"Seven bows." Yuen counted as he slid his tongue across the back of his teeth. They were still covered in the grit and bile that had lingered in his mouth after his meeting with the emperor. He took a long pull from a chilled glass brimming with nectar. Hoping to wash away the taste of his encounter.
Delta stood near Yuens desk. Another night of drinking nectar, paperwork and speculations, set out before the two men.
Yuen watched as his friend 'looked' over documents with heavily lashed eyes that sat behind thin glasses. Faker, never looks at anything I hand him. At least he's not fanning himself with them this time. Yuen scoffed. The grey prince never opened his damn eyes. They were always closed, forming white feathery crescents that made him look like some smug asshole.
Delta thumbed through the paperwork appearing to review the reports. He was well aware of what was written in every report he held. He continuously exercised an ability common amongst the high fae of trees. Seeing techniques that used the skin and not the eyes. It took a great deal of practice and refinement and that had only made those who interacted with the snobby and defiant ward even more annoyed. Most court member wanted a reason to demean and belittle the night prince. And still so his eyes remained closed, always wore a smug little smile, false pleasantries quick on the lips. Always appearing as if he couldn't even be bothered by anything or anyone enough to even look at them. It was off putting body language he used like some kind of psychological weapon. No one trusted him and he took their distrust and wore their view of him like some devil filled with sinful tricks and motives. Delta was a hard man to like, and he knew it and so did Yuen. But Delta had stuck by his side and his snakish attitude benefited Yuen more than it didn't.
"Not your best but not your worst," Delta tolled out, half-way paying attention. He was planning out their next conference with the Shimmering court.
Yuen scratched at the grain of his desk. He was slouched in his chair, relaxed with legs sprawled out somewhere set between anger and arrogance. "I think I could have gotten a few more in there." His voice was laced with sardonacy.
Delta hummed at his friend in amusement. Yuen had started a self-deprecating game of counting how many times he'd bow to his father. Later he would mockingly taunt himself with it. He made it seem like some thematically repeating joke, made in passing jest and forgotten until his next encounter with his father.
But Delta knew his friend had the total talley. The emperor had long ago abandoned Yuen, fatherly care and familial obligation all withered and dead. Yuen was not a son, only a nuisance with a fancy title and relation way too close for the emperor's liking. Every tallied bow was a testament to that fact. Lailen was a father who relished in his oldest son's submission–still the ring master, still the patriarch of the family– and Yuen was keeping the score.
It was kindling for his drive. The prince was just and poetic and painfully fae, and Delta was certain in the end Yuen would gift history the total tallied number of bows packaged as ruthless revenge dripping in parallels and irony. He was constantly trying to convince himself he was better than that. Better than trickery and debauchery, better than mania, better than fae, but Delta thought otherwise. He was certain he knew how this story was going to play out.
"I didn't expect the little assassin to help the vypnyr escape." Yuen moved the conversation along dryly. "I thought she'd kill one of the guards." He'd acted under the assumption that one of the guards would have possibly served as a sacrifice. Someone left to take her anger out on. Yuen needed her too much to punish her for the life of a guard or two and she was aware of that. But taking the vypnyr had been a little more calculated.
"I figured she would do something with a little more flare than melting someone. The Eastern Court assassins are amongst the best in the realm. Not only that but she was tutored under the Vermillion Lily. They're trained ruthlessly and taught how to pull as much advantage from hopeless situations as possible. A vypnyr is a high profile being and she was definitely aware of his value. She no doubt took his name in exchange to use for her own benefit later on." Vypnyr were powerful, animal counterparts to the fae, and if one were desperate enough to give you his name, it was a promising opportunity any fae would be a fool to miss.
Tsk. Yuen noisily sucked his tongue. "I dared to have thought your tattoos would be threatening enough. She's too arrogant and I hate that fat mouth of hers. Perhaps we should have tortured her a little as well."
Delta chuckled. Nimara had done nothing but hiss and scowl at the imperial prince, a manner in which no woman had ever treated him before. Yuen was quite handsome and the prince of an entire empire. It was usually a good combination for affection from both men and women. It was amusing for him to watch the strict and driven man stutter and ruminate on the assassin who without doubt hated him. "You would have only incurred more of her wrath. Like I said, it is best to be mindful of the eastern assassins. They are highly intelligent. The court uses them often for infiltration and espionage. Nimaras brazen attitude may come off as annoying and unrefined but its subtle way of belittling itself is designed to coerce you into lowering your guard. She wants those around her to think she's arrogant and stupid." A person everyone thinks they're better and smarter than isn't ever viewed as a serious threat. Nimara was the kind of sneaky that would lend itself to criticism. She'd put herself beneath you then run a blade up through the jaw and into the skull from below while you were looking for threats from above.
"You speak like you know her personally." Yuen eyed his friend, not necessarily accusing him but still feeling out the weight of his response.
Delta nodded, placing the reports back amongst the files on Yuens desk. "I know of her. She is quite infamous yet extremely reclusive. All the information we gathered was third person, word of mouth encounters. It was hard to find the barest of factual information." The Eastern Courts were once the mighty Great Eastern Court Alliance. But when it fell to the rise of the Imperial Court it was left in absolute ruin and the histories of its people were erased. For tens of thousands of years, a crumbling sentinel had kept a string of lands just barely held together. Around three thousand years ago a small queen had finally risen among the survivors, reunifying the people and eventually designating lands to her daughters. The records of their people and any recovered history was still undeveloped or entirely missing. "The little I did find was through one of my ears in the Night Court. Apparently she takes secret contracts for one of my troublesome cousins."
"Don't you think that makes you look a little suspicious." Yuen grinned at his adviser.
Delta clasped a hand over his chest, mouth puckering in mock astonishment at the unspoken implication that he could have been connected to a staged assassination attempt. "You're highness."
Yuen chuckled at his smooth theatrics which were as smug as his face.
"It was simple information, reports of contacts that someone conveniently forgot to destroy. I did keep the evidence if we need to utilize it later. She killed quite a few bureaucrats for the night court." Delta smirked. "One day it could come in handy."
The two shared a knowing look, the grins of two plotters giddy on prospect plastered across their faces. Delta was a ward from the Night Court, sent as collateral. The Night Court was prone to minor rebellions, always defying Imperial decrees, forever teetering on the brink of conflict and war. The night princess' were too precious to be sent to an enemy court so he had been sent instead, the queen's only son.
He was supposed to be a symbol of peace between the two courts but he was well aware that when given the chance, deemed beneficial, his mother would do her best to make him a casualty… Though he and Yuen had already thought of a plan for that.
When the time came it would be easy to take control of the Night Court and the two would be closer to getting what they wanted. They had different goals but had long ago agreed to walk the same path towards them.
A soft click of the door signaled the entrance of their third.
"Your Highness." A man, colored in marbling hues of a pale rose, dressed in dark robes and cream colored leathers, stepped forward and bowed deep in a formal greeting. Long dusty pink hair was pulled into a ribbon atop his head and ruby red eyes, always wide with attention, aimed level at Yuen.
"Stiff as always." Delta laughed at their friend's formal greeting.
"Good evening Wyn." Yuen smiled. The three men had grown up within the walls of the palace together yet Wyn had refused to let go of the formalities. He now served as Yuens personal sword.
"Reports have arrived of Esali." Wyn, straight as an arrow, got right to his point.
Yuen nodded, bidding him continue. For the last few moons these reports had been disappointment after disappointment. His little brother was hiding quite well. Yuen did not have high hopes.
"The team sent to Kystra has returned with a confirmation that he has been residing in the city at his cousin's manor. It appears he has been there for some time."
Yuen took another drink from his glass of nectar and slapped his desk, his mood suddenly just a little better. "Thank the fucking realms! Not an entirely bad day after all." He swallowed down the last bit and went for the decanter, pouring Wyn a drink as well. A small celebration.
He forced the glass of nectar upon Wyn who after a little polite refusal, relented and took the glass with tiring eyes.
"Drink up." Yuen grinned at his pouty friend. "It is a small win for today and I want to celebrate it." He raised his glass in light salute.
Without hesitation Delta raised his own and tipped it back, always an avid drinker. Wyn tentatively waved his glass around and proceeded to slowly sip the beverage.
Yuen nursed his own drink and turned to his thoughts. News of his brother in Kystra meant that Esalis' cousin had lied to him. Yuen had sent a letter to Asariel when Esali had first disappeared on hiatus. It had taken weeks for his brother's cousin to reply and when it arrived it was short and blunt.
No greeting, one sentence, scribbled on scrap paper, and signed without formal title,
.
The whereabouts of my cousin are unknown to me.
-Asariel
.
Asariels writing was flavored with his sour and rude personality.
Yuen crumpled the wad of paper in his fist. It was a clear message of his disrespect and disregard for the Imperial Court. Asariel was half vypnyr and a nobel amoung their ranks. He and his twin, Asarath, lived outside of fae influence and never were apt to lend themselves to rules of engagement on high class social etiquette.
Yuen was skeptical originally, so to learn Asariel had lied didn't bother him too much. The way his message had been sent written on a torn and wrinkled piece of paper–originally destined for the garbage– was enough to suggest that the mixed blood had been fucking with him all along.
He let out a heavy sigh. His brother had been located and the pawn was sent to watch over the human. Everything was starting and would only gain momentum from here. It was a relief and at the same time, already a struggle. He was batting at disrespect from every direction. The Shimmering Court, the damn Eastern court, the little liar assassin, his father, and that muddy blooded Asariel, all rabid and immediately nipping at him in resistance.
But he would take this one step at a time. One by one, Yuen was confident he would solve his problems. And he would start with retrieving his run away brother. He had covered for him enough and it was time Esali play his part as well.
Yuen leaned forwards, hands folding together in front of himself.
"Wyn, you'll retrieve my brother and Delta, you'll hunt down to vypnyr."
"Why do I have to hunt the vypnyr?" Delta whined.
Wyn answered with a rare dry quip, "Do you think Esali would let you get anywhere near him?"
Delta sneered at Wyn, bearing a set of glistening teeth.
"He's right, Delta. Esali hates you. Ideally I would send Wyn to kill the vypnyr." There was a valid reason he served as Yuens personal sword. "But Esali wouldn't even consider lending you his ear, let alone his company. Wyn is trustworthy and," Yuen cleared his throat and gave the swordsman a look he ignored with a deepening blush of his pink cheeks and a sudden unnatural interest in his drink, "a welcome messenger. So I am going to need you to go after the vypnyr. We're going to have a shit show on our hands if he manages to make it back to Kystra. Also Nimara's advantages will be our disadvantages. Find him and kill him. Be quick and quiet about it."
Delta did not necessarily look the part of a talented huntsman. Tall with slender shoulders and narrow hips, he clothed himself in layers of long robes of pale silk decorated with delicate patterns. His skin was a rolling dull gray of stormy clouds that lurked on the horizon while his hair was silken pale white, trimmed short on his head. He was pretty and thin, yet still of the Night Court, known for their penchants towards the more sinister and ancient ways of fae life. Delta's affinity for controlled violence was an asset to Yuen, exercised behind the eye of the court in the secrecy of dungeons and chambers. Yuen knew Delta was more than capable of killing a vypnyr.
He then turned to Wyn, whose glass was still half full and in hand, fake interest faded away. "Take two guards and depart for Kystra immediately. Have the guards stay out of sight, I don't want him thinking that you'll take him by force" Yuen winked again with another little devious smirk, pleased at his word play. But if you do need to drag him back, Delta will provide you with some suppressant cuffs." Yuen doubted Wyn would need them at all. Esali was quite fond of Wyn.
Wyn bowed and went to set his glass on the bar.
"My handcuffs?" Delta interrupted in a whine once more. This time his complaint was a little more personal. "You know the vypnyr scan everyone entering Kystra."
Yuen sighed. "Small sacrifices, Delta."
Delta squinted and offered the man a lopsided frown as he shook his head. "No. Those technology thieves will have my invention to do whatever they wish with."
"Tsk. It's not like they are the only kind of suppressant cuffs available? Besides, didn't you say that they were only a prototype?" Yuen argued.
The night prince groaned and rolled his eyes. Then took a deep breath. "My friend, my inventions aim to be most effective on fae. They are a prototype and quite capable of holding many different races so one may not see their initial usefulness against us. But they still hold my magic and its pathways. It will only be a matter of time for them. The vypnyr are incredibly intelligent. Their flesh and blood nature drives their rapid thirst for advancement. I fear what they may turn my creations into."
… "I suppose you are right." Yuen conceded to his advisor after a moment of contemplation.
"But," Delta held up a finger. "I do have a pair–of draconian design–that I believe will hold your brother if necessary." He'd gotten them off the black market years ago just for that reason. Not that he had any direct need for them, but for just in case. Esali did indeed hate his guts, and though he acted oblivious to the fact, he often kept his guard up when the other night fae was around.
"I suppose that will work." Yuen still had all his bets on Wyn not needing them.
A gentle, sweet melody quietly sung from Delta's lips. It filled the office in the summery lullaby of sticky honey and hazy grass tones before evaporating like steam. Not even a moment later a quiet knock came at the door.
Delta unlocked the door and in stepped another fae. She was not high fae but a meadow nymph. Gold and copper banded hair waved around her like a cape flowing in some invisible breeze. She glew in the swimming tone of the sun set alight to yellow autumn grass. She was dressed in format deep green robes, buttoned all the way up the neck. Above an open and sweet face, three four-pointed stars in deep black ink marked her forehead. Delta's personal aide.
"Arissa, darling, please gather the Draconian handcuffs for Wyn on his way out."
Arissa looked to Delta with light shining in soft green eyes, back straight, hand folded in front of her. "Ofcourse."
"Very well, I will take my leave then." Wyn offered another bow and attempted to leave, Arissa already slipping through the door once more.
"Hey now, you'll hurt my feelings if you don't finish your drink. This is a very expensive bottle." Yuen still spoke in his commanding tone, looking at the glass Wyn had tried to stealthily abandon on the bar. However a smile played on his lips as he stared down his friend.
Wyn looked to the side and his shoulders rose and fell with a silent sigh.
"Come on. Just toss it back." Delta taunted from the side.
Wyn frowned at the smug man before gulping the remainder of his liquor down in one large swallow.
Yuen grinned and Delta let out a pleased snort.
Wyn left the office after a slightly more relaxed bow while Yuen and Delta went back to sifting through papers.
Yuen was about to leave the court for a couple weeks and he needed to meet with the necessary people and prepare paperwork. He was having Delta deal with the shimmering queen while he made arrangements for Esali and Wyn to manage affairs in his absence. It would be a good opportunity for the crown prince to test run handling some of the responsibilities of the empire. Wyn would be there to assist him on Yuens behalf. Wyn was not aware of it yet, but he was going to assign the swordsman as his brother's personal guard and take the opportunity to plant his own men around Esali. However, for this Yuen would have to increase Wyn's influence within the court.
He had compiled reports filled with data and charts on missions Wyn had participated and led. All evidence of the man's competencies and success. He was building a solid proposal to petition the military council for a rise in Wyns ranking.
Since they were children Yuen had Wyn trained just to strengthen his military influence. He'd been a natural strategist and swordsman and with time those skills had only become more and more refined. With confidence Yuen could push for Wyn to be named a commander amongst his ranks. His accomplishments levied against those of high ranking generals of the past far out weighed them. In the end he usually had to fight tooth and nail with his fathers men to gain any power within the palace. For extra security he would have Esali make the proposal. But before that there was still another puzzle piece to be placed. Yuen couldn't entirely leave the situation up to the fate of the council and whether or not his little brother could ask nicely enough. He needed one of his fathers pawns to fall so his could more easily sneak in and take its place.
He stretched out his arms and grinned, briefly wondering if the assassin had found the human yet.