gave her the seed of divinity that had been an utter surprise, in order to unite the Avialæ—Synnekar and Kathar. But then Raithan was neither, but rather an Aværyan Avialæ—or an Avialæ Aværyan from his own perspective—and those winged Hytori she had seen in Silfanore were considered Hytori with a magical augmentation that was heritable.

If anything, her divine quest and bequest had taught her more about her own people and their place in the world.

Her eyes widened as Phocion's fell to the floor. While playing the delicate game of holding off noble suitors without giving offense in Kalzasi, she had not anticipated suits from abroad. The centers of Avialæ civilization were Gel'Grandal and Kalzasi, after all.

There were several things he said that made it less than flattering to a woman, but as it was proposed as a political alliance and this was clearly outside his comfort, she didn't take those to heart. After a few moments, she managed to collect herself.

"The notion is hardly insulting," she assured him, then finished her own flute and smiled to the servus who held a fresh one at the ready. "I never expected a handsome, intelligent prince to ask for my hand in marriage." If her smile was politic, then she was more deft than anyone knew. Subtle were Her wiles indeed.

"As you have noted, my situation is complex and such an arrangement would be even more complex than your marriage to some other foreign lady. I would be pleased to explore the option—slowly—if you might answer a few preliminary questions. The first, which might have little bearing on politics or religion, remains a matter of some importance for me: for all the other things we are or may become, would Phocion the man be pleased to wed Kala the woman?"

She had long ago lost all illusions that she was likely to have the loving marriage her parents had, but she still hoped to have room for love within those bonds of matrimony.

His response made her smile, and a flush came to her cheeks. She was no doubt younger than he was, elven youthful looks being so deceiving to human eyes. Even the divinity within her was new, and entirely herself, whereas his Gods had been Gods even before they dwelt within elven forms. Her shoulders were slender for the weight thrust upon them; nevertheless, she persevered. Life had given her much, and much was expected of her.

She looked down at her drink, the backs of her fingers coming up to assure her that, aye, her cheeks had betrayed her.

"Then, please consider me well and thoroughly complimented. You have expertly disarmed me, Your Serene Highness." She looked up, demure, mindful, and replied, "I have found you attractive since first we met as well. There is a gravity to your quietness; I do wish to know better what goes on inside that dark head of yours, if you will let me. So, shall we say then that we are courting?" She paused, her face falling.

"Oh, though... as I endeavor always to be honest, but would be even more so with a spouse, you should know that I have for diplomatic purposes traveled to Sol'Valen to foster more robust trade between Kalzasi and the Hytori kingdom. I know that Solunarium's views on many things are changing as the views of the Divine Twins have evolved over their incarceration, but I do not know if that will sour your heart toward me."

She sighed.

"It could be a benefit," she offered, "a wife who could act as intermediary, but that old grudge remains between your two peoples."

Kala hadn't realized there was a sudden tension in her shoulders until Phocion's reply allowed them to relax. She sighed again, this time in relief.

"May all future impediments to our friendship and more be so easily overcome," and she took a sip of the sparkling wine. It rather tasted like stars in a simile she wouldn't be able to articulate in words.

"Whatever clamor you see fit to share will remain sacrosanct even should our wedding not come to pass, unless that clamor poses an immediate threat to mine." She might not speak draconic yet, but her words carried a similar weight of truth. "Old man," she added with a hint of playful teasing.

"I have an invitation to return to Silfanore next season," she added. "The Hytori aren't especially keen on permanent embassies, so I take that as a small victory on my part if you will allow me a touch of pride... In any case, I have had access to the royal libraries. They will not let me leave with delicate scrolls or books, but they will allow me to bring in mnemosyte to copy things. Are there any rare documents I might bring you from the forbidden realms?"

There was still that hint of playfulness, but she was curious as to the answer. It might give her something to go on in getting acquainted with the clamor and the quiet within him. To her mind, she ought to give the occasional, thoughtful gift to her suitor. In any case, he most certainly came from a wealthier family than she did; if she was going to give thoughtful gifts, they would have to be more difficult to obtain than costly.

She wondered if a marriage to an Aværyan prince would make her persona non grata in Sol'Valen. Well, that would be something to consider in the time to come.