"Cordoned off, they said. Crawling with Alliance types, they said. Grand Companies. Bah," grumbled a tall Auri male as he ascended the steps.
Sarangerel glanced backwards over her shoulder. She gave him a brief smile and then returned her focus to the woman who stood amidst the beauty of the central garden of Wineport. Tengri stopped in his tracks and glanced between the women, crossing his arms as he did so.
Edda Eglantine drummed her fingers against stone. She glanced between the two Geneq.
"...that is something, is it not," she said quietly, as though speaking to herself. She called out a bit louder, "Then why have you come? Those that bear that name live quite some distance from here."
Sarangerel lofted a brow beneath her bangs.
"Reports that a lady was in the vicinity," called back the new arrival. "We've some business to discuss that may or may not border on impropriety. We certainly hope that it does not."
There was a sick… presence… to the Hyuran woman. Something aetherial. Off-putting. Dense. Repelling. Tengri narrowed his eyes, and the corner of his mouth twitched. Edda Eglantine looked to the man and her brow creased.
"I see. That's quite a trick." She paused and turned to face them. "What may I do for you, then?"
"We've questions, and you've answers. An item was loaned, and I for one would like to know whether it has seen any use... or whether it ever shall."
Tengri seated just beyond the grass, atop the stone of the terrace. Eglantine regarded him carefully and was silent for some time.
"...you seem harried. Is aught amiss?"
The man’s sister placed a delicate hand upon his shoulder.
“Much is amiss,†he answered. “Such is the nature of chaos, whether or not order lies beneath it."
He took a few moments to breathe.
"You are Edda Eglantine, yes? The new look suits you." Tengri snorted as he considered the long lengths of hair that made her resemble Liadan Summerfield. "Or perhaps I've grown accustomed to that mode and style."
Edda looked away for a moment with a sly look, down towards the ground. She reached to pluck a singular flower close to her feet and inspected it idly.
"What gave me away?" There was the shadow of a smirk on her face, but it was not readily apparent - as if something were holding it back.
"Besides the tail I've had on you for the past several moons?" The man shrugged. "I did mention impropriety."
She didn't seem very perturbed. "He must have done so at great distance."
Sarangerel's lips curled slightly into a knowing smirk. Tengri Geneq looked down towards the ground with a sly look of his own. His eyes darted to and fro between the various shadows... those of the trees, those of the flowers, those of the people.
"In a manner of speaking... not quite, no. But that is irrelevant." He looked back up at her. "The stone -- and the choice that accompanied it -- were yours. I've come a long way to learn whether you mean to set it aside, to dismiss it as an idle bauble... or to peruse its secrets and allow those secrets to stimulate growth. I am invested, as you recall. A favor owed. Regardless of your... personal affairs."
Edda looked up from her flower.
"Yes, I remember well." She looked straight at Tengri, her expression perfectly neutral. "Your investment I understand. But what will you do, if I have set it aside or otherwise? Kill me and reclaim it?"
"Of course not." He looked offended. "Do I seem a ruffian? I would ask that you see it returned to its original owner. Perhaps he might pass it on to another. Perhaps he might convince you that the journey will be worthwhile. Who can say? Not I."
She pursed her lips. "That is a strangely lax attitude for one so invested, as you said. It is not something that is easily replaced, should it be thrown away."
Sarangerel spoke up at last. "You are familiar with the value of such items. I'm sure you would not have tossed it aside."
"No, of course not."
"Then I do not consider the item lost, nor the investment a poor one,†said Tengri. “There are still opportunities for returns."
"I do not wish to return it just yet."
"Ah….†The Auri woman eyed Edda. “So you are still trying to make a decision."
"Reach," corrected her brother absentmindedly. "Reach a decision."
Her lips pursed into a thin line as she glanced down at Tengri. "Reach."
.
Edda twirled the stem of the flower between her fingers before discarding it casually. "I suppose so. It should have been apparent from the outset that I could not be suited for such an item, though not for lack of trying... I have learned more than I would have normally, I believe, and at the very least, it has granted me an escape."
Tengri Geneq nodded slowly.
"I know of at least one other who believes you ill-suited. I am inclined to disagree, of course, but time will tell." He narrowed his eyes. "Escape is good. Think you perhaps that there might be more, given the aforementioned time?"
Sarangerel tilted her head slightly at the woman and lofted a brow. "It sounds to me like you have 'reached' a decision. Are you not willing to return a favor for such? Escape is something you wanted, yes?"
Tengri smiled. "She has a point."
Edda Eglantine looked at Tengri in thought, and bit her lip. Her gaze moved to the small woman. "So, it is a favor you want," she said softly. "Now?"
Sarangerel smiled. "Aye, but not now, soon…."
"A fortnight,†interjected Tengri. “Perhaps a moon. Perhaps several. But surely within a cycle… friends of yours are also invested, if that matters."
"Such as?"
"Deneith was quite concerned." He grinned at the Eglantine.
Edda frowned. "About what?"
"You. The favor you owe."
She scoffed and looked away.
"I find that hard to believe," she said darkly. Her hair fell to obscure her face from them, and she went quite still.
The Geneq looked smug. "Perhaps you should speak with her yourself."
She made a face.
"Should she want to." A pause. Then, quieter, "And that will not last long."
Tengri glanced up at Sarangerel. "Life has its moments, its queer turns."
Edda Eglantine stared off into nothing and sighed.
"Then would we be correct in surmising that your answer, at present, is a tentative 'yes'? You've a use for what you've been given?"
She glanced back to the two Geneq. She seemed very far away, very.. distant.
"I do," she said quietly.
Tengri rose to his feet. "Then I am content."
She looked away again.
“Should any further contact be required,†he went on, “I believe I shall send you Sarangerel. She's far less conspicuous than I.â€
Edda side-eyed the woman.
"You are both rather conspicuous. But that should suffice, yes." She paused and licked her lips. "...tell me, how many others have you involved in this?"
"Many. Five have I Gifted." The emphasis on that last word was apparent in his voice.
Edda nodded to Tengri and chose not to make chase of that subject.
"I can be rather inconspicuous when I need to be,†offered his sister into the awkward silence.
"Put a large enough hat over her head and the horns all but disappear," he muttered in agreement.
Sarangerel Geneq shifted her gaze up to Tengri with a look that could kill. He seemed oblivious.
"Oh." Edda looked to the woman. "It is not the horns. Not really."
"The tails, then?"
Edda gave Tengri a look of clear disbelief. "Don't be ridiculous. It is your--â€
"Eyes," supplied his sister.
“--yes. Not a very common trait among your kind, I imagine."
Tengri shook his head. “Not common at all, no. We are quite the unique pair, we two."
Sarangerel nodded. "Aye."
"So it would seem…."
He stared at her. "Have you any further questions, Lady Eglantine, ere we depart?"
Edda shook her head.
"No. Forgive me, for making you track me down to so remote a location." She didn't look very sorry, but then, it seemed as though she'd been reduced to three expressions. She turned to Sarangerel. "I trust I shall see you again, sooner rather than later."
Tengri Geneq shrugged his shoulders, is if to dismiss the notion that these two went to any trouble at all, as his sister bowed to the woman and said, "Of course, Miss Eglantine."
"Come, Sarangerel. We've more business elsewhere. A good sun to you, miss."
Edda Eglantine looked away. She leaned against the stone once more and stared off into the distance.
Sarangerel glanced backwards over her shoulder. She gave him a brief smile and then returned her focus to the woman who stood amidst the beauty of the central garden of Wineport. Tengri stopped in his tracks and glanced between the women, crossing his arms as he did so.
Edda Eglantine drummed her fingers against stone. She glanced between the two Geneq.
"...that is something, is it not," she said quietly, as though speaking to herself. She called out a bit louder, "Then why have you come? Those that bear that name live quite some distance from here."
Sarangerel lofted a brow beneath her bangs.
"Reports that a lady was in the vicinity," called back the new arrival. "We've some business to discuss that may or may not border on impropriety. We certainly hope that it does not."
There was a sick… presence… to the Hyuran woman. Something aetherial. Off-putting. Dense. Repelling. Tengri narrowed his eyes, and the corner of his mouth twitched. Edda Eglantine looked to the man and her brow creased.
"I see. That's quite a trick." She paused and turned to face them. "What may I do for you, then?"
"We've questions, and you've answers. An item was loaned, and I for one would like to know whether it has seen any use... or whether it ever shall."
Tengri seated just beyond the grass, atop the stone of the terrace. Eglantine regarded him carefully and was silent for some time.
"...you seem harried. Is aught amiss?"
The man’s sister placed a delicate hand upon his shoulder.
“Much is amiss,†he answered. “Such is the nature of chaos, whether or not order lies beneath it."
He took a few moments to breathe.
"You are Edda Eglantine, yes? The new look suits you." Tengri snorted as he considered the long lengths of hair that made her resemble Liadan Summerfield. "Or perhaps I've grown accustomed to that mode and style."
Edda looked away for a moment with a sly look, down towards the ground. She reached to pluck a singular flower close to her feet and inspected it idly.
"What gave me away?" There was the shadow of a smirk on her face, but it was not readily apparent - as if something were holding it back.
"Besides the tail I've had on you for the past several moons?" The man shrugged. "I did mention impropriety."
She didn't seem very perturbed. "He must have done so at great distance."
Sarangerel's lips curled slightly into a knowing smirk. Tengri Geneq looked down towards the ground with a sly look of his own. His eyes darted to and fro between the various shadows... those of the trees, those of the flowers, those of the people.
"In a manner of speaking... not quite, no. But that is irrelevant." He looked back up at her. "The stone -- and the choice that accompanied it -- were yours. I've come a long way to learn whether you mean to set it aside, to dismiss it as an idle bauble... or to peruse its secrets and allow those secrets to stimulate growth. I am invested, as you recall. A favor owed. Regardless of your... personal affairs."
Edda looked up from her flower.
"Yes, I remember well." She looked straight at Tengri, her expression perfectly neutral. "Your investment I understand. But what will you do, if I have set it aside or otherwise? Kill me and reclaim it?"
"Of course not." He looked offended. "Do I seem a ruffian? I would ask that you see it returned to its original owner. Perhaps he might pass it on to another. Perhaps he might convince you that the journey will be worthwhile. Who can say? Not I."
She pursed her lips. "That is a strangely lax attitude for one so invested, as you said. It is not something that is easily replaced, should it be thrown away."
Sarangerel spoke up at last. "You are familiar with the value of such items. I'm sure you would not have tossed it aside."
"No, of course not."
"Then I do not consider the item lost, nor the investment a poor one,†said Tengri. “There are still opportunities for returns."
"I do not wish to return it just yet."
"Ah….†The Auri woman eyed Edda. “So you are still trying to make a decision."
"Reach," corrected her brother absentmindedly. "Reach a decision."
Her lips pursed into a thin line as she glanced down at Tengri. "Reach."
.
Edda twirled the stem of the flower between her fingers before discarding it casually. "I suppose so. It should have been apparent from the outset that I could not be suited for such an item, though not for lack of trying... I have learned more than I would have normally, I believe, and at the very least, it has granted me an escape."
Tengri Geneq nodded slowly.
"I know of at least one other who believes you ill-suited. I am inclined to disagree, of course, but time will tell." He narrowed his eyes. "Escape is good. Think you perhaps that there might be more, given the aforementioned time?"
Sarangerel tilted her head slightly at the woman and lofted a brow. "It sounds to me like you have 'reached' a decision. Are you not willing to return a favor for such? Escape is something you wanted, yes?"
Tengri smiled. "She has a point."
Edda Eglantine looked at Tengri in thought, and bit her lip. Her gaze moved to the small woman. "So, it is a favor you want," she said softly. "Now?"
Sarangerel smiled. "Aye, but not now, soon…."
"A fortnight,†interjected Tengri. “Perhaps a moon. Perhaps several. But surely within a cycle… friends of yours are also invested, if that matters."
"Such as?"
"Deneith was quite concerned." He grinned at the Eglantine.
Edda frowned. "About what?"
"You. The favor you owe."
She scoffed and looked away.
"I find that hard to believe," she said darkly. Her hair fell to obscure her face from them, and she went quite still.
The Geneq looked smug. "Perhaps you should speak with her yourself."
She made a face.
"Should she want to." A pause. Then, quieter, "And that will not last long."
Tengri glanced up at Sarangerel. "Life has its moments, its queer turns."
Edda Eglantine stared off into nothing and sighed.
"Then would we be correct in surmising that your answer, at present, is a tentative 'yes'? You've a use for what you've been given?"
She glanced back to the two Geneq. She seemed very far away, very.. distant.
"I do," she said quietly.
Tengri rose to his feet. "Then I am content."
She looked away again.
“Should any further contact be required,†he went on, “I believe I shall send you Sarangerel. She's far less conspicuous than I.â€
Edda side-eyed the woman.
"You are both rather conspicuous. But that should suffice, yes." She paused and licked her lips. "...tell me, how many others have you involved in this?"
"Many. Five have I Gifted." The emphasis on that last word was apparent in his voice.
Edda nodded to Tengri and chose not to make chase of that subject.
"I can be rather inconspicuous when I need to be,†offered his sister into the awkward silence.
"Put a large enough hat over her head and the horns all but disappear," he muttered in agreement.
Sarangerel Geneq shifted her gaze up to Tengri with a look that could kill. He seemed oblivious.
"Oh." Edda looked to the woman. "It is not the horns. Not really."
"The tails, then?"
Edda gave Tengri a look of clear disbelief. "Don't be ridiculous. It is your--â€
"Eyes," supplied his sister.
“--yes. Not a very common trait among your kind, I imagine."
Tengri shook his head. “Not common at all, no. We are quite the unique pair, we two."
Sarangerel nodded. "Aye."
"So it would seem…."
He stared at her. "Have you any further questions, Lady Eglantine, ere we depart?"
Edda shook her head.
"No. Forgive me, for making you track me down to so remote a location." She didn't look very sorry, but then, it seemed as though she'd been reduced to three expressions. She turned to Sarangerel. "I trust I shall see you again, sooner rather than later."
Tengri Geneq shrugged his shoulders, is if to dismiss the notion that these two went to any trouble at all, as his sister bowed to the woman and said, "Of course, Miss Eglantine."
"Come, Sarangerel. We've more business elsewhere. A good sun to you, miss."
Edda Eglantine looked away. She leaned against the stone once more and stared off into the distance.
![[Image: 1qVSsTp.png]](http://i.imgur.com/1qVSsTp.png)
