"She has no potential," Ayne said.
Dad's knuckles cracked.
Anne's fat face flinched as heels clicked down the stairs.
"Anne," said a woman Chimi had never seen before, "I will have you beheaded if you tell such lies again!" Her screech made Chimi squint and cover her ears.
Dad folded his arms, "What's this? Anne's been deposed?"
"For this specific reason," said the unfamiliar woman. She almost looked noble, with rich ginger locks of hair, full lips. "And she's more beautiful than me, if she'd only be treated like a lady," she pressed her hand against her chest, "Eleanor." She reached her full hand out to Dad. They shook, then Egeon, Poole and finally, Chimi.
"If you'd come to the Urien Reverie with us, sirs and madam," she said with impeccable manners.
"When did you get here, mage?" Poole asked.
"I arrived yesterday," she said, "I'm from Umbrae Pales." She said, "Good sirs?"
Dad took a step toward her.
She lifted the bar with a touch of her finger for them to walk under, through a wooden back door and into a large library. Eleanor pulled a few books in an odd sequence, the bookshelf slid away.
"A show of what our Bindings are capable of on a small, efficient scale," she said before she walked into a small concourse filled with mages whose eyes flicked from book to Egeon, to dad, to Poole, to Chimi, then back.
Dad sighed through his nostrils, a sign he couldn't be bothered to deal with these lot. Egeon clapped his hands loudly.
"Up you fuckin' fairies!" he barked.
Eleanor had stepped aside, left it in their hands.
The mages glared at him.
"I'd like to remind you all." Eleanor said gently, "The reason we can be of such leisure and leave is because of the army's efforts."
They rose to their feet and gave mock salutes.
Poole stepped forward and demonstrated how to salute.
Egeon arched an eyebrow. Eleanor copied his gesture, and they fixed up their salutes promptly. Eleanor got down on one knee before Dad, pulled a circlet that Chimi had not noticed out of her hair and presented it to him.
"The mage tower of Emmerlaine swears fealty to Angus and all those that will come after him." Her eyes, lidded, mischievous dark blues, went to Chimi seconds later. And she whispered: "The girl has extreme potency."
Eleanor led them into a dark room where she whispered something, and all of the candles in the room lit up at once. Dad shut the door behind her, and Poole and Egeon did a full round of the room. More bookshelves, a bed, a round table with four chairs and star constellations all over from the hookbill to the sun dogs, then the star of knowledge, Cian Memoria.
"Commander, Angus." Eleanor said politely, "I'll have you know that this is a very different mage cadre than what you're used to." She snapped her fingers.
Brillian wished she had a weapon, but Dad was completely relaxed. The door opened, and a young man about her age popped his head in.
"Yes, mistress?"
"Deepe, you learned some bloody manners," Poole said evenly.
"Hello, father. I apologise."
"No, I apologise." Eleanor said, "I've been raising him to be my successor, and succeeded he has. Kill anyone who tries to listen in, Deepe."
He gave a casual nod and shut the door behind him.
Dad gave her a sidelong look up and down, "Why?"
"These mages have become too complacent and have their heads stuck up their own places where the sun doesn't shine. They love to dance the strings and sing to the sea of stars in screams, but when the music plays they're-"
"So they're boxies stuck in the box." Poole interrupted, "Sorry, you're a lovely lady, but this finer talk is lost on us."
She nodded, "These mages are fucking stupid pigs who eat their own shit."
Everyone burst into laughter from the overly posh accent cussing.
"Now we're all entertained and guarded." Eleanor gestured to the bed, "Chimi, if you'd lie here."
"Why?"
"We haven't had a starforged in a decade in the Steppe." Her eyes narrowed, "And you, you broke a prophecy with your birth... so what have the gods given us that most village folk are too blind and daft to see without their eyes? What lies between the lines and lurks within your soul that we have not yet been able to perceive?"
Dad gestured for her to go, "Sit down before she woos Egeon over with poetry."
"I'm enjoying myself." Egeon said, "She's got lots of lovely honey on that tongue."
"And more, but unfortunately, my dear Egeon, you're not a book nor are you a spell, and you shall not cast spells of saccharine charm up on me."
"Sorry, fella," Poole said, "I think you just got a rejection cast on ya."
"Bastard."
The men laughed while Chimi set herself down on the bed and found herself scowling at Eleanor's too-fat full chest, but placed the spiteful thoughts aside," Jealousy is a dark mistress, Dad would say, and he was watching.
The intricacies of Eleanor's silken dress that showed too much cleavage were most likely equally for men as it was for women, and her bloody comfort. She placed a delicate finger on Chimi's forehead, and she felt a cool sensation wash over her.
"You're gifted," she whispered, "You can bind runes to your will, speak incantations to Chaim..." She stepped back from her, "Intriguing," she said.
Chimi felt more sensations from the woman, cold water, icy rain. She saw the stars wheel across the sky and bright lights fall to the Earth. The dreaming star bloomed. Gusts of wind blew her away, fogs of stardust smothered the snowy land. She came back to reality with a loud thud inside her head.
"We must take you to my brothers and sisters in Umbrae, we shall have starchained look at you for potential connections to Cae's Expanse."
"Cae's Expanse?" Chimi breathed deep to steady her heart.
"The sea of stars," she said curtly, "If you want my opinion on those matters, you have no potential for Eirsilus or very little, as for your Starforge, I simply cannot tell. When I try to peer at you, I see nothing but-- I see an expanse of light."
She pursed her lips and continued speaking, "I've a well-practised Medicus I'd like you to keep with her, if you'd allow me, she has seen blood, gore and horrors in her medical service and is ready to attend the field."
"For someone who arrived yesterday, you've the grip of a general on this place."
"One must move fast in political manoeuvres as one must move on the battlefield, no?"
Chimi couldn't tell if that was flirtation or not. But Eleanor at times had a knack for making things sound... strange.
"Yeah, I reckon." Dad said, "Right then, who's the Med?"
"Come in!" Eleanor tapped Chimi's shoulder.
Chimi sat up to see Ishi walk in, her face lit up with a smile.
"Chimi!" Ishi was stopped by Poole's arm.
"Isn't this just the fabulous fairy fucking poetic?" Poole mocked Eleanor's accent.
"Right then, so we've got another Med." Dad said bluntly, "What do you want, Eleanor?"
"I am but a humble leader of this mage cadre," she whispered, "Here on business from Umbrae to curry favour with the children of Emmerlaine."
Dad stared at her with no expression.
She tilted her head and continued to smile at him.
Chimi watched the two for a while until Dad spoke again, "Then you will stay away from my daughter."
"Ah, there's no need for that, commander Angus." she said, "I travelled here to Emmerlaine to look for solutions, where I met Ishi and Asher who are gifted in their own ways..." she looked at Chimi, "But you," she said, "You are truly a pathos unto yourself. I request to be by her side and watch her grow, that is all."
"In turn, I will have full control of the mage tower through you." Dad said, "Carved in stone."
"Dye is cast." Eleanor said, "Ordained and granted, death to Rava, may cold nights keep and Rasu ashes bless the Auresi."
"Ygrair's lake, Rasu's Rope, Everwinter Keep." Everyone in the room recited.
"Poole," dad said, "Take these two with you to be ready with the platoon. Egeon send word to have Wes come here and speak with Eleanor further."
Chimi and Ishi followed Poole out of the room, and Egeon marched past them at a brisk pace for her home.