The loss of her true family, the UrSkeks, had not grown less painful over the many trine that passed after the great rending, only more bearable, and in her desperation to find normalcy after the heartbreak, she, like the Gelfling of Thra, was eager to welcome a new age under the UrSkeks’ ‘successors,’ the Skeksis. Indeed, if she looked closely, it wasn’t all that difficult to find traces of her beloved ones in the Skeksis’ words and deeds. skekEkt had EktUtt’s beauty; skekVar, VarMa’s strength and courage; and skekTek, TekTih’s golden eyes and thirst for knowledge. And if she looked into skekSo’s features, she could see her dear SoSu’s bountiful humor and love for life.
She saw much of the same now, and it warmed her heart.
After a lengthy tour of Thra, in which she secured more pledges of loyalty, and treasures, from the Gelfling clans, the palace darling had returned. A smile already blooming on her lips, she bowed low before the Emperor’s throne, a necessary formality that both of them agreed to bear, before she rose and embraced him.
All the wonders of Thra could never truly compare to home, she thought.
“Khrokon, I bring you fair tidings. All is well in your kingdom. The Gelfling reaffirm their loyalty and will send ten more of their strongest paladins for service.” She pulled away slightly, her expression widening into a sharp dimpled grin. “And I bring you gifts!”
The Councilor beckoned for the podling servants to step forward. “Nyedee, nyedee! Fala vam,” she softly called, staying them with an outstretched hand once their treasures could be displayed. There were fine silk robes in shades of scarlet, purple, and black from Ha’rar and crystal bottles of perfume. There were jeweled swords from Stonewood craftsmen, incense burners from the Crystal Desert, and casks of the most decadent wine from Spriton stores– all the riches Thra had to offer were within their grasp.
She turned to him expectantly. “Do these please you?”
it's typical skeksis fashion to be festive, to carouse and warm the dining halls with only the gourmand's finest delicacies and laughter and music no one can quite agree on, sometimes ushering in throngs of guests and other times simply stealing themselves away from all eyes. they're picky like that, and maybe too prone to overindulge themselves, but it's a GOLDEN way to live and they'll take any excuse to let the hedonism run loose ( it's easy when all memory of what came before is snuffed out, like a candle turned to a pool of wax. )
now, if only the emperor had been informed of their councilor's return.
perhaps, when she was among the castle's outskirts, he could have pulled skekAyuk and his closest advisors aside to plan a celebration of somenbsp; kind. they'll still throw something together, of course, it's been a dreadfully slow day and he doesn't have room to care too much about planning, and besides, they've missed their starling's presence in the halls too much, but still.
yet alas, here she is, and the previously slumped form upon the throne sits alert and with a restless gaze to match. " councilor ! " he crowed, hands temporarily clasping together before one too-long arm moves to drape around her shoulders, a very ' skekSo ' way of returning her affections. that toothy beak of his opened, but all previous complaints of how they could've made preparations died on his tongue when pale eyes finally landed on the offered baubles. in these trine, the skeksis lord had no need for weaponry outside of simply appreciating the aesthetics, they'd all just be shifted to the militant general's waiting talons. he would one day, when the seeds of paranoia finally blossom, but not this day. not this day.
" oh very. that's vapran-made, no ? " skekSo remarks, nodding to ths robes as he bends in one fluid movement to pluck up a bottle, turning it over just to watch it's contents slosh. well, here's another reason to care little for preparations. " i hope you aren't feeling drained in any way, my dear. we'll have to make use of this promptly. "
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