“This is foolishness” Emokha declared to the room at large. “This ‘Midwinter Ball’ seems without khlear purpose, and I decidedly do not wish to attend.”

“It’s not the most fun event” Liuka agreed from across the room. “The clerics talk at you for hours, and the food isn’t very good. The formal dances are stuffy and boring too. But it’s mandatory, so…what about this outfit? I think it’s your nicest.”

“None of my khlothing is formalwear” Emokha grumbled. “That is by design. I desire to slaughter demons, not dance attendance on khourtiers.”

“Yes, yes” Liuka soothed. “Again, mandatory. So this one?”

Finished grousing (for the moment,) Emokha finally turned her attention to the outfit in question. “No, that one has an obvious tear in the backh. Ori sewed it backh up neatly but it still shows. It will have to be the brown one. That one has the least wear on it.”

“Brown?” Liuka bit her lip. “I’m not certain that’s going to go over very well.”

“Well what am I supposed to do about it?” Emokha threw her hands in the air in exasperation. “I only found out about this event recently, and even if I had known earlier I would not have wasted our precious skhant funds on frivolous dress khlothes!”

“Easy, easy. I’m on your side remember. We need to make the best of this. Do you have any of those sashes left? Maybe we can spruce up one of your outfits, or cover up the rough areas?”

There was a knock on the door. “Candygram” came the loud announcement.

Emokha blew out a breath at the ceiling. “Enter” she finally replied.

The door was kicked open and Oresus and Gloe entered. “That w-was unnecessary” the former chided the latter. He turned to Emokha. “We have something for you.” He handed over a medium-sized package.

Puzzled, Emokha opened it, then gasped in surprise. “Chitin scour and chitin polish! Ori, wherever did you find them? I’d khompletely given up!”

“I’d r-rather not say.”

“Please Ori. I must know.”

Oresus looked down and scuffed the floor with his boot. “I asked around the t-taxidermists and menageries.” Looking up he quickly moved on. “Also, th-there is this.” He pulled a larger package from his bag and handed it over.

As it came open Liuka rushed over. “Emokha that will look wonderful on you!” It was a new outfit, clearly made by her regular tailor but with court dress as an inspiration. Subtly different shades of rich brown fabric were layered against each other, trimmed with green and black. The care that had gone into it and the elaborate construction clearly qualified it as formal wear but the choice of colors and various other design elements served to discreetly undercut the whole paradigm.

“Ori it is fantastikh, and in the khonfederation’s kholors as well. I am deeply grateful, but it must have been inkhredibly exhpensive. You should not have.”

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He smiled shyly. “It wasn’t t-too bad, and my job is going well. Besides, I knew y-you would dread this. It is w-worth it to me for you to not have to worry about appearances.”

Taking him by the shoulders she looked down at him for a moment. “Thankh you. Truly.”

Gloe coughed ostentatiously. “We’d better get going and let these two get changed Ori."

“R-right. Have a g-good time.”

“I will not, but thankh you again.”

As they exited Gloe looked back over his shoulder. “Oh yeah, here.” He tossed Emokha a long narrow package. It was surprisingly heavy. The door creaked closed.

“What is it?”

Emokha began to unwrap it. “Oh. Ohhh.”

Peering around her Liuka frowned. “Swords? They seem very plain for a ball.” The sheaths were indeed exceedingly simple, just drab black. She poked a hilt, exposing an inch of the blade. It was an extremely dark steel color, running close to a dark grey, with almost no sheen whatsoever. “This filigree pattern etched into the blade is attractive in a minimalist way I guess. No one is going to see it though.”

“I doubt it is filigree. It must have some other purpose.” Emokha drew a blade left-handed and made an experimental slow-motion pass with it. “The balance is exhakhtly where I prefer it. He must have used my prakhtice swords as a model.”

“Oh, so these are a practical gift, not to show off at the ball. That makes more sense, I guess. Odd timing though.”

“They are both. I was forced to liqhuidate my reqhuisitioned blades when I first arrived here, so I was in need of rearmament. At the same time these are weapons of pure utility, eschewing aesthetikhs. That sends a message in its own way. I shall wear these to the ball.”

Liuka shrugged. “If that’s what you like I guess. I think a little bit of aesthetics wouldn’t hurt. You’re so tall and sleek and you move so gracefully- if you dressed to accentuate that you could really knock ‘em dead.” She giggled. “Pun not intended.”

“Perhaps someday. I would enjoy a return to cirkhumstances that made it appropriate, and if the time does khome I would also enjoy khonsulting you on the matter.” She smiled momentarily. “But for now my fokhus is on war.”

“I get that” Liuka said softly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“It is nothing” Emokha broke in. “I envy your situation, but I do not resent it. I wish no one had to khoncern themselves with such matters.” She took another experimental swing with the sword, her expression turning fierce. “Perhaps if I put this to good use a new generation of hatchlings khan dress up for balls.”

“Here’s hoping!” Liuka said cheerily. If it seemed a bit forced they both ignored it. “Hey, wait a second, can I look at that again? Hold it down a little, and to the left…there!” Her smile flashed again. “Well, you were right. This isn’t filigree.”

“Some sort of reinforcing engraving? I have never seen this partikhular tekhniqhue.”

“Almost. It’s runes, looping into each-other over and over again. These are magic.”

“Huh.” Holding it upright Emokha peered closely at the blade. “I khan see it now. Two symbols, repeating. That seems likhe qhuite a bit of magikh. How did he afford this?”

“Well if they match your preferences perfectly at least we know he didn’t steal them! Lemme see again. Okay, it’s been a bit but I know these. This one is…durability. That makes sense. Wow that one is repeated a lot. Guess you don’t have to worry about this breaking too easily. Oh, and the other one is sharpness. Duh.” She looked up. “They’re the most basic level of runes, just repeated over and over. Must have gotten an apprentice runesmith to do the work.”

“Ah. A khlever applikhation.” She took one last swing before sheathing the weapon. “I will put these to good use, but hopefully not tonight. Sending a message will be enough.”

“Yeah, we should start getting ready! How long will it take you to use that stuff Ori gave you?”

Frowning Emokha looked down. “Likhely qhuite some time. It has been years…”

“No worries, I’ll help! You’ll have trouble reaching your back anyway, right?”

“I…I would appreciate it. But…”

“No worries, no worries! What are friends for?”

Emokha’s eyes flicked over Liuka, then the packages sitting on the table. “Indeed.” She smiled.