From Sol Invictus

Book02: A Romantic Dinner

< Greater Lipid Mass | Sol Invictus Logs | He Has Repented >

Summary: Cerin and Zahara plot further, over a nice meal of roast yeddim.

XP:C1, Z1

Tags:
Grand Forks, Lai Misuna, Red Lily, Gilmyene, Bertrand, Ivory Orchid Ghost

Zahara lights the 5 candles on her circular table, inlaid with slate, marble and granite patterns reminiscent of a protective circle, and arranges the little vase of flowers - red lilies just offcenter. She dims the lights in the room, the Gilmeyne dancing off to one side and the candles provide the light. The pillows have disappeared in order to turn the room into one suitable for dining, and she smiles, offering Cerin a seat across from her.

<Cerin?> "Thank you, Zahara" He sits down gracefully across from her, looking at the table, his eyes indicating he gets some of the significance of the lilies.

<Zahara?> "You're quite welcome. The servants will bring dinner, and then leave us in peace for the rest of the night." she says as they enter, each bringing fine food and drink, on beautiful plates that stay hot or cold as appropriate.

<Zahara?> "I hope you like roasted Yeddim calf."

<Cerin?> "...I dont believe I've ever eaten it before"

<Zahara?> "It has a wonderful flavor, and it's very tender. I'm sure you'll enjoy it."

<Cerin?> "I am sure I shall" he smiles and offers her slices of the meat, before taking some for himself.

<Cerin?> "It smells delicious" He leans back to allow the servents to serve up some vegetables on his plate

<Cerin?> "That is true" he acknowledges with nod

<Zahara?> "We do what we must." she puts on a mock-sorrowful expression. "For the people."

<Zahara?> "Talespinner?"

<Cerin?> "He is one of the triumvate of gods that rule over Great Forks"

<Cerin?> "Anyway, Lai orginally wished for me to hunt down one of the Claw Striders that inhabit the southern edges of the scavenger lands...thinking about it it must have been not too far from the Sunlands, though I am not sure how much control you had the 2 years ago it must have been"

<Cerin?> "I'm not quite sure why he wanted it, I would hazard a guess it was for reagents for some spell or artifact"

<Zahara?> "Interesting..." she idly ponders what types of spells a Claw Strider's parts would be for. "Go on."

<Zahara?> "How did that trip go? Did he do anything out of the ordinary?"

<Cerin?> "The trip was fairly typical of such things. He himself did nothing especially out of the ordinary, certainly nothing beyond my capabilities. We collected the Life Flowers and numerous other herbs that he wanted and returned to civilisation"

<Cerin?> "It was at the end of the trip that he mentioned the Red Lily, and asked if I might consider joining with them"

<Zahara?> "What did he offer you in return?"

<Cerin?> "Some money, the Cache Egg I own...things like that, and of course the chance to work for a better future..."

<Cerin?> "He was willing to pay me rather a large amount of money, and he was the first who actually offered me tangiable things to do for such a goal, not simply trying to engage my services to kill people for their vision."

<Cerin?> "Not that I have an especial objection to that, but better worlds are not built on corpses alone"

<Zahara?> "Ahh, but did he treat you to fine dinners?" she chuckles.

<Cerin?> "Several fine dinners, but none with so fine a companion to dine with"

<Cerin?> "I'm not sure I can think of anything else, though..not that I have not mentioned to you before"

<Zahara?> "I'd much rather hear anything untoward straight from the source." she lifts a brow, inviting him to think of anything that she shouldn't know, but will eventually find out anyway.

<Zahara?> "Perhaps in speaking of it, one reach a fuller understanding."

<Cerin?> "It is a document I am working on, one with such details about the new Exalts that I have been able to discern"

<Zahara?> "Now, speaking of secrets, we must determine what to tell Rannath."

<Cerin?> "Hmmm?" he sips on the dessert wine "Oh, about Bertrand, yes"

<Zahara?> "Any information we give out, Bertrand will be its source. Luckily much of the information you gave me is also written in his hand."

<Cerin?> "But what of his Exalted status?"

<Zahara?> "That, along with the spell of letter retrieval should be enough."

<Cerin?> "If you say so"

<Zahara?> "Besides," she ponders, "Does it matter so much that he is Exalted, rather than a godling himself?"

<Cerin?> "It does. Betrand, though a flawed Exalt, has more power than one of the dragonblooded. These things Rannath should know when he makes his descision"

<Cerin?> "Also, if he could be induced into spending Essence, it would greatly help in my study of the Exaltation process"

<Cerin?> "I doubt it, but it would be best to be prepared for any foolishness"

<Zahara?> "Well, I'm sure Rannath will be amenable to at least studying him before he dies. Or, more likely, he'll try to convert the man to our side. He has this whole.. nobody is truly evil thing going on, much like Markuran."

<Cerin?> "I was going to do the experiments before we revealed him to Rannath. It saves problems"

<Zahara?> "I think that's an excellent idea."

<Zahara?> "Would you like to go down tonight? I doubt Rannath will visit my dungeous any time soon, but Markuran might come to check on the Abyssal. It would be best to tell them about him as soon as possible."

<Cerin?> "Why would Marku come to check on the abyssal? He dismissed him as a worthless corpse.."

<Zahara?> "But at the same time, he cares about how the worthless corpse is treated."

<Zahara?> "I have no idea why it means anything to him, but he's strange."

<Cerin?> "I would prefer not to have to do this tonight...this meal has been most enjoyable. But..."

<Zahara?> "Tomorrow morning, then?"

<Zahara?> "Many things please me" she smiles back.


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