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rainbowfic2024-04-28 08:32 pm
thisbluespirit) wrote in rainbowfic2024-04-28 08:32 pm
Burgundy #8; Light Black #24 [Starfall]
Name: Educational Tour
Story: Starfall
Colors: Burgundy #8 (note); Light Black #24 (steal)
Supplies and Styles: Graffiti (April Food Challenge)
Word Count: 1681
Rating: PG
Warnings: None.
Notes: 1313, Portcallan; Viyony Eseray, Leion Valerno, Jene Aradellen. Takes place directly after Dancing Attendance.
Summary: Leion makes good on his promise to take Viyony to meet the High Governor, but something else is going on...
Perhaps Viyony should have realised it was a bad omen when Seahra didn't come to meet them as planned. They were greeted instead by one of the High Governor's minor secretaries, a thin, middle-aged man with light brown skin, who edged up to them and introduced himself as Imai Ylencern.
"I'm sorry," he said. He fiddled with the edge of his jacket, and then tugged it straight. "Imai Jadinor had to deal with an unexpected request. It happens, even on eighth-days. She sends her apologies."
"Well, be sure to tell her I shall never forgive her," said Leion.
Ylencern coughed. "She really had no option."
"Please, ignore him," said Viyony. "We're grateful to you for stepping in."
Leion cast a fleeting, rueful glance at Viyony, but straightened himself, and murmured, "Yes, thank you. Please forgive my nonsense. My sister knows what I'm like, don't worry."
Viyony had been inside the Great Chamber Hall before, during the dance held as part of the High Council Chambers's opening ceremonies, but it had been too crowded then to take in the building itself, and she had never been further in to see the debating chambers.
The Great Chamber Hall, where they held functions like the dance, had a large domed roof and there were small windows with stained glass panes high up in the walls. Great pillars rose to meet the ceiling. They made their way through them along a tiled floor worn shiny and flat by constant use. There was a fountain at the far end of the hall, positioned to catch the light from the an opposite window, with leafy vines winding their way around the smaller pillars around it. Viyony had noticed it previously, but only now with greater space and leisure did she realise that it was intended to honour the Powers. In addition to the obvious presence of greenery, water, and light, the fountain was decorated with starstone chips and the centrepiece was a bronze globe painted with starflowers, with centres of clear starstone. Orange, red and yellow panes in the window above that cast flickering fiery colours onto the floor beside it. She couldn't see anything to symbolise healing, but perhaps the plants had been chosen to double up for their medicinal properties.
"We'll have a proper tour later," Leion said in her ear, his hand on her arm. "We mustn't keep the High Governor waiting. I can't guarantee you a personal audience a second time if we don't turn up."
Viyony blinked and turned her head. "I hadn't realised, when I was here before—how beautiful it is. It was so crowded," she said as they hastened after Ylencern, holding open the door into the corridor beyond.
"It's not bad," Leion agreed, but she heard the warmth in his voice. He loved Portcallan as she loved Eseray—the waterfall that tumbled down the ravine, summer nights in the moon gallery high above, sharp mountain air, and vivid newly-dyed fabric draped out to dry in on sunlit days.
"I am grateful for the introduction," she added. "Don't think I'm not. I shall make full use of the opportunity."
Leion cast a wary glance at her. She smiled her widest smile in return.
"Imai Eseray." The High Governor, Jene Aradellen, slim, dark skinned, and younger looking than her years, strode forward as soon as Viyony and Leion entered her office. As they met on one side of the large desk laden with neat nests of paperwork, she extended her hand to Viyony and gripping hers briefly, warmly, before giving her the customary formal nod in greeting. "It's about time someone introduced us."
"I didn't think you would know who I was, High Governor."
Governor Aradellen laughed. "Of course I do. I gather you helped to save my life on the day of the opening ceremony."
"I did nothing," Viyony said. She managed not to look at Leion; not to ask him what nonsense he had told her. He was standing somewhere to the side of her, next to one of the bookcases. "Captain Maraseny had that honour, I think."
The High Governor eyed her closely, but her mouth quirked. "Modest, but untrue. I make certain I have the most accurate information, Imai Eseray. Your intervention was unintentional, perhaps—you don't regret it, I hope?"
Viyony swallowed. "I—no—that is—if I helped you, High Governor, I'm happy to hear it." Leion moved away to the side of her, pacing across the office towards the window around the other side of the desk; she heard the boards shift under his soft tread.
"Thank you." Jene Aradellen relaxed into a smile. "There are other reasons. I understand your father has been developing new methods for treating and reducing the effluent from Eseray's dye works. My people who know about these things think his work sounds very promising."
"You are well informed," said Viyony, raising her eyebrows. "And, yes. It's one of the reasons I'm so determined to keep Eseray operational. If we failed now, the place would be bought up for alionrel farming, and that would be a terrible waste."
Jene Aradellen continued to study Viyony. "Then I suppose I don't need to ask where you stand on the alionrel question?"
"It's impossible to grow up in Eseray and not see how much worse the sickness and mortality rate is wherever it's farmed," said Viyony. "That's the only thing I know, High Governor."
An elusive smile played around Governor Aradellen's mouth. "Of course. Thank you for being frank with me. You wouldn't believe how many people aren't!" She cast a look at Leion.
"I'm polite," he said, as Viyony turned towards him. He had moved away from the window again while they'd talked, and was now standing across the length of the desk from the other two. "Besides, I have to live here. Imai Eseray can run away back to the mountains if she causes offence."
The High Governor took a step back. "How true! Now, forgive me—much as I would rather continue this conversation, I have other appointments to keep. Today has turned out to be unusually hectic—not much of a holiday! But I hope to see you again during your stay here, Imai Eseray – and I shall be sure to mention your name to Governor Uskill when I see her."
"Do you want to go on and continue the tour, or is that enough for today? If you don't mind, I would rather come back for the rest when Seahra's around."
Viyony shook herself. "What?" She leant against the wall of the outer office, heedless of the minute frown that Secretary Ylencern gave her as he crossed back towards them with a clutch of papers in his hand. "Give me a moment, Leion! I'm still shaking from talking to the High Governor."
"You? Surely not," said Leion. "If it's any consolation, you didn't seem nervous."
Viyony pressed her hand against her mouth, not wanting to give way to visible excitement with Ylencern standing there between them. "I think it went well—don't you? She said she'd mention Eseray to Governor Uskill! And she wasn't too dismissive of the alionrel problem—that has to be a good sign. I expected her to be—I don't know—much more stern and imposing."
"Well," said Leion, "regardless of what she might say about appreciating frankness, she is High Governor. She has to be tactful to everybody."
Viyony pulled a face. "You're too cynical."
"I think I'm exactly the right amount of cynical."
Ylencern coughed. "Imai Eseray. Imai Valerno. I'll escort you back to the gate, if you'll come this way."
Viyony and Leion exchanged a guilty glance and then picked up their steps to follow Ylencern out of the office.
The two uniformed High Guards on duty at the gatehouse between Governor's House and the main Chamber buildings demanded their coats and jackets—politely, but they kept the gate closed while they waited for both of them to oblige. They had not been searched on the way in, but Leion had warned her they conducted random searches as a precaution, and it seemed it was now their turn.
"I'm sorry about this," Ylencern said to Viyony, as if the High Governor's security measures were his personal fault.
Viyony shrugged off her coat, and handed it over, while Leion did the same, if with more complaints and asking the younger, pale skinned guard not to rumple or dirty his best coat.
"There has been considerable alarm since the assassination attempt," Ylencern continued, ignoring Leion much as he had done from the start. "But I have things to attend to—I shall leave you in their hands, if you don't mind."
Leion rounded on him with a sudden smile. "Oh, please, do go on. We shall cope with the loss, don't worry."
"Leion," hissed Viyony. She hugged her arms, feeling the chill in the air. "I thought you said you were polite!"
He held her gaze. "You think I wasn't?" His smile vanished, then, as he caught sight of her shivering. "Have you two not finished with us yet? I'll have you know my younger sister is one of your Captains, and the elder -"
The first guard, the older one, turned. He had Viyony's coat in one hand and a sealed packet of papers in the other. Like Ylencern, he ignored Leion. "Is this yours, Imai Eseray?"
Leion's protests petered out beside her. He looked to Viyony, waiting for her answer as much as the two High Guards. Viyony felt suddenly unreal among them—the obvious alien, a mere visitor to Portcallan. She had no relatives in high places to speak for her. The packet wasn't hers. The High Governor's starflower seal over the string that bound it together was unmistakable.
"Wait," said Leion, breaking into her stunned thoughts. "This can't be right. It's ridiculous" His gaze strayed to Viyony again, but when she remained silent, he paled, his eyes narrowing. "Viyony, tell them."
She pulled her arms in tighter about herself, and raised her chin. "Tell them what, Leion?"
Story: Starfall
Colors: Burgundy #8 (note); Light Black #24 (steal)
Supplies and Styles: Graffiti (April Food Challenge)
Word Count: 1681
Rating: PG
Warnings: None.
Notes: 1313, Portcallan; Viyony Eseray, Leion Valerno, Jene Aradellen. Takes place directly after Dancing Attendance.
Summary: Leion makes good on his promise to take Viyony to meet the High Governor, but something else is going on...
Perhaps Viyony should have realised it was a bad omen when Seahra didn't come to meet them as planned. They were greeted instead by one of the High Governor's minor secretaries, a thin, middle-aged man with light brown skin, who edged up to them and introduced himself as Imai Ylencern.
"I'm sorry," he said. He fiddled with the edge of his jacket, and then tugged it straight. "Imai Jadinor had to deal with an unexpected request. It happens, even on eighth-days. She sends her apologies."
"Well, be sure to tell her I shall never forgive her," said Leion.
Ylencern coughed. "She really had no option."
"Please, ignore him," said Viyony. "We're grateful to you for stepping in."
Leion cast a fleeting, rueful glance at Viyony, but straightened himself, and murmured, "Yes, thank you. Please forgive my nonsense. My sister knows what I'm like, don't worry."
Viyony had been inside the Great Chamber Hall before, during the dance held as part of the High Council Chambers's opening ceremonies, but it had been too crowded then to take in the building itself, and she had never been further in to see the debating chambers.
The Great Chamber Hall, where they held functions like the dance, had a large domed roof and there were small windows with stained glass panes high up in the walls. Great pillars rose to meet the ceiling. They made their way through them along a tiled floor worn shiny and flat by constant use. There was a fountain at the far end of the hall, positioned to catch the light from the an opposite window, with leafy vines winding their way around the smaller pillars around it. Viyony had noticed it previously, but only now with greater space and leisure did she realise that it was intended to honour the Powers. In addition to the obvious presence of greenery, water, and light, the fountain was decorated with starstone chips and the centrepiece was a bronze globe painted with starflowers, with centres of clear starstone. Orange, red and yellow panes in the window above that cast flickering fiery colours onto the floor beside it. She couldn't see anything to symbolise healing, but perhaps the plants had been chosen to double up for their medicinal properties.
"We'll have a proper tour later," Leion said in her ear, his hand on her arm. "We mustn't keep the High Governor waiting. I can't guarantee you a personal audience a second time if we don't turn up."
Viyony blinked and turned her head. "I hadn't realised, when I was here before—how beautiful it is. It was so crowded," she said as they hastened after Ylencern, holding open the door into the corridor beyond.
"It's not bad," Leion agreed, but she heard the warmth in his voice. He loved Portcallan as she loved Eseray—the waterfall that tumbled down the ravine, summer nights in the moon gallery high above, sharp mountain air, and vivid newly-dyed fabric draped out to dry in on sunlit days.
"I am grateful for the introduction," she added. "Don't think I'm not. I shall make full use of the opportunity."
Leion cast a wary glance at her. She smiled her widest smile in return.
"Imai Eseray." The High Governor, Jene Aradellen, slim, dark skinned, and younger looking than her years, strode forward as soon as Viyony and Leion entered her office. As they met on one side of the large desk laden with neat nests of paperwork, she extended her hand to Viyony and gripping hers briefly, warmly, before giving her the customary formal nod in greeting. "It's about time someone introduced us."
"I didn't think you would know who I was, High Governor."
Governor Aradellen laughed. "Of course I do. I gather you helped to save my life on the day of the opening ceremony."
"I did nothing," Viyony said. She managed not to look at Leion; not to ask him what nonsense he had told her. He was standing somewhere to the side of her, next to one of the bookcases. "Captain Maraseny had that honour, I think."
The High Governor eyed her closely, but her mouth quirked. "Modest, but untrue. I make certain I have the most accurate information, Imai Eseray. Your intervention was unintentional, perhaps—you don't regret it, I hope?"
Viyony swallowed. "I—no—that is—if I helped you, High Governor, I'm happy to hear it." Leion moved away to the side of her, pacing across the office towards the window around the other side of the desk; she heard the boards shift under his soft tread.
"Thank you." Jene Aradellen relaxed into a smile. "There are other reasons. I understand your father has been developing new methods for treating and reducing the effluent from Eseray's dye works. My people who know about these things think his work sounds very promising."
"You are well informed," said Viyony, raising her eyebrows. "And, yes. It's one of the reasons I'm so determined to keep Eseray operational. If we failed now, the place would be bought up for alionrel farming, and that would be a terrible waste."
Jene Aradellen continued to study Viyony. "Then I suppose I don't need to ask where you stand on the alionrel question?"
"It's impossible to grow up in Eseray and not see how much worse the sickness and mortality rate is wherever it's farmed," said Viyony. "That's the only thing I know, High Governor."
An elusive smile played around Governor Aradellen's mouth. "Of course. Thank you for being frank with me. You wouldn't believe how many people aren't!" She cast a look at Leion.
"I'm polite," he said, as Viyony turned towards him. He had moved away from the window again while they'd talked, and was now standing across the length of the desk from the other two. "Besides, I have to live here. Imai Eseray can run away back to the mountains if she causes offence."
The High Governor took a step back. "How true! Now, forgive me—much as I would rather continue this conversation, I have other appointments to keep. Today has turned out to be unusually hectic—not much of a holiday! But I hope to see you again during your stay here, Imai Eseray – and I shall be sure to mention your name to Governor Uskill when I see her."
"Do you want to go on and continue the tour, or is that enough for today? If you don't mind, I would rather come back for the rest when Seahra's around."
Viyony shook herself. "What?" She leant against the wall of the outer office, heedless of the minute frown that Secretary Ylencern gave her as he crossed back towards them with a clutch of papers in his hand. "Give me a moment, Leion! I'm still shaking from talking to the High Governor."
"You? Surely not," said Leion. "If it's any consolation, you didn't seem nervous."
Viyony pressed her hand against her mouth, not wanting to give way to visible excitement with Ylencern standing there between them. "I think it went well—don't you? She said she'd mention Eseray to Governor Uskill! And she wasn't too dismissive of the alionrel problem—that has to be a good sign. I expected her to be—I don't know—much more stern and imposing."
"Well," said Leion, "regardless of what she might say about appreciating frankness, she is High Governor. She has to be tactful to everybody."
Viyony pulled a face. "You're too cynical."
"I think I'm exactly the right amount of cynical."
Ylencern coughed. "Imai Eseray. Imai Valerno. I'll escort you back to the gate, if you'll come this way."
Viyony and Leion exchanged a guilty glance and then picked up their steps to follow Ylencern out of the office.
The two uniformed High Guards on duty at the gatehouse between Governor's House and the main Chamber buildings demanded their coats and jackets—politely, but they kept the gate closed while they waited for both of them to oblige. They had not been searched on the way in, but Leion had warned her they conducted random searches as a precaution, and it seemed it was now their turn.
"I'm sorry about this," Ylencern said to Viyony, as if the High Governor's security measures were his personal fault.
Viyony shrugged off her coat, and handed it over, while Leion did the same, if with more complaints and asking the younger, pale skinned guard not to rumple or dirty his best coat.
"There has been considerable alarm since the assassination attempt," Ylencern continued, ignoring Leion much as he had done from the start. "But I have things to attend to—I shall leave you in their hands, if you don't mind."
Leion rounded on him with a sudden smile. "Oh, please, do go on. We shall cope with the loss, don't worry."
"Leion," hissed Viyony. She hugged her arms, feeling the chill in the air. "I thought you said you were polite!"
He held her gaze. "You think I wasn't?" His smile vanished, then, as he caught sight of her shivering. "Have you two not finished with us yet? I'll have you know my younger sister is one of your Captains, and the elder -"
The first guard, the older one, turned. He had Viyony's coat in one hand and a sealed packet of papers in the other. Like Ylencern, he ignored Leion. "Is this yours, Imai Eseray?"
Leion's protests petered out beside her. He looked to Viyony, waiting for her answer as much as the two High Guards. Viyony felt suddenly unreal among them—the obvious alien, a mere visitor to Portcallan. She had no relatives in high places to speak for her. The packet wasn't hers. The High Governor's starflower seal over the string that bound it together was unmistakable.
"Wait," said Leion, breaking into her stunned thoughts. "This can't be right. It's ridiculous" His gaze strayed to Viyony again, but when she remained silent, he paled, his eyes narrowing. "Viyony, tell them."
She pulled her arms in tighter about herself, and raised her chin. "Tell them what, Leion?"
no subject
Also, slight beta issue: "We'll have a proper tour later," Leion said in her hear, his hand on her arm.
Pretty sure Leion said it in her ear! 🤭
no subject
And thanks for the beta! Fixed now, and I wrote this whole sequence much faster than was advisable, so I'm only shocked there weren't more typos all over them!!
no subject
also sorry Ylencern, if it helps they're always Like This.
no subject
1.https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/55/e8/c0/55e8c00f17c4d15250f0a1479404a2c1.jpg (this one's oddly apropos)
2. glitz
no subject
LOL! As you know now, he didn't warrant apologies, but, this is true. XD Thank you (and for the novelty beads). ♥