The Worlds Between Shadows
Approaching the familiar double doors that led into an office she was all too familiar with on the property, Asharri stood tall and proud, her usual professional demeanor one of few words unless something had to be said. The attendant opened the doors, allowing the Farstrider inside with a bow of her head and the promise that her host would be with her shortly, so she recommended that she make herself comfortable in the meantime. It wasn’t often she made the visit to Magister Sylr’varis’ estate herself, as he had the painfully annoying habit of showing up whenever he deemed fitting to her own estate to check in on her work with Dawnstide Harbor Exchange. A man who couldn’t be bothered with invitations.
Hands tucked neatly behind her, Asharri’s eyes moved about her surroundings, noting the usual - a pristine desk with overly organized paperwork, ledgers and the like. Maps and book shelves outlining the walls, along with a painting of the wilds of Eversong. Trinkets and baubles hummed softly in their contained areas on various shelves; collections the Magister picked up along the way and fancied enough himself to keep. Taking to a spot near a window, she looked down to the grounds below and then to the treetops; watching as the breeze gently swayed the golden foliage. It looked like any other ordinary day, but deep in her bones she could feel that something was off and that was despite the rumors that circulated her homeland. She had hardly noticed she had been clenching her jaw until her host finally entered, causing her to turn towards him.
“Ah, Captain Lakefire!” Aerythil clasped his hands together, a smirk of amusement touching his lips as he made way for the chair behind his desk and then gestured towards one on the opposite side, his shiny brown hair fluttering behind him. “It is so very rare that you come to me. Please have a seat.”
Asharri squinted slightly at Aerythil, noting the faintest sign of shadows dancing just beneath his eyes and couldn’t help but remark as she strode across the room and occupied one of the chairs, “Lack of beauty sleep seems to be catching up with you.”
Bringing out a hand mirror from a drawer of his desk, Aerythil inspected his face and sighed, “Yes, well, very busy since I was called back home. I really should restock some of that eye cream soon the way things are going, but alas - you did not come here to discuss my mildly sleepless appearance. Which is quite rude anyway, mind you.”
With a brief smirk, she picked up on the humor laced within his words and tone, crossing one leg over the other as she leaned her arm into the right side of the chair, “Of course, Magister Sylr’varis. My apologies. You are correct. In fact, I’ve come bearing word from a source within the more seedy alleyways of our grand city that I think you may be eager to hear.”
Pulling gently at the skin under his left eye as he continued to look into the mirror, Aerythil didn’t quite turn his attention to Asharri yet. He truly was a bit disheartened that he had not received a proper night’s rest in the last few days and now it was starting to show. Asharri just seemed to watch him with a subtle roll of her eyes, adding in, “Void. Misused Fel. I am not sure which at this moment in time, for as you know, I have had my affairs tied up back in Eversong at Ranger-Lord Blacksun’s command, but word has it that there is quite the smuggling ring running rampant right under your keen nose.”
Placing the mirror carefully back into the drawer, Aerythil looked across the desk to Asharri - his lips pressed into a thin line as he fell into momentary thought at what she had revealed to him. Tapping his fingers on the surface of the polished wood, he sighed again, “I suppose that is to be expected when many meetings have been keeping many of us tied up. As they say, when the cat’s away, the mice will play.”
“You have always been quite the valuable resource to me… or rather, I suppose we are to one another,” he continued smoothly. “Very well, thank you for bringing this to my attention. Your skills in trade are quite as valuable as your skills as a Farstrider, though I think you would go further under my wing alone if you really wanted to.”
“Tempting, I’m sure,” Asharri said, regarding him evenly. “But I do prefer trees over council chambers when it comes down to it.”
Leaning back in his chair with a faint smile, Aerythil responded in amusement, “Ah well. It would have been terribly dull if you had agreed.”
“Well, you’ve your sources you can send out in the meantime while you’re catching up on sleep or drowning in more meetings on the Isle, and I’ve my duties that will not give me much of an ear to the ground for much else within the city unless something big happens,” Asharri said, pushing a folded letter across the desk toward Aerythil. “But whatever comes in or out of the city further south, I will certainly be in touch.”
Leaning forward, Aerythil plucked the letter up into his hands and unfolded it. Runic patterns flitted about, unscrambling themselves to reveal words. Well, not just words. But rather a few names of note. Rubbing his chin, he hummed thoughtfully as he recognized a couple of the names as Asharri continued and rose to her feet, “I will keep a source in and around the Row, but perhaps these will give you a headstart. After all, this is your area of expertise. You’ve always been more of a smooth talker than I, not to mention the tricks I've seen you use.”
Looking up from the names on the letter, Aerythil regarded Asharri with a bit more seriousness now and rose to his feet as well. The letter he had been given burned away in the palm of his hand as he had already committed the names to memory. Rounding the desk to stand before the Farstrider Captain, he inclined his head to her and said, “The way the talks are going, Asharri… I…”
He paused and shook his head. He couldn’t say too much and so he resigned himself to a simple, “Take care of yourself and remain vigilant in the days to come.” He squeezed her shoulder gently and released, gesturing towards the door.
Lofting a golden brow, she looked to the hand on her shoulder and back to him with a soft scoff yet inclined her head back, “Don’t go getting all sentimental on me now. I can take care of myself. You do the same.” Her tone was laced with her usually dry humor, yet there was a note of appreciation in it.
Things did indeed feel grim of late.
