“Granted, so-called chance meetings happen far more easily when one side actively seeks for the other.” Saying attributed to the Silver Maiden.

Aideen, Kino, and Eilonwy were brought to a comfortable meeting room, mostly decorated with fine glasswork, with plenty of plump cushions set atop fine, woven rugs, all set around a large, circular, low table made of thick, sturdy glass. The three seated themselves accordingly on one side of the table, sitting cross-legged on the cushions as was the local norm.

As they seated themselves on the comfortable cushions, however, they realized that the table was set at a rather uncomfortable height for people who were seated on said cushions. It was a touch too low, given how tall the cushions were compared to the norm. It was only a moment later that they realized that the uncomfortable height was not intentional, as if they were a dwarf, who tended to be shorter and heavier, the table would be at just the right height to use comfortably.

That assessment was born out when an old half-dwarf dressed in fine livery came into the room and greeted them with a smile, sitting comfortably across the table from them.

“Welcome, welcome to my humble abode, Miladies,” said the old man with a loud, echoing deep bass of a voice. Despite the volume though, it was easy to notice the near child-like glee and jolly merriment hidden within the voice. “This one is Abdul-Hamid zem Nasril, current Patriarch of the House of Nasrilemaz. It is our great fortune to be able to welcome such distinguished guests once more in my lifetime~”

“Good to meet you again, Patriarch zem Nasril,” replied Aideen politely with a slight bow. “It pleases me to see you in good health after so long. You were still so much younger back then, if I recall correctly.”

“And you remain as stunning as ever, Milady deVreys,” replied the patriarch with a wide smile on his bearded face. “Ah, but where are my manners? I have informed Farouq and the others of your arrival and they should be on their way. In the meantime, please have some refreshments first,” said the man as he clapped twice, loudly.

A pair of dwarven servants walked into the room without making a sound. One of them carried a half-dozen large plates, three balanced on each of their burly arms, and carefully placed the plates on the table without making even the slightest sound. The plates themselves were laden with all sorts of snacks and finger foods, including some of the artisanal sweets they had in Sudaksina’s place just weeks ago.

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The other servant carried a tray that held seven glass mugs and set them around the table, while held in their other hand were a kettle of tea, a pitcher of ale, and an amphora of sweet wine, which they set near the center of the table, allowing the choice of beverages to the guests. The central area where the food and beverages were set turned out to be a separate piece from the rest of the table, and could freely rotate as the patriarch demonstrated before them.

Aideen had met the now-old patriarch when he was still a younger man not even in his middle age years yet, as she had paid a short visit to their mansion on her way north when she went to Alcidea over a century ago. Since the youth from back then had become the family’s current patriarch, who was always someone initiated to the family’s secret origins and missions, it was of little surprise that he kept an eye for the arrival of Aideen’s group.

Perhaps to show his respect, the man himself politely asked Kino and Eilonwy what they would like to drink and personally poured for them after they replied. Kino went for the ale, while Eilonwy chose the sweet wine, as was her preference. Aideen herself chose the tea, as she found the scent familiar, and sure enough, it was a variant of local strong tea that she favored, sweetened just right for her preferences, then given a bit of extra kick with a generous dash of strong dwarven distilled liquor.

They were enjoying themselves while making small talk with the patriarch when the sound of footsteps came from outside the room. Sure enough, Farouq entered the room after he knocked and asked for permission a short while later, the man bowing low to the patriarch as well as Aideen’s group as he entered the room.

It was not him that caught the three’s attention, however, but the other two figures behind Farouq. The two tall figures who had to bend low to get through the rather short door of the room was all too familiar to Aideen and the girls, and they had not expected to see them of all people here in the Caliphate, as last they knew, they were still in the Lichdom proper.

“Heya, little sis. Bet you didn’t expect to see us here, didn’t you?” teased Áine with a smirk on her face as she sat down next to Aideen. Her younger brother and Eilonwy’s twin, Rhys, sat next to Kino, since Eilonwy happened to be seated between Aideen and Kino.

The three siblings were nearly the same age, with Áine older by only a week or so, while Rhys was older than Eilonwy by only half a day. It still made Eilonwy the little sister of the bunch, though, even if they were all the same age for all practical purposes. It was also something that annoyed Eilonwy to no end, and her older siblings loved to tease her about it for that exact reason.

Aideen decided to make things easier for their host and cut down on the sibling-teasing before it ended up dominating the conversation, though.

“Áine, Rhys,” she said calmly. “What brought you two here? I thought you were both still in Tohrmutgent learning from Grandpa?” she asked, purposefully making her tone a bit more menacing in the process. “Don’t tell me you ran away and played truant here in the north instead…”