I elected to go without Litzia. Let her rest, have her think, until the time of the ritual. The both of us had enough cause for it. And in light of what had transpired between her and the defendant during the hearing, bringing her to the Loredan estate would not be the greatest show of courtesy.
The journey to the city’s higher tier was eventful enough. An azure and a human walking abreast is no strange thing. Curious, however, is said azure being served by the human. The Daybright’s crew had the benefit of knowing my making of the hierogram and being an alariss, and so did not gawk at any given opportunity. The Tithonese did not. And so when they saw me shielded from the rain by the parasol in Thea’s hand, we warranted a fair amount of queer looks and muttering. Not that the maid paid much heed to it.
On the contrary, Thea was having a great time, and as we went she hummed a merry tune, lifting her skirt as she skipped over puddles. And though her skin paled by the cold, her face flushed with excitement.
“Do you like the city, Thea?” I asked. She had been a landed woman once, a member of the empire’s gentry. Even now in a servant’s garbs she invoked the idea of a highborn lady on her daily routine into town and I as her azure servant.
She shrugged. “Does it matter? I live on an airship now. And long days in port get me angsty.”
“I don’t see how. It’s a whole world out there, and a ship is just one small place.”
“Well, I have seen enough of the world, and am fair sick of it. I could pretend, at will, that naught exists outside of the Daybright, and often my mood would be lifted by that thought.”
“Strange. But I must say, our times in port of late have been haunted by terrible events. I would that they don’t. I like well exploring new places, yet back in Xenon I was confined in the sickbay, and now...”
“Think about it like so–” Thea spun the parasol, splattering droplets all over. She was truly in an awfully good mood. As for why, I could but wonder. “Bad things, complicated relationships and unlooked-for drama are part and parcel with the great big world beyond deck. But onboard a ship, we are our own people, and the crew a family of sorts. And though the Daybright’s size undermines somewhat of that notion, it is still that, more often than not, we strive to work together, or remove ourselves from someone’s way if we like them not. Troubles only come with new places and new people, to be sure.”
I thought on it. “Is that why you mislike being in port for long?”
She shrugged again. “Somewhat. But also because I know our crew’s nature. Ordinary women would not embark on a voyage far from home and family without cause, you may be assured, certainly not in these parts of the skies that we know of. There are exceptions in the adventurous sorts among us. But they are few and far between. Thus most of the Daybright’s free women came aboard because this world had failed them. So they sought shelter in hardship and family in strangers. Not by choice. Kinships then, are easily found in those people. And the mates, well, they are not the nicest creatures since creation, but worse things exist out there. Far worse; far, far worse.”
I decided then that I did not care to learn how much. What Valerian had told me of her past had afforded me a glimpse of which.
“Well, what think you of this Loredan girl then?” I asked. “I feel she would bring her fair share of these troubles into Ala Estival. That is, if Valerian’s caution is to be trusted. Which I do. She is as quick to admonish herself as she may others, not so behind their back, unless for good reason. Even so, would Valerian consort with a wyvern of ill intents?”
“Well, you should know. But Valerian’s old deity extends her mercy upon even sinners. ‘Twould not be far too amiss for her to venture even the same unlikely deed.”
“Ah, that gives me cause for worries... Ah! There’s the entrance to the highest tier.”
The tier was home to the apostles of Tithonus. Six large estates all told, one of which was the desolate land of the Veniers. We got to the Loredans’ before it, however, directed by a local laborer employed by that house.
Passing gardens trimmed and cared for with great effort, we found the Loredan estate as the most ancient, their heritage rumored to have been passed down since the days before the city’s foundation, even before the Lady of Dawn acknowledged Tithonus as her city. Which, to be sure, was a rumor of dubious nature, since that was even before the recorded ages. Though helpfully did Thea remark on the oft-conflicting nature of written history. Notwithstanding, the Loredan took no little pride in their heritage, and maintained the facets of their home against the passage of time. Vaulted and domed, the main building rose like a miniature of the Sanctuary, for it was in this very style of that very age that both had been erected. But many were the ones that flanked it, smaller, denoting the passage of time by the shifting fashion, only uniformed in their thick walls and dove white plaster; while violet and blue dominated the hues of their stained glasses. Beyond these abodes lay draping fields and orchards draping over their large domain, occupying a good portion of the mountain’s side. Servants and workers there were, and clan members and courtiers populated the pavilions in their vineyard – the chief of their industries, besides dyes and paints. These were the eyes that paused their work to follow us as we went, but it was a senior member of the house who came out to greet us.
Much respect was paid, for we were the Dawn’s people. But upon our mention of Wisteria Loredan, the senior gave us a halted speech. No secret it was that their heiress was the prime suspect of an assault on a servant of the city’s mistress. In that wary tone, he bade us come with him towards the main house. We marched the length of the vineyard, picking our way; the soil was moist, and the rain pouring still, if lightly.
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Before long, or long before we reached the mansion, there came bobbing figures ascending a slope towards us. Half a dozen carried by gainly horses, armed and veiled in gauze. But more peculiar was the fact these riders were armed. There were only a handful of men-at-arms in the city, for without the need for a standing army, only the ruling families employed these for security, appearances, and, though rare, for feuds among themselves.
I swallowed, feeling not unlike the workers in haste back to their work under the stern eyes of their masters. And I recalled how Acis, for all that she was a knight of the Daybright, had been assaulted by supposed Tithonese. And even as her, I had not my pledge-sister with me, something I now came to regret. Pledgeless, I was no more than aught ordinary human, less, for what I was.
Beside me Thea remained poised. Her demeanor inspired somewhat confidence in me, and I endeavored to square my shoulders to match her stance, though that served little to fortify my heart.
The riders reached us, and looked down upon us. On some, a tapering tail trailed the saddle, for the Loredans were a wyvern house.
And they had the pride aplenty of one.
Once the head of their formation, an old and dignified wyvern, was informed by the guide of our identity, he hailed us, “What business have you in my estate, Misses?” His tone was stern, crude and did not convey well the respectfulness of his words.
Thea answered in my stead, tilting the parasol a little to look squarely at his face. “We wish to speak to Wisteria Loredan, being messengers from Miss Acis, alaris of the Daybright. And I pray for a prompt summon of the young lady, for the matter is urgent.”
The wyvern’s face remained impassive, hard as stone. “Wisteria will have naught more to do with that young lady, and you will do well to convey unto her that knowledge.”
“Is that how you receive servants of the Dawn? Without so much as bringing us the person we request.”
“In best courtesy, aye, ma’am,” he said, “and unless it is the Mistress’ command, we are not compelled to suffer a violation of our rights in our very home. Am I clear?” he pressed the word harshly.
I stood there dumbly, without a tenth of Thea’s confidence. Had I only been there for an excursion, that should have been enough to turn me away, offended or not. But I’d come on a mission.
“We wish only to speak briefly with the lady, sir,” I said, not as assertive as I would have liked. “To my understanding, it is very important that she hears the message.”
The wyvern thought it over, his jutted brow crinkled. Behind him, the riders stirred restlessly. “Then say it, and I shall be the judge of its urgency.”
“Ma’am Aster was expressly requested to deliver it directly, I’m afraid,” Thea raised her voice, “And who are you to deny your house’s heiress the message? If she would not hear it, then have her the opportunity to reject it herself! Tell her we are come!”
For all that we were, they were armed. And frankly, I had seen people doing unwiser things in the heat of the moment. And though it did little to prove my courage and merit, as Thea seemed keen to put on display, I tugged Thea’s sleeve then.
“Who am I…” the man glowered, but a familiar sharp tone interrupted his speech. “Who indeed!” Then came another wyvern who spurred her horse past the others, past the man.
Wisteria parted her veil and regarded us strangely, before sending a sidelong look at the man, “I mislike your silly argument, father, and seeing that I have had the grace to suffer your self-importance for some minutes under this rain, I say the rights for me to speak to whomever I may are right well earned!”
“Such insolence for your own sire?” The man's voice verged a roar, his face reddened under silver horns. “Need I remind you that you are yet a Loredan until the trial passes? Have I no rights to turn away who I may from my home?”
“Rights, aye,” she spat out the words, “and folly also, if you would fain derive some sick pleasure in forcing me to receive our guests elsewhere without the privacy of our house, and my chamber. May we end this with senses already, father?”
Thus did Wisteria’s father, and by consequence, the clan head, relented our passage, turning away with what could be deemed remarkable self-restraints, and a hard kick at his mount’s haunch. As for the rest, before they could get away, the young wyvern halted them with a word. “Avast.”
“Where’s your courtesy, Loredan men and women?” she said in a high tone, “Tansy, Thyme, lend them your mounts, will you? Do display somewhat of our most proud qualities!”
The named ones, both wyverns, returned a grim look. I wouldn’t have been surprised if they would simply turn away in disgust, but they did not. Instead, one made a gesture at another human man-at-arms. Which Wisteria checked. “Hah? What might you be thinking, my dear sister? Are we not those who offer only our best to the Mistress’s service? Come, relinquish your mounts, and take our men-at-arms’ for yourself if you must.”
This time the wyvernesses, Wisteria Loreda’s siblings, looked away, searching for their father, who against their wish had long made his trip back to the houses. And so with stifled resignation, they dismounted.
If I had doubts about it before, it was now apparent that Wisteria was having a good time. It was painted on her face the way she looked at their awkward trading horses with the men-at-arms.
“You honor us,” I said as she passed us the reins, “But we have no qualms with walking, rather, horses to us sky-folks…”
“’Tis only a short ride,” she said, “and I shan’t suffer riding with my guests following on foot. Come now and be quick, I’m sure your maid will aid your riding.” There was a commanding tone to her now; so much for the utmost respect paid for the Mistress’ women. But that was her way, I had begun to learn. And Valerian’s words of warning to Hortensia came livid to mind, only in a different manner than before. I had not thought it would prove so soon.